HOLY
FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH ADORATION
Prayer
Before the Blessed Sacrament
This picture shows a monstrance, which is the
sacred vessel used to display the Blessed Sacrament when It is removed from the
tabernacle and exposed for adoration by Catholics. As can be noted, the
monstrance contains a white Host, which Catholics believe is truly the Body and
Blood of Jesus Christ, which He left to us when He instituted the Holy
Eucharist at the Last Supper. The term Blessed Sacrament means, "The Risen
Jesus." He becomes present on the altar at the words of consecration
spoken by the priest during the celebration of every
Catholics have had a long tradition of
prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, both as It is reserved in the tabernacle
and as It is exposed in the monstrance. In an article titled, "Prayer
Before the Blessed Sacrament," Rev. John Hardon, S.J., explains the
history of this practice and the reasons for it. An excerpt of this article
follows and is reprinted with the author's permission.
“One practice of Catholic piety that
represents a real development of doctrine in the history of the Church is the
practice of praying before the Blessed Sacrament, either exposed on the altar
or reserved in the tabernacle…Jesus Christ is really, truly and substantially
present in the Blessed Sacrament not only during the Mass or at Communion time,
but all the time, as long as the Sacred Elements remain.
The most fundamental reason why prayer
before the Blessed Sacrament is so meritorious is because it is prayer arising
from faith in the cardinal mystery of Christianity, which is faith in the
Incarnation.
The final, and in a way, most important
reason why prayers before the Blessed Sacrament is so important is that when we
pray before the Eucharist we have before us in human form the principal reason
for our existence, which is the all loving God…”
History
of Holy Family Adoration
Adoration begins Wednesday evening at
8:00 pm and ends at 8:00 am Saturday morning. We are always looking for Adorants that would enjoy spending time
praying before the Blessed Sacrament. Should you desire to join us in Adoration you may request any hour
during our 60 hours of Adoration time.
A major goal of our Adoration and prayer
is to expand our hours to perpetual adoration that will encompass every hour of
every day.
Adoration
Contacts
If you are interested in requesting an
hour of Adoration time you can contact the following:
Ted Lombard 301 261-5055
Jack and Sandy
Horvath 410 721-6862
Adoration
Cancellation Due to Increment Weather
Adorants should listen to the local radio
or TV news for school closings or delayed openings. If the local county authorities close the
opening of the public schools at any time, and on any day of Adoration,
there will be no further Adoration for the remainder of the Adoration
schedule. However, if the schools
have a delayed opening on any day of Adoration, we will have Adoration that
day and continue our regular Adoration schedule. If there is any question regarding Adoration
cancellation, please call
Adoration
Emergencies
If during your Adoration hour there is
any type of emergency regarding the chapel, e.g., no heat or electricity in the
chapel, please contact Ted Lombard at 301 261-5055 or Jack Horvath at 410
721-6862 (email: Skh03Jeh@comcast.net).
Adoration
Substitute List
Should an Adorant need a substitute for
his/her hour, they should first try to get the Adorant for the hour in front
and behind their hour to do an extra half hour; however, if this cannot be
done, refer to the substitute list that was distributed to all Adorants. If you do not have a copy of the list, please
call Jack or Sandy Horvath at 410 721-6862 or email them at the above email
address.