Adoration

A lesson in adoration from the 'Angel of Peace' in Fatima, gives us a profound insight into the importance of the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The following is taken from Lucia's own words:

"It seems that it must have been in October or the end of September, 1916 when the angel appeared for a third time. We said our Rosary on the side of the hill and the prayer the Angel had taught us at the first apparition.  While we were there, the angel appeared to us for the third time, holding a chalice in his hands, with a Host above it from which some drops of Blood were falling into the sacred vessel.  Leaving the chalice and the Host suspended in the air, the angel prostrated himself on the ground and repeated this prayer three times:"

Then, rising, he once more took the chalice and the Host in his hands.  He gave the Host to me, and to Jacinta and Francisco. He gave the contents of the chalice to drink, saying as he did so:

Once again, he prostrated himself on the ground and repeated with us three times more, the same prayer:

(This prayer is known as the Angel's Prayer)

"The Angel then disappeared. Impelled by the power of the supernatural that enveloped us, we imitated all that the angel had done, prostrating ourselves on the ground as he did and repeating the prayers that he said.  The force of the presence of God was so intense that it absorbed us and almost completely annihilated us.  It seemed to deprive us even of the use of our bodily senses for a considerable length of time.  During those days, we performed all our exterior actions as though guided by that same supernatural being who was impelling us thereto.

The peace and happiness which we felt were great but wholly interior, for our souls were completely immersed in God.  The physical exhaustion that came over us was also great. I do not know why, but the apparitions of Our Lady produced in us very different effects.

We felt the same intimate joy, the same peace and happiness, but instead of physical prostration, an expansive ease of movement; instead of this annihilation in the Divine Presence, a joyful exultation; instead of the difficulty speaking, we felt a certain communicative enthusiasm.  Despite these feelings, however, we felt inspired to be silent, especially concerning certain things."