How to Make a Catholic Holy Hour
The Eucharist is the heart of Catholic worship. Although the most obvious way to obtain the Eucharist is by attending Mass, another way to grow closer to God is by spending Holy Hour in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This time spent in the physical presence of Christ is a fruitful opportunity for prayer, meditation, and worship. However, because Catholicism has ritualized prayers for other worship opportunities, it is possible to wonder whether there is a specific "correct" way to make a Holy Hour. There is no wrong or right way so long as you are open to the still, small voice of God.
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Instructions
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Set aside an hour during the designated adoration time of a nearby Catholic church when you will have minimal distractions. Choose a time when you have no deadlines to meet and no important phone calls or emails to await. Praying at a time when you will not be distracted makes you more likely to stop worrying about the world and focus on God.
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Still your mind before the Eucharist. Take as much time as you need to quiet the voices in your mind and make room for the voice of God. You may find it helpful to repeat a short prayer, such as the prayer of the tax collector ("God, have mercy on me, a sinner"), the prayer of St. Dismas ("Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom") or a prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus ("Sacred Heart of Jesus, I implore that I may ever love you more and more") (Reference 5), to center yourself. If you find persistent distractions arising in your mind, offer them up to Jesus. Tell Jesus what concerns are pressing on you and ask him to help you with them. Ask him to help you discern which of these thoughts are pressing and which are useless background noise. Pray for a way to shut out the noise and grow closer to Christ.
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Offer up any favorite prayers. If you enjoy praying the rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet, try reciting them in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. If you prefer spontaneous prayer, offer God whatever prayers are in your heart. If you've always wanted to try a certain form of prayer, try it during Holy Hour.
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Meditate on the Bible. There are a variety of forms of meditation you can use, from visualizing yourself as part of the Biblical scene using all five senses (Reference 3) to praying that God show you an action to take in your own life based on the Scriptures (Reference 4). One form of Christian meditation, lectio divina, recommends that you read the Bible, ponder the verse and ask God to help you through any points that perplex you.
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Divide the hour into four 15-minute chunks if you feel you need a more structured Holy Hour. In the first 15 minutes, adore the Eucharist and meditate on the fact that you are in the physical presence of Christ. In the second 15 minutes, offer God prayers of thanksgiving, either specifically thanking God for incarnating on Earth or offering more general thanks for blessings in your life. In the third 15 minutes, offer any petitions you may have, particularly prayers that others come to know God's presence. In the last 15 minutes, ask God's forgiveness for your sins. (Reference 2)
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Tips & Warnings
Don't despair if you find yourself distracted during Holy Hour. Quieting your mind takes practice and is easier on some days than others. Although you should pray for help or talk to your spiritual director if it becomes a consistent problem, you aren't a bad Christian for being distracted on occasion.
References
- "Inside Catholic"; A Sanctuary in Time; Mark P. Shea; 2010.
- Pope John Paul II Eucharistic Adoration Association; How to Make a Holy Hour; Fr. John P. Gigus; 2002.
- Redeemer Presbyterian Church; Meditation: Not So Mysterious; Jan Johnson; 2006.
- Christian Classics Ethereal Library; Introduction to the Devout Life; St. Francis de Sales.
- My Catholic Tradition: A Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Resources
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