By Fr. Donald Arsenault
National Director Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Canada
We know that we are in a mess, in a great mess. (Read Psalm
12). The Church and society are in a
serious crisis. We would have to be
blind not to see it. When sin is publicly
advertised as normal and correct and millions of abortions are performed each
year, something has gone radically wrong.
How did we ever get into this mess?
To me the answer is very clear and plain: we have put God aside to turn ourselves
towards gods and idols of our own making—materialistic things, pleasures, the
cult of the body, thirst for money, addiction to TV etc. These things have become gods and idols to
many. And then we wonder why we are in
such a mess.
Because we have repeated
the Old Testament infidelities,
and
worship idols made with our own hands,
we are in trouble, serious trouble.
Who is going to save our troubled world?
The Saviour of the World!
Only Jesus can bring true peace to the world, only God can
redirect the course of world history back to the path of peace.
(“Turn to Me and be safe, all you ends of the earth. For I AM God; there is no other.” Isaiah
45:22)
Where is Our God?
Where is Our God where is Our Saviour, Jesus Christ?
“Jesus is in Heaven for the elect and in the tabernacle for
us pilgrims” St. Peter Julian Eymard,
Saint of the Eucharist – tells us.
As we are not yet in Heaven;
the only place here on earth where we can be physically present with the bodily presence of Jesus, is before The Real presence of Jesus, is before The Real Presence either at Mass or reserved in the tabernacle.
the only place here on earth where we can be physically present with the bodily presence of Jesus, is before The Real presence of Jesus, is before The Real Presence either at Mass or reserved in the tabernacle.
The loss of the sense of the Real Presence is widespread in
the church today, and many do not realize that this CENTRAL TRUTH OF OUR FAITH
is under much attack.
For sure God is everywhere, but He is present in the Blessed
Sacrament in a way that is unique, with His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity,
with His Beating Heart. Here He is
present as Christ in The Sacred Host is called THE REAL PRESENCE.
Are we aware -- do we realize,
that the One who
created
the heavens, earth, and waters
and everything that dwells in it,
is
present among us?
He is available to everyone at any moment day or night. Is it not wonderful that we should have Our
God so close to us as He is?
He is available in the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed
Sacrament is what distinguishes us from the Protestants, what makes us
Catholic. This is the belief that
countless martyrs have given their life for.
“Cry out and shout with joy. O Zion, for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Isreal! (Isaiah 12:6)
INVITATION TO A HOLY HOUR
(An Hour of Amighty Power)
When we go before The Blessed Sacrament we stand in behalf
of that one person in the world in most need of God’s Mercy, and we bring down
upon their soul the Precious Blood of The Lamb, so that they go to Heaven to be
with God for all eternity.
By our Holy Hours of Prayer
we will contribute
to the radical
transformation of the world.
Those who go before the Blessed Sacrament
touch the Heart of Jesus with their faith
and
release His Power,
His Healing Love,
His Graces and
Blessing upon the whole world.”
Matthew 9:20
The woman who
touched Jesus’ garment in faith.
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| Mother Teresa in Adoration of Blessed Sacrament |
Mother Teresa said, “The best act we can perform at present,
s to spend at least one hour a week before the exposed Blessed Sacrament.” She adds, “You cannot be Jesus to someone unless
you spend time with Jesus. You cannot
see Jesus in others unless you see Him in the Sacrament of Love.”
Jesus needs generous souls to love Him and console Him for
the many sins and crimes committed in the world.
The hour you spend
with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
is
very precious to Him,
and makes reparation
for innumerable sins.
He needs this gift of your hour
to save
souls.
Night Hours:
Every hour is blessed, but those which involve the most
sacrifice are the most blessed.
Sacrifice is the language of love.
The first Holy Hour took place during the middle of the night, when
Christ made the sad complaint to Peter, James and John: “So, could you not watch with me
one hour?” (Matthew 26:40)
The Apostles were tired and sleepy but it was at that time
Jesus needed the consolation of their presence.
Even though ou may find it difficult to get up in the middle
of the night, Jesus is addressing to you the very same invitation that he
addressed to His Apostles.
He saw all those,
down through the ages,
who would keep
watch with Him
for one Hour,
Jesus saw you.
He saw your generosity,
your sacrifice
and the love
that you show Him,
and it was this
that consoled Him
in His Agony.
Personal Benefits:
You will experience a peace of heart that the world cannot
give, a peace that only Jesus can give you.
In our noisy and agitated world there is a great need to experience this
peace. It will give you strength to face
the difficulties of life and the courage to take up your cross daily.
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| At Jesus' feet |
You will discover the love that
Jesus has for you
personally.
It is at the feet of Jesus
that you will experience
in a real way,
that Jesus loves you
for who you are,
despite your sins and your miseries.
There
you will find out
that you are not alone
in your loneliness.
When you feel lonely,
Jesus will reveal to you
the only real
loneliness
is to be without Him.
Do you remember the second question of the catechism?
Why did God create us?
God created us to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him and be
happy with Him for all eternity. In
other words the feeling of loneliness is an unconscious desire to be with God, from
whom we came.
Excerpts from St. Pope John Paul’s letter to the Laity (Christifideles
Lacici) Dec. 1988
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| St. Pope John Paul II with Monstrance |
“To all the people today,
I once again repeat the
impassionate
cry with
which I began my ministry:
Do not be afraid,
open, indeed,
open wide the doors to
Christ!!!
Open to His saving power,
because the Voice of Christ
is
giving each of us
an especially urgent invitation
at this moment to come closer
to Him every day.
Perpetual Adoration is opening wide the doors to Christ, and
to His saving power so that we may come closer to Him every day, since Jesus in
the Blessed Sacrament actually brings about the intimate bonds of union among
all the faithful in Christ.
Again we turn to the words of Jesus:
“I am the Vine, your are the branches, Abide in Me.”
Upon all the faithful then, rests the exalted duty of
working to assure that each day the Divine Plan of Salvation is further
extended to every person in every part of the world.
Since Evangelization for the Eucharist, in the Eucharist and
from the Eucharist, is how the Church lives the mystery of Christ and fulfills
its mission to all men.
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| Church Fathers in Adoration of the Holy Eucharist |
The mission of
the Church,
therefore is to bring all men to the Eucharist.
Thus, in organizing Perpetual Adoration, every conversation,
knock on a door, or telephone call is the work of Evangelization, fulfilling
the mission of the Church to bring all men to the Eucharist.
Therefore, with humility and trust,
I beg and implore you,
allow Christ
to speak to you.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit.” John
15:16
In this great moment in history God calls me and sends me
forth as a laborer in His vineyard, to work for Perpetual Adoration in the
parish. In doing so, He calls me and
sends me forth to work for the coming of His Kingdom in history.”
“Be not afraid”
(365 times in the Bible)
“Behold! I AM with
you always, even to the end of the world.”
(Matthew 28:20)
ALONE WITH GOD -- Prayers
I humbly kneel before
You, O My God, present on the altar. I
thank You for inviting me into Your House Lord, it is good to be here! During this visit, O My Saviour, I want to
isolate myself with You thinking of no one but You, with my mind and senses
silent, contact with the world of business and war and community troubles
severed, not solicitous for anything, high or low, far or near.
Alone with You,
O My God,
let me honour You
with all my heart and mind,
and with my body too.
I’m on my knees…
Let me realize that!
I’m on my knees because I believe in the reality of Your
Presence on this altar. I believe, You
are My God and my all. I am a creature
and I’m on my knees to acknowledge it. I
want to show outwardly that I belong to You; that I owe You worship, adoration,
submission.
My hands are folded…in supplication
I need your help.
I need to relax.
I need calm, rest, light, peace, courage, forgiveness. From You, O Lord, I can expect these things
because You said: “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock
and it shall be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7, Mt 21:22, Luke 11:9)
My hands are folded
because You are my Saviour,
my only
hope,
my harbour of protection,
my haven of peace.
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| Save me Lord! |
When I am tempted.
When I have sinned.
When I am tired of the struggle.
When I am hurt, and misunderstood.
When I am out of work and the house is
Cold and the debts are many and the money
Is scarce.
When my family troubles engulf me.
Save me, then, from discouragement, and
Above all, from rancor and bitterness.
With confidence, with filial trust because You said,
“Come
to Me, All you who labour
and are heavily burdened,
and I will give
you rest.” (Mt 11:28)
I come, O Lord,
As one sick to his physician,
As one poor and needy to the Lord of
Heaven and earth.
Deign to cure my sickness.
To clothe my nakedness.
To You I come for mercy.
To You I uncover my wounds.
To You I bare my shame.
Erase all the evil of sin from my soul, and
Banish all evil desires from my heart.
Grant that I may see
in all things…
In good and in ill health.
In joy and sorrow.
In the thorn and in the rose.
Grant that I may see the value of suffering.
How it tries my virtue.
How it molds my character.
How it checks the fire of temptation.
How it makes me conscious of my weakness.
How it leads to an eternal reward.
Grant, O Dearest Jesus, that I may walk,
Walk and not falter, walk and not give up when I am weary.
Grant me, O Lord, the grace to accept with patience
the monotony
of daily tasks, to embrace with
Resignation the fatigue and exhaustion
of days too long and
too full for my physical strength.
Grant me the ability to relax and be calm
in the thought of
Your Love,
to find rest in the assurance that
You are with me and in me.
Amen
(Reprinted from the sentinel of the Blessed Sacrament)
