Catholic Eucharistic Miracles

[Faith]

From a Catholic perspective I admire it and liked to participate when I was Catholic. From a Protestant perspective it is not something that should be done. I think that once one understands fully the idea that God hears us when we pray, as if we are right with him, it does not matter if we are praying "in the real presence" or not - we are always in his presence when we come in prayer. From a worldly perspective being in front of the physical eucharist is comforting, but not necessary.

I think much of the mystique that people experience when praying in Adoration could be accomplished in a personal set aside sacred space. We are often searching the sacred when we attend Adoration, and we can seek that in other ways.

Good thoughts to consider. Thanks.

 

[Faith]

From a Catholic perspective I admire it and liked to participate when I was Catholic. From a Protestant perspective it is not something that should be done. I think that once one understands fully the idea that God hears us when we pray, as if we are right with him, it does not matter if we are praying "in the real presence" or not - we are always in his presence when we come in prayer. From a worldly perspective being in front of the physical eucharist is comforting, but not necessary.

I think much of the mystique that people experience when praying in Adoration could be accomplished in a personal set aside sacred space. We are often searching the sacred when we attend Adoration, and we can seek that in other ways.

My LCMS church has a chapel we can pray in but It only consists of a Bible and something else (candles?) and a place to kneel and pray. After being Catholic and going to Adoration it feels like something is missing at my LCMS church.

 

[Albion]

My LCMS church has a chapel we can pray in but It only consists of a Bible and something else (candles?) and a place to kneel and pray.

A Bible, a candle, privacy, quiet, and kneelers? What else would a Prayer Chapel need in order to function as a Prayer Chapel??

 

[Faith]

A Bible, a candle, privacy, quiet, and kneelers? What else would a Prayer Chapel need in order to function as a Prayer Chapel??

Well, I sometimes miss Adoration, which is what we’re talking about

 

[Faith]

Well, I sometimes miss Adoration, which is what we’re talking about

The chapel is a multiuse room, Bible study is held there on Thursday mornings,I went to confession in there, we decorated the Christmas trees for Christmas in there and we had a meeting in there so it’s not always quiet. Or unoccupied.
There are no kneelers in the worship center. We sit in chairs.

 

[Albion]

Well, I sometimes miss Adoration, which is what we’re talking about

You were talking about a Prayer Chapel. We know the appeal of Solemn Benediction and adoration of the reserved host for those people who doubt that their prayers will be received favorably by God unless there's more than just their prayers.

The intervention of some saint, perhaps, the use of a rosary, lighting a votive candle and believing that angels will repeat the prayer so long as the candle burns...and of course adoring a consecrated host which you also asked about.

 

[Faith]

You were talking about a Prayer Chapel. We know the appeal of Solemn Benediction and adoration of the reserved host for those people who doubt that their prayers will be received favorably by God unless there's more than just their prayers.

The intervention of some saint, perhaps, the use of a rosary, lighting a votive candle and believing that angels will repeat the prayer so long as the candle burns...and of course adoring a consecrated host which you also asked about.

Yes, we were talking about that too. But we were talking about Adoration in posts #42 and 39

 

[Faith]

Has anyone here gone to Adoration ina Catholic Church? What did you think or get
out of it?

 

[Castle Church]

Has anyone here gone to Adoration ina Catholic Church? What did you think or get
out of it?

Yes, many times. Personally I feel it is the space that makes the difference for me, not so much the presence of the eucharist. While that did have an impact, the sacred space, the silence, those are the things that are most moving and calming for me. Eventually I endeavor to make a space like that at home. My church has a prayer chapel, it is calm and nice, but limited hours are an issue.

The wonderful thing about churches that have adoration is that they are also open at times nearly every other church is closed. You can go to the church to pray, many/most churches are not open to pray in during most evenings, and when they are open it is because they are having some event or planned service like a Bible study - they are not just open to come and pray. That is not to say that some Protestant churches do not do something to accommodate that, but most do not.

 

[Albion]

Has anyone here gone to Adoration ina Catholic Church? What did you think or get
out of it?

Yes.

Aside from there not being any theological basis for such a superstition, there wouldn't seem to be anything to justify this devotional.

IF the host was consecrated earlier, either for Holy Communion (but not used) or for this adoration in particular, and, in either case, it was thought to be the very flesh and blood of Christ, everybody present for the 'adoration' already had the opportunity to be in the presence of the same thing any day of the week simply by attending daily Mass in that same church.

Having a quiet and peaceful place to pray is not an issue, but that's about "prayer chapels," not the act referred to as "adoration" of the host. "Castle Church," discussed the benefits of having one's church provide the first of these.

 

[Lamb]

Has anyone here gone to Adoration ina Catholic Church? What did you think or get
out of it?

Yes, it was uneventful.

 

[Faith]

Yes, it was uneventful.

People on a Catholic forum told me to go, that by going I’d be able to decide which church to go to. Meaning, of course, Catholic. I wonder what excuse they‘d have if I went and then said I felt a pull to stay put in my Lutheran church?

 

[Faith]

Yes, many times. Personally I feel it is the space that makes the difference for me, not so much the presence of the eucharist. While that did have an impact, the sacred space, the silence, those are the things that are most moving and calming for me. Eventually I endeavor to make a space like that at home. My church has a prayer chapel, it is calm and nice, but limited hours are an issue.

The wonderful thing about churches that have adoration is that they are also open at times nearly every other church is closed. You can go to the church to pray, many/most churches are not open to pray in during most evenings, and when they are open it is because they are having some event or planned service like a Bible study - they are not just open to come and pray. That is not to say that some Protestant churches do not do something to accommodate that, but most do not.

I‘ve tried praying in my Lutheran chapel but something feels missing. We have a kneeler, Bible and I think candles

 

[Lamb]

People on a Catholic forum told me to go, that by going I’d be able to decide which church to go to. Meaning, of course, Catholic. I wonder what excuse they‘d have if I went and then said I felt a pull to stay put in my Lutheran church?

I‘ve tried praying in my Lutheran chapel but something feels missing. We have a kneeler, Bible and I think candles

From a lot of your posts it seems to me you want to have some great experience to convince you of something. Stay true to the Savior is my advice and keep your eye on the cross.

 

[Castle Church]

I‘ve tried praying in my Lutheran chapel but something feels missing. We have a kneeler, Bible and I think candles

I think the missing element is belief from you. If you can believe that Christ is in the Eucharist after consecration, including to a later point where Adoration takes place, then you need to work on the belief that Christ is also present without the Eucharist. That is both a Protestant and Catholic belief.

It seems you are seeking something tangible in this world, but Christ is of this world and the invisible world. We need to understand that Christ is present in a place of our making, whether the Eucharist is there or not. I think you should meditate on the omnipresence of God, the touch of Him in every moment, through other people and through the words of Christ in the Bible

 

[Bluezone777]

From a lot of your posts it seems to me you want to have some great experience to convince you of something. Stay true to the Savior is my advice and keep your eye on the cross.

This reminds me of the Chinese Bamboo story where it takes five years for a Chinese bamboo tree to sprout form the ground but in five weeks after that, it grows 90 feet tall. Les brown does a good job telling that story and what it means. It speaks to needing faith to grow the tree because without faith you would just give up eventually because you couldn't see anything happen thus it is assumed if nothing can be seen then nothing is happening when you are watering and fertilizing the ground where the seed is planted.

 

[Albion]

I‘ve tried praying in my Lutheran chapel but something feels missing. We have a kneeler, Bible and I think candles

I tend to agree with the others here, but I wonder what it is that you think is missing. In general terms, that is.

The Bible speaks of going into one's closet to pray, and also that God is waiting to hear from us, so the idea that God isn't receptive under those conditions seems doubtful. The Catholic Church itself describes prayer as the lifting up of our hearts and minds to God. That's it.

Therefore, is what seems to be missing a setting that is more church-like? Stained glass or statues, etc.? That is to say, something to stimulate the mind while you pray, but not necessarily a monstrance on an altar?

 

[Faith]

I tend to agree with the others here, but I wonder what it is that you think is missing. In general terms, that is.

The Bible speaks of going into one's closet to pray, and also that God is waiting to hear from us, so the idea that God isn't receptive under those conditions seems doubtful. The Catholic Church itself describes prayer as the lifting up of our hearts and minds to God. That's it.

Therefore, is what seems to be missing a setting that is more church-like? Stained glass or statues, etc.? That is to say, something to stimulate the mind while you pray, but not necessarily a monstrance on an altar?

I guess both of those things. You must remember that I came from Catholicism, having been raised in that faith, so everything I’ve learned up until recently (with the exception of learning about Christianity and even, for a time, New Age) has been from a Catholic POV. I guess mostly I feel the Eucharist is missing.

 

[Faith]

I think the missing element is belief from you. If you can believe that Christ is in the Eucharist after consecration, including to a later point where Adoration takes place, then you need to work on the belief that Christ is also present without the Eucharist. That is both a Protestant and Catholic belief.

It seems you are seeking something tangible in this world, but Christ is of this world and the invisible world. We need to understand that Christ is present in a place of our making, whether the Eucharist is there or not. I think you should meditate on the omnipresence of God, the touch of Him in every moment, through other people and through the words of Christ in the Bible

I just keep wondering if Catholicism is true or Lutheranism is true. Depends on whom I talk to or post with.

 

[Lamb]

I guess both of those things. You must remember that I came from Catholicism, having been raised in that faith, so everything I’ve learned up until recently (with the exception of learning about Christianity and even, for a time, New Age) has been from a Catholic POV. I guess mostly I feel the Eucharist is missing.

Missing what? Christ said, This is my body. Didn't He? And don't you receive that in the Lutheran Church congregations? He also said, This is my blood. Don't you receive that as well?

Lutherans believe in the Real Presence. You aren't missing anything when receiving the Lord's Supper. He died for you, He gives you His body and Blood, you are forgiven because of Him. You are missing nothing when you're in Christ.