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Blessed Sacrament

The Power of Eucharistic Adoration

Jul 20th, 2011
by Gary Zimak.
21 comments

While there’s no doubt that we can pray anywhere, there are special graces that can be received by praying before the Blessed Sacrament.  If you’re skeptical (as I once was), I encourage you to try it for yourself.  Try spending some time each week with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and see what happens.  If you can do it for an hour, that would be ideal.  If you can only spend 15 minutes, you will still receive many graces.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen made a holy hour every day of his life and wrote his homilies in Our Lord’s presence.  Numerous Saints and popes throughout the ages spoke of the importance of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.  The time I spend in adoration is my refuge from the craziness of my daily life and a tremendous source of blessing.  Why not try it and see what happens in your own life?

Archbishop Timothy Dolan recently wrote an excellent piece about the relationship between Eucharistic adoration and parish vibrancy.  I’d highly recommend that you read it and think about how the power of the Eucharist can transform your life. 

If you have any stories about how Eucharistic adoration has affected your life, I’d love to hear them!

I Am With You Always…

Jun 20th, 2011
by Gary Zimak.
No comments yet

Sometimes I just need a reminder…Thank you, Jesus!

Visiting The Lord…I Finally Get It!

May 28th, 2011
by Gary Zimak.
6 comments

All my sermons are prepared in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.  As recreation is most pleasant and profitable in the sun, so homiletic creativity is best nourished before the Eucharist.  The most brilliant ideas come from meeting God face to face.  The Holy Spirit that presided at the Incarnation is the best atmosphere for illumination.  (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen)

As I sat in the adoration chapel this evening, I felt peaceful and blessed to be in the presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  I prayed, talked to Him and asked for advice.  Sadly, for years I neglected to visit Him even though the chapel was within walking distance of my house.  I now find myself looking forward to visiting Him each week for adoration.  In fact, I often stop to say “hi” for a few minutes on the way home from work.  The peace I feel being in the Lord’s presence is something that is beyond compare.  While I’m there, I suddenly think of solutions to my problems, get ideas for articles and feel safe….Something truly supernatural takes place in that chapel!

Many holy men and women have written about the importance of visiting Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and I’m starting to see what they mean.  It took me a while, but I finally “get it”! 

Thanks for being patient with me, Lord…I can’t wait to visit you again soon!

How Much Do I Love Jesus?

May 20th, 2011
by Gary Zimak.
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“Every time I hear anyone speak of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or of the Blessed Sacrament I feel an indescribable joy. It is as if a wave of precious memories, sweet affections and joyful hopes swept over my poor person, making me tremble with happiness and filling my soul with tenderness. These are loving appeals from Jesus who wants me wholeheartedly there, at the source of all goodness, his Sacred Heart, throbbing mysteriously behind the Eucharistic veils… I love to repeat today ‘Sweet Heart of my Jesus, make me love You more and more.’” (Blessed Pope John XXIII, Journal of a Soul)

I ran across the above quote from the autobiography of Blessed Pope John XXIII, and I couldn’t help but ask myself a question…

“Do I feel the same way?”

While my first answer was a resounding “Yes!”, I started to think of all those occasions when I’ve daydreamed while at Mass, of the all the times I passed up stopping in at the adoration chapel to pay a visit to Jesus who gave up His life for my salvation, of those times when I sinned and caused disappointment and sadness to be felt in Our Lord’s Sacred Heart.

While I do love Jesus and try to visit and receive Him frequently, I still think that I have some work to do.  I’m going to take the late Holy Father’s recommendation and make that last line my frequent prayer. 

Sweet Heart of my Jesus, make me love You more and more.

Can I Pray For You?

May 14th, 2011
by Gary Zimak.
1 comment

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Tonight at 7 PM Eastern time, I will be at the adoration chapel with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  I would be honored to pray for all of your intentions.  If you have anything specific that you’d like be to present to Jesus, please comment to this post or email me (gary@followingthetruth.com).  I also encourage you to pray along with me (from wherever you are), even if its only for 5 minutes.

We often make the mistake of failing to pray about the problems and issues in our lives, instead choosing to worry about them or to try and solve them without God’s help.  In the above excerpt from his Letter to the Philippians, St. Paul reminds us that the Lord is anxious for us to ask for His help.  Don’t pass up that golden opportunity!

Please tweet, email, like and share this post with your friends, as I’d like to extend the offer of prayer to as many people as possible!

Peace!