An Adoration Milestone To Treasure

[On November 15, 2015, we began our 15th year of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. It was my privilege to share a few words before the Holy Hour of Thanksgiving, Mercy and Healing began. I hope that something I said on that occasion may resonate with those who visit this blog.]

Let us first give thanks to our Lord for the gift of His Eucharistic presence here among us and for our Chapel of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.

Now let’s pause for a few minutes and ponder these Truths:

When Jesus walked among us, few hesitated to bring their sick and lame to Him for healing. They expected miracles. Jesus did not disappoint.

That same Jesus remains with us – ready to heal us and those we love.  We must have the same expectant faith that those who approached Jesus physically while He walked among them had - expecting a miracle.

Let me briefly share a few examples of the miracles that have taken place here at St. Agatha’s:

More than 25 years ago Nina (may she rest in peace) approached my wife Lonnie and I and told us she had the perfect time for us. "What are you talking about?" I asked. "Adoration on Fridays at 2 AM." "Are you crazy? Nina," I blurted,  "we both work; how can we get up in the middle of the night and do our jobs?"

Smiling, she simply said, "You can and you will." She was right. We who had not spent time adoring our Lord since childhood did and our lives have been forever changed.

15 years ago yesterday another miracle happened here - a chapel of Perpetual Eucharist Adoration opened even though it had been difficult to sustain 24 hours of adoration on the first Friday of each month.

A few months after the chapel’s opening another miracle occurred – an unsolicited gift of a monstrance blessed by Saint John Paul II on the Sunday before he died. Why was this parish so blessed and not a larger one in some big urban area? God has a plan – He wants each of us to spend time with Him.

Throughout the past 14 years countless other miracles have occurred as a result of the prayerful presence, great sacrifice and intercession of faithful Adorers – some big, some small, some known and others unknown. 

Here’s a sampling: 

Three Adorers survived heart attacks while away from home;

Several have survived automobile accidents or avoided injury completely;

Some have been healed of cancer, even cancer felt to be incurable; 

Others have received the grace to die at peace and in union with their Lord;

Numerous souls have received the strength necessary to accept the cross of suffering and illness;

Family and friends have returned to the Faith;

Broken and strained relationships have been repaired;

Those with addictions have been made whole;

One of our Adorers has been ordained a Dominican priest; and 

One final miracle – an Adorer who loved the Rosary never missed his two hours of Adoration each week even during his struggle with cancer. He taught all of us how to live and how to die. He received the priceless gift of dying at peace on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

God always answers prayers – particularly those offered at His Eucharistic feet - He may not answer them in the exact way we seek, but He will answer each of them in the way that will lead to eternal life.

Expect your own miracle tonight!

When Father processes with our Lord in the Monstrance which His servant John Paul II blessed, look right at Jesus, keep your eyes focused on Him, silently pour out your heart and soul to Him, let Him know your hurts, sorrows and pains, tell Him who in your family needs a miracle.

Then ask Him for it!

We rarely have such an opportunity to get so close to our loving, healing and merciful Lord. Savor this great grace.

Remember: It is only by God’ s grace and the love and sacrifices of so many Adorers that we are blessed to have access to our loving Lord 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

That in itself is another miracle.

Let us not leave this sacred space tonight without praying for another miracle – that more adorers will come forward so that this miracle which occurred 15 years ago will never end. That someone will be with our loving Lord every hour of every day until the end of time.

[The rest of the story: At the conclusion of this Holy Hour, the widow of Mike, the gentleman who died on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, approached me, gave me a big hug, thanked me for sharing her husband's story and with a twinkle in her eye, whispered  "Bet you didn't know that today is Mike's birthday!" I had not known that - What a blessed surprise and way to end such a special day!]