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Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament
By Ellain Nowak
Many years ago when I was on a weekend retreat, three
questions posed to us by the Retreatmaster were “Who am I?” “What am
I here for?” “Where am I going?” He asked us as part of our weekend
reflection to sign up to spend a half hour during Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament. I decided to sign up though I wondered what I would do
alone and “silent” for the half hour.
To
my amazement, I experienced a peace and presence of the Lord so deeply I
did not want to leave after an hour and a half. I could not wait to go
back the next day and spend time again in adoration of Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament. That next day sitting alone in His presence speaking
with Jesus and then listening, I heard Him in my heart telling me not to
worry about the future but to depend and trust Him to work all together
for the good.
That
weekend changed my life. Since then I have made it a priority to spend
time alone in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. It is invaluable.
Taking the time to speak and to listen with the heart enriches any
relationship. Jesus has taught me that being in His presence affords no
limit to knowing and growing in a personal relationship with Him. I have
learned the most important part of being at Exposition is being quiet and
listening to what the Lord wants to say to my heart. LISTENING with the
heart is key!
I
write this to encourage you to take time to spend in the presence of the
Blessed Sacrament. The new schedule for Exposition is every Friday from
9:30AM until 3PM in the Holy Cross chapel in the parish Ministry Building.
On the first Friday of the month, from 9PM to 11Pm there is Nocturnal
Adoration with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral.
Time
spent with the talents of God is a treasure to behold!
By Trish Luvin
I
remember when I made my First Holy Communion, I felt as if I was finally
considered old enough to be trusted to receive Jesus and always wishing I
could just stand on the altar with the priest just once so I could peak
into the chalice and see the bread and wine turn into the Body and Blood
of Christ. I believe it takes a lifetime to fully “see” the Miracle of
the Eucharist.
I
must confess receiving the Eucharist had become a habit and most times an
unconscious one. The pains of life fortunately have brought me to the
Eucharist with a desire for a deeper faith and awareness. As a Eucharistic
Minister when I can accept my unworthiness to give to others the Body and
Blood of Christ a transformation occurs in me and it is at those times
that I have truly witnessed the power of Jesus in the Eucharist. When I
hold the ciborium and hold the Eucharist I experience a transformation and
find myself praying that the person before me too is aware of the power of
the Eucharist to change their hearts and transform their lives as he or
she says “Amen.”
Yet
when a friend suggested to me that I sit before the Blessed Sacrament when
I was struggling with a difficult situation I hesitated for if God is
everywhere why can’t I just pray at home. I remember simply asking God,
to show me why I needed to be here before the Blessed Sacrament and He
did. I have found that Jesus is fully present in the Eucharist. My love
lives in the hearts of my children, but I love it when my children just
want to be with me and it is at those moments I assure them of my love and
want to fulfill their desires in return for the love and presence they
have freely given me.
The
Eucharist is what unites us to Jesus and one another. Mother Theresa said,
“…no where on earth are you more loved, than by Jesus, living and
truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament…He is really there in Person
waiting just for you…Night and day, He is there.” When she was asked
– What will convert America and save the world? She said, “My answer
is prayer. What we need is for every Parish to come before Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament in Holy Hours of prayer.”
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