This Sunday marks our first week of Second Sunday Adoration! This year, we’ll have the opportunity to join together on the second Sunday of each month for a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by quiet worship music in the St. Bernard’s sanctuary. There will also be a priest available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).
Not quite sure what to do during Adoration? Here are a few ideas:
- bring a notebook and do some journaling
- say a rosary or a Divine Mercy Chaplet
- do Centering Prayer
- just pray in general
- sit and just be still and silent for awhile (when’s the last time you did that?)
- have a conversation with Jesus
If you’re like me, it can take a few times going to Adoration to feel like you “know” what you’re doing. But really, there’s no way you’re *supposed* to *do* Adoration–it’s simply being in Jesus’ presence, which is a huge privilege and an incredible opportunity.
And if you’re like me, sometimes you sit down at Adoration and it’s like seeing an old friend through a window–there’s just something in the way there.
That’s why there’s also the opportunity for Reconciliation!
What’s that? You haven’t been to Confession in ages? And you feel like you wouldn’t even know what to do?
Well, my friend, you’re in luck!
Confession is such a universally awkward yet universally beneficial Catholic sacrament that there are a ton of resources out there on how to make a good one (“good” meaning you feel the high that accompanies closeness with God afterwards, not some performance quota). Here’s one from a Catholic convert on BustedHalo, here’s a WikiHow page on Confession, and there’s even an app for that. For our part, we present to you 4 Ways to Win at Confession:
1. Just show up. Sometimes the hardest part is getting yourself in the door. Just go. It will be worth it. If it’s been awhile and embarrassment over that is what’s what’s holding you back, don’t worry about it! God (and the priest) will just be happy you’re there!
The Newman Center at Keene State College 