The Eucharist is the source of life, faith, and spirituality, says Fr. Nguyen
The B.C. Catholic
The Archdiocese of Vancouver celebrates the Forty Hours devotion because it is important to show our adoration for the Body of Christ, said Father Joseph Nguyen, the vicar general of the archdiocese.
“Eucharistic adoration is a very beautiful and ancient tradition. It’s a sacramental activity in the Church where we honour and worship the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist.”
“To adore is to acknowledge and contemplate” the Real Presence of Christ, he added. “The Eucharist is the source of our life, of our Christian faith, the source of our spirituality. Everything comes from the Holy Eucharist, just as light streams forth from the sun.”
Father Nguyen said that’s why the archdiocese publishes a calendar for the annual Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the churches of the diocese. Each parish hosts 40 hours of exposition before passing the torch to the next parish.
The schedule for the next year can be found at rcav.org/40hours so that the faithful of the diocese can find a church where they can go for adoration. Churches holding the 40 hours during the next week are listed each week at the top of the “Saints Today” column in The B.C. Catholic, usually on Page 5.
“We want to make sure we always have (a place) to worship and praise God on behalf of the whole diocese!” Father Nguyen said. “If we are busy, or have to work, we take turns praising God. The Eucharist is the source of our life, the source of the light of the Church, and the summit of our spirituality. So that’s why adoration is so important.”
Priests pray five times a day privately. “The idea is that there will always be a priest somewhere in the world praying on behalf of the Church, for its people, every second. In the same way, we will have someone always praying for this archdiocese and its people” before the Blessed Sacrament.
Eucharistic adoration also connects with the Year of Mercy, added Father Nguyen. Before the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. “His message was one of love. God gave Himself to us because of mercy. ‘Love one another, as I have loved you.'”
Remember what He has done for us, the priest said. “Love one another, be merciful to one another, and forgive one another.”
