Eucharistic adoration: peaceful, despite the squabble

Dear Max:

With the exception of a few of the remarks you made toward the end, I really loved your article. As a "theologically backward" Gen-X-er, I hold spending more time before the King of Kings and the Source of All Grace as a necessary step in my quest to "put on Christ"(Romans, 13:14).

For additional thoughts on visits to the Blessed Sacrament, I recommend Father Michael Mueller's "The Blessed Eucharist".

In Christ,

Smooches

An excellent explanation of the beauty of Eucharistic Adoration, and its appeal for many people. The quiet, the reverence, the prayerful and peaceful attitude, all serve to quiet the senses. It is exactly what is needed in this time of constant sensory overload -- a time to turn off the TV, turn off the XM Radio, turn off the Blackberry, turn off the cell phone, turn off the iPod, and just *be* with the Lord.

It is amusing to me that in a day and age when many are touting the importance of meditation and quieting oneself, the Church has a means to do just that, and there are those who would condemn it.

I agree that Christan college rock is probably an aesthetic sin, but so is much of the music that purports to be liturgical music of the last couple of decades. Songs like "Gather Us In" and "Open Wide the Doors to Christ", "All Are Welcome" and "City of God", "Sing a New Church Into Being" and "What is This Place", not to mention nearly everything in that hideous hymnal "Glory and Praise" ("Like a Sunflower" -- YIKES!), constitute, I think, aesthetic sin, and since God is the very definition of Beauty, how that must horrify Him!

Finally, the "Spirit of Vatican II" alluded to by Mr. Lindenman is fading fast, praise God. It is being replaced by the authentic interpretation of Vatican II, as explained and articulated by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and by the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Very glad you posted this. I work with lots of Millennials and am constantly amazed again at how Eucharistic adoration 'speaks' to them. In general, I find children and adults thirsting for an experience of meditative/contemplative prayer. To besmirch one form because it was practiced for centuries as old-fashioned just seems silly to me.

Great article!

There is no theological "problem" with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament"...it is a beautiful and acceptable PRIVATE devotion to which some folks are "legitimately" attracted. However my fear is that folks will come to consider Eucharistic Adoration as the REASON Jesus gave us the Eucharist. Jesus gave us the Eucharist to eat and drink...to become united with Him and with one another. He did not give it to us to adore. Adoration became popular when historical circumstances "took away" active participation of the laity in the celebration of the Paschal Mystery.

Max your column was heartfelt and pastoral in response. Thank you

It ain't my thing - but it's an opportunity for prayer. Go for it.

Thank you, Max, for a good article. I like Fr. McBrien but really disagreed on his Adoration article. As Catholics we believe the Euchristic Bread IS Jesus, so how can you be wrong spending time with Him? Even the most "liberal" ( I hate that word) among us readily acknowledge the importance of spending time with God in prayer. What is so wrong about spending that time in His Eucharistic Presence? Almost everyone I know in the two parishes I frequent, who go to Adoration, are also involved in some kind of apostolic work including service to the poor and homeless. I think Fr Richard just missed it on this one.

The fear is that Jesus in the host is of greater value than Jesus in the person(s) by/around us and throughout the world. And, when did Jesus ever seek worship in the form of kneeling, bowing or prostration? He never once sent the disciples out into the world for that. He sent them out to teach, baptize, heal and care for the people of the world, Jew and non-Jew. Prayer and communion with God came in the desert, away from anything that might interfere with quiet comtemplation and conversation with God, not with "the brilliance of the monstrance and the whiteness of the host."

*GASP*!!!

Fr. McBrien must be horrified at the massive step backward these people are doing by adoring the Eucharist. I'm sure he's shocked that so many people would waste time adoring Jesus Christ, truly present in the Holy Sacrament.

"I'm lucky to be unburdened with any such prejudice."
- Good for him! Because that's exactly was Fr. Mcbrien's last serving of tripe was, prejudice.

This is a welcome, welcome article! We've got spiritual treasures in our church tradition -- Eucharistic Adoration, the rosary, the practices of novenas, litanies, Gregorian chant, etc., all of which are enjoyed by the right wing, anti women's ordination arm of the Church. These treasures belong to all Catholics, liberal and conservative -- let us use and enjoy them all.

Regarding the way in which Protestants regard adoration: In Pittsburgh, which is about to host the G-20 Summit, a Catholic lay group got the bishop's support to hold 40 Hours of Eucharistic adoration at the diocesan seminary, for anybody who wanted to pray for the work of the G-20. Local evangelical Protestants (normally considered the group most hostile to such particularly Catholic practices) were so inspired by this that they organized their own 40 Hour prayer vigil -- minus the adoration -- during the summit. This is not a case of competition. These evangelicals were genuinely moved by what the Catholics were doing, and wanted to borrow as much from it as they could. I think that the conversations over some of these spiritual practices shifted a long time ago, without anyone really noticing it.

Max: Thank you for your opinion piece. I agree there is a validity to Eucharistic Adoration. I am also aware of its need in many places. However, I also believe the Blessed Sacrament may be adored by Its Presence in the Tabernacle.

With the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament abuse is possible more so than it being the tabernacle....I think this option needs to have greater explanation

Amen, Max. It's often the only quiet, contemplative prayer time in people's lives. And no complicated system needed, no books. Just sit and be with Jesus. How wonderful

Meg Hogan

How refreshing! To read that a new convert to the Faith can embrace both
Vatican II and Eucharistic Adoration in the same breath. Pope John XXIII
would highly approve.

Celebrating the Liturgy of the Eucharist and adoration of the Eucharist are central to Catholicism. I see no problem with the adoration of the Eucharist in the morning - Monday through Friday. I have a problem with the adoration for twelve hours or fifteen hours or 24/7. We are a nation of hate-filled people who will find reasons to blame and strike out against their perceived demons. Whether we like it or not the USA is anti-Catholic. The Catholic hierarchy has been silent on many moral issues, such as universal health insurance for everyone and a decent salary for our workers. One priest in Grand Rapids, Michigan has written an article claiming that minimum is socialism. Our church wants more contributions for the CSA but the American wages buying power is that of mid-nineteen 70s.

This is a wonderful article. My youngest daughter, who is 14, recently went on a Youth weekend with our church's youth group. The weekend included Eucharistic Adoration. I was skeptical that the teens would want to participate, but after their return, the teens all shared the joy,inner peace and renewed faith that they achieved from this experience. I think it is a wonderful tradition of our Church and at these difficult times, it is one we may all need.

Let me expose my own reservations about the reservation, exposition and adoration of the Eucharist. I believe I can honestly state that they are not fear based at all. Rather, they are based on my understanding that communion is a relational act, and not about the host alone (or even primarily). It is mutuality I understand God to seek relationships, not adoration. That is the scandal of the Gospel and the primary reason for the crucifixion of Jesus. Our God is incarnate. If adoration means growing in knowledge of God, the I choose to do that in prayer, meditation, but mostly in relationship and service with others. If prayer and meditation before the monstrance or host is meaningful to some, so be it. There are many ways to serve the Lord. But Jesus did it through people.

Max good job

Eucharistic adoration appeals to the less literate, making me think this is just the right place to have a religious experience. You stated it often puts you "into a mood of pure reverence" and I think this is exactly how Eucharist adoration attracts, rather than repels others.

For we are not peddlers of God's word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17

I have many criticisms of the present Roman Catholic church and am a strong advocate of Vatican 2 but Eucharistic Adoration is not one of them.

Eucharistic Adoration is a lovely time for meditation on the spiritual part of our makeup. We as humans do not take enough time for quiet meditation and just quiet time to "be still and know that I am God".

I strongly approve and it is not a threat to Vatican 2 nor my beliefs.

No matter how you try to paint it, Eucharistic Adoration in a monstrance is ABUSE of the sacrament. It carries no theological validity at all. You can say it brings people to a quiet spiritual place but it also brings people to a backward and ignorant approach to Christ's real presence.

Thank you, Max, for your testimony. Your description of the actual experience of Eucharistic Adoration, as opposed to an exposition of its theology, offers a means of reconciliation between the traditional and the progressive. Everyone today needs a time to find stillness, to recover from the brutal cacophony assaulting our senses every waking hour. The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament presents Christians with an opportunity to place themselves outside of time, to focus on the Eternal Center of existence, much in the same way our brothers and sisters of Eastern faiths practice. For us that Center is a person, Jesus, whose presence we acknowledge in the Sacred Host. Its circular form surrounded by radiating beams of gold creates a Christian mandala, reminding us that we all participate in His Body, everywhere and always. When we truly empty ourselves in adoration the veil separating us from one another dissolves, and we see not divided, waring entities, but fellow members of the Body before us. Here we directly experience the basis for compassion, selflessness, and justice. Surely here we have our common, sacred ground.

Max,
Thank you for your simple, yet extremely eloquent defense of Eucharistic Adoration. Our world today is in need of more quiet, more time in quiet prayer, and more appreciation of the Presence of God in our world. Rather than composing a theological treatise in defense of Eucharistic Adoration, I endorse your notion of "try it, you'll like it!" Thank you for your insights.

Thank you, Max, for your reflection on prayer before the eucharist.

This laudable practice of our tradition is one that has been a "life line" for many who are seeking a center, a focus, the Holy Other, in the midst of the disconnect and disorder found often in daily living.

I hope that we can give new (re-newed) and deepened expression to the Gospel life through this form of prayer. As we seek to "sing a new church into being" we are given the noble task of giving new impetus to ancient practice.

See the Body of Christ gathered at the Table to be nourished by the Body of Christ upon the Table!

There is a place for devotion; there is a need for contemplative prayer and for affective prayer. And Mr. Lindenman is correct about the need for oases in an urban and hectic environment. Just one point: Twice the author makes reference to "adoring the host." It is NOT the "host" that's being adored in Eucharistic Adoration. I don't think this is nitpicking. It is always and only God who is being adored.
Thank you.

Thank you for an opportunity to hear how new memebers of the church find comfort in the presence of the Eucharistic Adoration practice.
Unfortunately, those of us with "baggage" (sometimes) do see this as a movement back to pre-Vatican II spirituality. But just what that is, is
most likely dependent on our ability to separate reality from superstition.

Depending on our experience of God in our life we will approach religious
practices from love and reverance, or from fear and ignorance.

We certainly have ample opportunities for seeing God in our world. I see God in the eyes of children, the people waiting for the bus, the homeless men and women downtown in Chicago. I see God in all the beauty of nature and the excitement of spectators at Wrigley field. I see God in the creative beauty of art work in our art museums.

And, Yes, I most certainly see God in the Eucharist each day at Mass.
Having time to sit in the quiet presence of the Eucharist in an adoration chapel is a gift to be teasured.I am happy you have found it to be so.

Contrary to Clint Green's understanding of the Spirit of Vatican II, I disagree, as do millions of other Catholics. It is only beginning to take hold and the greatest impact will be seen in this century. Sorry to disappoint the right wingers but your era is coming to an end. Old Catholicism prior to Vatican II can't sustain itself because so much of it is based on magical myths and very poor theology that doesn't remotely represent Christ's teachings! It's decaying rapidly and a new Church is emerging. Thanks be to God!

Why do so many people reduce the act of Eucharistic Adoration a "step backword"? I totally disagree with Fr. McBrien. Have we stooped to a new low by making Eucharistic Adoration part of the "conservative vs liberal" discussion? This has absolutely nothing to do with old fashioned or back in the dark ages. Come on people, open your eyes. THIS IS THE VERY LIVING PRESENCE OF JESUS THAT WE SQUABLE ABOUT. THE SO-CALLED ENLIGHTENED PEOPLE HAVE THROWN OUT ANY SENSE OF HUMILITY. WE NEED TO REALIZE WHAT A BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE WE HAVE!!! Yes, Christ is present in the Word, the Assembly and the person of the priest as well. However, in the Euchartist, He is present to us in a very special way. The Eucharistic Adoration is an extention of the Mass. It points us back to the celebration of Mass. Every spiritual practice we as Catholics engage in, grounds us in and points us to this sacred celebration of the Mass. How can people like Fr. McBrien and others be so shallow as to consider it something from the dark ages. This is NOT a liberal or conservative act. It is an act of falling in love over and over again with Christ. Lets not reduce this to something old fashioned but something that engages us in a deeper more contemplative prayerful relationship with God.

Eucharistic adoration in the 1950's.

I participated in Eucharistic adoration in my Jesuit high school in the 1950's, but I wasn't sure what the devotion was about. To me it did not fit with Sunday liturgy. In college days I joined the Liturgical Movement and learned from contemplative Benedictines. The Eucharist is to be 'shared' (modern Greek 'evcharisto' is 'thank you'). The Eucharist as adored was a later addition to Church practice. Vatican II brought out the meaning of Church as community in its liturgical life.

You 'sit' and pray in silence before the altar in a monastic church. The altar, the place of meeting and prayer for the community, becomes the focal point for concentration. You try to quiet the 'monkey noise'. And when you are done with the 'sitting' prayer, you go out to do your work. And so with us lay people. We 'sit' in prayer, and then go out to our regular work, following the words of St James to show the Kingdom of God in our work.

If some people do this in Eucharistic adoration, wonderful for them!

I would never suggest that I could speak for Fr. McBrien in response to the concerns of these posts, but I think he would concur that balance is the key, as well as a careful distinction between what is core and what is peripheral. Certainly, I do think Father would agree with adoration as a private devotion and as an occasion for personal reflection and prayer.

I have a problem with this statement: "Celebrating the Liturgy of the Eucharist and adoration of the Eucharist are central to Catholicism." Celebrating the Liturgy is central; adoration is peripheral, though uniquely Catholic.

And Jesus said, " Take this and look at it!"

Please add Mission San Luis Obispo,California to your list of sites for Eucharistic Adoration. This is a tourist destination and we are visited by people from all over the world. Adoration is from 9am. to 5pm. ,the first Friday of the month, in the chapel For information call 805-781-8220.

The Church herself fosters a call to Eucharistic adoration, but in her wisdom, she attempts to bring a sense of balance and purpose to the exercise. there is an inherent pitfall of over emphasizing the Eucharist as 'thing' and 'thing in itself' without the larger scope of meaning of Eucharist as verb, or action of the body of Christ. We are still infested with the early Church heresy of professing everything corporeal as evil adn unworthy, yet it is God who redeemed and wedded humanity to the very essence of divinity by the gift of the Incarnation. No longer can the flesh of humanity be thought unworthy to bear the imprint of the divine, not because of anything we have done, but because God so wills it. Those critics are not fearful of opening the door to superstition, but they are fearful of the diminishment of the fullness of the gift of the Eucharist which by its very nature,commissions us to act to bring about the kingdom of God in our midst. As St. Augustine said, and I loosely bastardize his expression, the body of Christ, eats the body of Christ, to become the body of Christ, to og into the world to be the body of Christ. This other aspect by and large has been lost in the privitization and individualization of Eucharistic Adoration.

Thanks, Max, for putting this in another context. As a theologian who fears the institutional penchant for returning to pre-Vatican II practices, I found myself agreeing with Fr. McBrien's critique of Eucharistic adoration. But your perspective is a valid one and one with which I, too, at age 75 can be comfortable. The reverent, meditative silence one experiences in front of the Blessed Sacrament is a welcome relief from the noises of the world. I appreciate your comments.

I have no objections to Eucharistic adoration. It can serve as a wonderful opportunty for meditation and contemplation. I would hope that in the midst of Eucharistic adoration some of us involved would from time to time consider that the Word of God is present in all matter and therefore the kind of adoration done by such mystics as Teilhard de Chardin, adoration of the whole earth as a sacrament of God's presence, is also to be commended. We also need to remember, as some of the earlier commentators have inferred that the word "this" in the phrase "This is my body," does not, according to most exegets, refer to the element of bread. Rather the object of this pronoun is the same as that of the "this" in the following phrase, "Do this....." Jesus was, in effect, saying, "When you share bread in my name, I am in your midst and you are my Body." The Host is indeed the medium of Christ's presence but when we in our worshp confine the presence of Christ to the Host, we fail to appreciate the fullness of Christ's sacramental presence in our lives.