Hour of Eucharistic Adoration

The Spirit, Teacher of Prayer

Suggested Opening Hymn: I Love You Lord…(Sing & Be Not Silent album; Daughters of St. Paul Choir)

Leader: Let us place ourselves in the presence of God. A God who is Father, Son and Spirit. We offer Him our hearts and our lives, our concern and our worries, our joys and all that pleases us. As we enter into communion with the God who calls us, let us quiet ourselves so that we may be receptive to His word, His call to conversion and to His life.

Pause….
Let us pray: I believe, my God, that I am in Your presence, that You are looking at me and listening to my prayer.
You are so great and so holy. I adore You.
You have given me all. I thank You.
You have been so offended by me. I ask Your pardon with all my heart.
You are so merciful and I ask of You all of the graces which You know are beneficial to me.
Fr. James Alberione, Founder of the Daughters of St. Paul

Pause…. Sing hymn one more time.

Spiritual Reading: Read Matthew 13:4-9; 18-23

Through Baptism, the seed of divine life was planted in our souls. In order for this seed of divine life to grow, the soil of our souls must receive the seed and allow it to rest within. As the seed grows, the soil allows the seed to sink root into it. The soil must move in such a way as to provide unrestricted growth to the new plant.
The seed has a home. It now needs to be nourished. The warmth and light of the Spirit's love continually shines on us. Sometimes, the light can be blocked by other things growing in the soil. And so the light is unable to transform the seed into a mature plant. At other times, however, the soil yearns for this light and allows it to penetrate. It thus receives the warmth and light. Once it grows accustomed to it, it yearns for more.
Other nutrients are necessary for healthy soil. These nutrients cannot be provided by the soil. They are added to the soil by the farmer, the Son of Man. This farmer speaks words of nourishment which, when added to the soil, fortify it. As the soil becomes healthier, it can better support the life that is growing within it. It is the Spirit who is the "memory of Jesus" who will remind us of all that the farmer has spoken.
The gentle rain, the Spirit's purifying bath, is sent to feed the seed as well. The soil can at times allow the purifying water to enter within and touch the seed. But the soil of the soul may try to control the water by allowing it pool on its surface where it cannot touch the seed.
As the Spirit breathes, His breath creates a refreshing breeze that plays with the soil of our soul. If the soil is uninhibited, breeze and soil unite in a rhythmic dance, the soil following the breeze.
If this plant is to bear fruit one-hundred fold, the soil of our souls must allow the light the word and the water to enter into it and nourish the divine life within us. As this life grows within us, it will begin to bear fruit. As Jesus tells us in the parable of the vine and the branches, our Father in heaven prunes the branches so that they bear more fruit. So in the soil in which His life is planted, He diligently pulls out any weeds that would harm this life. If the soil has grown accustomed to allowing His light and His word and His water to be present within it, our Father can uproot the weeds more easily. If the soil has become impenetrable, however, the weeds can be uprooted only with tremendous pain or may not be uprooted at all.

In thanksgiving for all of the gifts that God has blessed us with: the awesome gift of His life within us, for the light and warmth of His love, for the word He speaks to our hearts, for the torrents of His grace, let us raise our voices in song.

Suggested Song: I'm Forever Grateful

Pause….

Let Us Pray: Purify me, you who are an all-consuming fire, living water, intimate anointing, fresh breeze. Transform me and make me similar to Jesus, so that I will witness to and announce him alone…. Make me a prayerful dwelling place for the Father, for Jesus and for you. (Sr. Giovannamaria Carrara, FSP)

What are some of the things that I allow into my soil? (Pause….) Do I allow the warmth and light of the Father's love to freely embrace the seed in my soul? (Pause….) Am I receptive to the word of God fertilizing and fortifying my soul? (Pause….) Do I allow the Spirit's purifying, nourishing rain to enter within? (Pause….) Can I allow the Spirit's playful breeze to catch me up in its dance? Am I allowing the divine life within me to grow unrestricted? (Pause….) What are some of the weeds that I have allowed to grow in my soul that God may want to uproot? (Pause….)

Let us pray: Holy Spirit, you are Love personified. My love is not modeled on yours. Take action to correct the many ways in which I resist you: through painful silences, hard-hearted viewpoints, resentful memories. You are freedom. Heal my gaze, which seeks to control and restrict others, which tires of their limits and refuses to trust them. You are a gift to me. Heal me of rigidity, calculated gestures, selfishness, spiritual and apostolic laziness, indifference. Heal me of self-interest and of the inability to desire the good of others. You are the "memory of Jesus": strength my faith in him so that I will learn to follow him in everything and live according to his Gospel (Sr. Giovannamaria Carrara, FSP).

The Holy Spirit is our advocate before the Father. He represents us. At times, when we do not know how to pray He prays within us. To the Spirit, then, let us entrust our intercessory prayer.

Holy Spirit, most welcome guest of our hearts,
reveal to us the profound meaning of the Great Jubilee
and prepare our hearts to celebrate it with faith,
in the hope which does not disappoint,
in the love which seeks nothing in return.

Spirit of truth, you who search the depths of God,
memory and prophecy in the Church,
lead mankind to recognize in Jesus of Nazareth
the Lord of glory, the Savior of the world,
the supreme fulfillment of history.

Sung response: Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest
And in our hearts take up Thy rest.
Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

Creator Spirit, hidden builder of the Kingdom,
by the power of your saints guide the Church
to cross with courage the threshold of the new millennium
and to carry to the coming generations
the light of the Word who brings salvation.
Spirit of holiness, divine breath which moves the universe,
come and renew the face of the earth.
awaken in Christian a desire for full unity,
that they may be for the world an effective sign and instrument
of intimate union with God and of the unity of the whole human race.

Sung Response.

Spirit of communion, soul and strength of the Church,
grant that the wealth of charisms and ministries
may contribute to the unity of the Body of Christ;
grant that laity, consecrated persons and ordained ministers
may work together in harmony to build the one Kingdom of God.

Spirit of consolation, unfailing source of joy and peace,
inspire solidarity with the poor,
grant the sick the strength they need,
pour out trust and hope upon those experiencing trials,
awaken in all hearts a commitment to a better future.

Sung Response.

Spirit of wisdom, inspiration of minds and hearts,
direct science and technology
to the service of life, justice and peace.
render fruitful our dialogue with the followers of other religions,
lead the different cultures to appreciate the values of the Gospel.

Spirit of life, by whose power the Word was made flesh
in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the woman of attentive silence,
make us docile to the promptings of your love
and ever ready to accept the sings of the times
which you place along the paths of history.

Sung Response.

To you, Spirit of love,
with the Almighty Father and the Only-Begotten Son,
be praise, honor and glory for ever and ever Amen.
--Prayer of Pope John Paul II for this year of preparation for the Great Jubilee

Suggested Closing Hymn: Let the Fire Fall

This outline for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament is provided by the Daughters of St. Paul, an international congregation of consecrated women who serve the Church with the communications media. We ask that you remember our congregation, mission, and special intention of vocations in your prayer. When you are on-line, visit us at www.pauline.org.