The Prayerful Hour:
A Scriptural Companion to Eucharistic Adoration
Father Florian Racine
Catholic Truth SocietyISBN 9781784692032
eISBN 9781784695835
ASIN B078TMLQGK
CTS Booklet D825
Over the last several years, I have read over 175 volumes from the CTS. I have read books from many series. And many authors. I have read several books that are part of the CTS Devotions and Prayer Series. I have read many in the CTS Biographies and also Saints of the Isles Series, and the Great Saints Series. This is the first volume I have read by Father Racine and I believe he only has one other published from the CTS. The description of the booklet is:
““May our Adoration never cease.”
The Christian journey is a journey to become like Christ, to “abide in him” and he in us. The Eucharist is the means for this to happen. This Spiritual Companion offers a beautiful formation in Eucharistic devotion that will help worshippers to practice it in all its depth, and with a missionary perspective.
Starting with the Word of God, the book’s eleven stages show how the Word is made present in the Eucharist and invites us to mature in faith and be transformed for a greater communion with Christ. This will help us to be collaborators with God’s plan in the world. Adorers can reflect on one stage at a time during or after the weekly hour of adoration.
This Companion acts as a school of adoration offered to every believer.”
This volume is a reprint of an Ignatius Press book called, Could You Not Watch with Me One Hour? that original edition was published in 2014. The CTS published the eBook in 2017 and a booklet in 2018. The chapters in the book are:
Introduction to the Itinerary
HE IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO LEADS ME TO THE FATHER
Cain’s and Abel’s Offerings The Offering of Oneself
“The Lord is my Shepherd” The Evangelisation of my Being
“The Clay in the Potter’s Hand”
“Not What I Will, but What You Will”
“Abba, Father” Adoration: Remedy for Pride and Despair
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
“Be Still, and Know that I Am God!” Sensible Graces and Dryness
Jacob’s Struggle and Spiritual Advice The Trial in the Wilderness
Adoration in Battle, Recollection, Contemplation
The Power of Intercession Moses Fights against the Amalekites The Paralytic
“A Prophet is without Honour in His Own Country” Welcoming the Saviour
I really enjoyed reading this volume. And know I will use again and again. I highlighted a few passages my first time through this book including a wonderful prayer.
My Father, I abandon myself to you,
do with me what you will.
Whatever you do with me, I thank you.
I am ready for everything, I accept everything.
So long as your will is done in me,
in all your creatures,
I desire nothing else, my God.
I give back my soul into your hands.
I give it to you, my God,
with all the love of my heart,
because I love you,
and because for me it is a necessity of love to give myself,
to give myself back into your hands without measure,
with an infinite confidence,
for you are my Father.
Bl. Charles de Foucauld
Some of the other passages I highlighted are:
“An adorer testifies: “At the beginning, I thought that adoration meant loving God greatly. But the Lord made me understand that he desires above all that I let myself be loved in my miseries and my faults. For me this is so much more demanding. Letting Jesus look at me, hold me, lead me to God his Father – that is adoration in spirit and in truth!””
“In adoration, what is most important is not what we feel but him whom we meet and what we give him! Love seeks, not its own interest, but the interest of the beloved.”
“The permanent presence of the Host in each church reveals God’s unceasing faithfulness towards us. Contemplating the Host is choosing God anew; it is allowing oneself to be looked at, called, and espoused anew!”
“Each year, the Church offers periods of grace, like that of Lent, to renew our covenant with God – a covenant sealed in the Eucharist. When worldly cares have taken the upper hand, God can send us into the wilderness in order to recover the love we had at the beginning:…”
“But the Holy Spirit does not want us to think of this grace as something owed to us. We must not stop digging; rather, we must continue to seek this love with our will, always deeper, relentlessly.”
“We make reparation for the world’s great errors: Evil must be vanquished by good. The greatest evil must be vanquished by the greatest good. The extraordinary evil of our society must be vanquished by the extraordinary good of perpetual adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.”
“Thus, through Eucharistic adoration, we do a great service for mankind.”
“Through adoration, the Christian contributes to the radical transformation of the world. Every person who prays to the Lord brings the whole world along with him, raising the world to God. Thus those who remain before the Lord fulfil a great service.”
“In the same way, when we are at the foot of the Blessed Sacrament, we can present to Jesus those close to us, our friends, the members of our family, or simply the whole world.”
This book is a wonderful read and excellent resource. During the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 I have found it very hard not to spend time in front of the sacrament. Either exposed or in the tabernacle. I have taken to parking outside the church and praying near the presence. Or a live video feed of adoration. This booklet will be used for both and hopefully soon in person.
Another excellent resource from the Catholic Truth Society, I highly recommend it. And I look forward to reading what I assume is a companion volume The Watchful Hour.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.
For reviews of other books in the CTS Devotion and Prayers series click here.
Books by Father Florian Racine:
Could You Not Watch with Me One Hour?
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