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Cardinal Edwin F. O'Brien (1939 to Present) Grand Master Emeritus, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher
"Many seminarians volunteer the fact that
they discovered their vocation through devotion to the Blessed Sacrament in
parishes where Eucharistic adoration was regularly scheduled with special
prayers for vocations. Nationally, I am told that there are dioceses such as
Wichita, where an abundance of priestly vocations can be traced to
diocesan-wide Eucharistic adoration. Nor do I think it a coincidence that
the three parishes in our Archdiocese with the most success at present in
"growing" seminarians for Baltimore all offer parishioners opportunities for
Eucharistic adoration outside of Mass."
Cardinal Telesphore Toppo (1939 to
Present) Archbishop Emeritus of Ranchi, India
"In my pastoral letter on the Eucharist I
urged the community to encourage others to become devoted to (the Blessed
Sacrament)... It is fantastic to see how in our diocese of Ranchi, and even
in the most distant villages of Jharkhand, people visit these chapels at
every hour of the day... People of every age come: from teenagers and young
adults to the elderly... The laity's love for the Eucharist is edifying."
Cardinal Sean Brady (1939 to Present) Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh, Ireland
"Adoration
of the Eucharist reminds us of the importance of the Sacrament of the
Eucharist in our faith, a faith which will lead us to bring the message of
Christ to our homes, our families, our communities and our world."
"The Church exists to evangelize - to preach Jesus. Anything else is
Narcissism - self serving and self-centred. The Message must be brought, not
only to the ends of the earth but to the margins of society. Not only to
the poor but to the ignorant, those who now do without God, those who are
suffering and outcast and weak, to those who are in any kind of misery. That
will take zeal. It will take strength of faith and the fire of love. That
sort of strength can only come from contemplation and adoration of Jesus
Christ."
Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan (1939 to Present) Archbishop Emeritus of Santa Fe,
New Mexico
"To
appreciate the Eucharist more I encourage visits to our churches and
Perpetual Adoration Chapels to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament
and receive God's graces. Pray for priestly vocations so that we will have
sufficient priests for Mass now and in the future."
(Source: Archbishop Sheehan's 2005 Pastoral Letter
on Reverence for the Eucharist
Bishop Joseph Charron (1939 to Present) Bishop Emeritus of Des Moines,
Iowa
"Growing in the awareness of the
all-abiding presence of Christ, I encourage all to strive to include more
time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Simply going to your parish
Church and spending some time in prayer and contemplation, knowing of
Christ's presence in the Blessed Sacrament, helps us to nurture our
relationship with the Lord."
(Source: Bishop Charron's 2004 Pastoral Letter
titled "Do This in Memory of Me"
Bishop Joseph A. Galante (1938 to 2019) Bishop Emeritus of Camden, New
Jersey "I want to strongly exhort our priests and people
to consider encouraging and supporting the practice of praying before Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament. It requires at times a sacrifice of time, of
presence, but that sacrifice offers an added grace. It is an opportunity for
us to follow the exhortation to die to ourselves so that we may live more
fully in Jesus."
Bishop Ruben T. Profugo (1938 to 2014) Bishop Emeritus of Lucena,
Philippines "Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration has made my
diocese safe from the violence that previously threatened to tear it apart.
Both the priests and the laity credit Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration for
protecting the diocese from the reign of communism and for bringing about
peace and order. We put all our faith and trust in the omnipotent power of
His love in the Blessed Sacrament and He did not fail us. The point I want
to make is that Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is not static, but
dynamically active. He is the Good Shepherd. He does not take people away
from the Sacraments, but rather, He is the one who brings them back. He does
not make people weary, but refreshes them and makes them strong. He is the
Lord of lords and King of kings. It is not dangerous to have Perpetual
Eucharistic Adoration, but rather, it is dangerous not to have it, because
He is the only one who can protect and restore, heal and unite us."
Cardinal Francis George (1937 to 2015) Archbishop Emeritus of Chicago and Cardinal
"This is a real
presence which includes every dimension of who Jesus is: body and blood,
human soul and divine person. The consecrated Eucharistic species are the
Lord and therefore command our adoration. We do not adore ourselves, nor the
ordained priest, nor the Bible, even though these are vehicles for Christ's
spiritual presence; we do adore the Eucharist, this blessed sacrifice made
really present sacramentally."
"Our lives are transformed through
frequent contact with the Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament. It is
impossible to spend extended periods of time with Christ, adoring him,
thanking him and uniting our wills to his, and not have him change our
lives. One of the most encouraging developments in the prayer life of the
archdiocese in recent years is the growth of Eucharistic Adoration in the
parishes." "Objections to Eucharistic adoration come from a
misreading of history and from erroneous sacramental theology. Because
adoration of the Lord in the Eucharist arose in an era when people did not
receive Holy Communion every Sunday, the practice of adoration is sometimes
dismissed as an aberration, a substitute for receiving Communion. This is
not a Catholic reading of history. The development of devotion to the Lord
in his Eucharistic presence is not a "falling away" from some imagined
pristine purity; it is evidence of a greater appreciation of who the
Eucharist is... Likewise, adoration of the Lord in the Sacred Host is not in
competition with the liturgical action of the Sacrifice of the Mass. To
speak disdainfully, as some occasionally have, of "objectifying" Christ in
the Host is to speak heretically. Pope Paul VI wrote: "The Catholic
Church 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" (Mysterium fidei, 56). It seems
strange to me that we should lift high the book of Gospels, which remains
only a book, but be embarrassed to elevate the consecrated host, which is
the Body of the Lord. It is a good thing to find a prominent and visible
place in the church for the blessed oils and consecrated chrism which are
used in the sacraments, but they remain oil and chrism; how strange it is
that we should be fighting over whether or not people should be able to spot
without too much inconvenience the place where the Eucharist is reserved.
The Eucharist is a mystery of faith; to dismiss Eucharistic adoration is to
weaken the faith."
Peter
Kreeft (1937 to Present) Catholic Theologian, Apologist, Professor, and author
"Adoration will heal our Church and thus our nation and thus our
world...When we adore, we plug into infinite dynamism and power. Adoration
is more powerful for construction than nuclear bombs are
for destruction."
Cardinal Roger Mahony (1936 to Present) Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles
"Each season of the liturgical year
(Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time) can be marked by a
special opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration. The seasons of Advent and
Lent are particularly appropriate times to bring the hopes and longings of
the whole world and our own hearts before the Most Blessed Sacrament."
(Source: Cardinal Mahoney's 2000 Pastoral Letter
"As I have done for you : a pastoral letter on ministry"
Cardinal Ivan Dias (1936 to 2017) Prefect Emeritus of Congregation For The Evangelization Of Peoples
"The secret of (our Saints) resounding success was the many hours they spent
in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. They could well be role models for
priests and bishops today...As we are immersed in the darkness
of spiritual and moral ills all around us, would it not be wonderful if
bishops and priests all over the world would spend an hour in praise and
worship before the Blessed Sacrament everyday interceding for themselves,
for the faithful entrusted to their pastoral care and for the needs of the
whole Church? Their flocks would certainly be edified and encouraged at
seeing their shepherds practicing what they preach on devotion to the
Blessed Eucharist."
Cardinal Justin Rigali (1935 to Present) Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"Devotion to the Eucharist leads one to a devotion
to life and a devotion to life leads one to the Eucharist. We receive our
strength for our labors for life from the Good News of Jesus Christ and from
Holy Eucharist."
"(Eucharistic Adoration outside of Mass) is an
emerging sign of the times, confirmed in the experience of many bishops
throughout the world. Bishops are very pleased about where this is going. It
leads people back to the sacrament of reconciliation, to greater solidarity
with each other, and to more active participation in the Mass."
"We are sent out from the
Eucharist to contribute to the building up of the Body of Christ, and we
return in Eucharistic adoration. The Eucharist is the center of our life
because Jesus is the center of our life. So, he said, Eucharistic adoration
is a powerful incentive to service to those in need. In the Eucharist, we
live Christ's life and fulfill His words to worship the Father 'in spirit
and in truth'."
"Flowing from our celebration of the Mass, the abiding gift of Jesus in
the Eucharist calls us to deepen our love and devotion for the Most Blessed
Sacrament through Eucharistic adoration."
(Source: Cardinal Rigali's Pastoral Letter "Called
to Conversion and Holiness" - October 19, 2010
"The importance of
the graces that are received for the living and the dead by the internal and
external participation of all the members of the Church in the Eucharistic
assembly cannot be over-emphasized. Nor can the importance of prayer before
the Blessed Sacrament, of Eucharistic adoration, Eucharistic exposition, the
Eucharistic holy hour, visits to the Blessed Sacrament..."
(Source: Cardinal Rigali's Homily June 19, 2008 on Vatican website -
https://www.vatican.va)
Archbishop Jose G. Martin Rabago
(1935 - Present) Archbishop Emeritus of Leon,
Guanajuato, Mexico "It is urgent to undertake a renewal of
nocturnal (Eucharistic) adoration that, while respecting its style, will
allow for the integration of a scheme of prayer more adapted to the
spiritual sensitivity of our time."
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (1934 to
Present) Secretary Emeritus of the Secretariat of State
"(It is so important) to
dispense in full the Word of God...especially to the younger generation and
help to rediscover the true value of the liturgy, maintaining devotion to
the Virgin Mary, the Patron Saints and Eucharistic Adoration in particular."
Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa (1934 to
Present) Priest of Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
"Sometimes Eucharistic contemplation just means keeping Jesus company, being
there under His gaze, giving Him the joy of contemplating us, too. Although
we are but useless creatures and sinners, we are still the fruit of His
passion for whom He gave His life."
"To engage in Eucharistic
contemplation means then, concretely, to establish a heart to heart contact
with Jesus really present in the Host and, through him, to be raised to the
Father in the Holy Spirit . . . Eucharistic contemplation is to look at one
who is looking at me."
"It is by staying still, in silence, and possibly for
long periods, before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament that we perceive what He
wants from us, put aside our own plans to make way for His, and let God's
light gradually penetrate the heart and heal it."
Cardinal Giovanni B. Re (1934 to
Present) Dean of the College of Cardinals
"Those who believe in the Eucharist never feel alone in life.
They know that in the dimness and in the silence of all the Churches there
is Someone who knows their name. And before the tabernacle, everyone can
confide whatever is in their heart and receive comfort, strength and peace
of heart."
Cardinal Claudio Hummes (1934 to 2022) Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation For The Clergy
In December 2007 Cardinal Claudio wrote to every Bishop in the world urging
Eucharistic Adoration by the laypeople to pray for Priests. "We intend in a
very particular way to entrust all priests to Mary, the Mother of the High
and Eternal Priest, bringing about in the Church a movement of prayer,
placing 24 hour continuous Eucharistic Adoration at the centre, so that a
prayer of adoration, thanksgiving, praise, petition, and reparation, will be
raised to God, incessantly and from every corner of the earth, with the
primary intention of awakening a sufficient number of holy vocations to the
priestly state."
"We can not live, we can not
look the truth about ourselves without letting ourselves be looked at and
generated by Christ in daily Eucharistic Adoration, and the 'Stabat' of
Mary, 'Woman of the Eucharist', beneath the Cross of his Son, is the most
significant example is given to us for contemplation and worship of the
Divine Sacrifice."
Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez
(1933 to Present) Archbishop Emeritus of Guadalajara, Mexico
"The Church plunges into the new millennium with renewed hope, adoring the
Eucharistic Jesus, who is the light and life of humanity's pilgrimage... At
the outset of this new millennium, we need a forthright and joyous
proclamation of our faith in Jesus Christ, who enlightens this new phase of
history: Prayer before Jesus Christ in the Eucharist."
Bishop Luca Brandolini (1933 to Present) Bishop Emeritus of Sora-Aquino-Pontecorvo, Italy
"The abandonment of Eucharistic Adoration, or
ignorance of its importance, is a grave loss that compromises the very
identity of the Church."
Fr. Stefano Manelli (1933 to Present) Italian Priest
founder of the Franciscan Friars Of The Immaculate
"The Saints, being far advanced in the practice of love, were faithful and
ardent adorers of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Importantly, Eucharistic
adoration has always been considered as the closest likeness we have to the
eternal adoration which will make up our whole paradise. The difference lies
only in the veil which hides the sight of that divine Reality of which faith
gives us unwavering certainty."
"Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
has been the fervent devotion of the Saints. Their adoration lasted hours
and hours, sometimes whole days or nights. There 'at Jesus' feet' like Mary
of Bethany (Luke 10:39), keeping Him fond and intimate company, absorbed in
contemplating Him, they surrendered their hearts to a pure and fragrant
offering of adoring love."
"The devotion to the Eucharist, together
with the devotion to the Blessed Mother, is the devotion of Paradise,
because it is the devotion which the Angels and Saints of Heaven also have."
Cardinal Joachim Meisner (1933 to 2017) German Cardinal and Archbishop of Cologne
"At the World Youth Day in Cologne... there was Adoration, a silence in which only the Lord spoke to the heart... that reception must be worship, has now become very clear."
"On his last morning, Cardinal Meisner did not appear at Mass; he was found dead in his room with his Breviary having slipped out of his hands, praying as he died, looking at the Lord."
Cardinal Francis Arinze (1932 to Present)
Prefect Emeritus, Congregation for Divine Worship & Discipline of the
Sacraments
"All time, all history belongs to God. Every instant
should be spent in adoring and praising Him and rejoicing in His presence."
"Gradually in the Church of the Latin
Rite from the Middle Ages, Eucharistic devotion has developed in such forms
as visits to the Most Blessed Sacrament, personal and group Holy Hour of
Adoration, and Eucharistic Benediction, Procession and Congress. None of us
should behave as if he or she had outgrown such manifestations of faith and
had no need of them. I mention in particular Eucharistic adoration as
encouraged by Pope John Paul II and by the Synod of Bishops of October 2005.
Some parish priests have been surprised by their parishioners signing up for
adoration at all hours of day or night. I was told about a Congregation of
Sisters in Mexico which has kept up perpetual adoration for 130 years,
including the years of persecution. Genuine Eucharistic faith never fails to
manifest itself."
"...I saw the chapels which exposed the Blessed Sacrament all day and sometimes night.
Thank God for all that, because the hours we spend in front of the Most Holy Eucharist are invaluable."
"Liturgical institutes should also help the people to better appreciate
the link between, on the one hand, the celebration of the Eucharistic
Sacrifice and, on the other hand, respect for and adoration for the Holy
Eucharist outside the Mass, by promoting practices such as the visit to the
Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharistic Blessing, Eucharistic Adoration,
processions or Eucharistic Congresses (cf.
Redemptionis
Sacramentum, nn. 129-145)."
Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins (1932
to Present) Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
"Just as Jesus stays in the sacrament after the
(Eucharistic) celebration too, it is necessary for us to stay with him, (in
Eucharistic) adoration that is prolonged through time."
Archbishop Alfred Clifton Hughes
(1932 to Present) Archbishop Emeritus of New Orleans, Louisiana
"I encourage you to... visit Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Christ granted
the request of his disciples on the road to Emmaus, and under the forms of
bread and wine, his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity really do 'remain with
us'. Of course, the disciples were only echoing the similar request that
Jesus had made in Garden of Gethsemane to Peter, James and John when he
asked them to remain with him, to stay and pray with him for one hour (Mt
26:37-40). Now... we have the opportunity to do what the apostles failed to
do that night, to remain with Him in Eucharistic Adoration..."
Bishop Gabriel Piroird (1932 to 2019) Bishop Emeritus of
the Diocese of Constantine, Algeria Bishop Piroird has commented
that even non-Christians, such as the Muslims in his diocese, have found
comfort in Eucharist Adoration - "In the
measure that they cannot participate frequently in the Eucharistic
celebration, some give more time to Eucharistic Adoration; they discover the
density of a Real Presence that gives strength to their daily lives."
(Source: Vatican website, Synod of October 2005 -
www.vatican.va)
Bishop Javier EchevarrÃa (RodrÃguez) (1932 to 2016) Prelate of Opus Dei
"The Christian path is essentially
the path of the theological virtues: the fruit of supernatural knowledge
(faith), of a loving tension towards the infinite Good that is the Blessed
Trinity (hope), and of communion in charity. And its most sublime expression
is Eucharistic adoration, because in it we are adoring God just where he has
chosen to come closest to us. At the same time, and for the same reason, it
proves to be the best means of growing in those three virtues."
Bishop Michael Angelo Saltarelli
(1932 to 2009) Bishop Emeritus of Wilmington, Delaware
"When we rekindle our Eucharistic amazement and devotion (such as
Eucharistic Adoration) then our marriages in turn are rekindled. Vocations
to the priesthood and religious life are rekindled. A missionary spirit and
evangelization are rekindled..."
(Source: Bishop Saltarelli January 25, 2008
Pastoral Letter
Cardinal Edward Egan (1932 to 2015) Archbishop Emeritus of New
York and Cardinal
"For with extraordinary solemnity they (the Council of Trent) approved and encouraged
'adoration' of the Blessed Sacrament at all times....
It follows, therefore, that just as we move into a more loving relationship with our Eucharistic Lord when we share in His sublime,
sacrificial prayer at Mass, so too we move into a more loving relationship with Him when we kneel in prayer before Him present in the
tabernacles of our churches and chapels. We are there. He is there. We speak to Him. He speaks to us. Love is exchanged, and the miracle
of growth in holiness is worked quietly, tenderly, powerfully.
There is, of course, no one simple formula for attaining sanctity through the Eucharist. Learning more about this incredibly marvelous
gift of the Lord is a first step. Frequent participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is another. And spending time in quiet, loving
prayer before the Blessed Sacrament is a third."
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor (1932 to 2017) English Cardinal and Archbishop of Westminster
"Behind the warmth of his charming personality dwelt a man completely devoted to prayer, who sat in silence before the Blessed Sacrament and opened his heart to our Lord, establishing a daily rhythm of evening Eucharistic Adoration in the Archbishop's chapel."
Cardinal Camillo Ruini (1931 to 2026) Vicar General Emeritus of Rome, Italy
"In the prolonged silence of the Adoration
young people have a better opportunity to have a personal relationship with
Christ and God the father
Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza
(1931 to 2022) Archbishop Emeritus of
the Archdiocese of Gavelston-Houston, Texas "Devotion to Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament has a long and fruitful tradition in the Church. On many occasions
I have urged that each parish have at least a weekly time set aside
particularly for Eucharistic adoration. I repeat this urging with the
request that time be made for adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist every day.
Over twenty parishes have perpetual adoration and I hope many more will
begin this beautiful devotion. If for good reason this cannot be achieved, I
hope every parish will provide daily opportunities for parishioners, 'to
spend time in spiritual converse, in silent adoration, in heartfelt love
before Christ present in the Most Holy Sacrament'."
Cardinal Ricardo Jamin Vidal (1931 to
2017) Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu, Philippines
"Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is the solution to our
problems of declining vocations."
"If we are willing only to do what
is ordinary then we can only expect God's ordinary blessings. Only when we
are willing to do the extraordinary are we guaranteed of obtaining God's
extraordinary blessings. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is
absolutely the extraordinary effort that God is asking for today in order
that He may bestow upon mankind His extraordinary blessings. When we are
willing to do on earth what is done in heaven, ie., adore God perpetually,
then God will create a 'new heaven' and a 'new earth'."
Archbishop Albert K. Obiefuna (1930
to 2011) Archbishop Emeritus of Onitsha, Nigeria
He encouraged Eucharistic Adoration for everyone. Chapels of Perpetual
Eucharistic Adoration were built in the parishes of the two dioceses he was
privileged to shepherd. He himself became a perpetual adorer and insisted on producing enlightened and conscientious laity...
Back to Top Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos
(1929 to 2018) President Emeritus of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei"
"How do we obtain the Spirit of Christ, who makes us witnesses of his gift, if we
do not return to the frequent and regular practice of individual Confession,
and if we do not return to the experienced and lived celebration of the
Mass, prolonged in Eucharistic adoration, which must once more have a place
and time in our daily schedule?"
Archbishop John F. Donoghue (1928
to 2011) Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Atlanta,
Georgia
"I just think the Lord is blessing us in this way (with many vocations) for
adoring him in the Eucharist. I believe that we are doing so well in this
regard (vocations) because the Lord is thanking us in a way for (all of our
Eucharistic Adoration)."
"God has given us the life and death and
resurrection of His Son. Now we must respond by giving ourselves devotedly
to His real presence."
Cardinal Jan Pieter Schotte (1928 to 2005) President Emeritus of the Office Of Labor Of The Apostolic See "
If you want to have a true relationship with God, you have to go down on your knees
before God."
Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan
(1928 to 2002) President of the Pontifical
Council for Justice and Peace Eucharistic Adoration brings
great consolation especially during times of extreme hardship. The Servant
Of God, Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan, was imprisoned by the communists in
Vietnam for 13 years. Under the cover of darkness, unbeknownst to his
captors, he managed to say Mass every night for his fellow prisoners and
even held Eucharistic Adoration. He stated: "At night, the prisoners took
turns and spent time in adoration. The Blessed Sacrament helped
tremendously. Even Buddhists and other non-Christians were converted. The
strength of the love of Jesus is irresistible. The darkness of the prison
turned into light, the seed germinated silently in the storm."
Bishop Raymond E. Goedert (1927 to
2023) Auxiliary Bishop
Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois "Jesus
has singled you out and commissioned you to attract other people who will be
as devoted to the Eucharist as you are, people who will be willing to spend
quality time in the presence of Jesus. The more you spread devotion to the
Eucharistic Presence, the more you get others to pray for the conversion of
us priests, the more will the wounds in today's Church be healed. Pray for
priests. Pray for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious
life. You, the laity, have the power to save the Church!...What a mission he
has entrusted to you! What a privilege that He has asked you to join with
Him in saving the Church!"
Bishop Thomas Vose Daily (1927 to 2017) Bishop Emeritus of Brooklyn, New
York
"It is a time to renew our adoration of the one Lord, Jesus Christ, in the
Eucharist. Jesus has loved us so much that every day, all day, he makes
himself available in his Real Presence, under the appearance of bread and
wine. Can you love anyone more totally than to give yourself completely to
the beloved? Only God can do that, and we are his beloved."
"I challenge you to adore Jesus Christ perpetually in the Eucharist...If you
accept perpetual adoration, there will be a multitude of vocations...I think
we have to be serious about the Eucharist and our faith...(Perpetual
Eucharistic Adoration could be) the most important solitary program in this
diocese now and in the future." "The Rosary, especially prayed in the
presence of the Blessed Sacrament, is a powerful means of spiritual grace.
In all of our efforts to promote the sanctity of human life, prayer is our
first and strongest resource. May we rely upon the power of our Lord's
presence in the Blessed Sacrament and the intercession of His Blessed Mother
to guide and help us in fostering a greater respect for human life and an
end to abortion in our society."
S.D. Silvio Galli
(1927 to 2012) Italian Salesian Priest
"To visit the Blessed
Sacrament is to visit Jesus, who is always waiting for us in the tabernacle.
He is there to listen to us, to comfort us, to bless us, to inspire us, to
challenge us, to transform us. He is there to offer us his grace, his mercy,
his peace, his joy, his love. He is there to invite us to share in his life,
his mission, his passion, his resurrection. He is there to make us his
friends, his disciples, his apostles, his saints."
(Source: "Eucharistic Spirituality" bk. by Servant
of God Fr, Silvio Galli, 2021, 9th chapter titled "Visits to the Blessed
Sacrament", pub. Salesian Publishing House, Rome, Italy (According to Bing AI)
)
S.D. Vincenzo Cozzi
(1926 to 2013) Bishop Emeritus of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa, Italy
""Eucharistic adoration is the heart of Christian life, because it is the encounter with
the living Christ, who gives himself to us as food and drink, as light and
love, as strength and joy."
(Source: "Eucharistic Adoration: The Heart of
Christian Life" by Bishop Vincenzo Cozzi, 2019, page 9, pub. Pauline Books
and Media)
S.D. Gilberto Maria Delfina (1925 to 2004) Brazilian priest and founder of the Fraternity Jesus The Savior
(Salvists) "To visit the Blessed Sacrament is to visit Jesus, who
loves us and calls us to follow Him. It is to visit the One who gave His
life for us on the cross, and who rose from the dead to give us hope. It is
to visit the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It
is to visit the One who is our Savior, our Lord, and our Friend."
(Source: "The Eucharist: The Heart of the Church"
by Fr. Gilberto Maria Delfina, 1997, p. 123. pub. Ignatius Press
(According to Bing AI)
Cardinal Jozef Tomko (1924 to 2022) President Emeritus, Pontifical Committee for IEC
"(At your Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration) do you know how to adore? It is
simple: like the simple peasant of Ars, of the parish of St. John Vianney
who stayed a long time in front of the tabernacle, doing what? Nothing
special - 'I look at Him and He looks at me.' You can try it: start to look
and think that He is looking at you. When your gaze crosses, you are at the
beginning of a new adventure in your life."
Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua
(1923 to 2012) Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania and Cardinal
"Because Eucharistic Adoration is an intense encounter with Jesus Christ,
many find that such extended periods of prayer make them somehow different,
somehow better. People who pray regularly before the Blessed Sacrament
become more tranquil, more patient, more charitable and more forgiving.
Actually, they become more holy. No matter what attracts people to come to
Eucharistic Adoration, many are learning that prayer before the Blessed
Sacrament can and will transform them and make them more like Christ."
S.D. Mother Angelica (1923 to 2016) Founder of the EWTN
Catholic Television Network "The greatest thing in
the world that you can do is to encourage others and yourself to participate
in perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It is the real presence of
Jesus on earth. The blessings that come upon you and your family will be
phenomenal."
Fr. Richard Foley, S.J. (1922 to 2003) Jesuit Priest and Catholic author "We pay the
Blessed Sacrament the supreme homage of divine adoration and worship
(latria), because He who is there present is the God of heaven and earth,
the all-holy Word-made-flesh, our first beginning and our last end."
S.D. Chiara Lubich (1920 to 2008) Laywoman, Italian Teacher, author,
founded the Focolare Movement "In silent adoration we
stand before the mystery, like Mary when the shepherd came and told her what
they had seen and heard: 'She kept all these things, pondering them in her
heart'."
1910s
Back to Top Fr. Jean Galot, S.J. (1919 to 2008) Theologian and Professor at Gregorian
University "By His Eucharistic presence, Christ dwells in
our midst. Out of love He has enriched the Church with His unceasing
presence. As God in former days dwelt in the temple of Jerusalem, He now
lives in our churches and chapels. He invites us to remain in close contact
with Him. Through Eucharistic adoration we concentrate our attention on Him
as we yield to the fascination of His invisible gaze. Opening our heart, we
entrust all our petitions to Him."
Cardinal Avery Dulles (1918 to 2008) Cardinal Deacon Emeritus of Santissimi Nome di Gesù e Maria in Via Lata
"Christ is present by his dynamic power and action in all the sacraments, but in the
Eucharist, His presence is, in addition, substantial. For this reason, the
Eucharist may be adored. It is the greatest of all sacraments."
Cardinal Edouard Gagnon (1918 to 2007) President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Family
"Many of the laity in all parts of the world have asked their priests to re-establish
Holy Hours, the Forty Hours devotion, First Friday adoration, and perpetual
or night adoration. The faithful would like to see their priests in silent
(and, I would say, willing) adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, for the
priest who spends time in adoration celebrates Mass with more piety and with
more edification of the faith of the people."
"It is not true that
the Council has invited priests to abandon the daily visit to the Blessed
Sacrament. It invites them, rather, to 'prize daily conversation with Christ
the Lord in visits of personal devotion to the most Holy Eucharist' (P.O.,
no. 18). "
S.D. Giuseppe Aveni (1918 to 2010) Italian Priest and a missionary in the Phillipines
"The tabernacle is the throne of God, where He reigns with His love
and mercy. There He waits for us, there He listens to us, there He speaks to
us, there He grants us His grace. Let us not neglect this precious gift, let
us not be indifferent to this divine presence. Let
us visit Him often, let us adore Him, let us love Him, let us make Him known
and loved by all."
(Source: "Servant of God Giuseppe Aveni: A Life of
Prayer and Charity" by Fr. Giuseppe Maria Zanghi, 2013, p. 87, pub.
Rogationist Publications, Phillipines (According to Bing AI)
Ven. Enrichetta Beltrame Quattrocchi (1914 to 2013) Holy Laywoman
"The visit to the Blessed Sacrament is not only a duty of
gratitude and reparation, but also a source of grace and blessing. It is a
privileged moment to encounter the Lord, to listen to His voice, to learn
from His teachings, and to receive His strength and peace. It is also an
opportunity to intercede for the Church, for the world, and for our brothers
and sisters in need. The visit to the Blessed Sacrament is a powerful means
of evangelization and apostolate, because it makes us more like Christ, who
came to serve and not to be served."
(Source: "The Hour of Presence" booklet by
Enrichetta Beltrame Quattrocchi, 1981, p.13, pub. Pontifical Council for the Laity (According to Bing AI)
)
Fr. Roland Huot (1910 to 2006) Superior General Emeritus of the Congregation Of The Blessed Sacrament
"Adorers are among those towards whom Saint Joseph tends to be partial. They
can count on him first of all because they are seeking a master who will
teach them how to offer worship to God and share his function of helper of
the Universal Church as they kneel before the Blessed Sacrament." (From the
article "St. Joseph and the Adorer")
"The purpose of exposition (of
the Blessed Sacrament) is not only to awaken a sense of wonderment and
adoration as we dwell on the reality of the presence of Christ before us. It
also brings to mind the benefits that can be derived... it is often said
today that through exposition we are exposed to the Blessed Sacrament in
such a way as to receive the abundant fruits that come with the life-giving
Presence of Christ given for the life of the world."
Cardinal Jan Pieter
Schotte (1928 - 2005)
Cardinal of San Giuliano dei Fiamminghi
" If you want to have a true relationship with God, you
have to go down on your knees before God."
Cardinal Avery Dulles
(1918 - 2008)
Cardinal of Santissimi Nome di Gesù e Maria in Via Lata i
"Christ is present by his dynamic power and action
in all the sacraments, but in the Eucharist, His presence is, in addition,
substantial. For this reason, the Eucharist may be adored. It is the
greatest of all sacraments."
Cardinal Anthony J.
Bevilacqua (1923 - 2012)
Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia
"No matter what attracts people to come to
Eucharistic Adoration, many are learning that prayer before the Blessed
Sacrament can and will transform them and make them more like Christ."
Cardinal Edward Egan
(1932 - 2015)
Archbishop Emeritus of New York
"...we move into a more loving relationship with
(Jesus) when we kneel in prayer before Him present in the tabernacles of our
churches and chapels. We are there. He is there. We speak to Him. He speaks
to us. Love is exchanged, and the miracle of growth in holiness is worked
quietly, tenderly, powerfully."
Cardinal Francis George
(1932 - 2015)
Archbishop Emeritus of Chicago
"Our lives are transformed through frequent
contact with the Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament. It is impossible to
spend extended periods of time with Christ, adoring him, thanking him and
uniting our wills to his, and not have him change our lives."
Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos
(1929 - 2018)
Cardinal of Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano
"How do we obtain the Spirit of Christ, who makes
us witnesses of his gift, if we do not return to the frequent and regular
practice of...Eucharistic adoration, which must once more have a place and
time in our daily schedule?"
Cardinal Camillo Ruini
(1931 - Present)
Vicar General Emeritus of Rome, Italy
"In the prolonged silence of the Adoration young
people have a better opportunity to have a personal relationship with Christ
and God the father."
"If we are willing only to do what is ordinary
then we can only expect God's ordinary blessings. Only when we are willing
to do the extraordinary are we guaranteed of obtaining God's extraordinary
blessings. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is absolutely the
extraordinary effort that God is asking for today in order that He may
bestow upon mankind His extraordinary blessings."
Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins
(1932 - Present)
Cardinal Bishop of Palestrina
"Just as Jesus stays in the sacrament after the
(Eucharistic) celebration too, it is necessary for us to stay with him, (in
Eucharistic) adoration that is prolonged through time."
Cardinal Francis Arinze
(1932 - Present)
Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship
"All time, all history belongs to God. Every
instant should be spent in adoring and praising Him and rejoicing in His
presence."
Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez
(1933 - Present)
Archbishop Emeritus of Guadalajara, Mexico
"The Church plunges into the new millennium with
renewed hope, adoring the Eucharistic Jesus, who is the light and life of
humanity's pilgrimage... At the outset of this new millennium, we need a
forthright and joyous proclamation of our faith in Jesus Christ, who
enlightens this new phase of history: Prayer before Jesus Christ in the
Eucharist."
Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa
(1934 - Present)
Priest of Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
"It is by staying still, in silence, and possibly
for long periods, before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament that we perceive
what He wants from us, put aside our own plans to make way for His, and let
God's light gradually penetrate the heart and heal it."
Popular Adoration Quotes
"Adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, the source of eternal life." Pope Leo XIV
"Each time we adore Christ in the Eucharist, our hearts will be united in him." Pope Leo XIV
"The Christian life needs to be nourished..., above all, by the cultivation of a
personal relationship with the Lord in Eucharistic adoration." Pope Francis
"God is waiting for us in Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us not leave
him waiting in vain! Let us not, through distraction and lethargy, pass by the
greatest and most important thing life offers us." Pope Benedict XVI
"Help us, Jesus, to understand that in order "to do" in your Church we must
first learn "to be", that is, to stay with you, in your sweet company, in
adoration." St. Pope John Paul II
"God deserves too much from us for us to be able to throw to him a few crumbs
of our time and our heart. It would not be wise to give so much of ourselves to
(wordly) things and little of ourselves to Jesus." Bl. Pope John Paul I
"Being such a powerhouse of grace, Perpetual Adoration extends its influence far
beyond the individual adorers, touching their homes and families and reaching out
to the parish community and beyond." St. Pope Paul VI
"There are even some who (falsely) look upon a Holy Hour of adoration as of minor
importance. There is no doubt that a flood of graces will descend upon your family
and the world if more souls would become docile pupils of adoration." St. Pope John XXIII
"Those who, especially in the silent hours of the night, gather together in
(eucharisitc) adoration, draw abundantly for themselves and for all the Church
waters from the fountains of the Savior." Ven. Pope Pius XII
"(Jesus asked) that men...make expiatory supplications and prayers, prolonged for a
whole hour, which is rightly called a Holy Hour. These pious exercises have been
approved by the Church and enriched with copious indulgences." Pope Pius XI
"You must propagate veneration of the Most Blessed Sacrament with all your might,
for the devotion to the Holy Eucharist is the queen of all devotions." Pope Benedict XV
"The daily adoration or visit to the Blessed Sacrament is the practice which is the
fountainhead of all devotional works." St. Pope Pius X
"Undertakings must be revived (such as) intercessory prayers before the blessed
Sacrament exposed for the veneration of the faithful (and) devout visits to God's
tabernacle." Pope Leo XIII
"The single greatest need in the world today is the practice of prayer before the
Blessed Sacrament...there is no greater profession of faith (or more) powerful
means on earth for the conversion of America." S.D. Fr. John Hardon
"Every Holy Hour we make so pleases the Heart of Jesus that it will be recorded in
Heaven and retold for all eternity." St. Teresa of Calcutta
"A Holy Hour is not a devotion; it is a sharing in the work of redemption." Ven. Abp. Fulton Sheen
"A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent in sweetly
communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament." St. Padre Pio
"A Holy Hour before the Most Blessed Sacrament so pleases the Heart of Jesus, that
every man, woman and child on earth receives a new effect from God's goodness and
love, all because of a single hour of adoration in His Presence." St. Faustina Kowalska
Through Holy Hours of prayer a multitude of souls go to Heaven who otherwise would
have gone to hell as one person can make up for what is lacking in the lives of
others by winning graces for their salvation. Bl. Dina Belanger
"There are two things the devil is deadly afraid of: fervent Communions and frequent
visits to the Blessed Sacrament." St. John Bosco
"I am fully convinced that if it were humanly possible to fully understand the value
of a Holy Hour everyone would make time to do it." St. Peter Julian Eymard
"Have a Holy Hour every week. Start praying. Pray for guidance and trust in God." St. John Vianney
"You may be sure that of all the moments of your life, the time you spend before the
divine Sacrament will be that which will give you more strength during life and
more consolation at the hour of your death and during eternity." St. Alphonsus Ligouri
"My greatest happiness is to be before the Blessed Sacrament, where my heart is, as
it were, in Its center." St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
"A partial indulgence is granted for the faithful, who visit the Most Blessed
Sacrament to adore it; a plenary indulgence (under the usual conditions) is granted
if the visit lasts for at least one half an hour." The Handbook of Indulgences
"If we get in front of the sun, we get sun tans... But when we get in front of Jesus
in the Eucharist, we become Saints." Bl. Carlos Acutis
"Each time you approach the Blessed Sacrament remember that Jesus has been waiting
for you for twenty centuries for this personal visit from you." St. Joseph Escriva
"The Eucharistic visit for the apostle is like an audience, or a school, where the
disciple engages in conversation with the Divine Master...The visit has the scope
of establishing our lives in Jesus Christ." Bl. James Alberione
"Like the sick who expose their diseased bodies to the healing rays of the sun,
expose miseries, no matter what they are, to the beams of light streaming forth
from the Sacred Host." Fr. Jose Guadalupe Trevino
"My aim is to institute Perpetual (Eucharistic) Adoration, for this is the most
important activity." St. Maximillian Kolbe
"We show our adoration by going to visit Christ in the tabernacle or exposed in the
monstrance. Would it not indeed be a failing in respect to neglect the divine Guest
who awaits us? He dwells there, really present." Bl. Columba Marmion
"The goal of every human life should be the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament." St. Charles de Foucauld
"The Holy Eucharist visited us daily becomes our heaven...Jesus awaits your
adoration in the Eucharist." St. Luigi Guanella
"Heaven for me is hidden in a little Host Where Jesus, my Spouse, is veiled for love.
I go to that Divine Furnace to draw out life, And there my Sweet Savior listens to
me night and day." St. Therese of Lisieux
"The Blessed Sacrament is the first and supreme object of our worship. We must
preserve in the depths of our hearts a constant and uninterrupted, profound
adoration of this precious pledge of Divine Love." St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier
"How happy I was, alone in the presence of our good Saviour! Oh, what joy one tastes,
and what illumination one receives at the feet of the Eternal; above all, in the
silence of night." S.D. Marie-Eustelle Harpain
"Visit the Blessed Sacrament often; there is your true life...Be special adorers of
the Divine and Blessed Sacrament of the Altar." St. Paul Of The Cross
"Do not fail to adore the Most Holy Eucharist, which is the principal and the
greatest devotion, and the one that all Catholics ought to have...Perform your
adoration, therefore, with care and fidelity." S.D. Mechtilde of the Blessed Sacrament
"I often speak with my teacher, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, because I learn from
Him. Jesus is the teacher of the science of holiness. I go to Him because I would
like to learn from Him how to become a Saint." St. Francis de Sales
"In this world it is impossible for all subjects to speak with their king. But
everyone who wishes can find Jesus, the King of Heaven, in the Blessed Sacrament,
and may speak with Him without restraint." St. Teresa Of Avila
St. Thomas Aquinas use to spend many hours in adoration before our beloved Lord. He
once said that he learned more from prayer before the Blessed Sacrament than from
many hours of study. St. Thomas Aquinas
"Gaze upon Him (in Eucharistic Adoration), consider Him, contemplate Him, as you
desire to imitate Him." St. Clare of Assisi
"I beg you to show the greatest possible reverence for the Eucharist through whom
all things have been brought to peace and reconciled with Almighty God." St. Francis of Assisi
"What excuse shall we have, or how shall we obtain pardon, if we consider it too
much to go to Jesus in the Eucharist, who descended from Heaven for our sake?" St. John Chrysostom