Posted on 01/30/2005 6:27:26 PM PST by Catholic54321
MAPLE LAKE, Minn. - The ancient Roman Catholic ritual in which someone continuously adores the Eucharist, the wafter at the heart of the Catholic Mass, is making a comeback in St. Timothy's Catholic Church here, and nearly 40 other churches in the state.
"It's a bottom-up phenomenon," said John Boyle, a professor of theology and Catholic studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. "It's been remarkable over the past 20 years to watch it grow, especially the past 10 years."
The practice is known as "perpetual adoration" and was once the purview of nuns and monks, but now in churches from International Falls to Sleepy Eye candles and lights blaze through the night for the faithful.
On a recent morning at St. Timothy's, there's a neighborliness and informality to the ritual. Howard Selander, 77, kneels while his wife, Lucille, 72, chats with Dale Bothun, a teacher who had the previous shift before they begin.
They tend the candles, do a rosary and pray for the sick then stair straight at the Eucharist, the blessed bread Catholics believe is the body of Jesus which is enshrined in a glass case flanked by flickering candles. It's 12:38 a.m.
"Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of Hell," Lucille Selander said, rocking as she says the first of many repetitions of the prayer. "Lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy."
The Selanders were probably not the only people performing the ritual in Minnesota that morning. The Rev. Victor Warkulwiz, a Pennsylvania priest who travels the country to help start adoration programs, said the ritual is making a comeback in the state.
"The Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul ... probably has the most chapels of perpetual adoration of any archdiocese in the country. It's one of the most fruitful areas for this anywhere," he said.
Warkulwiz has been in Minnesota every weekend this month.
People from around the world call Minnesotans for tips in starting their own programs. Peggy Powell, coordinator of one of the state's longest-running adorations at Epiphany Catholic Church in Coon Rapids, has taken some of those calls.
"I think we're going to have an explosion this year," Powell said. "People are just calling out of the woodwork. It's amazing."
Things are more formal at Epiphany in Coon Rapids; there's no chitchat in the chapel where Paulette Nelson, 62, has a weekly morning adoration on Tuesdays.
Her voice drops to a hush as she enters and signs the log book. She genuflects at the back of the chapel, bows her head and kisses the chapel floor.
"It's just as if Jesus were standing there," Nelson said, reflecting the Catholic view that Jesus is actually present. "You wouldn't go in and walk by him."
Throughout the Roman Catholic church's long history, perpetual adoration has rarely been widespread, so religious studies experts consider it astounding that it's made a resurgence in Minnesota. Parishioners call it miraculous.
"It's very interesting. I don't know what to make of it," said Randall Balmer, who heads the Religious Studies Department at Barnard College in New York. Balmer partly attributed the movement to the conservative influence of Pope John Paul.
In 1991, the pope began perpetual adoration at the Vatican and urged parishes everywhere to do the same.
The practice of perpetual adoration flowered in the Middle Ages in some European areas, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia. For most of the past century many U.S. parishes had certain times for round-the-clock adoration, but didn't do it year-round.
There are now 728 adoration chapels in the United States, according to the Real Presence Association of Chicago, a Catholic nonprofit that tracks and promotes adoration.
The Rev. Thomas Wilson, director of vocations for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, said the number of Minnesota chapels that practice the ritual has doubled in the past 10 years or so.
Warkulwiz and the Real Presence Association's Carol Seydel both said that Minneapolis-St. Paul's archbishop, the Rev. Harry Flynn, has been a strong supporter of the practice.
But the Rev. Joseph Johnson, assistant chancellor for the archdiocese, said there was also a divine influence. He said parishioners must take the lead in making adoration work, regardless if church leaders support the practice.
"This is not something the priest can walk in and say, 'Gee, folks, this is what we're going to do,'" Johnson said. "This is not for the weak-kneed. It takes sacrifice and commitment."
The loss of faith in the Real Presense of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is self evident in the many priests, and (sadly) some bishops who share this fate.
Much confusion and ambiguity cloud the issue in terms of what is taught to the young, and to converts. It is expressed in some catechism texts, sermons, extemporized mass prayers, hymns, etc. It is also self-evident in modern churches & wreckovated old ones.
Sadly, very few parishes actually have Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. Most do not even have Benediction. Public devotions are normaly somewhere between being literally supressed. and treated with a sort of benign neglect - at best. They are usually not discused - their benefit to the soul not preached about, and they are certainly not encouraged for the most part.
:)
-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)
Nobody is attempting to suppress the dogma of the Real Presence.
For my part, I'm not so sure any longer.
Some recent polls suggest only 30% of Catholics believe in Real Presence. To be sure 1) they don't seem to differentiate between regular mass-goers and not and 2) Modernity itself conspirees against any belief in the supernatural.
But it strikes me that there is an ongoing effort to reconstitute sacred architecture and liturgy in ways which demean the Eucharist, especially at the expense of a focus on the congregation: moving the tabernacle out of the central place of honor; frowning upon more humble ways of receiving it (kneeling, or on the tongue); standing during consecration; omission of the canon; and so forth. I don't know if it's a conspiracy; but if some prelates, clerics and liturgists truly believe in the Real Presence, they have an odd way of showing it. Deep down, you wonder what some really believe.
But I must also say that the rise of adoration chapels and perpetual adoration - even in many seemingly liberal dioceses and parishes - is encouraging as a counter-trend.
Once again, the Holy Father shows the way.
Augusta GA, is not a huge metropolis but we have 2 parishes in this area with 24/7 perpetual adoration. One is in its 8th year.
Not surprisingly, vocations are flourishing.
It is a fitting receptacle for the oldest known eucharistic miracle, located in Lanciano, Italy. You can read about it at these links:
The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano
Eucharistic Miracle - Lanciano, Italy
>>Idol worshipers.<<
Why thank you so much for your opinion!
We just love to hear from people who have no tact and come onto a Catholic thread to blast our beliefs. I'm sure I will see you on the Jewish threads blasting theirs, NOT!
What is the difference between Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration and 40 Hours?
One is limited to 40 hours, the other is intended to be perpetual (24/7/365).
Our Parish has had a "Perpetual Adoration" Chapel for more than 20 years.
With the exception of a few brief periods each day, Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament is presented live via webcam from the Chapel of Divine Love in Philadelphia, PA - a source of perpetual Eucharistic adoration by the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters since 1916.
Not that I doubt the good intentions of the sisters, but it kind of creeps me out in that there is no way to know if one is behaving reverently in front of their computer screen.
As though it hasn't been going on for years.
Atlanta Vocations Boom Attributed to Adoration
Our retiring archbishop has been a force for good orthodox teaching and practice here. The new man has quite a big set of shoes to fill.
Our parish's monstrance. No Perpetual Adoration here, but First Fridays and various special occasions like the Two Hearts devotion.
A good first step ... on of the big problems in getting a Perpetual Adoration approved is demonstrating that your group can keep the chapel "manned" 24/7/365.
Hah! Today is a good day. I just learned something.
When did you last receive Communion on the tongue?
Yesterday. In my regular, Arlington Diocese Parish.
Why has the tabernacle been removed from its central place of honor in the sanctuary?
It hasn't. I'll give you one guess as to where the Tabernacle is in my just built, regular Arlington Diocese Parish church.
Why were the words "Mystery of faith" transposed from the liturgical text in such a way as to NOT refer to the reality of Transubstantiation?
Because the ICEL translators are idiots (at best). I can think of far worse descriptions of them, but charity and unwillingness to violate the 8th Commandment require that I keep my speculations to myself.
I can happily report this was not our experience when my wife and I converted from the ELCA 10 years ago. Our priest at that time made sure we understood that faith in the Real Presense was key. For us, once that bridge of faith was crossed, it became impossible to be anything but Catholic. Believing in even just the possibility, how can one conciously then settle for anything less? I'm also happy to report that our small Minnesota parish has begun Perpetual Adoration two days each week. It is a great blessing to be able to participate.
Thanks!
Our parish is observing 40 hours this year. We are working with another parish who has Perpetual Adoration. I'm impressed!
>>"When did you last receive Communion on the tongue?"
Yesterday. In my regular, Arlington Diocese Parish.<<
Me too! Our priests actually lift the host to the lips of the person. We also receive in both forms, as the host is dipped into the Blood of Christ.
>>"Why has the tabernacle been removed from its central place of honor in the sanctuary?"
It hasn't. I'll give you one guess as to where the Tabernacle is in my just built, regular Arlington Diocese Parish church.<<
Check this out... 
>>"Why were the words "Mystery of faith" transposed from the liturgical text in such a way as to NOT refer to the reality of Transubstantiation?"
Because the ICEL translators are idiots (at best). I can think of far worse descriptions of them, but charity and unwillingness to violate the 8th Commandment require that I keep my speculations to myself.<<
I have to agree.
We did the 40 hours last year near the end of Lent. I think we are going to do it again. We have adoration twice a week, and we get more people there at times than are signed up for it, and even when the sacrament is not exposed, the church is open during the daylight hours so that people can come in and pray.
There is such power in just being there with Jesus.
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