Loving God Has A Cost

Loving God Has A Cost

If we have a desire to love God as He wants to be loved and thereby merit His fruitful love in return, we must pay the price that this demands.  If we are to love God the way He wants us too we begin by sacrificing our time.  It takes time to pray.  It takes time to do some spiritual reading.  It takes time to visit the sick or shut-ins at home or in the hospital.  It takes time to help some elderly person with shopping or tidying up their home.  It takes time to simply give the gift of yourself to someone in need of companionship.  

God knows how important ‘time’ is to us; and it pleases Him when we are willing to give our ‘time’ to sacrifice our convenience.  Our sacrifice is rewarded with an experience of His presence, a sense of His intimacy, and a joy in our heart that we are doing something good.  And best of all, when we give freely of our ‘time’ God gives us an abundance of it.

It’s OK to begin small … start with a short visit to the Adoration Chapel to pray.  Every few days try to repeat this practice and soon you will be amazed at how much ‘time’ you have to get things done.

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Your Consent Is Needed

St. Augustine is quoted as saying, “He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent.”  In other words - nothing will happen until YOU do something. This is your time to step up and pray.

Join your fellow parishioners who have stepped up by spending an hour each week in the Adoration Chapel ‘doing something’.  Commit to just an hour each week ( 1/168th of your week) and let God know you are seriously in-love with Him.  Returning Love to Our Lord will fill your heart with abiding joy and bless your days, your job, your families, you life with His protection and grace.  Each hour given to Our Lord bears fruit a hundredfold in this life and in the next.

Don’t wait - Advent is the perfect time to start.

Perseverance is the most important part of establishing a disciplined and fruitful life of prayer.

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If Only You Could Touch His Cloak

 If Only You Could Touch His Cloak

Whenever we receive the Eucharist we touch Jesus and Jesus touches us.  Truly, we physically touch each other.  What was once bread has been changed into Jesus Himself.  He didn’t just rise from the dead two thousand years ago.  He is risen, and is present to us in these moments.  That small white wafer is not a symbol but is His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity within us.  By having Jesus closer than close we give him the opportunity to make us better people from the inside out.  With a better understanding of this mystery comes the realization of how blessed and fortunate we are to be the sons and daughters of God and able too often enter into physical contact with him.

Recall the Bible story of the women who had suffered with hemorrhages for twelve years and the tremendous faith she had that if only she could touch his clothes she would be cured. (Mark 5:25-28)  Her faith moved her to want to touch him just once in her lifetime.  We have the opportunity to touch him almost daily.

Visit the Adoration Chapel.  Ask Jesus to increase your faith so that you can have a better understanding of the privileges of being a son or daughter of God.

Next time you’re in the chapel, pray for greater awareness of Jesus in your life.  He won’t disappoint because He promised to always be us.  The only question left: Will you choose to be with Him?

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Both Society And Our Church Need Us!

St Peter Julian Eymard underlined the urgency of Eucharistic Adoration for the renewal of our parishes and of the world:

"Today solemn exposition of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the grace and the need of our time.  It is the sovereign grace.  Exposition is the powerful weapon at the disposal of the Church and of the faithful ... We are not afraid to say: the Worship and the Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament is the need of our time ... This worship is necessary to save society.  Society is dying because it has no center of truth and charity, but it will be reborn in full force when all its members gather around the life of Jesus in the Eucharist.  Go back to the source, to Jesus - especially to Jesus in the Eucharist ... It is well known: a civilization grows or decreases according to its worship of the Blessed Eucharist.  This is its life and the measure of its faith, its love, its virtue.  What the reign of the Eucharist will bring to pass!  Impiety and ingratitude have reigned on earth for long enough.  Thy kingdom come!"

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To Adore God …

To adore God is to surrender our intellect, our mind, before God, and open it to be enlightened in the revelation of his will for us.
To adore God is to surrender our hearts, our minds and our deepest desires before God and say “Speak Lord! Your servant is listening”, ready to obey.
To adore God is to love him with the same unconditional love and unselfish love God has for us as much as humanly possible.
To adore God is to become more childlike in acknowledging our complete and total dependence on God.
To adore God is to offer an act of divine worship before him, protecting our purity of spirit, our capacity to know truth for evil, right from wrong, and not call good evil and evil good.

Eucharistic Adoration in his presence is the only place we can find true peace; the peace the world cannot give, a supernatural other-worldly peace that the world cannot take away, a peace that strengthens us against the sinful onslaught of the world, the flesh and the devil.   (The Essence of Adoration - Louis Guardiola, C.P.M.)
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Purpose Of Life

 What Is The Ultimate Purpose?

Peter Kreeft in his book Because God is Real reminds us that: “Nothing could be more relevant to your life than the doctrine of the Trinity.  For life is meaningless to you unless you know life’s meaning.  And the meaning of life, the ultimate purpose of life, the greater good, the supreme value, is love.  And the doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of that, because it means that love “goes all the way up” into the ultimate reality, into the very essence of God.  The doctrine of the Trinity means that God is love.”

“Love” is waiting for you in the Adoration Chapel.  You are encouraged not only to visit the chapel, but to visit often.  It’s up to you … once you die, you can’t help yourself any longer.

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Jesus Waits For You

Jesus Waits For You

“Jesus waits for you in the Eucharist, in our tabernacles and monstrances, and on the altar at every Mass.  His message to you is unmistakable.  In a world where so many people feel unseen, unheard, and unworthy, Jesus generously proclaims:  I see you. I hear you. I know you. You are worthy. I am with you. I care. I am yours. You are mine.   And this is His invitation:  “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”” (Matt 11:28)

  “Go to Him.  Seek out time in His presence.  Allow His presence to transform you in ways unimaginable.”  (Matthew Kelly - 33 Days To Eucharistic Glory)

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As Beloved Children Of God We Are Free

 A Beloved Child … You!

“When we adore the Lord Jesus present in the Eucharist, we receive a new outlook on our lives as well: I am not the things I possess or the successes I can achieve.  The value of my life does not depend on how much I can show off nor does it diminish when I encounter failures and setbacks.  I am a beloved child, each of us is a beloved child.  I am blessed by God.  He wants to clothe me with beauty and free me from all slavery.

“Let us remember this: whoever worships God does not become a slave to anyone.  They are free.  Let us rediscover the prayer of adoration, a prayer that is frequently forgotten.  Adoration … frees us and restores us to our dignity as
                                 children, not slaves.”
                                        Pope Francis - from a Sept 2022 homily

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If You Give Him A Chance - He Will Come

 Give God A Chance

There was a recent article in Our Sunday Visitor Magazine written by Father John LoCoco in which he reminds us that if we are feeling ‘nothing’ when we pray, maybe it’s time we shift our perspective.  Many of us feel when we pray we are going to God, and often that feels like our own initiative, our own plan, and then when things do not go ‘our way’ we become discouraged.  When we do this we are putting prayer into the category of a transaction: If I say these prayers or sit quietly long enough, God will do something, anything.  But by changing our perspective from me going to God, to God coming to me, we open a new way to view our prayer life that will be both more productive and more satisfying.

Spend time in the Adoration Chapel sitting quietly in his presence knowing he will come - this is a form of prayer.  All you have to do is give him a chance.

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God Is Calling - Don't Hide

Are You Trying To Hide From God Like Adam?

“They then heard the Lord God walking in the garden toward evening.  The man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where were you?”.  He answered, “I heard you walking in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself.”  (Genesis 3:8-10)

  Like Adam, God is calling you.  If you’re too busy to hear His call, or maybe you think you simply don’t have time, it’s time to reevaluate your relationship with Him.  He waits for all of us in the Adoration Chapel, and He wants to help.  You won’t always have the opportunity … that’s life; so do it now.

Committed Adoration Hours are available in the Adoration Chapel 

simply goto www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi  and click on "Weekly Commitment"

You Can Become More Like Jesus

More Like Jesus

“Our lives change when our habits change.  Adopting the habit of Eucharistic Adoration will change every aspect of your life.  We tend to emulate the people we spend time with.  By spending time in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, we become more like Him.”
   (Matthew Kelly - 33 Days To Eucharistic Glory)

Monday Oct 7 Our Lady of the Rosary Memorial

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Ask Yourself The Question?

Ask Yourself The Question?

When St Ignatius teaches us his First Principle and Foundation in his Spiritual Exercises he says in every decision we have in life, there is only one question that we have to ask:  “Is this going to help me save my soul, or is it going to distract me from saving my soul?”  If it’s going to help me get to heaven, I embrace it.  If it’s going to keep me from getting there, I throw it away, because everything is in light of eternity.

Personal time spent in our Adoration Chapel is one of those things that truly helps you save your soul.  Don’t miss opportunities God puts before you … they may not always be available.

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Low Hanging Fruit

Low Hanging Fruit

We’ve all heard this metaphor to describe tasks or projects that can easily and quickly be completed before moving on to more challenging things.  Have you ever thought of applying it to your relationship with God?

Here are a few ideas of ‘Low Hanging Fruit’ that could enhance your relationship with God:

- A 15 minute visit to the Adoration Chapel before work or after dropping the kids off at school.

- Spend 30 seconds every morning offering Jesus your entire day by reciting the Morning
       Offering

- Humble yourself in doing something nice for someone - if you get a warm&fuzzy do another.
- When you hear a siren say a prayer for the comfort and health of the person(s) needing help.
- Passing a funeral home or cemetery say a prayer for the souls in purgatory.
- If wronged, forgive and bear it patiently.

If you read Matthew Kelly’s book 33 Days To Eucharistic Glory;  you know about Holy Moments and how they can shift the momentum of your life in the right direction.  Opportunities abound - take advantage.  If you haven’t read it - you should - It’s free.

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God Would Love To See You In Person

 God Wants You

The Trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit is waiting for each of us in the Adoration Chapel where God’s infinite peace may enter our hearts’ and confirm to us that He wants us with Him, and He wants to reveal Himself to us and give us His love, eternal life and the unending holiness of His Being.

Won’t you accept His invitation of becoming a regular Adorer?

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'OPEN' Adoration Hours

We Are In Need Of People To Cover ‘Open’ Adoration Hours

All hours of our Adoration schedule are open to additional assigned adorers.  There are however some hours in specific need of new or additional adorers.  The Church asks that two people be present when the Eucharist is exposed for Adoration.  Our current committed schedule has 44% of our hours covered by only one committed adorer.  There are many opportunities to help.  If you are not currently committed to Adoration we ask you to pray to the Holy Spirit and ask the question if Adoration is right for you.  If you would like to commit to an hour you can sign-up by going directly to the AdorationPro software and registering for an hour with God.  If you have questions, please contact Tom Kartes at 616-325-9305 or via eMail at tjkartes44@gmail.com

In His Presence … Don’t Underestimate The Benefit

 In His Presence … Don’t Underestimate The Benefit

"There is nothing that I will not do for those who approach Me in the Sacrament of My Love.  Look at Me!  Here I am vulnerable, exposed, hidden, and yet entirely delivered over to you.  The Eucharist is the invention of My love, and nothing surpasses it in all My works.   The Eucharist is more than creation itself; it is the crown of My work of redemption in this world, and the foretaste of the glory that I have prepared for those who love Me in the next.  If souls understood what treasures of love are freely given to those who approach Me in the Sacrament of My Love, My churches would be filled day and night, and unable to contain the multitude drawn to them.”  p.226   (In Sinu Jesu  A Benedictine Monk - Angelico Press)

“Faith in this mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist grows in proportion to the time one gives Me in Adoration. … Nothing can replace the intimate experience of My Eucharistic friendship - and this is the experience that I offer to you and to all who seek My Eucharistic Face, all who offer a sacrifice of time to My Eucharistic Heart.”  p.87   (In Sinu Jesu  A Benedictine Monk - Angelico Press)

Sacrifice Increases Love

 Sacrifice For Love

When you love someone, you want that love to grow.  So what do you do to make sure it happens?  If you do nothing at all, what you love will diminish in importance until it vanishes from your life.  To prevent that from happening you go out of your way to give yourself to whatever comes first in that relationship - no matter what it is and no matter the cost.  This is what we mean by ‘sacrifice’.  It is not about “giving up things”; it is about whatever is possible in order to get as much love as we possibly can.  Sacrifice is the way we eagerly adjust our lives so that our greatest desires come true.

What are you willing to sacrifice to show God how much you love him?  Stop by the chapel and tell him.  He’s waiting!

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Pleasing God

God Given Opportunity

Summer soon will be over and if you haven’t already started it’s time to work on the scheduling puzzle of personal/family/work/school/sports time in an effort to make everybody happy and keep harmony in the family.  Here’s a tip that might make that job easier … start by scheduling time with God.  Schedule one hour every week of Eucharistic Adoration and you will see how God helps fit the pieces together and rewards you in so many other ways.  God loves it when you make a commitment to spend time in his presence, and if you give him an hour every week he will help you with the other 167 hours. 

Our current focus in the Adoration Ministry is to find volunteers to fill the ‘open’ hours, and to find prayer partners for adorers who have made a commitment but due to ‘life changes’ need the help of a partner once or twice a month.  As a parish we’re committed to having someone in the chapel 18 hours a day, 5 days a week.  Presently we are falling short of that commitment.  

It’s important to know that the chapel schedule in never full.  There’s always room so if an ‘open’ hour doesn’t fit into your schedule commit to any hour that’s good for you.  To take advantage of the opportunity God is giving you simply follow the link below and add your name to any hour:

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

click on “Weekly Commitment”

How important is Eucharistic Adoration?  Second in importance only to the Mass.

God is waiting for you!

Dedication to Prayer and Gratitude to God

From An Interview with Johathan Roumie, the award winning actor who portrays Jesus of Nazareth in the hit series “The Chosen”.

Our Sunday Visitor:  Does adoration play a significant role in your spirituality?

Roumie:  Absolutely, I make it a priority to spend time in adoration whenever possible.  My spiritual director has encouraged it.  It provides a deep sense of peace and spiritual support.

Our Sunday Visitor:  Any final encouragement for Catholics facing challenges today?

Roumie:  Embrace the Eucharist, tradition, and the apostolic succession.  Jesus is our founder, and that’s the most real connection we have.  Stay strong in faith and draw from the rich heritage of our Church.

You can read the entire interview with Roumie in the “National Eucharistic Revival Special Issue of Our Sunday Visitor” issued July 2024.

 Spontaneity In Your God Relationship

Jesus encourages us to learn how to live with open hearts and trust in God’s provision.  A great way to do that is to add some spontaneity to our lives, such as a surprise visit to our Adoration Chapel.  Don’t underestimate the value of such a visit.  It is very pleasing to God and shows God you have faith that He is in control and will guide you through every twist and turn of your life.  Such a visit also will bring a sense of joy and excitement to your living experience.

You do not have to be a committed adorer to pray in our chapel - everyone is welcome.

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Feed Your Soul

As we pray before the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Adoration Chapel, our souls are fed by the Person of the Savior in the two faculties of spirit that need to be constantly fed.  They are the mind and the will.  In the mind we need light; in the will we need strength.  Both needs are met in an extraordinary way through prayer before the Holy Eucharist.  (Fr John A Hardon, S.J.)

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Chapel Time - Priceless

God loves to see us present in the Adoration Chapel anytime … but He is particularly pleased when we commit to spend time with Him on a regular basis - show your love through a weekly commitment of your time.  

Become a committed Adorer.

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi