EUCHARIST ADORATION PRAYER

PRAYER OF ADORATION

One thing that sets Catholics apart from other Christians who believe in the Real Presence (the belief that the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ during the consecration at Mass) is that we adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. We don't believe that the Real Presence ends when the Sacrament of Holy Communion is complete. While fewer churches today offer times for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament,  any time that a Catholic church is open we can pray before the tabernacle where the Body of Christ is reserved.

In this Act of Adoration, we thank Christ for His continued presence among us, not just through His grace but physically, in the Holy Eucharist. His Body is the Bread of Angels, offered for our strength and salvation.

Act of Adoration

I adore Thee, O Jesus, true God and true Man, here present in the Holy Eucharist, humbly kneeling before Thee and united in spirit with all the faithful on earth and all the blessed in heaven. In deepest gratitude for so great a blessing, I love Thee, my Jesus, with my whole heart, for Thou art all perfect and all worthy of love.

Give me grace nevermore in any way to offend Thee, and grant that I, being refreshed by Thy Eucharistic presence here on earth, may be found worthy to come to the enjoyment with Mary of Thine eternal and everblessed presence in heaven. Amen.

An Explanation of the Act of Adoration of the Holy Eucharist

When Christ ascended to Heaven after His Resurrection, He left for us the Eucharist that we receive in Holy Communion and that is stored ("reserved") in the tabernacles of Catholic churches around the world. Together with all Catholics on earth and in Heaven, we thank Him for this great gift of Himself and offer our love to Jesus. We ask Him for the grace to receive the Eucharist worthily and to receive the graces of Holy Communion, which draw us closer to Christ and prepare us for Heaven.

Definitions of Words Used in the Act of Adoration of the Holy Eucharist

True God: Jesus is fully God, just like the Father and the Holy Spirit; He is the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God

True Man: Jesus is fully man, like all of us, except that He was not conceived with Original Sin and never sinned

Holy Eucharist: the Body and Blood of Christ, which appear under the form of bread and wine 

The Faithful: those who believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ

The Blessed: those faithful who have died and gone to Heaven

Gratitude: thankfulness

Blessing: a good thing for which we are thankful

Nevermore: never again

Everblessed: blessed forever