Blessed James Alberione

This hour of adoration was prepared according to the Pauline method described here, and is offered here for both individual and group use. Feel free to print it out and use it during your next visit to Jesus in the Eucharist.

Hour of Adoration

Encountering the Master

Theme: To rediscover who Jesus is for me at this moment in my life.

Introduction & Prayer of Awareness

Lord, it is good to be here in your Eucharistic presence, to adore you, to be able to spend some privileged, intimate moments with you. I want to be fully present to you and really treasure this time with you.

Lord, I love you. And I want to know you better, as good friends desire to know more and more about each other. Knowing you better, I will love you more. I can never love you enough. Help me to discover what you would like our relationship to become.

Reveal yourself to me, and help me to be open and attentive to what you want to say to me in your Word today.

Spend a few moments in silent adoration.

Adoring Jesus Truth

Ask the light of the Holy Spirit to illumine your mind and heart.

In today’s reading, Jesus asks the disciples to honestly tell him what they think of him. Is Jesus inviting you to a heart-to-heart conversation about your relationship with him? Read the following passage of Scripture slowly, pausing to ponder what impresses you.

Reading Matthew 16:13–19

Now when Jesus came to the district of Caesarea Philippi he began to question his disciples, "Who do they say the Son of Man is?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others, Elijah, still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Then he asked them, "But you—who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!" And in response Jesus said to him,

"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah,
For it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you,
But my Father in Heaven.
And now I tell you, that you are Peter,
And on this rock I will build my church,
And the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,
And whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in Heaven,
And whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in Heaven."

Reflection: "Who do you say that I am?" Let this direct question of Jesus penetrate your heart. Who is Jesus for you today? Jesus constantly reveals himself to us in the Scriptures, in the Eucharist, in our daily lives. Take a few moments to reflect on your relationship with Jesus. By what name do you usually call Jesus? What is the name of Jesus that is most meaningful to you?

After some minutes of reflection, pray the Litany to Jesus Master as an act of faith in response to the reading, adding your own favorite title of Jesus at the end.

Litany to Jesus Master

Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life, have mercy on me!
Jesus, gentle Master, increase my faith!
Jesus Truth, Light of the world, increase my faith!
Jesus, Word of the Father, increase my faith!
Jesus, fulfillment of all my dreams, increase my faith!
Jesus, Light of my life, increase my faith!
Jesus, my Salt, increase my faith!
Jesus, Center of my life, increase my faith!
Jesus, Mystery of Love, increase my faith!
Jesus, who knows my inmost thoughts, increase my faith!
Jesus, present in the tabernacle, increase my faith!.
Jesus, Revealer of the Father’s love, increase my faith!
Jesus who gives meaning to every event in my life, increase my faith!
Jesus, my Inspiration, increase my faith!
Jesus, God beyond my imagination, increase my faith!
Jesus, Way to the Father, I trust in You.
Jesus, my Guide, I trust in You.
Jesus, Way for the lost, I trust in You.
Jesus, Model of holiness, I trust in You.
Jesus, Companion on the journey, I trust in You.
Jesus, my Security, I trust in You.
Jesus Master, who counts as precious all my tears, I trust in you.
Jesus, my Rock and Refuge, I trust in You.
Jesus, my unfailing Hope, I trust in You.
Jesus always with me, I trust in You.
Jesus, Partner in the dance of life, I trust in You.
Jesus, faithful Friend, I trust in You.
Jesus who shapes and molds me through life’s daily situations, I trust in You.
Jesus on whom I lean, I trust in You.
Jesus, Good Shepherd, I trust in You.
Jesus, Joy of my life, live in me.
Jesus, unconditional Lover, live in me.
Jesus, life-giving Bread, live in me.
Jesus, ever-flowing Water, live in me.
Jesus my All, live in me.
Jesus, my Redeemer, live in me.
Jesus, my deepest Desire, live in me.
Jesus who died for me, live in me.
Jesus, healing Master, live in me.
Jesus, Transformer of hearts, live in me.
Jesus, my Beloved, live in me.
Jesus, gentle Listener, live in me.
Jesus, faithful beyond death, live in me.
Jesus, suffering with Your people, live in me.
Jesus, my Delight, live in me.
Jesus who calls me, have mercy on me!
Jesus who molds me, have mercy on me!
Jesus who challenges me, have mercy on me!
Jesus who sends me, have mercy on me!
Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life, have mercy on me!

Following Jesus Way

In the Scripture reading from Matthew, Jesus gives Simon a new name: Peter. You were given a "new" name when you were baptized, symbolizing your new relationship with God. Jesus continues to call you by name each day. Take a few moments to thank the Lord for the incredible gift of his relationship with you, perhaps focusing on one particular way in which you feel the Lord has shown his love to you. Perhaps it is a time when you felt the presence of Jesus very close to you; or perhaps it is a very special way God has blessed your life—by the Church, by a person, by a special opportunity.

After a suitable time of thanksgiving in your own words, you can unite it with Mary’s thanksgiving:

The Magnificat

My soul gives praise to the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because He had regard for the lowliness of His handmaid,
behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed,
For the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is His name,
And His mercy is from generation to generation
toward those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm,
scattered the arrogant in the conceit of their heart,
He has pulled down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted the lowly,
The hungry He has filled with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has come to the aid of His servant, Israel,
mindful of His mercy,
Just as He promised our fathers,
Abraham and his descendants forever. (Luke 1:46–55)

In listening to the Master’s words and reflecting on Jesus’ great love for you, have you heard Jesus inviting you to follow him more closely? Perhaps you see a way in which you have not responded to his love for you. Now is a good opportunity to bring to Jesus those situations in your life in which you find it difficult to hear or follow his call.

Pause to reflect on the challenges of your own life, confronting how you live with the words and example of Jesus.

Express your sorrow and trust in the Lord:

Act of Contrition

My loving God,
I am sorry with all my heart
for the times I have acted out of sinfulness or weakness,
or when I have failed to act out of love.
You love me so much, yet I keep sinning against you,
whom I want to love above everything else.
Have mercy on me and forgive me,
in the name of your Son, Jesus,
who died for us.
Strengthen me and help me not to sin anymore.
With your grace, I will try
to always live in your love.

Sharing Jesus’ Life

The Scriptures, especially the psalms, are full of images of God—God is Rock, Inheritance, Strength, Maker, Builder, Shepherd. Choose one of your favorite psalms or make up a psalm of your own which celebrates your relationship with God. Through the words of the psalm, take time to treasure the gift of your relationship with Jesus and the gift that your relationship with Jesus engenders for the world.

As a concluding prayer, pray the Psalm to the Divine Master (based on Psalm 23).

The Lord is my Master,
he teaches me the art of loving.
Most patient, he understands
the inner movements of my soul.
The Lord lights up my darkness.
Through all creation, he teaches me—
I will sit forever at his feet.
He speaks softly within me,
leading me by my own heart.
Though I can’t see the path,
his eyes never lose me.
Turning to him I am safe,
wrapt in the blanket of his Love.
He calls me to follow him more closely—
Clasping his nail-pierced hand.
My Master died and rose for me,
loving me into life.
He transforms every sadness.
His ever-present kindness and mercy
make each day shine anew.
I sing out my joy in Him
and proclaim His abundant goodness—
he fills up my life.

As you prepare to leave Jesus’ Eucharistic presence, think of one way that you can share with someone else the gift that your relationship with Jesus has been for you.

Excerpt from Life for the World by Marie Paul Curley, FSP. Life for the World offers a new way of Eucharistic adoration and includes 12 complete hours of adoration for personal and group use, as well as a rich treasury of popular Eucharistic prayers. Click here for information on how to obtain your own copy.

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