Eucharistic Adoration

[ICTHUS]

Having converted from a non-denominational church, I know the Catholic belief on communion, and I agree with it.

However, what still irks me is Eucharistic Adoration. I haven't read any patristic evidence that says that we should be bowing down to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Theoretically, I can see where we get the idea from. If the Eucharist truly is Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, then He ought to be worshipped for what He is. But as a former evangelical my imagination still sees it as idolatry.

Can anyone help me out here? Anyone have a similar story about Eucharistic Adoration they'd like to share?

[VeraMaria]

If you were standing in front of Jesus, wouldn't you fall to your knees? I know I would! (though i'd probably fall flat on my face).

So that's what we do, though it's rather a slight bow instead of a fall to your knees type of thing....(should be, shouldn't it :D ?)

Imagine, you're STANDING right in front of JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jesus is there, physically present.

I understand why it might seem like idoltary, because it looks as if you're bowing to material things. But you're not.

This probably doesn't help/explain anything , just putting in my two cents! ;)

[Anna]

"Would you not wait one hour with me?"

You may not find writings by the Early Church Fathers regarding adoration...and then again you may...It is a Tradition of the Church, and Our Lord Himself has requested such adoration when appearing to various saints and mystics.

He condescends to come to us. How little we appreciate that Condescension.

And yeah, I don't give Him a little bow, I fall to my knees.

"My Jesus I trust in Thee," St. Faustina

"My God, My God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament," St. Bernadette

"Love is not loved," Mother Angelica

I'll see if I can find any writings for you supporting adoration.

Pax Christi. <><

[Jake Huether]

Oh my,

ICTHUS, type in "Eucharistic miracles" in yahoo.

There's on in particular which gives me chills! About a robber who came into the Church and stole a Consecrated host (the Body of Christ). He tossed it out the window of his car on the way. The priest in charge called the cops and asked the cop to drive him somewhere (my memory escapes me). But anyway, they end up finding the Body of Christ levetated and shining, exactly where the theif had tossed it! The cop was converted!

There's many more.

This is God!

[Jake Huether]

Just a note:

The Jews prolly find it particularly idolotrous (sp?) to bow down to a human (Jesus). We know Jesus to be God. Yet, how can God be a human. non-Catholics stumble on the same thing Jews do: the idea that our God can do ANYTHING - which includes humbling himself to become take the form of a human, and at the last supper further humbling himself to take the form of bread and wine!

[VeraMaria]

I tried to find the site about the robber but couldn't find it.

Any chance you know the link?

I founs ome really amazing ones though! B)

[cmotherofpirl]

If you believe in the Real Presence, then you should be flat on your face before He who made all the stars and other twinkly things.

You are on Holy Ground.

[Katholikos]

This Is My Body, This Is My Blood, Miracles of the Eucharist Eucharistic Miracles by Joan Carroll Cruz, TAN Books, 1987.

Do you receive EWTN? Watch Bob and Penny Lord, or you can order their videos on the subject of eucharistic miracles. They take you there, tell the story, show the evidence. Or, you can read their book, This Is My Body, This Is My Blood, Miracles of the Eucharist available from Journeys of Faith, Slidell, Louisiana, 1-800-633-2484.

The eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, Italy in 700 A.D. is very compelling. It has been examined by scientists. The findings:

-The flesh is real flesh. The blood is real blood.

-The flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart (myocardium)

-The flesh and blood belong to the human species

-The flesh and blood have the same blood type (AB)

-In the blood, there were found proteins in the same normal proportions as are found in the sero-proteic makeup of fresh, normal blood

-In the blood, there were also found these minerals: Chlortides, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.

-The preservation of the flesh and blood, which were left in their natural state for twelve centuries without any chemical preservatives and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon.

The Lords write: "It's impossible to truly appreciate the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano without seeing the impact it has on those who witness it. All questions and doubts about the physical presence of Jesus in the Eucharist become a matter of rhetoric when you're privileged to witness those who have seen the miracle. They descend the steps in tears. Many go down on their knees at the sight of the miracle. What had possibly been curious doubting Thomases become dumbfounded, awestruck believers.

Eucharistic miracles abound. Some very recent ones have been documented in the U.S.

A bishop has approved the eucharistic miracle in Betania, Venezuela. The story and the bleeding Host are on video as well, entitled "Betania."

When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead" Rev 1:17.

JMJ Likos

[Anna]

ICTHUS,

I think this is what you may be looking for:

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/pe...pea/history.htm Peruse this site, there is lots more info and history on the Eucharist!

I liked these sites as well:

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/tes/a7.html

http://www.catholiccollegestudents.org/dom...nicaecenae.html

http://www.catholiccollegestudents.org/ecc...ucharistia.html

Enjoy the read...

There will be quiz when you're finished.

ha ha! Not! :P

[KennC]

There's on in particular which gives me chills! About a robber who came into the Church and stole a Consecrated host (the Body of Christ). He tossed it out the window of his car on the way. The priest in charge called the cops and asked the cop to drive him somewhere (my memory escapes me). But anyway, they end up finding the Body of Christ levetated and shining, exactly where the theif had tossed it! The cop was converted!

Hey, this happened real close to Lethbridge Alberta (an hours drive from here), in fact the robber turned out to be vandals who decided to steal the Tabernacle. After they broke into it they found one of the big hosts and through it out. When they threw it out it was raining and yet the host was intact and dry. Ideed it was levetating at the side of the road and the cop did convert.

Peace, Ken

[M.SIGGA]

When I first started going to Eucharistic adoration I could not fathom sitting down and looking at the host and praying. I went to an evangelical protestant private school for 8 yrs before transferring to a Catholic HS and I carried a lot of their religious instruction in my mind that such things look a little bit idolotrous, esp w/ the huge golden monstrance that is used in my parish. I never went to adoration until college b/c my mom used to go to adoration after midnight when all her kids were asleep. I don't think I might have ever really started going if my college chaplain didn't ask me to try it out. Now I can't wait until Monday night when I am scheduled to go! The only way you are going to overcome doubts about the Blessed Sacrament and adoring our Lord in the Eucharist is by going and talking to Jesus about it himself - he is really there and you will feel his power moving through you when you adore Him. If you find it hard praying in front of a monstrance, just find a church where the Blessed Sacrament is kept inside and pray in front of the tabernacle.

God Bless

[Uncle Gus]

My upbringing was not overly Catholic, and so I missed out on a few things. I wasn't confirmed until I was seventeen. I had never prayed the Rosary until I was eighteen. And I had never even heard of Adoration until I was seventeen. When I first heard of it (which was not too long after I actually found out that the Eucharist is the Flesh and Blood of Jesus, don't ask me how I missed that one), I was ill at ease. Something inside me was shouting "idolatry!" But as soon as the priest brought out that Host, and everyone fell to their knees, I knew. "My Lord and my God, that's truly you!"

[Dave]

I hope all of y'all who have parishes nearby that celebrate Eucharistic adoration regularly realize how fortunate y'all are. The parish in the town where I'm going to move is locked during the day and doesn't celebrate adoration anyway. But the same thing is true of the parish where I live currently (except that it has once-a-month adoration). I miss adoration! :(

[Aloysius]

"Love is not loved," Mother Angelica

i love Mother Angelica but

the original quote belongs to St. Francis.

but it's still an amesome quote, as he would wonder village to village crying out "love is not loved" about the Holy Eucharist not being adored

[Jake Huether]

I hope all of y'all who have parishes nearby that celebrate Eucharistic adoration regularly realize how fortunate y'all are.  The parish in the town where I'm going to move is locked during the day and doesn't celebrate adoration anyway.   But the same thing is true of the parish where I live currently (except that it has once-a-month adoration).  I miss adoration!

Hey Dave, think of it as working ground!

Maybe you can talk them into having an adoration time!

I'm going to see about starting one at the Parish nearest my home (I go to a Parish a little further away that I grew up in).