EUCHARISTIC EUCHARISTIC ADORATIONADORATION

Sign and MinistrySign and MinistryGuillermo Rosas ss.cc.Guillermo Rosas ss.cc.

From the origins of the From the origins of the Sacred Hearts family Sacred Hearts family

adoration has been bothadoration has been bothan an attitude attitude and a and a form form

of prayer of prayer which is which is constitutive of its constitutive of its

spiritualityspirituality..

Attitude Attitude ……

……and a and a form of form of prayer.prayer.

Adoration in Adoration in our our

beginningsbeginnings

The SSCC Constitutions of The SSCC Constitutions of 1817 say :1817 say :

““Through perpetual Through perpetual adoration of the adoration of the

Most Blessed Most Blessed Sacrament, we Sacrament, we

strive to retrace strive to retrace the hidden life of the hidden life of Jesus Christ by Jesus Christ by

making reparation making reparation for the injuries for the injuries

done to the done to the Sacred Hearts of Sacred Hearts of

Jesus and Mary by Jesus and Mary by the enormous the enormous

crimes of sinners.crimes of sinners.

For the foundersFor the founders The Good Father and the Good

Mother, were assiduous

and faithful “adorers”,and they

included adoration as a principal practice in

the institute.

They They understood it understood it

as “as “perpetualperpetual””

In the style of religious life of the In the style of religious life of the time, with large communities, it was time, with large communities, it was possible that day and night , there possible that day and night , there was always a sister or a brother in was always a sister or a brother in

adoration. “adoration. “Perpetual” Perpetual”

adoration was kept in each community.adoration was kept in each community.

……for Pierre Coudrin, the Good for Pierre Coudrin, the Good FatherFather

From childhood, Pierre was From childhood, Pierre was made aware of the presence made aware of the presence

of Christ in the Eucharist. of Christ in the Eucharist. Particularly in the granary of Particularly in the granary of

La Motte a sense of La Motte a sense of contemplation contemplation developed developed

within him. within him.

After leaving his hiding place , After leaving his hiding place , for almost two years he for almost two years he

carried the Blessed carried the Blessed Sacrament with him in a pix Sacrament with him in a pix hanging around his neck. hanging around his neck.

He was in permanent He was in permanent AdorationAdoration. . To accompany To accompany Christ in his AdorationChrist in his Adoration, ,

became an imperative for became an imperative for him .him .

That Adoration was That Adoration was apostolicapostolic

contemplation contemplation full of full of concern for the concern for the

Church and for his Church and for his community, as the community, as the

moment demanded. moment demanded.

Sustained in the Sustained in the Adoration of Jesus, Adoration of Jesus,

present in his present in his community that community that

wanted to be able to wanted to be able to carry the Gospel carry the Gospel

everywhere. everywhere.

……for Henriette Aymer, the Good for Henriette Aymer, the Good MotherMother

The Foundress began her The Foundress began her life of adoration when life of adoration when

she joined the she joined the “Association of the “Association of the

Sacred Heart” in Poitiers.Sacred Heart” in Poitiers.

She stated that when the She stated that when the Good Father established Good Father established

adoration and set an adoration and set an hour for her , without hour for her , without

knowing it, heknowing it, he fixed her destinyfixed her destiny. .

Until her death she was Until her death she was

faithful to adorationfaithful to adoration.

……for the founding communityfor the founding community

Adoration was an Adoration was an essential part of essential part of

the call and mission the call and mission of all the brothers of all the brothers

and sisters. and sisters.

The incipient The incipient Congregation had Congregation had

in its title:in its title:…”…”and of the and of the

perpetual adoration perpetual adoration of the Blessed of the Blessed

Sacrament of the Sacrament of the Altar”.Altar”.

In the historical In the historical situation in which situation in which the founders lived, the founders lived,

a time of much a time of much violence and violence and

confusion, the confusion, the “reparative”“reparative” character of character of

adoration was adoration was especially especially

emphasized,emphasized,Understood as Understood as reparation for the reparation for the sins, sins, within and within and

through the through the practice of the practice of the

adorationadoration..

This is why the adoration This is why the adoration has been also called has been also called

““reparativereparative adoration”.adoration”.

(Later on we will see how the “reparative” (Later on we will see how the “reparative” character is understood today in a character is understood today in a

different way as in that time…)different way as in that time…)

In short:In short:

For the community of the founders, For the community of the founders, the Eucharistic adoration was a the Eucharistic adoration was a signsign

and a and a ministryministry::

SignSign of the interior disposition of of the interior disposition of the adoration of each brother and the adoration of each brother and

sister, and sister, and

MinistryMinistry of intercession for the of intercession for the world, world,

the Church and the community. the Church and the community.

And so we want to continue living And so we want to continue living today our adoration…today our adoration…

TheThe adoration adoration todaytoday

After a period during which After a period during which adoration was questioned and adoration was questioned and

even abandoned by some even abandoned by some members of the Congregation, members of the Congregation,

today we see it as having today we see it as having lastinglasting valuevalue, something , something

essential to the call of the Spirit essential to the call of the Spirit to this religious family, part of to this religious family, part of

““being Sacred Hearts”.being Sacred Hearts”.

How do we understand How do we understand adoration today?adoration today?

To adore is To adore is to pray to pray in continuity in continuity and in the presenceand in the presenceof the Eucharist,of the Eucharist,

Submerging ourselves in the paschal Submerging ourselves in the paschal mystery mystery

of Jesus Christ dead, resurrected and of Jesus Christ dead, resurrected and glorious, interceding for the world, glorious, interceding for the world,

for the poor and suffering. for the poor and suffering. Adoration is, therefore, aAdoration is, therefore, aspecific form of specific form of prayer prayer

A prayerA prayer

EucharisticEucharisticReparativeReparativeContemplativeContemplativePerpetualPerpetual

It is, above all, It is, above all, EucharisticEucharistic adorationadoration..

Its essential Its essential pointpoint

of reference of reference is the is the

celebration celebration of the of the

EucharistEucharist::

we adore we adore

from it from it

and and towards ittowards it

As our Founders, we find in the Eucharist the As our Founders, we find in the Eucharist the source source and the and the summit summit of our apostolic and of our apostolic and

communal life. (Const.I.5)communal life. (Const.I.5)The Eucharist, as in fact the Council Vatican II The Eucharist, as in fact the Council Vatican II

says, is thesays, is the source of which flows the source of which flows the strength of the Church, strength of the Church,

and theand the summit towards which all her life summit towards which all her life tendstends

Adoration Adoration fills the way between the sourcefills the way between the source and the summit. and the summit.

Without the Without the Eucharist Eucharist

adoration has no adoration has no meaning, or to put meaning, or to put

it positively, it positively, adoration only has adoration only has

meaning in meaning in reference to the reference to the celebration. This celebration. This

is why we say is why we say adoration is theadoration is the

““prolongation of the prolongation of the Eucharist Eucharist”.”.

It is It is reparative reparative adorationadoration ……

……but understood in a different but understood in a different way that in the past. way that in the past.

The The “reparative”“reparative” character character of of adoration is not seen now as adoration is not seen now as

only at the moment of adoration only at the moment of adoration but as an but as an essentialessential aspect of the aspect of the

following of Jesusfollowing of Jesus..

We are “We are “repairersrepairers” ” because we live our because we live our

faith within the faith within the dynamism of the saving dynamism of the saving love of Christ love of Christ , which , which

liberates liberates

and transforms. and transforms.

Our commitment and Our commitment and

apostolate apostolate make present make present the kingdom of Godthe kingdom of God, , overcoming of sin and overcoming of sin and

bringing new life for all, bringing new life for all, particularly for the poor particularly for the poor

and suffering.and suffering.

““To repairTo repair” is to ” is to restore and restore and

transform the transform the world wounded by world wounded by personal sin and personal sin and the structures of the structures of sin, entering into sin, entering into the suffering of the suffering of

Christ who Christ who continues suffering continues suffering in many brothers in many brothers

and sisters. and sisters. ““We repairWe repair” by our ” by our

whole life, and whole life, and therefore also in therefore also in

adorationadoration..

If our adoration is not inserted in If our adoration is not inserted in that “that “dynamism of the saving love dynamism of the saving love ” ” (Const.I.2), it is risked to be a mere (Const.I.2), it is risked to be a mere

formal practice, a individualist rite or, formal practice, a individualist rite or, at best, a prayer without proper at best, a prayer without proper identity performed before the identity performed before the

Tabernacle. Tabernacle.

It is It is contemplativecontemplative adoration : it demands adoration : it demands

silence within and without.silence within and without.

More than in other More than in other types of prayer, at types of prayer, at adoration music, adoration music,

song, readings and song, readings and symbols are symbols are only only means means to help us to help us

enter into that enter into that silence in which we silence in which we

can “touch” and can “touch” and savour the mystery.savour the mystery.

Adoration is the favourable time and Adoration is the favourable time and space space to make our own “the attitudes, to make our own “the attitudes, options and tasksoptions and tasks that led Jesus to the that led Jesus to the

point of having his heart transpierced on point of having his heart transpierced on the Cross”.the Cross”.

(Const.I,3).(Const.I,3).

It is the moment when“aware of the power It is the moment when“aware of the power of evil that opposes the Father's love and of evil that opposes the Father's love and disfigures his design for the world”, we disfigures his design for the world”, we cancan identify ourselves with the attitude identify ourselves with the attitude of Jesus and with his reparative workof Jesus and with his reparative work..

(Const.I,4).(Const.I,4).

It is It is perpetualperpetual adoration : adoration : it it involves each moment of our involves each moment of our

life.life.

The movement of the Holy Spirit in religious life opens

us to a different understanding of

“perpetuity”. It is not just about time, but something

more spiritual. It is an “attitude”, not just a mere

“activity”.

Whether Whether it is it is

reserved reserved in the in the

TabernaclTabernacle e ….….

……exposed in a exposed in a monstrancemonstrance

……

……or or simply onsimply on

the the patenpaten,…,…

……the host, the consecrated the host, the consecrated bread, is like Jesus in the bread, is like Jesus in the

manger: manger:

In the In the extreme extreme

simplicity of simplicity of the apparentthe apparent

there is there is revealed to revealed to the one who the one who believes believes the the immensity of immensity of

GodGod, the , the paschal paschal mystery, mystery,

made real in made real in the the

Eucharistic Eucharistic celebration celebration and present and present in the world.in the world.

Our adoration isOur adoration isan an

Attitude…Attitude…

Interior attitude …Interior attitude …

The attitude of adoration, an interior The attitude of adoration, an interior attitude, an attitude of life or attitude, an attitude of life or

disposition of the heart, is an aspect disposition of the heart, is an aspect of our charism that is experienced of our charism that is experienced beyond the limits of our practice of beyond the limits of our practice of the adoration. As anything of value, the adoration. As anything of value, it fills the totality of our existence it fills the totality of our existence and our vocation. “To adore is to and our vocation. “To adore is to

submit the heart to God”.submit the heart to God”.

… … of spiritual docility:of spiritual docility:““Submit the heart to Submit the heart to

GodGod”…”…

……as the attitude of as the attitude of Mary in the Mary in the

Annunciation, as that Annunciation, as that of Jesus in the garden of Jesus in the garden

of Gethsemane, as of Gethsemane, as that of Damien when that of Damien when he decided to stay for he decided to stay for

ever in Molokai….ever in Molokai….

……to recognise that God to recognise that God is the Lord of our life is the Lord of our life and of our history…and of our history…

… … of contemplation …of contemplation …

The attitude of adoration The attitude of adoration is a contemplative attitude is a contemplative attitude towards the world, history, towards the world, history, and the liberating presence and the liberating presence of God in one’s life and in of God in one’s life and in the world. It is seeing with the world. It is seeing with

faith, with trust in the faith, with trust in the power of the Gospel.power of the Gospel.

Contemplative Contemplative is not passive is not passive or indifferent. Like Mary or indifferent. Like Mary when she kept all within when she kept all within

herher

… … of adoration of the of adoration of the Father …Father …

Besides adoration of Besides adoration of the glorious Jesus, the glorious Jesus, light that illumines light that illumines

the darkness , the darkness , we adore the we adore the

Father:Father:Merciful Father.Merciful Father.

Provident Father.Provident Father.Father close to us in Father close to us in

his Son. Father of his Son. Father of all.all.

… … with the feelings of with the feelings of ChristChrist … …

Adoration makes us, more Adoration makes us, more than anything else in our life, than anything else in our life, enter in the feelings of Christ, enter in the feelings of Christ,

as our Constitutions say. as our Constitutions say.

We adore the Father We adore the Father with Jesuswith Jesus,,

that means, that means, from his merciful from his merciful and compassionate Heartand compassionate Heart, as , as the Father is , sensitive to the the Father is , sensitive to the

suffering of the world, suffering of the world, attentive to the poor and attentive to the poor and

suffering, open and generous. suffering, open and generous.

… … performed as a performed as a ministry…ministry…

TThe Constitutions of the sisters say he Constitutions of the sisters say that we recognize ourselves as that we recognize ourselves as

““delegatesdelegates” of the Church. This is ” of the Church. This is part of the attitude of adoration. It is part of the attitude of adoration. It is a mission entrusted by the Church, a mission entrusted by the Church, a a true “ministry”true “ministry” for which we consider for which we consider

ourselves responsible in a free and ourselves responsible in a free and joyful way: our adoration is the joyful way: our adoration is the

Church’s adoration, for the world.Church’s adoration, for the world.

And our adoration And our adoration is also a is also a

form of form of prayerprayer

Is prayer …Is prayer …

Adoration is Adoration is prayerprayer. It is prayer as the . It is prayer as the prayer of Jesus, who loves the Father and prayer of Jesus, who loves the Father and

intercedes for the poor and those who intercedes for the poor and those who suffer. suffer.

It is prayer as the prayer of Mary, who It is prayer as the prayer of Mary, who “kept in her heart” the mysterious “kept in her heart” the mysterious designs of God for her life and for designs of God for her life and for

history, who persevered silently at the history, who persevered silently at the foot of the cross, full of hope, Mary who foot of the cross, full of hope, Mary who

is with the community on Pentecost.is with the community on Pentecost.

… … is sign …is sign …

A A personalpersonal and and communal communal sign. sign. Sign of a Church Sign of a Church that believes in that believes in the presence of the presence of the Resurrected the Resurrected Lord in the heart Lord in the heart of the world and of the world and history. Exterior history. Exterior

sign of our sign of our interior interior

disposition.disposition.

… … is practice …is practice …

Adoration, as an Adoration, as an act or a practice of act or a practice of

prayerprayer, is not , is not spontaneous, but spontaneous, but requires that we requires that we

create a habitcreate a habit and and seek seek exteriorexterior

forms adequate forms adequate to to express the express the

interior attitude interior attitude that motivates it.that motivates it.

It can take very diverse It can take very diverse forms. The most forms. The most

characteristic is that it is characteristic is that it is that of prayer, personal or that of prayer, personal or

communitarian, in communitarian, in the the presence of the Blessed presence of the Blessed

Sacrament Sacrament in many in many traditions traditions kneeling kneeling (at least (at least

part of the time of the part of the time of the adoration),adoration), and and in silencein silence. .

Communal adoration usually Communal adoration usually integrates elements such integrates elements such as reflection, readings, as reflection, readings,

songs, prayers and songs, prayers and benedictionbenediction with the with the Blessed Sacrament.Blessed Sacrament.

What What documents documents and people and people say about say about

adoration ….adoration ….

SS.CC., Constitutions I.5SS.CC., Constitutions I.5(Common chapter for brothers and sisters)(Common chapter for brothers and sisters)

““The Eucharistic The Eucharistic celebration and celebration and contemplative contemplative

adorationadoration make make us participate in us participate in the attitudes and the attitudes and

sentiments of sentiments of Jesus before the Jesus before the

Father and Father and before the before the

world”world”

SS.CC., Constitutions SS.CC., Constitutions I.4I.4

(Common chapter(Common chapterfor brothers and sisters)for brothers and sisters)

““Aware of the power of evil that opposes Aware of the power of evil that opposes the Father’s love and disfigures his the Father’s love and disfigures his

design for the world, we wish to design for the world, we wish to identify with the attitude of Jesus and identify with the attitude of Jesus and

with His reparative work. Our with His reparative work. Our reparation is communion with Him, reparation is communion with Him,

whose food is to do the Father’s will whose food is to do the Father’s will and whose work is to reunite by his and whose work is to reunite by his

blood the dispersed children of God.blood the dispersed children of God.”.”.

“ “Our reparation makes us participate Our reparation makes us participate in the mission of the Risen Christ, in the mission of the Risen Christ,

who sends us to announce the Good who sends us to announce the Good News of salvation. At the same time, News of salvation. At the same time, we recognize our sinfulness, and we recognize our sinfulness, and we we feel ourselves to be in solidarity with feel ourselves to be in solidarity with the men and women who are victims the men and women who are victims

of injustice, hatred, and sin in the of injustice, hatred, and sin in the world.world.

Finally, our Finally, our reparative vocationreparative vocation encourages us to encourages us to collaborate with all collaborate with all those who, led by the Spirit, work to those who, led by the Spirit, work to build a world of justice and love, sign build a world of justice and love, sign

of the Kingdomof the Kingdom”.”.

Sisters Sisters Constitutions , 43Constitutions , 43

““Eucharistic adoration has been since Eucharistic adoration has been since our origins ‘our origins ‘one of our main dutiesone of our main duties’ ’ and a and a true ministry true ministry that involves a that involves a

personal and communal commitment.personal and communal commitment.

At adoration we are ‘At adoration we are ‘delegated by the delegated by the ChurchChurch’, associated with the reparative ’, associated with the reparative

work of Christ, united to his work of Christ, united to his contemplation, to his listening to his contemplation, to his listening to his

Father's will and to his prayer of Father's will and to his prayer of intercession”.intercession”.

Brothers Brothers Constitutions,Constitutions, 53.3 53.3

“ “a) We unite ourselves to His incessant a) We unite ourselves to His incessant

intercession before the Father, to His cry in intercession before the Father, to His cry in solidarity with a humanity wounded by sinsolidarity with a humanity wounded by sin..

b) We are urged to b) We are urged to commit ourselves commit ourselves more fully to the missionmore fully to the mission, so that “by Him, , so that “by Him, with Him, and in Him” our lives and the world – with Him, and in Him” our lives and the world – liberated from evil and sin – may give glory to liberated from evil and sin – may give glory to the Father.the Father.”.”.

Rule of Life,Rule of Life, 66 66

““Your physical Your physical presence before the presence before the tabernacle tabernacle stands stands for somethingfor something. To . To be real, it must be real, it must

express an inner express an inner attitude which is attitude which is not restricted to not restricted to your time before your time before

the Blessed the Blessed Sacrament, one Sacrament, one

which carries you which carries you back to the Lord back to the Lord

whenever you are whenever you are not taken up with not taken up with

your work.your work.”.”.

From the “Way of Life” From the “Way of Life” of the of the SS.CC. SS.CC.

Secular Branch (Sector Chilli), n.8Secular Branch (Sector Chilli), n.8 ““You will take on assiduously and You will take on assiduously and

fervently Adoration of Jesus in the fervently Adoration of Jesus in the sacrament. It is a beautiful tradition sacrament. It is a beautiful tradition of our Congregation, that is meant to of our Congregation, that is meant to

place Jesus at the centre of our place Jesus at the centre of our vocation and mission. To adore is to vocation and mission. To adore is to pray in continuity with the Eucharist. pray in continuity with the Eucharist.

It is to submerge oneself over and It is to submerge oneself over and over again in Jesus, crucified and over again in Jesus, crucified and

resurrected, present with us all days, resurrected, present with us all days, until the end of this world.until the end of this world.

In adoration, you praise him, thank him, In adoration, you praise him, thank him, remember, listen and welcome his Love; you remember, listen and welcome his Love; you take on the suffering of others to intercede, take on the suffering of others to intercede,

console, repair and liberate. You commit console, repair and liberate. You commit yourself to Jesus and to the work of the yourself to Jesus and to the work of the

Kingdom of God.Kingdom of God.

Fr. Jean-Yves Fr. Jean-Yves Kerrien ss.cc. Kerrien ss.cc.

(+1992)(+1992)

“ “In the community of the founders, perpetual In the community of the founders, perpetual adoration was always a adoration was always a signsign and a and a ministryministry. A . A signsign of the interior disposition of adoration of of the interior disposition of adoration of

all and a way of remembering the hidden life of all and a way of remembering the hidden life of Christ,Christ,

in other word, his in other word, his continuous adoration to the continuous adoration to the FatherFather..

It is also a It is also a ministry.ministry. The main goal of perpetual The main goal of perpetual adoration is to adoration is to intercede for the world, for the intercede for the world, for the

Church, Church, and for the Community itself, and for the Community itself, withwith Christ, Christ, before before the Father”.the Father”.

Fr. Patrick Bradley ss.cc., en Fr. Patrick Bradley ss.cc., en “Communion in Mission”:“Communion in Mission”:

““AdorationAdoration is a gift, a time is a gift, a time for contemplation – alone for contemplation – alone

or in group – of Christ, or in group – of Christ, Servant of Yahweh, who Servant of Yahweh, who

holds in his heart the holds in his heart the destiny of his people. To destiny of his people. To adoreadore is to contemplate is to contemplate the totality of Christ: at the totality of Christ: at once the Son of God in once the Son of God in plenitude, and the man plenitude, and the man

committed to the committed to the happiness of his brothers happiness of his brothers

and sisters, and sisters, compassionate, just and compassionate, just and

liberatingliberating”.”.

Fr. Mario Illanes Fr. Mario Illanes ss.cc., ss.cc., (days before his (days before his

Passage to the Father, Passage to the Father, +1995)+1995)

““Let us give Let us give attention to attention to adoration, adoration, that it is that it is what the what the

Congregation Congregation can give the can give the Church that Church that isis most its most its

ownown.”.”

Karl Rahner s.j., Karl Rahner s.j., writing about the Heart of writing about the Heart of

Jesus.Jesus.

“ “The The reparationreparation of the sins of the of the sins of the world (ours or those of others), must world (ours or those of others), must consist primarily and essentially in consist primarily and essentially in

loyal, loving and obedient loyal, loving and obedient participation, of all that was the life of participation, of all that was the life of

the Lord, in the acceptance of the the Lord, in the acceptance of the sings of his presence as well the sings of his presence as well the consequences of sin in the world: consequences of sin in the world:

sorrow, darkness, persecution, sorrow, darkness, persecution, distance from God and deathdistance from God and death”.”.

Charles de Foucauld (+1916)Charles de Foucauld (+1916)

““When someone loves, When someone loves, he wants to talk all the he wants to talk all the time with the one he time with the one he

loves, or at least to look loves, or at least to look at him. This is prayer: at him. This is prayer:

nothing other than nothing other than familiar interchange with familiar interchange with

our very Beloved. You our very Beloved. You look at him, you tell him look at him, you tell him

that you love him, we that you love him, we are happy at his feet and are happy at his feet and

we say that there we we say that there we want to live and die”. want to live and die”.

Saint Teresa of Jesus (of Saint Teresa of Jesus (of Avila), Avila),

Discalced Carmelite of theDiscalced Carmelite of the XVI XVI centurycentury

““PrayerPrayer

isis

to be to be

withwith

God,God,

loving him”loving him”

Guillermo Rosas ss.cc. February 2006Guillermo Rosas ss.cc. February 2006