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After
serving for decades in ministry, I have surprisingly experienced a few
priests and deacons who dismiss the idea of Adoration, claiming that
people will go to Adoration instead of Mass.
I
don't know if that was once true, but I highly doubt today that anyone
who appreciates the opportunity to go to Adoration is likely going to
skip Mass.
Adoration
is an opportunity to pray in front of the Body of Christ, the Blessed
Sacrament, displayed in a monstrance on an altar for a specified period
of time. It makes no difference what faith you hold, if a Catholic
Church has Adoration, you are welcome to come and pray before our Lord.
He hears all prayers.
This is also something that Pope Francis is encouraging us to do, even more, today.
I
love Adoration and I hope you will give it a try. It is amazing that
you can sit before Jesus, God in the flesh, the one who created us and
the world we live in. There is nothing quite like it (except for
receiving him in the Eucharist at Mass, of course!)
Some
Pastors use plenty of reasons for not holding Adoration at their
parish, but the truth is, delegated laymen and laywomen have the
capacity to take care of exposing/reposing (setting up and putting away)
the Blessed Sacrament if there is not a priest or deacon available to
do it.
For
some, it may just not be their preference, but pastors must look beyond
their own preferences at times, and consider what is best for their
parish.
While
laypeople cannot give a benediction (a blessing) like a priest or
deacon can at the close of Adoration, it is always better to choose to
offer Adoration than to not (unless a parish has fallen into the idea
that it is magic.)
To
withhold it because of the lack of an ordained minister's presence is
detrimental to God's people, whose great desire to come before the Lord
outside of Mass should be honored whenever possible.
Such
clericalism (deferring to the clergy when it is unnecessary) goes
against everything Pope Francis has been saying. To use laymen and
laywomen for Adoration is not to dismiss the importance of benediction
and the presence of ordained ministers.
Laypeople
also get caught up in clericalism and can be responsible for its
continuance. Sometimes they put clergy on a pedestal. Sometimes they
take on roles that imitate that of a priest, trying to tap into God's
power in an extraordinary way. (It doesn't work that way.)
A
healthy respect for the Church's hierarchy and its ordained ministers
is a good thing, but allowing priests to restrict laymen (and at times,
specifically women) is something we all need to address when we see it
happening for no good reason.
While
we may not always get our relationships with each other right, today is
a special day that should not be overlooked--All Saints Day. We have a
deep communion with our loved ones who have gone before us and this day
that connects us, the living, with those who have died, is a reminder
that we have unity in this communion of saints, even if we struggle to
get it right here on earth.
If
you get to go to Adoration sometime, pray for those who have died.
Pray that their sins are washed away and that they are enjoying eternal
life with God. Then live your life in such a way that you, too, can
have that for yourself one day!
Janet Cassidy
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