Last Thursday, our Catholic Society hosted a profoundly moving event: an evening of Eucharistic Adoration. This uniquely Catholic form of prayer and worship provided our university community with an opportunity to spend time in the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
As students entered the chapel, they were struck by the transformation of the space. The altar was adorned with candles, creating a soft, reverent glow. At the center stood the ornate monstrance, holding the consecrated Host - the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
Father Michael began the evening with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. As he placed the Host in the monstrance, the chapel fell silent, filled with a palpable sense of awe. The familiar hymn "O Salutaris Hostia" was sung, its ancient Latin lyrics reminding us of the rich tradition we were participating in.
The heart of the evening was an extended period of silent adoration. For many students, especially those new to this practice, the idea of sitting in silence for an hour seemed daunting at first. However, as time passed, the peace that filled the chapel was almost tangible.
Students were free to pray in whatever way felt most natural - some knelt in deep contemplation, others sat with rosaries in hand, while a few chose to write in journals, recording their reflections and prayers.
Midway through the evening, Sister Maria, a visiting nun from a nearby convent, led us in a guided meditation. She encouraged us to imagine ourselves in the presence of Jesus, to bring Him our joys, sorrows, and hopes. Many students later shared how powerful this experience was, helping them to connect more personally with Christ's presence in the Eucharist.
Throughout the evening, members of our society took turns reading short passages from Scripture, followed by periods of silence for reflection. The words of Jesus from the Gospel of John - "I am the bread of life" - took on new depth as we sat before the Blessed Sacrament.
Our music ministry played a crucial role in the evening, providing soft, meditative hymns at intervals. Songs like "Adoro Te Devote" and "Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All" helped to deepen the atmosphere of reverence and love.
As the evening drew to a close, Father Michael led us in Benediction. The blessing with the Blessed Sacrament, accompanied by the ringing of bells and the fragrant cloud of incense, was a beautiful conclusion to our time of adoration.
The impact of the evening was evident in the faces and words of the students as they left the chapel:
Given the profound impact of this Eucharistic Adoration evening, we're planning to make it a monthly event in our Catholic Society calendar. We hope it will provide a regular opportunity for students to deepen their relationship with Christ and grow in their appreciation of this beautiful Catholic tradition.
To all who attended - thank you for your reverence and openness to this experience of prayer. And to those who couldn't join us, we warmly invite you to our next Adoration evening. Come and experience the peace and love that flows from time spent in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord.
As St. Alphonsus Liguori beautifully expressed, "Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the Sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us." We're blessed to be able to offer this devotion here at our university.