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Adoration Times
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (St. Mary)
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM (St. Cecilia - Parish Holy Hour from 7-8 PM)
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What is Eucharistic Adoration
Eucharistic Adoration, also called Eucharistic Exposition, is a solemn time of prayer in the presence of Jesus Christ, who is truly present sacramentally in the Eucharistic Species. As Catholics, we believe that, at the Mass, through the ministry of the priest, Jesus Christ truly becomes present in a real and sacramental way in the bread and the wine. The substance of bread and wine are changed and both become a totally different substance: the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
This is another way that Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, has "incarnated" Himself for our sakes. Not only is the Eucharist consumed at Mass, but it is also very fitting for us to pray in the presence of the Eucharistic species (pray in the presence of Jesus) outside of Mass. St. John Paul II said in his encyclical letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia: "The worship of the Eucharist outside of the Mass is of inestimable value for the life of the Church."
There are many hymns and prayers associated with Eucharistic Adoration. Here are two common hymns, which are actually abbreviated versions of hymns which were written by St. Thomas Aquinas for the Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus (Corpus Christi).
O Salutaris Hostia English Translation O salutaris Hostia,
Quae caeli pandis ostium:
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria.
Amen.O saving Victim, opening wide
The gate of Heaven to man below;
Our foes press hard on every side;
Thine aid supply; thy strength bestow.
To thy great name be endless praise,
Immortal Godhead, One in Three.
Oh, grant us endless length of days,
In our true native land with thee.
Amen.
Tantum Ergo English Translation Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Præstet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.
Genitori, Genitoque
Laus et iubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.
Amen.Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
Lo! o'er ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.
To the Everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Ghost proceeding
Forth from Each eternally,
Be salvation, honour, blessing,
Might, and endless majesty.
Amen. -
Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1378
In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. "The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession."
