The Gift of Perpetual Adoration

I say that Perpetual Adoration is a gift because it is not available at all churches therefore I am truly blessed that we offer it at my home parish and have for over sixteen years now. When it first began, my dad took an hour for many years. My husband and I helped to cover the hour if he was away, but I never really thought about taking my own hour. And I never did until this past December when I felt a calling to spend more time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

I know that God works in our lives in mysterious ways and had not really been open to those ways before several years ago. I have been involved with different ministries within my parish and doing them like we all do, but not really focusing on what God wanted me to do. As I got more involved in my parish and volunteered (or got volunteered) to do more, I felt more connected to God. I could see how He was working in my life. Things that I had previously passed off as coincidence were actually what we call in VBS – God sightings! For example, as I leave the house (later than planned so I may not make it on time), somehow I hit every green light and miraculously make it there on time or even early. God has also put many people in my life to help me along. If I named them all, you’d be bored. But I can say that there are many people who I work closely with through the church who I feel a special connection to, and I would not have them in my life if it weren’t for my passion for God and the Church. I am very thankful to God for these awesome people. They help me get through some tough days and laugh even when I thought I couldn’t!

As I spent more time at the Church and getting more involved, I noticed I kept thanking God (verbally – like in the car and whenever I felt He was working in my life) but it was just a general tendency. I wasn’t going directly to Him to say thank you, and I had that gift right at my fingertips EVERY TIME I went to the church to work on things or go to a meeting. So finally, I decided to go to the chapel when I felt the need – when I was troubled, frustrated, stressed or just needed to clear my mind. I started to notice that I felt relieved when I left and a little less stressed. So one day in December, I decided to take an hour at our Adoration chapel. And it has changed my life in such wondrous ways forever. Let me see if I can explain how.

I have had several encounters with God within my time in the Perpetual Adoration chapel. Some of these times were my hour that I dedicate to Him each week but many were just times that I stopped by to thank Him or talk to Him about something that is bothering me. Here is one of my most memorable experiences (and a very powerful one).

One day, I went to the chapel to pray (not during my hour) about some of the undertakings I have been doing. I had just taken on designing a new website for our church (I am a high school math teacher so it is not in my field of expertise) as well as some other church related projects and wanted to be sure I was doing what He had planned for me. So as I sat in the chapel just praying, one of the little girls from our parish walked into the chapel and handed me and another woman (whose hour it was) a rosary. We both thanked her, me by name since I knew her, and she left the chapel. I kept on with my prayers, but this time asking God to give me a sign that I was doing what He had wanted me to be doing. I said, “Please give me a sign to know that this is what you want from me.” I had just finished and the little girl walked in again, but this time only coming to me and handing me a blue rosary (the same color as the rosary I always pray with). I do not know why but as she left the chapel, I looked up at her and she smiled and gave me a thumbs up! I knew then and there she was my angel from God letting me know that I was doing what He had asked of me. What an amazing feeling and experience! I still get emotional when I tell that story.

I had another truly divine experience just recently during my hour I spend with the Lord in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Let me briefly give you the summation of the day so you can understand the story better. I started the day, Saturday, with Mass at 8am and then took my first final exam for my doctoral program. I am studying for a Doctor of Philosophy in Theology. Anyway, I had the exam from 9am until 2pm. I had thought it would take me a couple hours, maybe two or three, to get it done. But I needed the whole five hours and I cried several times as it was quite difficult. I then picked up my children from my in-laws (they were watching them for me) and headed to the local festival where my husband was volunteering with our emergency squad. We stayed there for a while and then headed to the surprise party for my father-in-law at a local restaurant. Did I mention it was extremely hot and humid? So by the time I am done with all of this, I am exhausted, but my hour with the Blessed Sacrament is an hour away at 9pm. I was so tired and I so wanted to ask my prayer partner to just take it by himself but before I had a chance to, he texted and asked me if I was going to be there. I said yes. He said he was going early and leaving early (but still getting his hour is as he is very good about that) as he was jetlagged (he just returned home the night before late from over two weeks being out of the country). I told him no problem, but now I was locked in! So I went and being so frazzled from my exam and all the commotion of the day, I totally forgot all my prayer books and other readings I usually bring to the chapel. It was definitely not my day. But God works in mysterious ways. I had felt that I was called to do more than what I was doing but I couldn’t put my finger on it. As I was in the chapel that night and done with all the prayers I could think of, I looked through the library there for something to read. And I found what God was calling me to do. I read a book called 5 Minute Miracles by Linda Schubert. In this book, I read how not only are we called to pray for people, which is what I do all the time, but we are also called to pray WITH people. What an AWESOME idea! So I shared this on Facebook and had many people say they’d love for me to pray with them. I am VERY excited!

So if you want me to pray with you, ask me anytime! I am quite inspired in my life and God has been so good to me with giving me the best husband and children anyone could ask for, great family and friends and a parish that is so supportive and welcoming, I am one truly blessed woman.

If you have a Perpetual Adoration chapel near you, go visit Our Lord. Start with just going to see Him for a little while and then move to longer times. If you feel moved, take an hour. I can tell you, it will be the best hour (maybe except for Mass) of your week. And if you do not have a Perpetual Adoration chapel near you, maybe you can see how to start one. It is never too late!