“Go to the encounter with him in the Blessed Eucharist, go to adore him in the churches, kneeling before the Tabernacle: Jesus will fill you with his love and will reveal to you the thoughts of his Heart.”
WORSHIP: The Intimate Encounter with Christ
Adoration & Prayer
“Behold I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matt 28:20). Eucharistic Adoration is a continuation of the communal worship of the Mass. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is an opportunity to come before Jesus physically present in the consecrated Host.
St. Ambrose is blessed to offer parishioners and friends the opportunity to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament every First Friday of the month from 9:30AM-3:30PM. Adorers are needed for every hour. Please sign up! But please also remember that the church is open daily for anyone to visit with Him. Parishes in the diocese with a perpetual adoration chapel included Queen of Apostles in Alexandria, St. Agnes in Arlington, and St. Michael's in Annandale.
Why Adore?
Adoration is a personal act of faith in this Presence, an act of love for the God who loved us even unto death on a cross. It is sitting before the Lord as the early disciples did, to listen to him, to learn his will for us, to allow our hearts to be transformed. It is placing ourselves and our loved ones before the radiance of his peaceful gaze to experience his healing, strengthening presence.
An hour spent in the presence of Jesus, praying directly before him, is truly a Holy Hour, a powerful means for advancing along the road to wholeness…to holiness. The more we allow him access to our hearts, the more he can transform our lives, no matter what our situations or circumstances.
During the Hour
A Holy Hour with Jesus may be spent praying familiar prayers, saying the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet, reading Scripture or spiritual books. We may be too weary to do any of these, and simply want to sit in his Presence and receive his love and peace.
Some people experience painful memories of hurt or past sins when they have been in adoration for awhile. This is a sign that the Lord is doing some deep purifying and healing. As our sins are made known to us, Jesus invites us to come to him in the Sacrament of Penance to be reconciled with the Father through the Spirit of Love.
Finally, it is natural to become tired, distracted or even bored during an hour of prayer. Yet every time that we find ourselves distracted and then turn our attention back to him, we make an act of love. Remember the first three friends Jesus invited to come and spend an hour with him? They fell asleep! Yet he built the Church upon their response to his mystery and presence.
Prayer Resources
What is Prayer? Click here to learn.
More on Prayer click here.
Click here to learn how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet of St. Faustina
Click here to learn how to pray the Rosary
Recommended Spiritual Reading
Prayer Primer by Fr. Thomas Dubay
Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay
Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales
Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin
Consoling the Heart of Jesus by Father Michael Gaitley
Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen
Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe
Holy Daring: The Fearless Trust of St. Therese of Lisiuex by John Udris
