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Imagine for a moment that we are living in Jesus’ time and He has invited us to visit with Him and share a meal with Him. Knowing who He was, we would be humbled and honoured by this invitation. We would put all our effort - our whole self - into being there with Him.

The good news is that Jesus IS here with us today - body, blood, soul and divinity – in the Eucharist. Although Jesus comes to us under the appearance of bread and wine, His presence is as real to us NOW as He was real to His disciples when he walked this earth. He can perform miracles, heal us, teach us, love us; we can talk to Him and He can speak to us through His Word (Holy Scripture) and through the Holy Spirit who lives in us through our baptism.

Jesus, who is Love, invites us to come to Him, to share our lives with Him, to love Him, to simply be present with Him in this Most Blessed Sacrament.

Will you come?

REAL PRESENCE

VISIT THE LORD

In respect for the Holy Father's New Year's request to pray for world peace, our parish held Eucharistic Adoration this afternoon. I could not think of a better way to welcome the New Year than to spend some time in the presence of our Lord.

The exposition ran from 1 to 3pm with Benediction at 2:45pm. I arrived at 2:15pm and found the parking lot quite full. This was definitely a good sign, since this is only the 2nd time we have had Eucharistic Adoration at our parish in the past 2 years.

Upon entering the church, I immediately sensed the aroma of incense. There in the middle of the altar, was a beautiful monstrance with our Lord. The last time, Father had piped in some background music ... not this time. The pews were well populated and the silence was a veritable blessing. To kneel in the presence of the Lord was to have a 100lb. weight lifted off my chest. At 2:45, Father entered with thurible containing incense. We sang Tantum Ergo.

Tantum ergo sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.

Genitori, genitoque
Laus et iubilatio,
Salus, honor virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.

followed by prayers and the Litany of Christ. What a beautiful service!

We have Adoration daily from 11:00-12:00. During Advent we had Benediction following Vespers every Sunday evening. We sang the wonderful Latin hymns Tantum Ergo and Salutaris Hostia. I feel so blessed! And on a hopeful note, I went to the website of my previous parish. When I was there it was an Amchurch of the worst kind. Adoration just wasn't done or even spoken of. According to the website they are now having weekly Adoration.

A Blessed 2004 to you. Thank you for posting this Eucharistic history. We went to a 5PM Mass, followed by personal New Year prayer and blessing by our priest for individuals and families, followed by pot-luck dinner, followed by Eucharistic adoration and Benediction (led by a young deacon to be ordained a priest in June), followed by dessert and coffee. A great way to begin the new year!