PERPETUAL ADORATION- by Deacon Doug

PERPETUAL ADORATION is expressed when a parish has a chapel or sets aside a small prayer room that is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day with permanent exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.All that is needed is for each of us to be willing to spend just one hour - once a week - with Jesus so we can organize every hour in such a way that every hour is covered with at least one person in the chapel at all times so that Jesus is never left alone and together as a people of God we profess our faith and our love in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II says that our communal love for Jesus at Mass must go together with our personal love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in order that OUR LOVE FOR JESUS MAY BE COMPLETE. Jesus stays with us day and night in the Blessed Sacrament to call us back to himself that we might spend some quiet time with Him in order to deepen our union, our friendship, our personal relationship, and our intimacy with Jesus - Our Savior. This is why Pope John Paul II says: "Jesus waits for you in this Sacrament of His Love" where he repeats His timeless appeal " Could you not watch one hour with Me?"

This hour Jesus wants you to spend with Him is spent anyway you want to:with your own favourite prayer book or reading the Holy Bible or praying the Holy Rosary. When we pray the Rosary in the presence of the Blessed SacramentWE LOVE JESUS with the HEART OF MARY who makes up for everything that is lacking in us. It is as if Mary herself were making the Holy Hour, or you may be so tired or troubled or worn out that you may want to do NOTHING but just sit and relax and enjoy the sweet peace that comes from simply being with the one who loves you the most Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.Even if you think you can't pray very well because you are easily distracted and get restless the mere fact that you get into your car and go to the chapel IS IN IT SELF A PRAYER OF FAITH

Because of this great joy you give to Jesus He blesses the whole world during your Holy Hour of prayer.There is a marvellous devotion called Divine Mercy which our Pope, John Paul II has approved. It was St. Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament that Jesus appeared to.St. Faustina saw that 'every Holy Hour made 'in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament the Divine rays from Our Lord would go out from the chapel and encircle the entire earthwhere 'every man, every woman and every child on the face of the earthwould experience a new effect of God's grace.' As scripture reminds us Jesus spent nights in prayer.

Pope John Paul II is a inspiration. According to a Cardinal who is with the Holy Father all day, the Pope, John Paul II begins his day with a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament and ends his day with a Holy Hour, plus one night every week he prays all night before the Blessed Sacrament.This sacrifice is so meritorious in the eyes of God that the Pope says "Those who stand before the Lord "with this sacrifice" are fulfilling an eminent service. They are presenting to Christ all those who do not know Him or who are far from Him! They keep watch in His Presence on their behalf.

On the Cross Jesus took our place with His sacrifice. Those willing to make a sacrifice for Jesus take the place of the ones in the world that are in most need of God's mercy and bring down upon these souls in most need of God's mercy the Precious Blood of Jesus so that they come back to the arms of God and go to Heaven instead of going to hell. This is why spending an hour with Jesus in the middle of the night, says the Pope "is the most charitable activity we can do for humanity." The mission of Jesus is to save the world and everybody in the world. For scripture says that "God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, not to condemn the world but to save the world." This is whyJesus said "If I be lifted up I will draw all men to Myself." On the Cross Jesus was lifted up in hatred. Through perpetual adoration we lift Him up in love drawing down upon the whole world all the graces that He won for us on Calvary.

This is why Pope John Paul II says "The church and the world have a great need for adoration because this is what will bring about God's kingdom on earth and an everlasting peace to all mankind."Those who come to the Lord in perpetual adoration will bring about "The radical transformation of the world.""For what we await are new heavens and a new earth." (2Peter 3:13)The Pope exclaims that "We are a religion of Glory."

When we give Jesus the glory He deserves through perpetual adoration then the world will betransformed by the all powerful love of the Blessed Sacrament into a new a second and a more glorious earthly paradise by Jesus who says "SEE I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW."

God Bless,

Deacon Doug