Eucharistic Adoration

Eucharistic Adoration Prayers, Meditations & Devotions

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CONTENTS PRAYING BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT .............................9 Pope St John Paul II and the Year of the Eucharist (2004)..11 THE WORD OF GOD ...................................................................15 1. God will provide - John 6:26-35 ......................................16 2. The Eucharist: Refreshment and Strength - Ps 147 12-20...................................................................17 3. The Eucharist: Sacrament of Unity - 1 Cor 10:16-17 ...............................................................18 4. The Eucharist: Source and Summit of Christian Life - Lk 24: 13-35...................................................................18 5. The Eucharist: Foretaste of heavenly glory - Rev 3:20-21....................................................................20 6. The Eucharist: Redemption and Purification - Heb 9:11-15....................................................................21 7. The Institution of the Eucharist - 1 Cor 11: 23-26 ...........22 MEDITATIONS ............................................................................23 The new life .........................................................................23 Food from heaven ................................................................23 United to the Father .............................................................25 Lord, help us ........................................................................25 Our food and drink ...............................................................25 Anima Christi .......................................................................26 Forever at your service.........................................................27 PRAYERS AND LITANIES.............................................................28 Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament ..................................28 Act of Adoration ..................................................................28 Act of Offering.....................................................................29

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EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Prayer for Life ......................................................................29 Prayer for Peace ...................................................................30 Prayer in Sickness and Pain .................................................30 Prayer for Chastity ...............................................................31 Prayer in Thanksgiving ........................................................31 For the Faithful Departed .....................................................31 Against Temptation..............................................................33 The Jesus Prayer ..................................................................33 We Bless You ......................................................................33 You are the Bread ................................................................34 The Divine Praises ...............................................................34 Litany of humility ................................................................35 Into your care .......................................................................36 Where shall we find you?.....................................................36

PRAYING WITH THE SAINTS .......................................................39 St Alphonsus Liguori ...........................................................39 St Anselm .............................................................................40 St Augustine of Hippo .........................................................40 St Benedict ...........................................................................41 St Bernardette Soubirous .....................................................41 St Catherine Labouré ...........................................................41 St Catherine of Siena ...........................................................42 St Clare of Assisi .................................................................42 St Francis of Assisi ..............................................................42 St Gemma Galgani ...............................................................43 St Ignatius Loyola ...............................................................43 Blessed John XXIII .............................................................44 St John Bosco ......................................................................44 Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman ...............................45 St John Vianney ...................................................................45

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St Katharine Drexel .............................................................46 St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi .................................................47 St Margaret Mary Alacoque.................................................47 Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta ...................................48 St Richard of Chichester ......................................................49 St Teresa of Avila ................................................................49 St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, (Edith Stein) ..................50 St Thérèse of Lisieux ...........................................................50 St Thomas More ..................................................................51 RITE OF EUCHARISTIC EXPOSITION AND BENEDICTION ...........53 Exposition ............................................................................53 Adoration .............................................................................54 Benediction ..........................................................................54 Reposition ............................................................................57 ROSARY MEDITATIONS BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT ...59 The Prayers of the Rosary ....................................................61 THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES ..........................................................63 THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES ......................................................68 THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES ..................................................73 THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES ......................................................78 WHAT WE BELIEVE ...................................................................83 The Catechism of the Catholic Church ................................83 The Second Vatican Council................................................84 John Paul II: Ecclesia de Eucharistia ...................................85

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HYMNS AND POEMS ...................................................................88 Be Still .................................................................................88 Sweet Sacrament Divine ......................................................89 Bless the Lord ......................................................................90 Come back to me .................................................................90 Majesty ................................................................................91 I need thee every hour ..........................................................91 Soul of my Saviour...............................................................92 Love......................................................................................93 Further reading .....................................................................94

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PRAYING BEFORE ❧ - THE BLESSED SACRAMENT ❧

Could you not watch with me one hour? (Matt 26:40) Jesus asked his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane to watch one hour with him. Eucharistic Adoration is an opportunity to respond to Jesus’ request. The devotion of the ‘holy hour’ before the Blessed Sacrament has through the centuries been a privileged time for Christians to pray and meditate in the very presence of our Lord. Even if we are unable to find one whole hour, we can still devote what is today called ‘quality time’ to our relationship with Jesus.

There is no set formula for Eucharistic Adoration. An act of Adoration (e.g. page 28) is a good way of acknowledging that we are in the presence of God himself.

Then, like at Mass, we can say sorry for the sins which have disrupted our relationship with God and neighbour.

During prayer, our minds often become distracted, perhaps we even feel bored. If so, it is helpful to divide the time into reading scripture (pages 15-22), meditation (pages 23-27) and prayer (e.g. the Rosary pages 59-82).

Above all, remember that “the Spirit too comes to our help in our weakness, for, when we do not know how to pray properly, then the Spirit personally makes our petitions for us in sighs that cannot be put into words.” (Rom 8:26)

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THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST ❧

During the Mass of Corpus Christi 2004, Pope St John Paul II announced a special Year of the Eucharist which began in October 2004. The Eucharist as ‘source and summit of Christian life’ always played an important part in the teaching ministry of John Paul II. In 2003 he issued an Encyclical entitled Ecclesia de Eucharistia (The Church comes from the Eucharist) in which he shows how the Eucharist really does build the Church. The following is a summary of the main points of this important encyclical.

The Eucharist - sharing Christ’s one sacrifice The sacrifice offered by Christ in his death and resurrection was so decisive for the salvation of the human race that Jesus returned to the Father only after he had left us a means of sharing in it. He gave us the Mass as its memorial celebration, which makes Christ’s one, definitive redemptive sacrifice always present in time.

The Real Presence of Jesus This sacrificial presence within the Eucharist is crowned by the reality of his personal presence. Christ is really present in other ways too - in prayer and in the other sacraments - yet in the Eucharist he comes as God and Man, wholly and entirely present. After the consecration

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the bread and wine cease to exist, so that the adorable body and blood of the Lord Jesus from that moment on are really before us under the sacramental species of bread and wine.

Because the living Jesus is present in this way, the gift of his body and blood increases within us the gift of his Spirit, already poured out in Baptism and bestowed as a ‘seal’ in the sacrament of Confirmation. By the Eucharist, Christ continually transforms us into his own divine likeness through the Holy Spirit.

The Eucharist is also the pledge of the future Resurrection, because the flesh of the Son of Man, given as Eucharistic food, is his body in its glorious state after the Resurrection. Receiving his flesh and blood means sharing both in his Resurrection and in the Holy Spirit who is the foretaste and pledge of our own Resurrection.

The Eucharist is participation in the heavenly liturgy of Mary and all the Saints and angels, a true glimpse of heaven appearing on earth. It is a glorious ray of the heavenly Jerusalem piercing the clouds of history and lightening our earthly journey.

The Eucharist builds the Church We are united with him not only as individuals but in his body the Church. The Eucharist both fully expresses our union as Christ’s Church both fostering and promoting the growth of the Church on earth.

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This is why sharing in the Sunday liturgy is so essential to the Christian life. In the Eucharist we not only share in the Lord’s passion and death we also partake of his risen body and blood. Thus we become what we truly are: the body of Christ.

This awesome reality of his presence in the Eucharist requires that we continue Eucharistic adoration outside the Mass, in exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and in prayer of adoration before the tabernacle.

Precisely because of the communal nature of the Eucharist, those not in full communion with the Church are not, except in certain extraordinary circumstances, to receive communion within a Catholic liturgy; nor are Catholics permitted to receive communion within liturgies whose ministers are not validly ordained.

Similarly, because grave sin separates a person from the living Christ and his body the Church, such a person must first receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before coming again to communion.

Mary, Woman of the Eucharist Mary, perfect image of the Church, is the model of the Christian’s relationship to the Eucharist. At the Annunciation she conceived the Son of God in the physical reality of his body and blood, thus anticipating within herself what to some degree happens sacramentally in every believer who receives, under the signs of bread

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and wine, the Lord’s body and blood. Mary became the first ‘tabernacle’ in history where the Son of God dwelt as man. She also stood beneath the cross and joined herself to her son’s loving sacrifice. For Mary, receiving the Eucharist must have meant welcoming once more into her womb that heart which had beat in unison with hers, reliving what she had experienced at the foot of the cross.

All members of the Church, like her, welcome the Eucharistic Jesus into their bodies and souls and in so doing join themselves to the crucified Jesus for the salvation of the world. Finally, as Mary fully shared in her son’s Resurrection through her Assumption into heaven, so those who receive the risen Lord Jesus in the Eucharist share fully in the heavenly liturgy. There, Mary and all the Saints and angels will sing in the Spirit of the splendour of Jesus to the glory of God the Father. ‘The Eucharist has been given to us that our life, like that of Mary, may become completely a Magnificat!’

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THE WORD OF GOD ❧

The Table of Word and the Table of the Sacrament are intimately connected. The Holy Scriptures proclaim Christ and the salvation he offers. They present an intimate account of how Jesus ate and drank with his disciples before his Passion.

But the institution of the Eucharist did not take place in a vacuum. The context of the Last Supper was the Passover, a ritual meal in which the Jews celebrate their liberation from slavery in Egypt as recounted in the book of Exodus. The first Christians who feasted upon the Risen Christ at the breaking of bread understood that Jesus had become their Passover. This is why we can say, “Every Mass is a mini-Easter.” In many parts of the Bible, the imagery used to describe salvation is rich in allusions to feasting. The promised kingdom would be full of the finest wheat, and new wine.

It is fitting that we should meditate upon the Word of God in Old and New Testaments, for the Word of God points towards and indeed makes present the very reality it signifies.

When your words came I devoured them: your word was my delight and the joy of my heart; for I was called by your name, Lord God of Sabaoth. (Jer 15:16)

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SEVEN THEMES FOR ADORATION 1. God will provide - John 6:26-35 Jesus answered: ‘I tell you most solemnly, you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat. Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life, the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’

Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent’. So they said, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat’.

Jesus answered: ‘I tell you most solemnly, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; for the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world’.

‘Sir,’ they said ‘give us that bread always.’ Jesus answered: ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst.

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Other suggested readings: Exodus 16:2-4,12-15; Deuteronomy 8:2-3,15b-16a; Psalms 22(23); 77(78); 144(145):10-18 and John 6: 41-51.

2. The Eucharist: Refreshment and Strength - Psalm 147:12-20 O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

Sion, praise your God! He has strengthened the bars of your gates, he has blessed the children within you.

He established peace on your borders, he feeds you with finest wheat.

He sends out his word to the earth and swiftly runs his command.

He showers down snow white as wool, he scatters hoar-frost like ashes.

He hurls down hailstones like crumbs.

The waters are frozen at his touch; he sends forth his word and it melts them: at the breath of his mouth the waters flow.

He makes his word known to Jacob, to Israel his laws and decrees.

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He has not dealt thus with other nations; he has not taught them his decrees.

Alleluia!

Other suggested readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 33(34):1-10; Luke 9:11-17 and John 6: 1-14.

3. The Eucharist: Sacrament of Unity - 1 Cor 10:16-17 The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ, and the bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ.

The fact that there is only one loaf means that, though there are many of us, we form a single body because we all have a share in this one loaf.

Other suggested readings: Acts 2:42-47; John 15:9-17 and John 17:20-26.

4. The Eucharist: Source and Summit of Christian Life - Luke 24: 13-35 That very same day, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened.

Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from

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recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.

Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only is person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days’. ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’

Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.

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When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them.

And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’

They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem.

There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.

Other suggested readings: Ephesians 3:14-19 and John 6:51-58; 15:1-8.

5. The Eucharist: Foretaste of heavenly glory Rev 3:20-21 Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share his meal, side by side with him. Those who prove victorious I will allow to share my throne, just as I was

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victorious myself and took my place with my Father on his throne.

Other suggested readings: Psalm 32(33); Isaiah 25:6-8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

6. The Eucharist: Redemption and Purification Heb 9:11-15 But now Christ has come, as the high priest of all the blessings which were to come. He has passed through the greater, the more perfect tent, which is better than the one made by men’s hands because it is not of this created order; and he has entered the sanctuary once and for all, taking with him not the blood of goats and bull calves, but his own blood, having won an eternal redemption for us. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer are sprinkled on those who have incurred defilement and they restore the holiness of their outward lives; how much more effectively the blood of Christ, who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice to God through the eternal Spirit, can purify our inner self from dead actions so that we do our service to the living God. He brings a new covenant, as the mediator, only so that the people who were called to an eternal inheritance may actually receive what was promised: his death took place to cancel the sins that infringed the earlier covenant.

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Other suggested readings: Exodus 12:21-27; Isaiah 12:2-6; Romans 5:5-11; Ephesians 1:3-10; 1 Peter 1:17-21 and Revelation 1:5-8.

7. The Institution of the Eucharist - 1 Cor 11: 23-26 For this is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me’. In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’ Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death.

Other suggested readings: Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25 and Luke 22:7-20.

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MEDITATIONS ❧

These are texts uttered slowly and thoughtfully out of a background of silence, with distinct pauses (as much as fifteen to twenty seconds, depending on the sense and need for continuity) between each phrase. They are especially effective when used in a quiet church after a period of silent prayer or meditation.

The new life Lord Jesus, you give us bread which is your body, you give us wine which is your blood to feed and strengthen us on our way through life.

Help us to appreciate this gift more clearly, and help us to live the new life your won for us through your saving death and resurrection.

Food from heaven We share in the gift of Christ’s body, given to us in the form of bread, given to us for all time.

This food from heaven brings us together in unity as parts of the one body of Christ. in this sacrament we are drawn to share in God’s life, a foretaste of the glory of heaven.

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United to the Father Father, our human words are not enough to thank you . . . our human minds cannot penetrate this mystery . . .

Open our hearts to sing your praises . . . open our minds to your Spirit of wisdom and love . . .

Help us to know that we are one . . .

Show us the way to be more closely united in you, through your Son whose body and blood we eat and drink, through the love and the fire of the Spirit.

Lord, help us Lord Jesus, when you come again at the end of time, we shall already know you a little through the gift of your body which you left us.

Help us to be ready . . .

Our food and drink God our Father in heaven, you build us up through the bread that gives us strength.

Do we work hard enough at the task of building up the body of your Son, the Church?

You give us the food and drink that we need to sustain us.

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Do we give food and drink to others?

And do we show them how much more wonderful your food and drink is through the lives that we lead?

Teach us to share, teach us to make good use of all your gifts Bring us closer to you through your Son through whom we make this prayer.

Anima Christi Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesu, hear me.

Within thy wounds hide me.

Suffer me not to be separated from thee.

From the malicious enemy, defend me.

In the hour of my death, call me, and bid me come to thee.

That with your saints I may praise thee, for all eternity.

Amen.

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MEDITATIONS

Forever at your service God our Father, pour down your Spirit upon your whole Church.

Grant us a new vision of your glory, a new experience of your power, a new faithfulness to your Word, a new consecration to your service; That through our renewed witness your Holy Name may be glorified and your Kingdom advanced.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

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