This Eucharistic Prayer Companion is designed to help you spend thirty minutes to an hour in meditation and silent prayer with Jesus during Eucharistic adoration. Even if you cannot be physically present in a church or adoration chapel with the Blessed Sacrament, you can unite yourself spiritually to Jesus in the Eucharist as you spend this time in prayer.
THE GRACE I SEEK: to know and believe in the presence of the Lord in my life
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.
Pause for a few moments before Jesus in the Eucharist. Allow yourself to become aware of Jesus’ gift of himself to you. Imagine Jesus looking at you, gazing into your eyes with a look filled with love. He sees deep into your heart. Bring your whole life to Jesus. Share with him your fears, your hopes, your wounds, your failures, and your love. Jesus is listening attentively to you. Speak to him with trust. There is no limit to how deep your friendship can be with him. After speaking from your heart, stop, wait, listen. Rest in his loving gaze.
Thank Jesus for the gift of himself in the Eucharist.
ASK FOR THE GRACE: Jesus, I ask you for the grace to recognize your presence in all aspects of my life.
Read slowly, 3–4 times, pausing between each reading. Notice the words or phrases that stand out for you. Pay attention to any feelings you may have as you pray and proclaim God’s Word. Allow the words of Scripture to speak to what you are living right now. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through this passage.
“The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.” (Zephaniah 3:17–18a)
Allow yourself to sit with these questions for a while, being attentive to how the Lord is speaking in your heart.
We are reminded today that the Lord is in our midst to save us. He rejoices over us, he rejoices to be with us, and, we can each say, he rejoices to be with me. Ask for the grace to picture Jesus rejoicing to be at your side precisely when you need him most. If it is difficult to do so, can you pray with trust that Jesus renews you in his love? Linger in this precious experience of being loved and wanted, of belonging. Is there anything holding you back from allowing this to happen? Give it to him in complete honesty.
Read slowly, 3–4 times. Again, allow the words of Scripture to wash over your mind and heart. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you in a personal way through this passage.
“John answered them all, saying, ‘I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” (Luke 3:16)
When Jesus comes to us as our Lord and Savior, he promises not to leave us alone: he sends us the Holy Spirit. How often during the day do you remember the presence of the Holy Spirit? Do you call upon him in times of trial as well as gladness? Examine the past week, taking note of the times that you remembered to invoke the Holy Spirit in your day-to-day life.
Share with Jesus the thoughts and feelings that have surfaced as you have prayed with the Word of God. Open your heart to him. Jesus wants to know your dreams, your desires, your fears. You can share anything. Jesus will receive it with great love. Then remain in silence with the Lord. Allow him to speak in the silence, in your heart. Be grounded in his presence. If it helps, write down what you sense the Lord communicating to you during this time of prayer.
O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. (Collect, Third Sunday of Advent)
At every Mass, Jesus offers himself to the Father for us. During the Offertory, all of our needs and desires, our whole selves and all that we offer to the Lord, are laid on the altar to be united with the offering of the priest and, through him, to the offering of Christ. This Sunday, offer your desire to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in both the trials and the joys of your life.
The world is in desperate need of the joy that only God can give. Think of one person in your life with whom you can share the joy and peace that you have experienced through the gift of the Spirit. Make a concrete effort this week to share with them the joy of the Lord through prayer, conversation, or even just small acts of kindness.
Would you like to print a copy of this resource to bring with you to the chapel for prayer? Click here to download the Eucharistic Prayer Companions for the Advent and Christmas Seasons in English or Spanish.
