First Friday Holy Hour - August 2024 - First of all devotions, most pleasing to God, most useful to ourselves

 Yesterday, we celebrated the feast day of St. Alphonus Ligouri patron saint of Moral Theology. In addition to his contributions to Moral Theology and founding the Most Holy Congregation of the Redeemer (the Redemptorists) St. Alphonus Ligouri was a prolific writer about the Eucharist. It is said that he discovered his vocation during one of his many hours adoring Our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration.

He wrote, “Certainly amongst all devotions, after that of receiving the sacraments, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament holds the first place, is the most pleasing to God, and the most useful to ourselves.” 

“Oh, how sweet a joy it is to remain with faith and tender devotion before the Eucharist, and converse familiarly with Jesus Christ, who is there for the express purpose of listening to and graciously hearing those who pray to him.”

“There it was (in Eucharistic Adoration) that St. Francis Xavier found refreshment in the midst of his many labours in India; for he employed his days in toiling for souls, and his nights in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.  St. John Francis Regis did the same thing; and sometimes finding the church closed, he endeavoured to satisfy his longings by remaining on his knees, outside the door exposed to the rain and cold so that at least at a distance he might attend upon his Comforter concealed under the sacramental species.  St. Francis of Assisi used to go to communicate all his labors and undertakings to Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament.”

I could go on and on. But let’s go back to that first quote. “Certainly, amongst all devotions, after that of receiving the sacraments, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament holds the first place, is the most pleasing to God, and the most useful to ourselves.”

He makes three claims there. Let’s briefly unpack each. First, he claims that Eucharistic adoration is the first among all other devotions. This is because this devotion directly focuses on Jesus Christ, who is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. We aren’t merely recollecting something Jesus said or did. Our senses, physical, emotional, and spiritual are directly focuses on Him. He is here. 

Alphonsus then claims that this devotion is most pleasing to God. This act of faith, love, and devotion is highly pleasing to God because it demonstrates a willingness to draw close to Him and to honor His presence in a special way. God desires intimate communion with His people and here we draw close to Him, fulfilling God’s desire for us to be with Him and He with us.

Lastly, St. Alphonsus considers this devotion most useful to the faithful because of the graces that flow from our time with Jesus—the master and teacher. It’s here that we learn to listen to the quiet voice of Jesus who pierces through the noise of our lives. It allows us to enter into that silence which is astoundingly rich, utterly alive, and enormously instructive.

Alphonus writes, “You may be sure that of all the moments of your life the time you spend before the divine Sacrament will be that which will give you more strength during life and more consolation at the hour of your death and during eternity."

May our time this evening bear fruit for eternity, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.