Spending an Hour with Our Lord

Pam Spano shares how she was drawn back to the practice of Eucharistic Adoration.

When was the last time you went to Adoration? When was the last time you spent any time in front of the Blessed Sacrament?  

These two questions came to mind for me personally when my daughter and her friend went to Adoration after attending her friend’s catechism meeting. They discovered a church that had 24-hour Adoration available. I couldn’t remember the last time I had spent an hour with Our Lord in such a way.    

Shortly afterwards, a friend of mine told me her church offered Adoration on Thursday evenings, and she had planned to go after a long absence. It happened to be the day Pope Leo XIV was elected. She felt drawn back to the practice.  

“So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?”  

The seed was planted in me.  I felt a longing and a need to spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. When? Where? My daughter was kind enough to accompany me, and we went to the church she and her friend attended,  

As it turned out, it was a church my husband and I used to go to Mass to years ago. Since then, it has been remodeled, and the difference was striking. When my husband and I were last there, the walls were covered with years of dirt. The whole church was dark and dreary and there was no beauty to be seen. 

The transformation was breathtaking! The walls were bright and showcased the stained-glass windows and the Stations of the Cross. Colors that had been hidden now popped with vibrancy, and the whole church sparkled! 

We sat in front of the massive monstrance and began our prayer time. My daughter came prepared. She brought her Bible and The Holy Hour.  I started praying the Rosary and then sat back. The time was uneventful but satisfying. 

I felt compelled to go again. At the last minute, my daughter and I decided to return to that same church. This time I had my own Holy Hour book and I was excited to use it. 

“My Lord and my God!”  

Once again, I started with the Rosary and then I read the introduction and the first meditation of The Holy Hour Book. The meditations are broken into six parts. This particular section contained a poem (“Let the Whole of Mankind Tremble" by Saint Francis of Assisi); Scripture (Mark 12:22-25); a reflection by Bishop Barron regarding Catholicism and Flannery O’Connor; a reading from the Catechism (1373-1374); a reflection from The Habit of Being by Flannery O’Connor; and prayer (from Meditations and Devotions by Saint John Henry Newman).    

I took my time with each one. When I was finished, I sat quietly.  

And then I heard:  

“Thank you for visiting me.”  

I could barely move. I managed to smile. It was not a Morgan Freeman type of voice. It was steady and calm. And I knew it like the sheep who hears her Shepherd’s voice.  

I didn’t tell anyone about the voice right away. I wanted to savor the moment. Eventually, I told my daughter. She was happy for me. 

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to spend some time in Adoration. A little preparation beforehand is certainly helpful. I suggest praying a Rosary if you’re not sure where to start. There are numerous websites with prayers for the occasion. I would recommend The Holy Hour Book if you don’t already have one.

Most importantly, just go and spend time with the Lord. He may thank you for visiting Him. 

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Pam Spano
Images: copyright 2025 Pam Spano, all rights reserved.