By LaRedCultural - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Although we are members at the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh, we live closer to St. Catherine of Siena in Wake Forest, NC which has perpetual adoration. I believe perpetual adoration is now in the 10th year at St. Catherine's which is amazing when you think about 168 hours in a week and having two prayer partners for all of those hours with currently fewer than 10 spots needing double coverage.
If you are not a Catholic and/or do not understand the REAL PRESENCE, it may be challenging to understand perpetual adoration and how much of a blessing a holy hour in a small chapel can be at any hour of the day: I love the silence. I love the peace. I love the prayer time. I love kneeling. I love the beauty. I love the real presence in the blessed sacrament.
Not everything in Christianity can be completely understood from human comprehension. Some things are accepted by faith ( Virgin Birth, Christ Resurrection, etc. ). Others like the real presence in the eucharist may be more of a mystery even with Jesus saying, "This is MY body." Jesus didn't say "This is symbolic of MY body." Jesus said, "This is MY body."
I have spent several 1 hour blocks known as a Holy Hour in the Chapel at St. Catherine's. There was a time recently when I prayed the Anima Christi prayer listed here that I could barely get through it because of the tears and emotion flooding my soul: "Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within your wounds conceal me. Do not permit me to be parted from you. From the evil foe protect me. At the hour of my death call me. And bid me come to you, to praise you with all your saints for ever and ever. Amen"
This past Thursday, first Thursday after Easter Sunday 2018, was my first 4 a.m. committed weekly hour with a prayer partner. The goal is to have every hour covered by two prayer partners. There was an opening and I decided to be a part of the coverage needed. In addition to unplanned time, I now have something to look forward to at 4 a.m. every Thursday except the rare times that I cannot be there for one reason or another.
Read This: Perpetual Adoration: Uninterrupted adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
