Youth Supplement

Love and understanding flow from eucharistic adoration

By Andrew Zabel
Special to The Criterion

I wanted to write this Eucharist-based article for the Youth Supplement because I love the Eucharist and desire to share that love with others.

I wish to tell you so much, but there is no better teacher of the Eucharist than Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist—and I only get so much room in a single issue of a newspaper to tell you about Holy Communion.

The best way to experience the wonderful power of the Eucharist is to simply attend Mass and receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Another not so common, but just as effective, way is to participate in eucharist adoration.

Adoration is often when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for worship—translation: Jesus Christ right in front of you, Jesus Christ within sight and reach so that you may stare upon him in awe or talk to him about whatever you desire. In adoration, you develop a love for Christ and the Mass—in other words, an understanding of faith.

Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament is a way to enter into true peace with Jesus Christ. Adoration does exactly that. Over the past couple of years, I have developed a deeper love and understanding of Jesus Christ and my faith, and I owe that to adoration.

I have met Catholics, even non-Catholics, who may not understand the faith, but after attending adoration for the first time they are filled with a love for Jesus and the faith he left us. The Eucharist is a catalyst for the understanding and comprehension of our faith, an important tool against sin and a way to fight its temptations.

Adoration has played a key role in the education of faith to the youth in the archdiocese. Through retreats such as Consumed—a Eucharist-based retreat held in Batesville every September—youth are able, many for the first time, to develop a deep love for Jesus Christ.

“Consumed was one of the most amazing experiences of my life”, said Jill Jungerman, a member of St. Barn-abas Parish in Indianapolis. “I used to go to Mass, come home, and get nothing out of it. Consumed opened my eyes to see who Christ really is and made me truly believe!”

Adoration leads to a love for Jesus Christ, which leads to understanding of the Eucharist in the Mass, which leads to an understanding of faith that is essential to Catholicism.

Adoration for me is an inspiration to pull away from sin and live a life of love for Christ. Adoration is an experience that should be tried by all. The best part of adoration is that if you try it, and don’t like it, all that happens is that you spent an hour with Jesus—and that isn’t bad!

(Andrew Zabel is a member of SS. Francis and Clare Parish in Greenwood.) †