When I was a senior in high school, I was invited by one of my teachers to have a conversation
with God, and I experienced His personal love for me; this was a turning point in my relationship with Him. I desired to cultivate a daily prayer life afterwards, and I met a friend, a FOCUS missionary, in college who desired that for me. She encouraged me to spend at least twenty to thirty minutes each day with Jesus, sitting in His Presence in the St. Mary’s Chapel at Central Michigan University. Sitting in His Presence, Jesus used this time to heal me, love me, reveal who He had created me to be, and transform me more and more into His likeness. I craved more and more time with Him as I realized that all of what I desired in this life (and beyond) was found in Him. Today, seven years later, He continually gazes upon me during daily Holy Hours. Living in Marinette, I am so grateful that I can physically be with Jesus each day at the God the Father Adoration Chapel. - Allie
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“I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio Divina: the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart [cf. Dei verbum, n. 25]. If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual springtime.” - Pope Benedict XVI
How to Pray with Scripture - Lectio Divina
Choose a Bible passage - The Gospel from the daily mass readings is a great place to start. 1. Read - Lectio Slowly read the passage. Pay attention to which words or phrases leap out to you. What is the literal meaning? What is the spiritual meaning? What is the "big picture" here? If time allows, read it twice. 2. Meditate - Meditatio Imagine the scene as if you are there - try to involve all your senses - sigh, sound, smell . . . What does the text say to your heart? What emotions are stirred up within you as you read? Imagine how the people in the passage are feeling. 3. Pray - Oratio Take all the feelings and questions you meditated on and offer them to the Lord in prayer. Adore Him. Confess your sins. Thank Him for working in your life. Tell Him your fears and convictions. Intercede for others. Have a conversation with God. 4. Contemplation - Contemplatio "I look at God and He looks at me." Spend time in the loving presence of God. Quiet your mind and heart and allow Him the time and space to speak to you. Simply sit with him in silence. Enjoy the stillness. End with a resolution to act. What did I learn about God? About myself? What, if anything am I being called to do? When will I pray with scripture again? Choose a time and follow through. Here's a printable infographic for your Bible: I believe in the communion of saints.
When I was going through the most difficult time of my life (infertility, family strife, divorce, a long uncertain annulment process), I became the unexpected recipient of a first class relic of St. Rita. It came from a priest friend with official papers and contained a tiny bone fragment of St. Rita. I knew I had something special, but to tell you the truth, I'd never heard of her and the thought of keeping it in my home was very foreign to me. I started reading. I found out that St. Rita had been a (very) young wife and mother, in the middle of a violent family feud, a young widow, and then became a religious sister. After her canonization, she became known as the patron saint of difficult marriages, impossible causes, and infertility. She seemed like the perfect heavenly friend for me. I needed a lot of help, so I often asked her to pray for me. I prayed a novena to St. Rita leading up to her feast day for several years and lit a candle by the relic. Gradually, in God's time, my impossible causes came to happy conclusions. Lots of winks from God along the way gave me peace and hope. When I found myself, years later, marveling at the many answered prayers St. Rita had brought to God for me, I knew it was time to gift her to someone else. I carefully packed up her relic with the document and thanked God for the beautiful communion of saints. I'm looking forward to the day I will be able to thank her face to face. For more information about St. Rita's amazing life. The portrait of St. Rita was created by Kristyn Brown of the Saints Project. The quote from Pope St. John Paul II came from this beautiful speech he gave to pilgrims gathered at the centennial celebration of St. Rita's canonization in 2000. Chapel is one of the most peaceful places to go. When your mind is racing and you're full of fear or worry, bring it to the chapel and say a rosary and offer up that pain and worry to Jesus. "Jesus, I trust in you. Take care of everything." Peace just flows over you. You feel at rest with Christ.
One time, my father-in-law asked me to pray and light a candle for him at the chapel because he was struggling with something. So I did, and when I saw him next he said, "You must have prayed!" My prayer was answered. I started to pray there one day and got so lost in prayer that I didn't realize two hours had gone by and I felt like I could stay in there longer. - Jessy This year my New Years Resolution has been dedicated toward rediscovering Jesus in the Eucharist. Let's be honest, sometimes, we forget He's in the consecrated host. Growing up and living in a country where the Eucharist is readily available can lead us to forget just how special the Eucharist is. People in other countries don't always have that luxury, and during the pandemic, we got a taste of what it's like not to receive or visit Jesus whenever we want. This year I have been researching Eucharistic Miracles, specifically the ones documented by Blessed Carlo Acutis. Story telling has always been one of the ways I learn, so I decided to lean into that strength. I have really enjoyed reading the creative ways Jesus has made His presence known in the host, and having knowledge of these documented events has strengthened my ability to recognize Him during Adoration and Mass more times than not. Like any relationship, it takes time to fully see and know the heart of the other person. The same is true in a relationship with Jesus, and Adoration is one of the many great methods for building that connection. -Kristin Here's a short article about Blessed Carlos Acutis: Here's a link to Saints Alive Studio, who created the beautiful portrait in the graphic above:
I’ve been visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament weekly for over fifteen years. He’s heard every single one of my hopes and dreams. Every uncertainty. Every heartbreak. He listened to me mourn several years of infertility . . . then a deep betrayal . . . then divorce. He sat with me as I sorted my thoughts during a long annulment process. I gave all my tears and doubts to Him. Many prayers seemed to go unanswered, but through it ALL, for years and years, I was held. I was heard. I was loved.
The time I spent in the chapel with Jesus clarified everything. Over time, I was able to focus more and more on what really matters. (It’s HIM!) He showed me how the “unanswered” prayers were the ones he handled with the most care. He had more for me than I could even dare to dream. The annulment was granted after two submissions and I married a man God knew would be perfect for me. My infertility was solved with an easy outpatient surgery and we were able to have three healthy children. When we suffered an early miscarriage, I ran to Jesus. Though impossible to understand, I knew he had given us a little saint. Life is so messy. We are so broken. The only thing that matters is how we grow in our love of Jesus. My quiet time in the chapel, week after week, year after year, has taught me so much about HOW Jesus loves me. In John 10, Jesus explains that “He goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” I learned, over time, what His voice sounds like in my life. I learned to listen, and gradually I was able to trust Him enough to obey. I can honestly tell the Lord, “I’ve come to do your will,” and believe with all my heart that He works all things for the good of those who love Him. I’ve seen conversions and healings. I’ve seen people whose lives were touched and changed in ways, maybe opposite of what they’d asked and hoped for, but miraculous nonetheless. That’s the thing about Jesus - He’s personal. He’s intimate. He knows us deeply and answers us in nuanced ways. Just like exercise, if I leave my prayer to the times when I feel like it . . . consistency is unlikely at best. The reason the chapel has been SO instrumental in my long-term growth is that once I committed to my weekly hour, I knew that other people (and Jesus) were counting on me to show up. So I did, and I continue to. And you can too! He’s waiting for you. Adoration is where I can truly calm my heart and mind down. It's a place to bask in the glory and light of the Lord. My time in adoration has given me peace, clarity in difficult times, and most importantly a chance to feel the Lord's love and compassion.
- Catherine Adoration Chapel and what it means to me...divine intervention/divine inspiration! Peace and quiet, prayerful time! I was urged to go to Adoration a couple of times at a point I didn’t know what to do with myself. I didn’t want to let go of the control I thought I had over a situation. But once I found the time to commit myself to an hour a week...yes people, I said it...”found the time”...after all God has done for me, I could find the time??
After many prayers and tears, I was given the grace to “Let go and let God.” Let God take control! The heaviness that laid upon my shoulders was lifted and I could breathe and make some sense of normalcy of the situation. The situation became easier to accept! Divine intervention! If you have any aches, pains, worries, anxiety, depression or are thankful, take it to the Lord in the Adoration Chapel. If you cannot commit to an hour a week, visit and pray as often as you can! Treat yourself to the graces of God; His graces are abundant! Divine inspiration! Theresa S. When I heard about the Adoration Chapel, I had notions about what I'd do, how I'd serve, what the experience would be like. It turns out it was different each time! Some nights I'd be lost in worry, or deep in prayer for a friend in need, or tired from a busy week and struggling to stay focused in the warmth of the chapel. Gradually, I no longer focused on doing, but being. Being present, quieting my mind and spirit to receive the blessings of our Father, our Mother Mary, our Holy Spirit, and our Lord Jesus. We are raised to be productive, to be working towards a goal, but time at the chapel has taught me the true meaning of the words of Psalm 46:10; Be still and know that I am God. In that stillness came conversation, understanding, guidance and peace.
- Mary S The first time that I went to an adoration chapel in Missouri, I had a miracle happen. After just 5 minutes of praying the Rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament, my back was healed of sciatica. This was something I had learned to live with along with going regularly to chiropractors. It was especially painful to drive or ride in a car. I just thought that I was probably going to live with this for the rest of my life, but I felt my lower back move into place while praying in this chapel, and I will never forget it.
Sandy B. |