Charisms
Jesus in the Eucharist continues His Saving Redemption as priests offer Mass every day. He comes down from His Throne to every soul without reserve or limit. The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration exist to make some return of thankful love to Him, seeking through the grace of prayer to bring as many souls as possible to know Him and His Goodness. The Priest Retreat House and the Adoration Sodality at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament were initiated to draw as many priests and friends of God closer to the Eucharistic Heart of Christ. These ventures are living responses to the exhortation of our foundress Mother Marie de St. Claire Bouillevaux:
“To devote ourselves to Jesus in the Eucharist, to the Church, to the interests of the glory of God, to the extension of the Kingdom of Our Lord, these are our duties. And do not say that, because of our humility, it is too great a vocation. As adoring souls, we must lead all souls to Jesus, but principally the souls of Priests. In our holy Constitutions, in effect, we are told that we must not be content with our own sanctification, but we must make it our business to pray for the missionaries. All those who have the care of souls should be the object of our supplication.”
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament
The greatest treasure on this earth and the answer to the longing of every human heart is the Lord Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist. The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament exists to honor Christ's, Real Presence and to be a place where all people can encounter His Redeeming Love. The Main Church of the Shrine houses the second largest monstrance in the world, lifting High our humble Lord who is adored here day and night. Twice daily Mass and Confessions are offered by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, enabling all Catholics to come to deeper communion and peace with Our Lord. Hidden behind the reredos, the PCPA Nuns of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery keep a continuous vigil of adoration, punctuating the hours of the day with the chanting of the Divine Office. The expanse of the Shrine’s grounds encompasses various devotional areas where visitors can pray, rest and soak in the silent peace of Christ’s Presence.
Priest Retreat House
The Priest Retreat House (PRH) at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament is prayerfully supported by the Nuns of Our Lady of the Angels. This place apart offers priests, deacons, seminarians and religious brothers a place of their own to step away from the burdens of ministry and be refreshed in the Lord’s Presence. With an experienced staff, beautiful chapels for offering the Mass and a peaceful, quiet setting, the PRH gives retreatants a unique opportunity to “be renewed in heart and spirit.”
Catholic priests, sharing in the one priesthood of Jesus Christ, are especially called to be closely united to the Eucharistic Heart of Our Lord. As Pope Benedict XVI often remarked, the priest is a man for others, and one who daily sacrifices himself for them, offering the faithful the grace of God in the Sacraments they celebrate. It is they who offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, from whose hands we receive the God who created us all. From the baptismal font to the gift of Viaticum it is to priests that we owe a great debt of gratitude for their spiritual care leading us to our heavenly home.
The Nuns pray daily for all priests, especially remembering all those who are on retreat here at the Shrine. It is our hope that many priests will find refreshment here at the PRH and encounter anew the Lord who has called them to be His friends and shepherds of His people.
“Whoever places himself at the service of the Gospel, if he lives the Eucharist, makes progress in love of God and neighbor and thus contributes to building the Church as communion. We can affirm that the 'Eucharistic love' motivates and founds the vocational activity of the whole Church, because, …vocations to the priesthood... flourish within the people of God wherever there are those in whom Christ can be seen through his Word, in the sacraments and especially in the Eucharist.”
Pope Benedict XVI
Adoration Sodality
Our Adoration Sodality is a group for laity, priests and religious alike, to spiritually join us in this mission of adoring Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The goal of the Sodality is to answer Jesus’ desire to “draw all men to myself” (Jn 12:32), giving Him unremitting thanksgiving in the Most Blessed Sacrament all throughout the world. Sodality members commit themselves to an hour of Eucharistic Adoration on a regular basis. Members are encouraged to join our Sisters at their adoration hour by praying the "I Adore Thee Prayer" which will be emailed to them after signup and mailed in the welcome packet.
We invite you to become part of the Adoration Sodality as a means of drawing closer to Our Lord. Visit our website iadorethee.com and sign up to become a member, or mail in the form included on the brochure. Let us pray with the whole Church that “the Heart of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection at every moment in all the tabernacles of the world, even until the end of time!” (Prayer from the Roman Missal).
Sodality Days occur on the third Thursday of each month and are an opportunity to be immersed in the love of Our Eucharistic Lord. If you are thirsting for God and in need of His Grace, these events bring you directly to the Source and Fountain of All Grace. These days begin and end with the best of encounters with Our Eucharistic Lord through Mass and a Eucharistic Healing Service. In between, there are engaging talks, tours and savory meals. Throughout your time here, you will have the opportunity to meet other fervent disciples of Christ and be refreshed in body, mind and spirit. Come and join us for a Sodality Day and experience some time apart in the Presence of the Lord!
Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest…
