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Eucharistic Adoration
Eucharistic Adoration is held
Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM in the Chapel.
Rosary at 8:30PM.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish
Jesus Christ is always present and active in His Church: in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, the teaching of the faith, the apostolic work of the Church’s ministers and people – indeed in the whole life of the Church, which is His Mystical body. As Sacrosanctum Concilium (the Second Vatican Council’s document on the Sacred Liturgy) teaches:
“…Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, "the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross,” but especially under the Eucharistic species. By His power He is present in the sacraments, so that when a man baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes. He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20).” [SC No. 7]
In this paragraph from the Second Vatican Council, we discover the four ways in which Jesus is present in the Liturgy: (1) in the person of the priest, who stands in the person of Christ, the Head of the Body, the Church; (2) in the assembly of Christ’s faithful gathered to worship God; (3) in the Word of God proclaimed; and (4) especially in his Body and Blood, under the form of bread and wine, in the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life, as Vatican II teaches. In the Eucharist, Christ is present to us in a unique way. In the Eucharist, Jesus is really and substantially present with us, in His very Body and Blood. Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist is an abiding presence. He remains present as long as there remains any of the sacred species. Jesus remains with us in the Blessed Sacrament, which is reserved in the tabernacle and exposed for Adoration.
During Eucharistic Adoration, the Blessed Sacrament (a Host consecrated at Mass) is displayed in a special vessel called a Monstrance (from the Latin verb monstrare, “to show”). The Monstrance is placed on the Altar for the adoration of the faithful, who come to pray and to spend time resting in the Lord’s presence.
There is an intimate connection between Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. The Host consecrated at Mass is adored outside Mass. Jesus, who becomes present with us at Mass, remains with us and shares Himself with us when we come to adore Him.
St. Augustine taught: "no one eats this flesh without first having adored it.” During the Mass, the priest elevates the consecrated Host, then the chalice, then both the Host and the chalice for the doxology, and then both again immediately before Communion. Each time, the faithful gaze upon the presence of Jesus and adore Him. This adoration which naturally comes in the Liturgy is continued in Eucharistic Adoration outside of Mass.
Often, a period of Adoration is concluded with a ritual called Benediction. Benediction includes a hymn, a verse and prayer, a blessing with the Monstrance, and the Divine Praises, a special prayer of praise to God and of honor to Mary and the Saints. The priest holds the Monstrance with a special vestment called a Humeral Veil.
For a study of the history of Eucharistic Adoration in the life of the Church,
please read the work of Father John A. Hardon, S. J. at:
For more information and inspiration regarding Eucharistic Adoration, please visit:
Please consider coming to pray and spend time with Our Lord, present in the Blessed Sacrament. Eucharistic Adoration at Saint Michael Church is held every Thursday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, in the Daily Mass Chapel, unless otherwise announced. When the priest is available, Benediction is celebrated at 8:45pm.
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