Eucharistic Adoration is adoring the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Adoration involves "the contemplation of the
Mystery of Christ truly present
before us."
During Eucharistic Adoration, we "watch and wait," remain "silent" in His Presence, and open ourselves to His Graces which flow from the Eucharist.
By worshiping the Eucharistic Jesus, we become what God wants us to be!
Like a magnet, the Lord draws us to Himself and gently transforms us.
Eucharistic Adoration is "God and Man reaching out for each other, at the same time!" The Eucharist is: Jesus truly present - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity!
At the moment of Consecration during the Mass, the "gifts" of bread and wine are transformed into the actual Body and Blood of Christ at the altar. This means that they are not only spiritually transformed, but rather are actually (substantially) transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. The elements retain the appearance of bread and wine, but are indeed the actual Body and Blood of Christ. This is what is meant by real presence: the actual, physical presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Christ instituted this Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist in order to remain with mankind until the end of time (Jn. 14:18). The Blessed Sacrament serves as a focal point of devotion.
As Catholics, we believe that Christ is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist; therefore, the Blessed Sacrament is given the same adoration and devotion that is accorded to Christ.
The Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a mostrance.
At the beginning of the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a priest or deacon removes the sacred host from the tabernacle and places it in the Monstrance on the altar for adoration by the faithful. "Monstrance" is the vessel used in the Church to display the consecrated Eucharistic Host, during Eucharistic adoration or benediction. The word monstrance comes from the Latin word
monstrare,
meaning "to expose." It is known in Latin as an Ostensorium. When a consecrated host is placed in the monstrance, it is said to be a solemn exposition.
The Most Holy Sacrament is kept in a tabernacle for the devotion of the faithful at any time and on any day.
When the Monstrance contains the Sacred Host, the priest does not touch it with his bare hands, but instead, holds it with a humeral veil, a wide band of cloth that covers his shoulders and has pleats on the inside in which he places his hands. At all other times, the reserved Sacrament is kept locked in the Tabernacle, so that the faithful may pray in the presence of the Sacrament.