I'm using the opportunity to pray as I breathe, an idea that was planted in me during a recent 8-week retreat with Father Gaitley's Consoling the Heart of Jesus: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat. I'm thinking of the Psalms as letters TO ME now, instead of as 3000-year-old poems. I'm now looking at the pictures on my fridge as an opportunity to offer a prayer for loved ones. In fact, I've gained more from this book than just suggestions for ways to pray in Adoration. This is a man writing to ME: to the me who is sooooo busy I have an excuse for everything, to the me who wonders if anyone's listening, to the me who takes small LOUD people with me to Adoration. I'd kneel, say hi, and get to work.Īnd there's nothing wrong with that approach, though I have modified it over the years.Įach of the 21 chapters-which are short and easy-to-read-has a snappy title and usually about two or three pages of down-to-earth content.
I've been a regular at our parish's Eucharistic Adoration program for over ten years, and I remember the days of dragging in a couple of books, a notebook, a rosary, and two or three prayer books. I was, in fact, convinced I would have to work to write a favorable review. I thought I knew the tone it would have and the attitude of eye-rolling it would inspire in me.
I'll admit, I only read this book because my arm was twisted. It is certainly chock-full of good ideas, most of which I have tried and found efficacious in my love for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. For someone with fresh eyes and a young open heart coming to Adoration for the first time, this book could be everything they were searching for. I guess having read those it isn't fair for me to review this, to compare the books. There is also the masterpiece: The Hidden Manna: A Theology of the Eucharist. Groeschel also has several books on praying in the presence of Lord which I have not read as I found this historical and theological treatise inspiring enough. A couple of books I would suggest are Could You Not Watch with Me One Hour?: How to Cultivate a Deeper Relationship with the Lord through Eucharistic Adoration or In the Presence of Our Lord. If you have been a regular adorer for more than a couple years, you will probably find most of the material in this book what I would call light. Flynn is a lively writer and has many encouraging suggestions to inspire and motivate the novice, restless or conversely, sleepy soul. If you are a beginner or relatively new to Adoration, this would be the book to take/use.
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