Eucharistic Adoration in Indianapolis

The First Eucharistic Congress in 83 years concluded Sunday, July 21st in Indianapolis. Its purpose has been to revitalize Catholics’ belief in the true presence of the Eucharist. As members of the Order of Malta, we strive to receive the Eucharist with the utmost frequency, but how often do we spend time with our Lord in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament? 

St. Teresa of Calcutta said of Adoration, “the time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in heaven and will help bring everlasting peace on earth.” 

We are encouraged by the Catechism (#1418), “To visit the Blessed Sacrament . . . is a proof of gratitude, an expression of love, and a duty of adoration toward Christ our Lord.” 

So many popes and saints have exhorted us to spend time with our Eucharistic Lord. Pope Pius X taught that it was the devotion “most profitable for our salvation.” St. Gemma Galgani treasured it as “the school of paradise where one learns how to love,” while St. John Vianney stated, “We should consider those moments spent before the Blessed Sacrament as the happiest of our lives.” And finally, Padre Pio is quoted as saying, “A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent in sweetly communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.” May we all be inspired by the example of the saints who have gone before us to adore our Eucharistic Lord.