Adoration: A Profound Expression of Love and Devotion
Adoration is defined as “a deep love and respect.” It derives from the Latin root “adoratio,” meaning “to give homage or worship someone or something.” When young lovers fall into passionate bliss, they crave and pour out adoration upon one another. The birds sing loudly, colors seem brighter, and we are in a state of extreme peace and happiness. One could describe this as a feeling of fulfillment or purpose. Infatuation, in its most intense form, is akin to an ideal state of heaven, where nothing is missing, and all feels complete. Adoration is the pathway to transitioning from never-ending infatuation to a deep, fulfilling love with God the Father.
As St. Paul of the Cross eloquently puts it:
“Let weak and frail man come here suppliantly to adore the Sacrament of Christ, not to discuss high things, or wish to penetrate difficulties, but to bow down to secret things in humble veneration, and to entrust God’s mysteries to God, for Truth deceives no man — Almighty God can do all things. Amen.”
In history, we see adoration’s roots within the Church date back to 1226. Like many other practices and pillars of faith in the Church, adoration had been practiced long before it was formally named. Before the time of Jesus, we witness adoration taking place in the temple before the Ark of the Covenant, as…
