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Traveler
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| Joined: | Fri Jun 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 19 |
| First Name: | Jean | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | North American Baptist, Evangelical Free |
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Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 11:22 am |
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For some time now I have been seeking to understand the teaching of the Catholic church. Eucharistic adoration is a practice I find fascinating; to just sit in silence and pray in a holy place. Last year while traveling I found a church that had Perpetual Adoration and spend some time in the chapel. I will be passing through that town again this week and wish to return. However I don't want to do anything that would be considered offense. What is the proper etiquette for a Protestant at Eucharistic Adoration?
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Juan
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| Joined: | Tue Oct 17th, 2006 |
| Location: | Texas USA |
| Posts: | 247 |
| First Name: | unregister | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | unregister |
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Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 11:58 am |
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Reverence.
If I were in your position, I would follow the motto, "when in Rome, do as the Romans".
1. Catholics bless themselves at the door.
There is a Holy Water font at or near the door of all Catholic Churches. We dip two fingers and trace the water on our forehead, chest and our shoulders while at the same time saying, "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit".
This gesture recalls the promises of our Baptism when we were reborn again from above.
2. Then we quietly walk to a seat. Before we sit down, we genuflect by touching one knee to the floor.
This gesture symbolizes that we are before the King of Kings and that we humble ourselves before Him and recalls the word of Scripture, "He who exalts himself will be humbled, he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt 23:12).
3. Most people will then pray on their knees for a few minutes, before settling in to prayer and meditation and interior conversation with our Lord.
4. Don't worry if you fall asleep. It is as though a child falls asleep in his father's arms.
5. On our way out, we do the same in reverse. We kneel a few minutes in parting prayer, we genuflect after we leave our seat and we bless ourselves at the door on the way out.
Thanks for asking and may God bless you,
Sincerely,
Juan
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 11:58 am |
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People would notice that you don't genuflect but if you act respectful and quiet and prayerful I don't think there are any special rules for non-Catholics. The Catholics there believe that the monstrance holds Christ Himself and they act accordingly, genuflecting on both knees when the host is exposed like that in the monstrance.
I am impressed that you would like to spend time at the chapel and maybe you can meditate on the belief that that is Christ Himself who is there and not Jack Chick's "death cookie." (gag)
God bless you on your faith journey.
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
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brian
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Chicago South Burbs, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 803 |
| First Name: | brian | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | methodist, evangelical, anglican, catholic |
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Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 01:04 pm |
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Yes we also genufelct on two knees before taking our seat in my parish. Most people only stay down for anywhere between 5 seconds and a minute, however long it takes for them to personally acknowledge God and say a simple prayer, there is no fixed amount and people with knee problems or who are older do not always do this. Also if you do not believe in the real presence you could still bow and think in your mind that you are bowing to the presence of God whereveror however it fills the room or is in the Euchasrist. Or you could say, 'if you are in there I am bowing to you, but if not I am bowing to your presence wherever it is' Meaning you can ogo one of three routes.
One, if you are uncomfortable with the idea of the real presence and know you do not accept it then do not feel guilty or weird for not bowing or worshipping Jesus in the host. We would not want you to do what your conscience will not allow. Don't worry if you look different, you are a guest and most people there are not there to observe or judge what you do.
Two, you can bow like I said in acknowledgment that God is in the room, and maybe present in the monstrance, or just out of respect for the Catholics present and our beliefs even if you are not wholeheartedly bowing to the Eucharist believing it is Jesus.
Three, you can go for it! you can affirm that in your heart you do believe Jesus is there or that you want to believe it is possible and wholeheartedly worship Him as He sits there pouring out love and kisses to you in His Eucharistic presence.
I began Eucharistic adoration when I was betwen stages two and three becasue I did believe in the real presence at first, but the idea of actually practicing this belief by worshipping it proved to test my faith in this. So I just went to the chapel and prayed about it. I told God that I was not sure if I should worship Him or not in this way. But I kept coming and eventually I went from bowing to Him just in case He was in there to knowing He was and bowing with reverence, fear, and love. The more time I spent in the chapel the more convinced I became of what was happening. It is a wonderful privilege of our faith to sit and pray with Jesus in this way and my prayer life has deepened.
Try to go as far as your faith allows, maybe even stretch your faith a little, but do not go further than you are comfortable. I believe if He sees you are trying to do your best to believe that He will take you the rest of the way if your heart is open and desires it.
As far as etiquette as long as you are respectful and quiet you will be doing fine. It is nice to bless yourself with the water on arriving and leaving but just pray sincerely and respectfully and you are doing all you need to do. If anyone judged you for it it would be their problem and I do not think anyone will. The more you go the more you will see the things that everybody does and the things that are more personal and you will learn to adopt the practices that are customary and the ones that are more personal to you. There is no right and wrong way until you are Catholic and then bowing upon entering and leaving is considered something you really should do.
hope you are led more and more to the wonders of the Eucharsitic mystery.
Brian
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Traveler
Member
| Joined: | Fri Jun 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 19 |
| First Name: | Jean | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | North American Baptist, Evangelical Free |
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Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 03:46 pm |
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Thank you for the replies. I find holiness, prayer and silence sadly lacking in my church. I have wanted to suggest that for whatever amount of time we spend with praise and worship music, we spend 1/2 that amount of time in silent prayer. I used to really like music, however it has become so much of our worship service that I almost dread it.
Annie, you mentioned the Jack Chick "death cookie". I had never heard of him before reading this forum. I looked him up on the Internet - now that's a lot of hate. Glad to say that is not in my protestant experience. (Except for one recent 'whore of Babylon' comment).
Thanks again
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 09:58 am |
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Traveler wrote: Thank you for the replies. I find holiness, prayer and silence sadly lacking in my church. I have wanted to suggest that for whatever amount of time we spend with praise and worship music, we spend 1/2 that amount of time in silent prayer. I used to really like music, however it has become so much of our worship service that I almost dread it.
Some have regrets about not being cradle Catholics but I started my journey as a silent Quaker and I learned a lot about being in the Presence and not using a lot of noise to get His attention. Like I would need to get his attention anyway, with all the sins and mistakes I do, He is definitely trotting his foot up there going, OH, COME ON, ANNIE, GET WITH IT!
I go to a parish which allows for silences between readings without a rushed feeling. It gives you time to think about what you have just heard.
I just wish I could hear more of the old music and less St. Louis Jesuits and Marty Haugen.
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
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Darlene
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 08:15 pm |
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Traveler wrote: Thank you for the replies. I find holiness, prayer and silence sadly lacking in my church. It just does not exist at all in the nondenominational church that I attend. I have wanted to suggest that for whatever amount of time we spend with praise and worship music, we spend 1/2 that amount of time in silent prayer. Such a thing as a reverent time of silent prayer before the service would not even be considered acceptable in my church. This church (which I consider "my" church less and less), prides itself on how friendly and outgoing they are. The noise level in the "sanctuary" prior to the service is unbelievably loud. And they are glad to have it so. I used to really like music, however it has become so much of our worship service that I almost dread it. I'd rather have music than a sermon laced with a joke every 3-4 minutes. On the other hand, if it's those modern, sappy, surface, and doctrinally questionable praise choruses, then I can understand your frustration.
Annie, you mentioned the Jack Chick "death cookie". I had never heard of him before reading this forum. I used to hand out his tracts. I handed out many to Catholics. I even found a left over one lying around at the bottom of my glove compartment about a month ago, which I mentioned in another post. I think when I become Catholic, I will take it to Mass with me and have a burning ceremony.  I looked him up on the Internet - now that's a lot of hate. I think Jack Chick is consumed with Catholicism. He probably thinks about the pope more than most Catholics do, albeit with a strong dislike. Glad to say that is not in my protestant experience. (Except for one recent 'whore of Babylon' comment). Do you mean to say that you used this pharse recently or came across this phrase recently? If your answer is 'yes' to the former, do not beat yourself up over it. I said many bad things about the Catholic faith and convinced many Catholics to leave their faith. But I did so in ignorance.
Darlene
____________________
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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Traveler
Member
| Joined: | Fri Jun 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 19 |
| First Name: | Jean | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | North American Baptist, Evangelical Free |
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Posted: Thu Jun 28th, 2007 10:52 am |
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Glad to say that is not in my protestant experience. (Except for one recent 'whore of Babylon' comment). Do you mean to say that you used this pharse recently or came across this phrase recently? If your answer is 'yes' to the former, do not beat yourself up over it. I said many bad things about the Catholic faith and convinced many Catholics to leave their faith. But I did so in ignorance.
No, that was a phrase I heard in our Deacon's meeting. We were discussing a women's conference our church was sponsoring. The ladies arranging it wanted to have information tables set up for various organizations. One organization was Catholic Charities. One deacon, a retired non-denominational pastor, made the comment. My eyes about popped. Didn’t think that was too politically correct even if you disagree the doctrine. Our pastor just let the moment pass without comment. The organization was Oked.
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