Adoration: The Best Time You Will Spend On Earth

When Cathy Strobel’s husband passed away last year, she was struck with grief, but Our Eucharistic Lord held her hand and bore her sorrows in His Sacred Heart, day by day, and prayer by prayer.

“Personally, I love Adoration and I have found it to be very helpful,” says Cathy, who coordinates Adoration at our parish along with Pete Schlegel. “It got me through some very, very rough times, like when my husband was sick. And it is still helping me a great deal today. I know everyone has problems in their lives and crosses to carry, and that is why it helps so much to have Jesus at our side.”

Currently, Adoration is offered at Sts. Mary and Hyacinth on Mondays beginning at 4 a.m. until Friday at 10 p.m.

All parishioners from all three of our parishes are encouraged to come and pray before Our Lord in Adoration for at least one hour per week. Our parish family is working towards the goal of having Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.

“When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked His disciples to wait for just one hour in prayer with Him,” Cathy says. “That is what He is saying to us now. Jesus just wants to love us and for us to love Him in return. He wants to spend time with each of our parishioners and be there for them in the midst of their busy lives. Adoration is the perfect way to enjoy some precious one-on-one time with Jesus. It is so fulfilling to have this quiet time in our lives.”

Many of us may feel intimidated at the thought of coming to Adoration and sitting in total silence with Christ. However, as Cathy emphasizes, there is nothing to be uneasy about.

“When I am in Adoration, sometimes I pray, but often I just sit with Jesus and think of nothing in particular,” she says. “It is just good to be with Jesus, and you don’t necessarily have to say anything. Jesus wants you to be there. He wants to help us and be with us. There are so many blessings that flow from Adoration.”

Cathy also offers her help to anyone who may want some encouragement in this area, as well.

“I would be more than happy to talk to anyone about Adoration or take them to the chapel if they are interested,” she says. “I am concerned that some people may not really understand what Adoration is, and maybe if they did, they would be more interested in going.”

Even though St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta was a very busy religious sister who picked up thousands of dying people off the streets of Calcutta, she always made time for Adoration. In fact, she believed it was the most essential aspect of the Christian life. She once said, “The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in heaven, and will help bring about everlasting peace on earth.”

There is a great need for more adorers to spend their “best time on earth” with Christ in Adoration. If you would like further information about this beautiful ministry of prayer, please contact Cathy Strobel at 715-350-9761 or Pete Schlegel at 715-623-2024, or refer to upcoming parish bulletins.