“Eucharistic adoration is the most necessary mission to the Church, which has even more need of prayerful souls than of powerful preachers or men of eloquence.” – St. Peter Julian Eymard 

St. John Paul II said, “The Eucharist is a priceless treasure: By not only celebrating it but also by praying before it outside of Mass we are enabled to make contact with the very wellspring of grace.”

Throughout the Diocese of Burlington Catholics are taking time to be in the presence of the Lord to pray, to reflect, to do spiritual reading, to be in silence and to make contact with that wellspring of grace.

Eucharistic Adoration is the adoration of Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist.

“Adoration is a way for more glory to be given to God. He is there for us, and we are there for Him,” said Laura Zink of Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales Church in Bennington who attends adoration there.

Some churches, like Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales, offer regular Eucharistic Adoration. “We all know the Lord is in the Eucharist. He is present for us. We return the favor for the sacrifice He made for us.” said parishioner Bill Center, who also participates in adoration.

St. Augustine Church in Montpelier used to have perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced the closure of the room in the church used for it; it has not reopened because there are now not enough volunteers to ensure someone is always with the Blessed Sacrament.

But adoration still is offered — for about an hour twice a week.

“When you come to spend time with Jesus in adoration, you will be blessed in many different ways, like with peace of mind and heart. It is a time to pray, to connect with the Lord in a special way,” said Father Julian Asucan, pastor of St. Augustine’s.

It is a challenge for many parishes to have 24/7 adoration because they don’t have an appropriate space available where a place can be designated just for adoration without having to access it through the church, he added.

“Jesus is always present to us. He never leaves us. The least we can give Him is our undivided attention. He is there, waiting patiently, longing for us to come and visit Him. I think we should show up and show our love,” said Paula Keatley of Sacred Heart St. St. Francis de Sales Church who attends adoration there.

“The Eucharist is the source and summit of life. … We come before the Lord as our creator. … “Every grace that flows from adoration to us is a gift of life,” said fellow adorer Julie Guasconi of Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales Church.

Many Catholics believe a continuing Eucharistic adoration program is a powerful devotion that leads people to vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

Henry Simpatico of Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales Church and St. John the Baptist Church in North Bennington, noted that Archbishop Fulton Sheen said that Eucharistic adoration has two

effects: The first is personal, whereby over time people change just by being in the presence of the Lord; the second is social and communal whereby they begin to think of others more.

Importantly, Eucharistic adoration is one way people connect with the Eucharist — even students participate.

“What I liked about going to adoration is that it was quiet and peaceful. …  I looked forward to that time every week,” said Owen Hackett, a recent graduate of Christ the King School in Rutland who is a freshman at Mount St. Joseph Academy there.

One of his teachers at Chris the King, David Perry, regularly takes students to adoration at Christ the King Church, across the street from the school.

“Kids growing up now are more bombarded with noise and distraction than ever before,” Perry said. “The 15-20 minutes [in adoration] gives them a chance to be in complete silence and speak to God however they see fit.”

In addition, he said it is important for the students to see people from the community at adoration: “It is so powerful for these kids to see adults taking time out of their day on a Friday afternoon to pray in a quiet church before the monstrance” that holds the Blessed Sacrament. “I know that there is nothing that will ever compare to what Christ can do for them, both in reception and adoration of the Holy Eucharist.”

—Originally published in the Fall 2022 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.