While many of us understand the importance of Adoration, it can still be very challenging. Perhaps, it feels boring or you struggle to stay awake. Whatever your experience, Dr. Edward Sri has some great practical ideas for how to best spend your time in Adoration. He also reminds everyone that just showing up can bring about grace.
Snippet from the Show
God rejoices whenever you come to him in Adoration whether it’s for one minute or one hour.
Shownotes
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Before Adoration
- Quiet your heart – avoid listening to music or a podcast on your way to the chapel. Maybe pray a decade of the Rosary!
- Silence your phone – out of respect for God and others, make sure your device is completely silent. If you are praying with your phone, consider pausing notifications so that you can stay focused.
- Do not chew gum or bring snacks. Limit yourself to water.
Arriving at Adoration
- Be sure to genuflect. Even consider going down on both knees as you are face to face with God.
- Make the Sign of the Cross and perhaps say a prayer to recognize God’s presence: “My Jesus, I adore you here in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.”
A.C.T.S.
Adoration
According to paragraph 2628 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before his Creator. It exalts the greatness of the Lord who made us and the almighty power of the Savior who sets us free from evil. Adoration is homage of the spirit to the ‘King of Glory,’ respectful silence in the presence of the ‘ever greater’ God. Adoration of the thrice-holy and sovereign God of love blends with humility and gives assurance to our supplications.
Adoration can be done in words or in silence. In words, we can offer praise to God, not just for what he has done or what he has given us, but simply because of who he is. Adoration can also be done in silence by simply sitting in awe of the glory of God.
Confession
This part of prayer is very simple – confess your sins, your mistakes to God and ask for his forgiveness. Such a practice should be a part of any relationship but especially your relationship with God.
Thanksgiving
It is here that you are to thank God for the many blessings he has bestowed upon you. Perhaps, it is thanksgiving for your health, your family, your friendships, your education, your job, or so many other things. Perhaps, it is offering thanksgiving for the ways in which God has acted in your life.
Supplication
Finally, the last key part of prayer is supplication where we ask God for what we need. There are two ways to pray in supplication. You can make intercessions or petitions. Intercessions are the requests we make for others and petitions are the requests we make for ourselves. What is important in this part of prayer is to pray with humility and always with the understanding that it is God’s will that we ultimately desire, not our own.
Click HERE to learn more about Fr. Josh Johnson’s Pocket Guide to Adoration
Upcoming Events List
- Aug 10: Discipleship Conference – Oklahoma City OK
- Aug 22: Magnify – Texas A&M Students – College Station, TX
- Aug 23-24: Diocesan Faith Formation Conference – Tulsa OK
- Sept 13: St. Laurence Catholic Church Parish Mission – Sugarland TX
- Sept 16-18: Priest convocation – Springfield IL
- Sept 21: 2024 Annual Meeting and Investiture of the Northern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem – Denver CO
- Oct 3: Diocese of Harrisburg Annual Priest Workshop – Hunt Valley MD
- Oct 5: McHenry County Catholic Prayer Breakfast – Chicago IL
- Nov 16: Women of Christ 16th Annual Conference – Brookfield, WI
Resources
- Visit Dr. Sri’s website at www.edwardsri.com and to book online events with Dr. Sri email events.edwardsri@gmail.com
- Find more of Dr. Sri’s episodes at www.ascensionpress.com/allthingscatholic
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to www.ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings
Dr. Edward Sri is a theologian, well-known Catholic speaker, and author of several best-selling books. His work with Ascension includes study programs such as A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion and Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother. Several of Dr. Sri’s programs were filmed on-site in the Holy Land, and feature immersive video explorations of the sacred sites where Jesus, Mary, and the Apostles lived and died.
Dr. Sri is the host of the acclaimed Ascension podcast All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri. Together with Curtis Martin, Dr. Sri is a founding leader of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), of which he serves as senior vice president of Apostolic Outreach.
Dr. Sri lives with his wife Beth and their children in Colorado.
I found the two-part series on Adoration very helpful in my attempts to spend more time with the Lord. I would be very interested in hearing Dr. Sri’s thoughts on how to prepare to receive the Eucharist. Adoration can bring us into a more intimate relationship with Jesus but ultimately, it’s the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ that brings us into union with God. I and many others become too casual about going to Communion, not fully appreciating this tremendous gift.