Here are some pictures from the BBQ:

If you decide to use this program with a group or alone, we’d be thrilled – and we’d like to know, so please drop us a line in the comments if you do!

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Father brings in the Sacrament. We kneel and adore Him.

Together: Most Holy Trinity, I adore You! My God, my God, I love You in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  Amen.

Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

Hail Mary
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.  (three times)

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

Fatima
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And the angel answered and said unto the women: “Fear not ye! For I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here. For he is risen, as he said”. (Mat 28,1-6)

The risen Jesus has proved that man, together with Him, can have power over sin and therefore death. Jesus, help raise us, deliver us from sin, from evil, give us Your light, give us Your joy. Rekindle inside us the love, the faith, the hopefulness, and the gift of prayer. Let us ask Mary for the gift of an unshakeable faith. (Source: http://www.theholyrosary.org/glorious.html)

Silence and time for reflection before the prayers begin: one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, one Fatima

Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. Jesus, You have not deserted Your apostles in anguish, but have given them the joy of knowing Jesus “glorified” over 40 days . After Your Ascension, You granted to all those who seek You the gift of receiving You in the Eucharist. Through Mary we trust in you. Mary, give us the gift of hope. (Source: http://www.theholyrosary.org/glorious.html)

Silence and time for reflection before the prayers begin: one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, one Fatima

Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of The Holy Ghost
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Act 2,1-4)

Jesus, infuse us with the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, enlighten us with the light of Your Spirit, with His strength enter in the deepest parts of our hearts and heal us. Deliver us, fill up our hearts with Your love. Make us apostles of Yours, dear Lord. Let us ask Mary the gift of true love, the gift of prayer from the heart.
“Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” (Source: http://www.theholyrosary.org/glorious.html)

Silence and time for reflection before the prayers begin: one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, one Fatima

Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption of Mary
After the apostles have dispersed, the Blessed Mother goes to live with John, the beloved disciple. Mary lives many years on earth after the death of Christ. She is a source of comfort, consolation and strength to the apostles. As she had nourished the infant Jesus, so she nourishes spiritually the infant Church. Mary dies, not of bodily infirmity, but is wholly overcome in a rapture of divine love. Her body as well as her soul is taken up into heaven. After her burial the apostles go to the tomb and find only fragrant lilies. Jesus does not permit the sinless body of His Mother to decay in the grave. Corruption of the body is an effect of original sin from which Mary is totally exempted. The bodies of all mankind, at the last judgment, will be brought back and united again to the soul.

Now that Mary is raised into heaven, She prays for Her sons and daughters, those sons and daughters Jesus left Her when He was on the cross. Mary, pray for us, You know our fears, take us into Your Heart, the Heart of a Mother. Help us now and in the time of our death to be with You in Heaven. We ask of you a devotion to Your Immaculate Heart, where we may take refuge in times of trouble. (Source: http://www.rosary-center.org/glorious.htm)

Silence and time for reflection before the prayers begin: one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, one Fatima

Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Mary in Heaven
As Mary enters heaven, the entire court of heaven greets with joy this masterpiece of God’s creation. Mary is crowned by her divine Son as Queen of heaven and earth. More than we can ever know the Hearts of Jesus and Mary overflow with joy at this reunion. Only in heaven will we know the great majesty of that coronation, and the joy it gave to the angels and saints. Even the angels, who by nature are greater than humans, hail Mary as their Queen. Mary shares so fully in the glory of Christ because she shared so fully in His suffering. Only in heaven will we see how central is the role of Mary in the divine plan of redemption. The angels and saints longed for the coming of her whose heel crushes the head of the serpent. Mary pleads our cause as a most powerful Queen and a most merciful and loving Mother. A great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Source: http://www.rosary-center.org/glorious.htm)

Let us trust in Mary, Let us call to Her, let us love Her, let us confide in Her, because She gives Her all to us. We have a Mother in Heaven who is also a Queen; thus we need to turn to Her with full faith and hopefulness. If we ask for something while praying the Holy Rosary, it will be granted to us. Ask Her for the gift of prayer, a prayer of the heart, said only for love, a love for Her and Jesus. Let us also ask for a consistency of prayer, to always be joined to Her Heart, and therefore to the Heart of Jesus. (Source: http://www.theholyrosary.org/glorious.html)

Silence and time for reflection before the prayers begin: one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, one Glory Be, one Fatima

Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit, divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints.I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me.

O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon.

Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity.

Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation.

Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul.

Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter.

Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world.

Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next.

Amen.

Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.
ALL:  May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and bless him upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.

Our Father.  Hail Mary.

ALL:  O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for priests by Therese of Lisieux
O Jesus
I pray for your faithful and fervent priests
for your unfaithful and tepid priests
for your priests labouring at home
or abroad in distant mission fields
for your tempted priests
for your lonely and desolate priests
for your young priests
for your dying priests
for the souls of your priests in purgatory

But above all, I recommend to you
the priest dearest to me
the priest who baptized me
the priest who absolved me from my sins
the priests at whose Masses I assisted
and who gave me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion
the priests who taught and instructed me
All the priests I am indebted in any other way

O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart
and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity, Amen.

Closing rite: Tantum Ergo Sacramentum (Adoremus number 246, verse 5 and 6)

From John 14,1-21:

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.

(…) I am the way and the truth and the life.

I will not leave you orphans; (…)

On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.

First meditation of Blessed James Alberione:

“Jesus invites me to enter more deeply in a personal relationship with him, a relation that can hold any difficulty, any joy or any sorrow. He desires that I experience this security which can be tasted when we are loved faithfully, wholeheartedly: “’Do not let your hearts be troubled”. Though mysterious, Jesus’ words, “I am the Way; I am Truth and Life”, are a beautiful promise of his loving fidelity and friendship.”

“The wish of God for me” of Blessed James Alberione

Your wish, o my Lord, is to come into my heart and to transform me by Your divine life.

Your wish is to purify me, to liberate me from my selfishness and my faults.

Your wish is to create me again and again, to make me a new person, in Your image.

Your wish is to fill me with Your love, for I love the Father and all my sisters and brothers as You love them.

Your wish is that I get united with You by the most intimate ties, to unite our hearts for they become one.

Your wish is to strengthen me, to give me Your divine power for I can overcome evil and be constant in doing good.

Your wish is to set my soul on fire with a tireless enthusiasm to work at the growing of Your kingdom in this world.

Your wish is that I belong to You in this life and in the life to come.

O my Lord, may Your wish become reality in my life. Help me to give You everything freely.

After the adoration in the chapel we had some time to socialize and get to know each other better.

It was a very nice evening, both spiritually and socially!

For those of you who could not attend or for other Catholic groups looking for a program for Adoration, I’ll post that in just a bit. Let me share some pictures from the evening first.

After Adoration Maria had made us fruit salad! It was absolutely delicious. We were also given some fiskegrateng from the parish priest, which was also delicious. Nice for a hungry student!

Two very interesting conversations going on at once, between Vanessa and Maria, and Huy and father Al

Andrea from Italy and Marie from France

Two Andrea's and one Francesco in the middle. All Italians studying, living and praying together.

Adoration – Focusing on Unborn Life

Father brings in the Sacrament. We kneel and sing Adoramus te Christe (Adoremus nr. 28)

For your created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made  -   Psalm 139

First reading: Jeremiah 1:4-8

Song: Be Thou My Vision
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me save that thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, thou my true word
I ever with thee, thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I thy true Son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only, first in my heart
High King of heavem, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, after victory won
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Reading: the gospel of Luke 1:39-45

Song: Bless the Lord (Adoremus number 31)

A poem by By Amy L. Minoski

Hush now, Mommy, why do you weep?
Is it because my sleep is so deep?
Is it because my movements have ceased
That torrents of anguish in you are unleashed?

Hush now, Mommy, why do you sigh?
Is that a tear caught in your eye?
Is it because you were deceived and bought a lie?
That causes you to slowly wither and die?

Hush now, Mommy, why do you grieve?
Is it because you never felt me breathe?
Is it because you never cradled me to your breast?
And my soft, tiny body never caressed?

Hush now, Mommy, although you denied me life.
And both our pain feels like a knife.
And though I never experienced your love
I have no anger, no hatred, no strife.

Hush now, Mommy, so consumed by guilt,
Jesus’ precious blood was spilt
To wash all guilt, sorrow, and sin away
So that tomorrow can be a brand new day.

Hush now, Mommy, don’t you cry
It was for you that Jesus died.
His great love and sacrifice for you was complete
To heal your sin, your pain, your grief.

Hush now, Mommy, to Jesus confess,
Forgiveness is sure and in Him you can rest.
And though on earth our hands will never meet,
Someday in heaven you and I each other will greet.

Hush now, Mommy, don’t you weep
For my soul doth Jesus keep.
And as I look down from heaven above,
Know that I am safe within His love

Song: Laudate omnes gentes (Adoremus number 44)

Prayer for the unborn: Loving God, I thank you for the gift of life you gave and continue to give to me and to all of us. Merciful God, I ask your pardon and forgiveness for my own failure and the failure of all people to respect and foster all forms of life in our universe. Gracious God, I pray that with your grace, I and all people will reverence, protect, and promote all life and that we will be especially sensitive to the life of the unborn, the abused, neglected, disabled, and the elderly.  I pray, too, that all who make decisions about life in any form will do so with wisdom, love, and courage.
Living God, I praise and glorify you as Father, Source of all life, as Son, Savior of our lives, and as Spirit, Sanctifier of our lives. Amen

We share our personal prayers
Response: Kyrie, Kyrie eleison – Christe Christe eleison

OUR FATHER
In English or your own language

Closing rite: Tantum Ergo Sacramentum (Adoremus number 246, verse 5 and 6)
Litany of the Sacred Heart

Pope Pius XII in front of the Blessed Sacrament, inside the monstrance

We were joined yet again by a new face: Cecily from Singapore. We’re so happy to have you with us! We were 10 students in total.

Clarisse and father Al had come up with the theme and content together. Here is the entire program, for those who could not be with us, or other groups who need ideas for their adorations:

Opening song: Adoramus te Christe

Opening prayer.

The Healing Power of God Luke 5, 17-26

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing.
18 And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set (him) in his presence.
19 But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus.
20 When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”
21 Then the scribes 9 and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
22 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts?
23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–he said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
25 He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God.
26 Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”

Silence and contemplation (meditative music)

The Healing of a Deaf and Mute Man, Mark 7, 31-37

Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
” Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Silence and contemplation

Meditative song: Bless the Lord My Soul
(Lyric: “Bless the Lord my soul and bless His holy name. Bless the Lord my soul, who leads me into life”)

Reading: Luke 13, 10-17 (Consider being in the position of the crippled woman or perhaps just being in the crowd observing what was going on)

10 He was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
11 And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
12 When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
13 He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.”
15 The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering?
16 This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?”
17 When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

Silence and contemplation (Meditative music)

Remember: God has a positive answer

You say: It’s impossible. God says; All things are possible – Luke 18:27

You say: I’m too tired. God says; I will give you rest – Matthew 11:28-30

You say: Nobody really loves me. God says: I love you – John 3:16

You say: I can’t go on.  God says; My grace is sufficient – II Corinthins 12:9

You say: I can’t figure things out. God says: I will direct your steps – Proverbs 3:5-6

You say: I’m afraid.  God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear – II Timothy 1:7

You say: I’m not smart enough. God says: I give you wisdom – I Corinthians 1:30

Sharing of spontaneous personal payers
Reponse: Kyrie, kyrie eleison, Christe, Christe eleison

Our Father

Closing rite: Tantum Ergo verse 5 and 6 (Adoremus number 246)

Closing song: Jesus Christ, You are my life (Adoremus number 195)

Thank you so much Clarisse for working on the program and singing so beautifully for us, and to Father Al who helped us and heard our confessions!

I leave you with these words from our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI:

“I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Blessed Sacrament. I adore You for all the works of Your hands, that reveal to me so much wisdom, goodness and mercy, O Lord. You have spread so much beauty over the earth, and it tells me about Your beauty, even though these beautiful things are but a faint reflection of You, Incomprehensible Beauty. And although You have hidden Yourself and concealed Your beauty, my eye, enlightened by faith, reaches You, and my soul recognizes its Creator, its Highest Good; and my heart is completely immersed in prayer of adoration.”

“My Lord and Creator, Your goodness encourages me to converse with You. Your mercy abolishes the chasm which separates the Creator from the creature. To converse with You, O Lord, is the delight of my heart. In You I find everything that my heart could desire. Here Your light illumines my mind, enabling it to know You more and more deeply. Here streams of graces flow down upon my heart. Here my soul draws eternal life.”

“O my Lord and Creator, You alone, beyond all these gifts, give Your own self to me and unite Yourself intimately with Your miserable creature. Here, without searching for words, our hearts understand each other. Here, no one is able to interrupt our conversation. What I talk to You about, Jesus, is our secret, which creatures shall not know and Angels dare not ask about. These are secret acts of forgiveness, known only to Jesus and me; this is the mystery of His mercy, which embraces each soul separately. For this incomprehensible goodness of Yours, I adore You, O Lord and Creator, with all my heart and all my soul. And, although my worship is so little and poor, I am at peace because I know that You know it is sincere, however inadequate…”

22nd of April, 2008.

Adoration.

(…) ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ (Matthew 25:37)

This day, 20 students gathered and prayed together. And spent time together in spiritual silence. And listened to the words of Christ. And searched for inner peace and searched for God. And reached out for Him and asked Him for his love.

In return, God only asks for our love.

But how do we love Him? How do we love God?

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)

The adoration this time was characterized with nice singing by the students and young adults. There were also some reading from different texts. One of them is posted here on this website (The link on the right “Text: The Most Precious Thing”). Clarisse, who had kindly prepared the songs and texts, fully deserves credit.

In other news, 5 students from the Group had been showing great enthusiasm lately by spending a whole weekend helping P. Dominic with the Confirmand Camp in the north. Maria Cao, Cecilia, Piotr, Daniele and Maria eagerly said yes when they were asked to help out in the kitchen if need be, play instruments during the Mass, and watch over the kids/confirmands. How they survived the 3 days long trip with over 30 unpredictable teenagers is still a mystery.

Well, it worked out fine, I guess. The Adoration. It was my first time to plan and carry through with the Adoration, since Clarisse, the one who usually is responsible for it, couldn’t be with us that Wednesday in February. Frankly, I was glad that she gave me this opportunity. It was a learning experience.

The chosen songs were Adoramus Te, Ubi Caritas and Laudate Omnes Gentes. As you can see, all of them are in Latin. The growing internationallity of the student group was an important thing to have in mind during the preparation and song-choosing.

We were 12 students/young adults in total. Additionally and naturally, P. Al and P. Etienne were there also. We had the Adoration in the church, which eliminates the crowdness of having it in a small room. Of course, what opinions people has about it, is yet for me to find out.

The students had the opportunity to meet P. Etienne one by one for Confession while the rest had adoration. Many students did, which pleased P. Dominic. “It shows that they have a healthy spiritual life”, he said.