The Simple Power of Adoration

In April 2017, I went on my first overnight retreat with my youth group. I was new to the parish community and had no idea what to expect, especially because I did not have any deep connection to my faith. I had a lot of trust in my youth ministers who encouraged me to be open to what this experience could bring me, and I did just that (at least within the limits of my control-freak mind).

On Saturday night, we had a holy hour with the Blessed Sacrament. I had never gone to a Holy Hour before, other than a few times at my parish after Mass, but it was not enough for me to actually comprehend what was in front of me.

This Holy Hour was special because it included a healing procession where the priest walked to each individual person and had the Blessed Sacrament inches away from their face. As the priest came closer to my row I felt my heart pounding. My mind spun, and I was overwhelmed with expectations. But, eventually, the monstrance was in front of me.

And there I was. Just me and Him. The song “Oceans” by Hillsong United played in the background, and the words “for I am Yours, and You are mine” kept repeating over and over. Those five seconds felt like minutes. Then the moment passed, and the priest went onto the next person. The rest of the Holy Hour, I tried to wrap my head around what I had experienced. The moment was so peaceful, yet so exhilarating, and it left me wanting more. In that moment, I knew that even though I did not know where to go next, that this was something I needed to explore.  

Time in Adoration is that simple. All I did was show up, and God did the rest. When reflecting on this moment five years later, I remember the theme of the retreat, “I Thirst.” This is based on St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s reminder of how God thirsts for mankind. This was the first encounter I had where Christ made this evident for me, but it has changed a lot as I have started college. I feel like I have been able to accept the fact that I am His, and He is mine and I could just sit in the silence and dwell in it and that’s enough. There is no expectation on what I need to bring Him, because all I need to do is just show up. Even if I’m there for five minutes, or for an hour, I feel like a completely different person each and every time. It is nothing that I do or control, it is just being in His divine presence. 

The greatest gift we have as Catholics is to adore the beauty and simplicity of the Eucharist. The fact that we could sit in front of Jesus, who gave himself for us and wants to heal our thirsting souls is special. There is no doubt in my mind that I will cherish it for the rest of my life, and I hope you are able to do the same.

If you are looking for Adoration on campus it is available on Tuesdays in St. Joseph’s Chapel from 11:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Come as you are and see what happens. You never know what the beauty of the Eucharist will inspire.