Eucharistic Adoration: Supplementing our human perspective with the Divine

Enter your e-mail address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Photo from Photos.com

By Colleen Duggan

I met John at the door last night when he came in from work. I had had a bad day and it was important for everyone I vacate the premises.

"What about Patrick's Cub Scout meeting," John asked as I put on my coat and grabbed the keys to our family van.

I might have said something like, "I don't care if Patrick ever attends another Cub Scout meeting for the rest of life--his or mine."

I might have; I'm not sure and I'm not committing to such a statement either way.

I drove in the stillness of the night to Panera Bread; I used a $10 gift card for a cup of soup, a half sandwich, a diet coke and a crinkle cookie.

I sat in a busy cafe, ate my dinner alone (feeling only slightly guilty John was scrounging up grub for 6 at home), read my Nook, and then drove to Adoration.

It's amazing how 60 minutes before the Christ in the Eucharist can change an outlook.

Before I left the house, I was planning on enrolling all the children in the local school right up the road. Afterward Adoration, I felt at peace in continuing in my vocation to homeschool.

Before I left the house, I felt like a failure on all fronts-wife, mother, and teacher. After Adoration, I recognized I had had a bad day and I'm an imperfect person but God loves me anyway.

Before I left the house, I was focusing on the weaknesses of my children--their little idiosyncrasies that get on my nerves and sometimes drive me wild. After Adoration, I saw these weaknesses as opportunities to love and help them.

Before I left the house, I felt abandoned by God; left alone as I floundered and failed in the daily grind.
After Adoration, I realized He had never left me but I had left Him.

Before I left the house, my sense of responsibility motivated my duty to my family. After Adoration, the love and goodness of Christ motivated me.

I drove home renewed and invigorated and ready to try again.

Colleen Duggan

After receiving an M.Ed. from the University of Notre Dame, Colleen dabbled for several years in education at the high school level. Retiring from her paid positions, she continues her most important work as wife to John and mom to Patrick, Meaghan, Mary Bernadette, Christopher, and Camille Duggan.

Comments

Oh, Colleen, how this resonated with me. How often I've wanted to "run away" from home and all the responsibilities there. And how often I've "run" to the Church, to God, to the peace I find there. Thanks for such a beautiful story.

Posted on Jan 18th, 2012 at 2:52 PM by Mary Breiner
That is so wonderful, how Christ showed her; through Adoration, how the children's idiosyncracies & weakness of the children, were opportunities to love help them! This will help in relation to teaching First Communion, dealing with elderly, & my Son! Praise God!

Posted on Jan 18th, 2012 at 3:47 PM by Phyllis Braniff
Amen! How Blessed we are to be able to Adore Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Adoration! He is always near to us! God Bless You and your family Colleen! You are doing an awesome job! Stay close to the Lord!

Posted on Jan 18th, 2012 at 5:02 PM by Lori
Beautiful sentiments. Inspires me to go to Adoration TODAY. Thanks for your insight.

Posted on Jan 19th, 2012 at 3:00 PM by Michele

A publication of Bayard, Inc.

Mission Statement | Catholic Digest connects with readers through personal stories of triumphs and struggles, joys and challenges, and also the lighter side of Catholic living. We are a source of support and encouragement for those who love their faith, those who struggle with their faith, and those who long to learn more about the richness of Catholic tradition.

We seek the positive in the world and in our Church. We emphasize those things that Catholics are doing right and well as a means of inspiring and encouraging others to do the same. We are hope-filled, optimistic, and forward-looking.

We highlight the goodness and beauty of God’s creation and the truths of His Church. We find abundant joy in Catholic living and aim to express that joy through inspiring words, images, and ideas.

We move our readers beyond inspiration and toward action. We give Catholics the information, tools, and resources they need to answer God’s call to holiness and bring the light of Christ to others.

Catholic life is both uniquely joyful and uniquely challenging. At Catholic Digest, we invite all to join us as we encourage and support one another in the joyful, challenging, important work of faith and family living.

Our network of sites