Eucharistic Reflection - Eucharistic Adoration in My Life

"I was first introduced to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the 1980’s in St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Liberty, NY. I was invited by some friendly people to attend Adoration on the First Friday of the month. This became a regular visit. In those years, I was busy with my husband and growing children at home. I was still mourning the loss of my youngest sister’s sudden death and a miscarriage early-on in a pregnancy.

It was during those quiet hours in the evening in the church, talking to Jesus in this most intimate way, sometimes in tears, that I began a path to inner peace. Adoration led me to spiritual reading, learning more about the faith I grew up in, to regular Confession, to talking more to our priests and others. I became involved in activities in my own parish, helping with the Altar Rosary Society, religious education, projects to raise funds, pro-life work and Bible study.

In the local newspaper, I read about an Adoration event happening at St. Joseph’s Church in Middletown. A chapel was being restored and Adoration 24/7 began there. I became friends with a devout woman who shared the same interest in Adoration. We approached our pastor, Father Al Croke of St. Aloysius Church in Livingston Manor, to also have a chapel for Adoration. He said “Yes!” An empty room was refurbished with altar, kneelers, statues, Holy Water and a Tabernacle for Our Lord.

Day and night Adoration took place there. I took care of the schedule of adorers. Adoration continues to this day at that parish, though not through the nights. My husband became a regular adorer in the middle of the night, as I did during a different night hour. Those quiet nights were some of the most devout intimate hours spent with the Lord.

During this time, we were blessed with a visit of John Cardinal O’Connor who promoted Adoration throughout the Diocese. He was strong and sincere and his visit blessed us. More people became aware of this great Gift. The Chapel became a place where we could take the secrets of our hearts and talk to Jesus, to His Mother, to the saints. Usually by the end of these quiet hours, many problems of family life and in general began to melt away. Through the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, and other devotions came answers and a new way of life.

I began going to Adoration whenever I visited other churches. Today, I am a regular Adorer at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at St. Joseph’s in Middletown (having relocated here during my husband’s illness, followed by his death.) Here Adoration continues 24/7. When it became impossible to visit in the church because of restrictions set by the Covid 19 pandemic, some of us sat in cars in the parking lot, fully aware that Jesus was in the Tabernacle behind locked doors. From there we paid Him homage and prayed.

Now, the family is grown and spread out. I am a widow; many friends have died…but my visits continue. My life and the lives of all my family and friends have been blessed. Having had to give up my car, I now walk to the church daily and attend Adoration a few times a week. Someday I will not be able to continue this but I know that I only have to turn to EWTN which, as they say, is “Everywhere…!”

Life is a journey. At seventy-six years of age, I realize I am closer to the end of this journey. I am forever grateful for all the hours spent in Adoration close to Jesus in this most intimate way. His final words in Matthew echo in my heart, “I am with you always…” to which I answer from the heart, “Thank you…and may I always be with You.”

(Mrs. Linda Guinan, OP, Most Holy Rosary Fraternity, Middletown, NY from Godhead Here in Hiding  Whom I Do Adore - Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration)