The Holy Hour or Eucharistic Adoration is a traditional prayer of the Church, and in the Xaverian Community it is celebrated on Thursday. “We extend our eucharistic celebration by frequently spending time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. We gather as community once a week before the Eucharist, preferably on Thursday, to pray according to the intentions suggested by the Founder.” (Const. #46.2) Family members and friends are invited to pray through the format suggested in these pages.   

  
EUCHARISTIC HYMN 
  
  
VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT 

(Inspired by the Prayer of St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori) 

Our Lord, Jesus Christ 
we thank You for Your infinite Love that saves us. 
We believe that You, full of compassion and patience, 
call and welcome all who come to visit You here, 
present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. 
  
We thank You for all the graces received, 
and we adore You, 
as we offer our weaknesses, pains, and sorrows. 
We thank You, above all, 
for the gift of Yourself in the Eucharist, 
ever present in the Blessed Sacrament. 
We give You thanks for Your most holy Mother, Mary, 
our advocate and companion in our life’s journey.   
Blessed Jesus, we come before You 
to receive countless graces from Your Divine Heart, 
to appreciate the gift of the Eucharist, 
and to make amends for our faults 
and the injuries You have received in this Sacrament. 
  
We intend to renew ourselves 
in the fervor of our consecration, 
and render You our homage, praise and adoration 
throughout the earth. 
Our Lord Jesus, we believe, we hope 
and we love You with all our hearts, 
and we ask pardon for having offended Your infinite goodness. 
  
We wish, through the help of Your grace, 
to avoid whatever offends You, 
and we consecrate, once again, our whole being to You. 
All our possessions, our affections, and our desires, 
even our will, we offer them to You. 
  
By these, our offerings, 
may we continue to announce Your Gospel to all, 
for we only desire Your love, 
Your gift of faithfulness to our vocation, 
and the fulfillment of Your will. 
  
In union with the whole Church, 
we pray that You bless our Holy Father, 
and always protect him as he leads us to unity. 
O Lord, we recommend to You our Bishops, 
as they shepherd their flock by Your strength. 
We seek your blessings upon our superiors, 
upon missionaries everywhere, our parents and relatives, 
and upon the benefactors of our community. 
  
Shed Your bountiful graces on all the departed, 
especially those who visited You in the Blessed Sacrament, 
and those who showed devotion to Mary, our Blessed Mother. 
Enlighten with Your forgiveness 
all those enslaved by the chains of sin and evil. 
  
Jesus Christ, our Savior, 
grant that all the graces of Your Divine Heart 
may warm the hearts of all people on earth, 
so that we may offer honor and praise 
to Your Eternal Father, 
to Your name, Lord Jesus, 
and to the Holy Spirit, the Consoler, 
One God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

       -     -     -     -

O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine: 
All praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment Thine. 
  
Glory …   

  
PRAYER TO OUR BLESSED MOTHER 

(Inspired by the Prayer of St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori) 

We come to you, our Mother Mary, 
Virgin most Holy and most Pure, 
our Advocate, hope and refuge of sinners. 
We honor you today, 
Blessed Queen of heavenly angels and saints, 
for the blessings we have received in our life, 
and for your guidance, as our dear Mother. 
  
Lady most worthy of all love, we love you, 
we promise to honor you always 
by inviting others to feel your loving care. 
In You, we place our trust and hope of salvation; 
receive us as your servants, Mother of Mercy. 
Through your loving intercession, 
send us the strength from above 
to overcome our doubts and temptations. 
  
Grant us, O loving Mother, 
the grace to love Jesus Christ on earth 
and enjoy him eternally in heaven. 
By your love of God, dearest Mother, 
may we walk with you side by side, 
until you see us safe in heaven, 
there to bless and sing your praises for ever and ever. Amen. 

READING, SERMON, or PRIVATE MEDITATION 
  
  
PETITION PRAYERS 
  
Prayer for our Holy Father, Pope . . . 
  
O Jesus, we pray that You may preserve our Holy Father, 
give him life, bless him on earth, 
and protect him always as he leads us towards Unity. 
You who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.


Prayer for our Bishops 
  
O Jesus, we pray that our Bishops may stand firm, 
and shepherd their flock by Your strength 
in the majesty of Your Name. 
You who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.


Prayer for Vocations in the Church

(Blessed Bishop Guido M. Conforti) 

O Jesus, 
You died for the salvation of all 
and founded the Church 
to continue the work of redemption on earth. 
Increase, we ask You, 
the number of those who preach the Gospel. 
Strengthen them in their ministry, 
sanctify their service, 
so that those who have not yet received the gift of faith, 
may soon come to know You and love You on earth, 
and enjoy You eternally in Heaven. 
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.


Prayer for Missionaries 

(Blessed Bishop Guido M. Conforti) 

O Jesus, 
You are the beginning and the end of our life. 
You wanted Love 
to be the distinctive sign of your disciples. 
We entrust to You our missionaries 
who proclaim Your Gospel throughout the world. 
Bless their missionary work with Your Grace. 
Keep them safe from all dangers. 
Give them strength to bear any suffering 
for the glory of Your Name, 
making them worthy servants of your vineyard. 
Grant that, through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier, 
the great apostle of the East, 
we too may share in their joys and sufferings, 
that we may enter with them into Your everlasting Glory. 
All this we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.


Prayer for our Benefactors and Friends

(Blessed Bishop Guido M. Conforti) 

O God, 
You nourish the birds of the air, 
and clothe the lilies of the fields. 
Look to the needs of our humble community. 
Mindful of the benefits we have received 
from many generous friends, we ask You, o God, 
to bless them with the abundance of Your graces, 
now and for eternity. 
May Your divine providence assist us always, 
so that laboring without earthly cares, 
we may one day participate 
in Your Heavenly Reign. Amen.


Prayer for Fraternal Charity in our communities 

(Blessed Bishop Guido M. Conforti) 

O Jesus, You urge our communities 
to live by Your teachings 
and witness to Your Gospel. 
We ask You to help us love one another 
in a spirit of mutual understanding, 
acceptance and service, 
that others may recognize 
Your presence in our midst. 
You who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.


Prayer for the gift of Faithfulness to our Mission

(Blessed Bishop Guido M. Conforti) 

O God of goodness and love, 
You wish all nations to be saved. 
Grant us, we pray, the gift of final perseverance. 
Make us faithful to Your grace, 
so that we may reach 
the perfection that You want from us. 
We ask this through the blessings 
of the death and resurrection of Your Son, 
by the love You show us in the Eucharist 
and through the loving care of Mary, our Mother. Amen.


Prayer for Evangelization

(Blessed Bishop Guido M. Conforti) 

Eternal God, 
Creator of all things, 
We remember that You alone created all peoples, 
forming them in Your image and likeness. 
We recall the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ, 
who suffered for them, sharing His life. 
We pray that Jesus may be known everywhere. 
By the prayers of this community, 
mindful of Your Mercy and Love, 
may all peoples come to know Jesus Christ, 
whom You sent, Your Son and our companion. 
He is our Salvation, Life and Resurrection, 
to whom is all glory forever. Amen.


Prayer for Unity in the Xaverian Family 

(Inspired by the writings of Blessed Bishop Guido M. Conforti)

Lord Jesus, 
may we ever be united with You, 
as the branch receives life from the vine. 
United in mind and in heart, 
united in reflection on Your Sacred Word, 
united in the Eucharist, 
of which You make us ministers and servants. 
United in prayer, 
united in the constant effort to become one with You, 
the model of every perfection. 
And may we be united in Your calling 
that makes us Your Apostles. Amen. 


  
EUCHARISTIC HYMN 
  
Humbly let us voice our homage 
for so great a Sacrament; 
let all former rites surrender 
to the Lord’s New Testament. What our senses fail to fathom 
let us grasp through faith’s consent!   
Glory, honor, adoration 
let us sing with one accord! 
Praised be God, almighty Father, 
praised be Christ, the Son, our Lord, 
praised be God the Holy Spirit; 
triune Godhead be adored! Amen. 

- - - -
  
You have given them bread from heaven; 
containing in itself all delight.


Prayer before Benediction 
  
O God, our Father, 
you have given us in Christ, Your living Word, 
our companion and model of service and mission. 
Grant that Your Holy Spirit may inspire us 
to listen to the Gospel and act upon it, 
so that the whole world may come to know You, 
and glorify Your Name. 
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 


REPOSITION

Divine Praises 

Blessed be God. 
Blessed be His holy name. 
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man. 
Blessed be the name of Jesus. 
Blessed be His most sacred heart. 
Blessed be His most precious blood. 
Blessed be Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the Altar. 
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Consoler. 
Blessed be the great mother of God, Mary most holy. 
Blessed be her holy and immaculate conception. 
Blessed be her glorious assumption. 
Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin and mother. 
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse. 
Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.