Perpetual Adoration is when a parish has a chapel, or sets aside a small prayer room that is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, with permanent and free exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. If each member of the parish community would be willing to spend just one hour once a week with Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament then we could organise all the hours of the day and night, in such a way that each hour is covered with, at least, one person with Our Lord, so that He is never left alone, and thus the chapel could be open for anyone at any time to visit Him.

 DEVELOPMENT OF PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR THE LAY CHRISTIANS

The origin of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration among the faithful in the world can be understood to have begun during the Pontificate of Pope Paul VI when just after the close of the Second Vatican Council he released the Document “Mysterium Fidei” in the hope that a “new era of Eucharistic piety pervade the whole Church.”

Pope John Paul II went further during his Pontificate by repeatedly emphasizing that his deepest desire for the whole Church was that Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration be “established in every Parish and Christian Community throughout the world so that the Eucharist becomes the centre of the life of the people of God.” In response to this Eucharistic appeal many International Eucharistic Congresses have been organised and held in every continent so that the Eucharist becomes the Centre of Attention of all those in love with Jesus Christ.  These congresses were meant to spread St. Pope John Paul II appeal for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration when he said “The Church and the World have a great need of Eucharistic Adoration.

Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of Love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in adoration, and in contemplation that is full of faith, and ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world.  May our adoration never cease.” (Letter: On the Mystery and Worship of the Holy Eucharist – Pope John Paul II). This Pope invited every man and woman to participate when he said “Every member of the Church, especially bishops and priests must be vigilant in seeing that this Sacrament of Love shall be at the centre of the life of the people of God, so that through all manifestations of worship due it, Christ shall be given back ‘love for love; and truly become the life of our souls.’” (Redeemer of Man).

To help us understand the benefits and blessings of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Pope John Paul II said “Through adoration, the Christian mysteriously contributes to the radical transformation of the world and to the sowing of the Gospel. Anyone who prays to the Saviour draws the whole world with him and raises it to God. Those who stand before the Lord are therefore fulfilling an eminent service. They are presenting to Christ all those who do not know him or are far from him; they keep watch in His presence on their behalf.” (Letter of Pope John Paul II on the 750th anniversary of the Feast of Corpus Christi).

Saint Peter Julian Eymard said that "today solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is the grace and need of our time. Society will be restored and renewed when all its members group themselves around our Emmanuel." When we do on earth what is done in heaven adore God perpetually, then God will recreate on earth the atmosphere of heaven: everlasting love, peace and joy on earth as He will reign in every heart.

Pope Pius X, the Eucharistic Saint, said that "the work of perpetual adoration is superior to all other religious practices. IT IS THE WORK OF WORKS. THE SOURCE OF ALL WORKS." When a pastor puts no limits to the glory given to Our Lord by having perpetual adoration in his parish, Our Lord puts no limits to the graces and divine blessings given to the parish, the diocese and the world. The document Mysterium Fidei was written during the Second Vatican Council by Pope Paul VI "so that the hope aroused by the Council that a new era of Eucharistic piety pervades the whole Church be not frustrated." In it, the pope said that visits to the Blessed Sacrament "are the most efficacious way of growing in holiness."

Pope John Paul II said that all the evils of the world could be eliminated through the great power of Eucharistic Adoration: “the encouragement and the deepening of Eucharistic worship are proofs of that authentic renewal which the council set itself as an aim and of which they are the central point. THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD HAVE GREAT NEED OF EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him ... and ready to make reparation for the great evils of the world. May our adoration never cease."  (Dominicae Cenae)

On December 2, 1981 Pope John Paul II began Perpetual Adoration in a chapel at St. Peter's and appealed with these encouraging words for all parishes to do the same: " ... every member of the Church must be vigilant in seeing that this sacrament of love shall be at the centre of the life of the people of God so that through all the manifestations of worship due to it, Christ shall be given back 'love for love', and truly become the life of our souls. " (Redeemer of Man) . This is what perpetual adoration is: centering the Life of the People of God in this Sacrament of Love so that Christ is given back 'love for love' and truly becomes the life of our soul, our parish, and the world. The Pope said that "Our essential commitment in life is to persevere and advance constantly in Eucharistic life and Eucharistic piety and to grow spiritually in the climate of the Holy Eucharist."

Commenting on the importance of Eucharistic Adoration in our daily lives, Mother Theresa said: "I know I wouldn't be able to work one week if it were not for that continual force coming from Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. All of us know that unless we believe and can see Jesus in the appearance of bread on the altar, we will not be able to see Him in the distressing disguise of the poor"

Pope Benedict XVI appealed for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration when he said in His Apostolic Exhortation, Sacramentum Caritatis (Feb. 22, 2007), "In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host. Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful. It is a source of comfort and light, particularly to those who are suffering." “With the Synod Assembly, therefore, I heartily recommend to the Church’s pastors and to the People of God the practice of Eucharistic Adoration, both individually and in community...  Great benefit would ensue from a suitable catechesis explaining the importance of this act of worship, which enables the faithful to experience the liturgical celebration more fully and more fruitfully. Wherever possible, it would be appropriate, especially in densely populated areas, to set aside specific churches or oratories for Perpetual Adoration”. This was in continuation of the many requests made by Pope John Paul II for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration as we recall the appeal made at the 1993 Eucharistic Congress in Seville, Spain where he said, “I hope that this form of perpetual adoration will continue into the future. Specifically, I hope that the fruit of this Congress results in the establishment of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in all parishes and Christian communities throughout the world.”

Pope Francis, in encouraging Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Encyclical Evangeli Gaudium to all members of the Church on the proclamation of the gospel in today’s world, says “The Church urgently needs the deep breath of prayer, and to my great joy groups devoted to prayer and intercession, the prayerful reading of God’s word and the perpetual adoration of the Eucharist are growing at every level of ecclesial life."