Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration

Adoration is communicating (prayer, thoughts, and silent conversations) with the Lord, when his body is in full view of you.

The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (formerly called the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel) is now in its new location. You can enter the chapel through the south doors of the Church or through the glassed entrance next to the chapel. The doors to get in the chapel are unlocked at 6:00 am and locked at 6:00 pm. The Lord continues to invite each one of us into a greater union with Him, especially in the Holy Eucharist. What a great way to grow in holiness by spending time with Jesus in prayer in our Adoration Chapel. Please help us to fill all the empty spots where there is no one to “wait” with the Lord.

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist

The Holy Eucharist, or the Blessed Sacrament, is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ; His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The Mass is the Eucharistic Celebration when the Christian faithful gather to remember and be thankful for the Paschal Mystery; the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. It is during the Eucharistic Celebration that Jesus becomes truly present on the Altar to unite us to God and one another in love, community, and prayer. The Mass, then, is where we personally interact with Jesus as gathered community. The Catholic Church identifies the Eucharist as the "source and summit of our faith" because everything we do as Christians leads to or from the Eucharistic Celebration. back to top

What is Eucharistic Adoration?

The Eucharist is the actual body of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The fact that we can commune (interact) with Jesus in the flesh was the greatest gift that our Lord gave to us while he was on earth. When we commune with the body (and blood) of our Lord, we are uniting our body and spirit with his. Simply put, when we take the time to interact with the actual body of Christ: His presence in our body, mind and spirit are increased. The more often this happens, the more we will think about and follow his teachings and his Church. There are two ways to commune with the body of Christ: by receiving the body of Christ at Mass; and by adoring the body of Christ. All Catholics are expected to attend Mass every Sunday. The Church does not obligate Catholics to adore the Lord, but it is just as powerful and meaningful for both you and the Lord as the Mass! Don't be foolish in thinking that just because the Vatican does not require you to adore the Lord, it is not good for you. back to top

What is Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration?

It is fitting that whenever the Body of the Lord is exposed, adorers must be present. The Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (PEA) program was started in 2002 for the whole Champaign-Urbana Vicariate as a response to the Holy Father's request for greater devotion to Christ in the Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist is exposed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Another driving force for having a PEA program is that the more often Jesus is present in a community, the more graces that community will receive in the Lord. You will be amazed at the graces the people of central Illinois have received since the inception of this PEA program. These are recorded in the Adoration Chapel for you to read, think about, and thank God for! back to top

Common Misconceptions About Praying and Adoring

We are taught as Catholics to pray, and pray a lot, not just at Mass. However, praying to the Lord through thought, word, and action are not the same a adoring the actual body of Christ. One is not a substitute for the other. Think of it in this human sense. Thinking about your kids is pleasant and you do it a lot, but you would never consider it a substitute for actually being with your kids. No, you want to do both.

Some point to reflect on:

• Adoration of the Lord is a fantastic privilege for Catholics; don't punish yourself by not going.
• For 2,000 years, humans have tried and failed to find an acceptable excuse for not adoring the Lord.
• At adoration, the Lord is not going to judge or punish you, and he will welcome all your personal problems and anxieties you unload on him!
• You are never too young or too old to adore the Lord, so take your parents, spouse, kids or a friend.
• Adoration of the Lord is available 24/7, so it should fit into every life, even yours!
• Give adoration a try: you will be amazed!
• The doors are open from 6 am to 6 pm daily; and by joining the PEA program you will be able to adore at any hour.

How to Adore the Lord

There are no hard and fast rules to follow, and Jesus will be there to help. However, here are some tips to ease your anxiety about your initial trip to visit with the Lord.

• Reverence is the rule! Just ask yourself: how would I behave, dress... if I were going to be with the Lord, because YOU ARE!
• When you enter the Chapel, be quiet and make as little noise as possible.
• As soon as you can, drop to both knees and simply let the Lord know you are there to visit with him. Remember: He is really there, so it is quite proper and enthralling to talk directly to him.
• Then, you can kneel, sit or stand.
• What should you think or do while you are in the adoration chapel? Silently discuss your problems, questions and ideas with the Lord. Pray for vocations or other intentions. THANK THE LORD! Read the Bible or other religious works. Use the books on the bookshelf.
• When you need to leave, drop to both knees and give thanks to the Lord, and tell him you are leaving (but you will be back!) back to top

Join the PEA Program

Joining the PEA program is a fantastic way to support the Church, while receiving grace from God!

There are 168 hours in a week: it takes about 336 people to keep adoration going 24/7, and another 75 adorers as substitutes. That is a total of 411 people.

You can help perpetuate adoration of our Lord, and do it on your schedule.

First, go to the chapel, make regular visits and become familiar with it.

Ask your self, your family, and the Lord when (not if!) you can best fit and hour of adoration into your weekly schedule.

While PEA is forever, ones life changes over time. The Lord and the PEA program understand this. Don't be afraid to commit to the program, even if you might have to change your commitment in the future.

How can you become a scheduled adorer and help the Lord reach more Catholics? Contact Hank or Tess Wilkinson, PEA coordinators, at 217-762-7949 or hwilkins@illinois.edu, and they will give you all the information you need to lock in your hour with the Lord. back to top