Quotes On The Importance Of Eucharistic Adoration

Back to Top
Bl. Colomba of Rieti (1467 to 1501)
Dominican Tertiary, Mystic, and Apostle of the Poor
From her infancy, Colomba led a supernatural life, and the Holy Eucharist formed her sole desire and almost her only nourishment. If her reception of Holy Communion was delayed by even an hour, she would faint from exhaustion. When her confessor, fearing some spiritual delusion, asked how she could live on the Blessed Sacrament alone, she replied:

"When I receive this heavenly food, I feel so satisfied in soul and body that all desire for earthly food vanishes, and I have a horror of it."

To remove his doubts, she prayed for a sign, and on Christmas Day, after celebrating his third Mass, the priest felt such a powerful, supernatural refreshment of soul and divine love that he was physically unable to touch any food for the rest of the day, thus experiencing how she was sustained by the Bread of Angels alone.

(Source: Dominican Order historical records, early biographies compiled in her "Vita", and her beatification acts by Pope Urban VIII in 1625)

Back to Top
St. Nicholas of Flüe (1417 to 1487)
Swiss Hermit, Ascetic, and Patron of Switzerland
Better known as "Brother Klaus," Nicholas lived for 20 years in the Ranft forest as a hermit with absolutely no food or drink except for the Holy Eucharist, which he received with deep devotion. When closely examined by local civil and ecclesiastical authorities about how he survived, he explained that he was sustained solely by the supernatural strength he received when receiving Holy Communion and when adoring the Blessed Sacrament. He prayed his celebrated daily prayer before the altar:

"My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from You. My Lord and my God, give me everything that draws me to You. My Lord and my God, take me away from myself, and give me entirely to You."

(Source: Documented in Swiss historical records, contemporary testimonies of Protestant historian Johannes von Müller, and his papal canonization acts by Pope Pius XII in 1947)

St. Casimir (1458 to 1484)
Prince of Poland and Lithuania, and Patron of Youth
Despite being a mighty prince, the son of King Casimir IV, Casimir chose a life of extreme penance, humility, and celibacy. He possessed a profound, burning love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and developed a fervent practice of adoring Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament. He spent a great part of his nights in prayer, and he would frequently kneel for hours in adoration on the hard ground outside the locked doors of churches, regardless of the freezing weather, waiting with intense longing for them to be opened at dawn so he could attend Mass.

(Source: Papal canonization acts by Pope Adrian VI in 1522, and the apostolic address of Pope John Paul II in 1984)

St. James of the Marches (1391 to 1476)
Franciscan Friar, Preacher, and Companion of St. Bernardine of Siena
A close companion of St. Bernardine of Siena and St. John of Capistrano, James was one of the great apostles of Eucharistic devotion in the Franciscan reform. He preached throughout Europe on reverence for the Holy Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and he spent long hours in prayer before the tabernacle. His missionary zeal flowed from his intimate union with Christ hidden in the Eucharist:

"In the Sacrament of the Altar, Christ is truly present; therefore we must adore Him with the greatest reverence and receive Him with a pure heart."

(Source: Franciscan hagiographical chronicles, early biographies, and his papal canonization by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726)

Back to Top
St. John of Sahagún (1419 to 1479)
Augustinian Priest, Preacher, and Apostle of Peace
Also known as John of Saint Facundo, he was renowned for his extraordinary, burning love for the Holy Eucharist, which was the source of his courage as a fearless preacher and peacemaker. He spent his nights in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. During his celebration of the Holy Mass, he was frequently granted the mystical grace of seeing the Sacred Host resplendent in radiant glory, and on several occasions, he beheld the very bodily form of Christ at the moment of consecration. Because of these intense ecstasies, his Masses became proverbially long. He is traditionally depicted in sacred art holding a chalice surmounted by a radiant Host.

"The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the source of all my strength and the fire that enkindles my soul to seek peace and justice for all."

(Source: Early hagiographies written by John of Seville, Augustinian monastic chronicles, and his papal canonization by Pope Alexander VIII in 1690)

St. John Cantius (1390 to 1473)
Polish Priest, Scholar, and Professor of Theology
A brilliant professor at the Kraków Academy, John was deeply devoted to the Holy Eucharist, which was the center of his hidden life of prayer. Every single day, immediately after completing his university lecture duties, he would go straight from the lecture hall to the church. There, he would spend long hours in silent contemplation and prayer before the hidden Christ of the Eucharist in the tabernacle.

(Source: Early biographies by Michael Miechowita, Jagiellonian University archives, and his papal canonization by Pope Clement XIII in 1767)

Ven. Thomas à Kempis (1380 to 1471)
Canon Regular, Spiritual Writer, and Author of The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis wrote one of the most widely read spiritual classics in history, The Imitation of Christ. Book Four of this masterpiece is entirely dedicated to the Holy Eucharist and adoring the Blessed Sacrament. He writes of the Sacrament with incredible warmth and intimacy, encouraging the faithful to seek Jesus at the altar above all else:

"Many run to diverse places to visit the memorials of departed Saints... But here in the Sacrament of the Altar, Thou art present altogether, My God, the Man Christ Jesus; where also abundant fruit of eternal life is given to every one soever that receiveth Thee worthily and devoutly."

(Source: "The Imitation of Christ", Book IV: "On the Blessed Sacrament", Chapter I, and historical records of the Canons Regular of the Windesheim Congregation)

Back to Top
Cardinal Juan de Torquemada (1388 to 1468)
Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina, Rome, Italy
"The faithful should visit the most holy sacrament of the altar frequently and devoutly, not only on solemn feasts, but also on other days, especially on Sundays and holy days, and at any time of the day, as long as the church is open. For this is the most excellent and most beneficial devotion, by which the faithful are united to Christ, their head, and receive from him grace and spiritual gifts. By this devotion, they also honor the memory of his passion and death, and give thanks for his immense love. By this devotion, they also make satisfaction for their sins and obtain the remission of the temporal punishments due to them. By this devotion, they also implore divine mercy and protection against all the evils and dangers of this life. By this devotion, they also prepare themselves for the future life and for the glorious resurrection of the body."

(Source: Cardinal Juan de Torquemada's treatise "De Eucharistia contra Hussitas (On the Eucharist against the Hussites)", 1439 (Transl. by Bing AI 2023) )

St. Catherine of Bologna (1413 to 1463)
Poor Clare Nun, Mystic, Writer, and Artist
Catherine entered the Poor Clares at a young age, where she made rapid spiritual progress but faced terrible inner trials. She underwent a profound spiritual crisis, spending years in the "night of the spirit," where she was tormented by severe demonic assaults and, most painfully, by the temptation of disbelief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. After much suffering, the Lord consoled her. In a spectacular vision, He granted her a dazzling, clear awareness of the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament—an awareness so brilliant that she was unable to express it in words. She went on to write her famous spiritual treatise, "The Seven Spiritual Weapons", where she lists the Holy Eucharist as a primary defense against evil.

(Source: Her autobiographical and didactic treatise "The Seven Spiritual Weapons", early biographies, and her papal canonization by Pope Clement XI in 1712)

Back to Top
St. Rita of Cascia (1381 to 1457)
Mother, Widow, Stigmatist, Consecrated Religious
She spent her free time in church speaking to the Prisoner of Love on the altar when she was a child. As a wife and mother, her chief delight was to receive into her loving heart the divine Spouse of her soul. Later on, as a nun, she spent whole nights prostrated before the Tabernacle. Yet no matter what duties she was called on to perform, she always loved going to Eucharistic Adoration.


St. John of Capistrano (1386 to 1456)
Franciscan Friar, Preacher, and The Soldier Saint
A close companion of St. James of the Marches and a student of St. Bernardine of Siena, John drew his immense apostolic zeal from the Eucharist, spending long hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament or a crucifix each night. In his famous treatise, "Mirror of the Clergy", he wrote of the holiness required of those who approach the altar:

"Those who are called to the table of the Lord must glow with the brightness that comes from the good example of a praiseworthy and blameless life... By the brightness of their holiness they must bring light and serenity to all who gaze upon them."

(Source: His treatise "Mirror of the Clergy", Franciscan Order historical chronicles, and his papal canonization by Pope Benedict XIII in 1724)

St. Lawrence Justinian (1381 to 1455)
First Patriarch of Venice, Bishop, and Spiritual Writer
Lawrence was renowned for his profound, intense love for the Eucharist, often spending entire nights in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He held the Holy Mass in the highest possible regard, writing extensively about the infinite spiritual graces that flow from the altar:

"There is no prayer or good work so great, so pleasing to God, so useful to us, as the Holy Mass... No human tongue can enumerate the favors which emanate from the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The sinner is reconciled with God, the just man becomes more upright, sins are wiped away, vices are uprooted, virtue and merit increases and the devil's schemes are frustrated."

(Source: His spiritual treatise "On the Holy Mass", early biographies, and his papal canonization by Pope Alexander VIII in 1690)

Back to Top
St. Colette of Corbie (1381 to 1447)
Abbess and foundress of the Colletine Poor Clares
"My eyes, I have filled with Jesus upon Whom I have fixed them at the Elevation of the Host at Holy Mass and I do not wish to replace Him with any other image."

(Source: Catholic Fire blog - https://catholicfire.blogspot.com/)

St. Bernardine Of Siena (1380 to 1444)
Italian Priest and Franciscan Missionary
"Prayer is the best preparation for Holy Communion. Prayer is the raising of the mind to God. When we pray we go to meet Christ Who is coming to us. If our Creator and Savior comes from heaven with such great love, it is only fitting that we should go to meet Him. And this is what we do when we spend some time in prayer."

(Source: Catholic Quotations website - https://catholicquotations.com/)

Bl. Ferdinand Of Portugal (1402 to 1443)
Prince of Portugal
Bl. Ferdinand spent as much time as he could in adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament especially during the Easter Triduum when his habit was to be constantly in adoration from Holy Thursday to Easter.


St. Frances of Rome (1384 to 1440)
Laywoman, Benedictine oblate, mystic and founder of the Olivetan Oblates Of Mary
"I have been in the habit of visiting the Blessed Sacrament every day for a long time, and I find great consolation in doing so. I feel as if I were conversing with my dearest friend, who loves me more than anyone else, and who knows all my needs and desires. I pour out my heart to him, and he listens to me with infinite mercy and compassion. He gives me light, strength, peace, and joy. He fills me with his grace and his love. He is my refuge, my hope, my all."

(Source: "Lettere di S. Francesca Romana" book by Fr. Giuseppe Silos in 1658 (translated by Bing AI 2023) )

Back to Top
St. Vincent Ferrer (1350 to 1419)
Valencian Dominican friar, preacher and missionary
"We should also visit him frequently in the churches where he is reserved, and we should spend some time in his presence, meditating on his mysteries, praising his goodness, and asking for his mercy."

(Source: "Treatise on the Spiritual Life" by St. Vincent Ferrer, translated by Father Kevin O'Sullivan, O.P, 2006, p. 23, Loreto Publications (According to Bing AI) )