Why Adoration?

Story about walking into Church.

St. Augustine

"...I turn to Christ, because it is He whom I seek here; and I discover how the earth is adored without impiety, how without impiety the footstool of His feet is adored. For He received earth from earth; because flesh is from the earth, and He took flesh from the flesh of Mary. He walked here in the same flesh, AND GAVE US THE SAME FLESH TO BE EATEN UNTO SALVATION. BUT NO ONE EATS THAT FLESH UNLESS FIRST HE ADORES IT; and thus it is discovered how such a footstool of the Lord's feet is adored; AND NOT ONLY DO WE NOT SIN BY ADORING, WE DO SIN BY NOT ADORING." (On Psalms 98:9)

We worship in different ways. Our supreme act of worship is celebrating Mass. But we also worship in other ways. We pray. We can go on a rosary walk. We can listen to music that lifts our minds to God. We can fast. I can read the Scriptures. I can do spiritual reading. Prayer is lifting the mind to God.

Prayer is our relationship with God.

The Catechism clearly defines prayer as a "vital and personal relationship with the living and true God" (CCC, no. 2558). Prayer is Christian "insofar as it is communion with Christ" (CCC, no. 2565), and a "covenant relationship between God and man in Christ" (CCC, no. 2564).

We get criticized by Protestants. “Catholics are worshipping Mary!”

No, we are talking to her.

prayer /prâr

noun A reverent petition made to God, a god, or another object of worship. The act of making a reverent petition to God, a god, or another object of worship."belief in the power of prayer." An act of communion with God, a god, or another object of worship, such as in devotion, confession, praise, or thanksgiving."One evening a week, the family would join together in prayer."

“I’ve seen the way you worship God. Its pretty sad. Even if you were to try and worship Mary, based on what I’ve seen, it still would not be enough praise that we owe to her.” - St. Alphonsus Liguori

Psalm 54

R. (6b) The Lord upholds my life. O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause. O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth. R. The Lord upholds my life. For the haughty men have risen up against me, the ruthless seek my life; they set not God before their eyes. R. The Lord upholds my life. Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life. Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness. R. The Lord upholds my life.

“O eternal Truth, true Love, and beloved Eternity, you are my God, and for you I sigh day and night. As I first began to know you, you lifted me up and showed me that, while that which I might see exists indeed, I was not yet capable of seeing it. Your rays beamed intensely on me, beating back my feeble gaze, and I trembled with love and dread. I knew myself to be far away from you in a region of unlikeness, and I seemed to hear your voice from on high: “I am the food of the mature: grow, then, and you shall eat me. You will not change me into yourself like bodily food; but you will be changed into me”. - St. Augustine, Confessions

Because what is a Sacrament?

An external Sign, of an internal Reality

Baptism - Exterior washing, that interiorly washes and births.

Marriage - The two become one family, souls are merged and together they grow the Church. - Symbolizes Christ and the Church

Confirmation - Exteriorly you confirm what you believe, inside you are strengthened to be a warrior for God.

Anointing of the Sick - Outside your body is given ointment, inside your soul is healed.

Orders - Outside I look different and live different, Inside I am Christ on earth, in certain instances.

Eucharist - Looks like bread - but it is actually food that makes you ready for heaven. Like if you want to get buffer, what do you do? Eat more protein. If you want to get to heaven you need heavenly food.

But it doesn’t taste any different?

But then why do I hunger for it? Why have I given my life to it? Why do I spend an hour plus Mass every day in front of it? What has it done to me? Why would a sister go prostrate in front of it?

Won’t you spend an hour with me?

I don’t know how to pray, the Church says, just get here!