1. The Mass and Beyond: Learn ways to foster encounters with Christ outside of Mass as a means of preparing for encounters with Christ in Mass By Dr. Tom Curran Executive Director, MyCatholicFaith.org

2. Session Four: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Eucharist Overview of the Session I. Introduction to Session Four II. Introduction to Eucharistic Adoration III. Six Stages of Eucharistic Adoration 1.External 2.Exertion 3.Extension 4.Excess 5.Exposition 6.Eucharistic

3. I. Introduction to Session Four Based on the book: The Mass: Four Encounters with Jesus that will Change your Life Purpose of these Sessions: “If no contact with the living God of all men takes place in the sacraments, then they are empty rituals which tell us nothing nor give us anything.” Cardinal Ratzinger, May 1996 Principle underlying these Sessions: In order to have more impactful encounters with Jesus Christ at Mass, learn how to have analogous encounters with Jesus Christ outside Mass. Session One: What does it mean to have an encounter with Jesus Christ? Session Two: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Community – Worship Session Three: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Word – Praying with Scripture Session Four: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Eucharist - Adoration

4. II. Introduction to Eucharistic Adoration 1. What is Eucharistic Adoration? Based on the Real Presence of the Risen and Glorified Lord Jesus Christ 2. Adoration vs. Exposition The Monstrance (“monstre” = show)

5. III. Six Stages of Eucharistic Adoration Stage One: External 1. Physically present but not personally present 2. The foreign experience of “being still”. Filling our time of adoration with activity. Being active vs. being present 3. Not settling for remaining “hidden” – “showing” yourself to Jesus Christ. Getting beyond the beginning stage.

6. Stage Two: Exertion 1.“Getting back to Square One” 1)Taking out the trash 2)Putting things away 3)Restoring order (order allows for contemplation) 4)End and a means – Once at Square One, you get in the “flow” 2.Repentance (“taking out the trash” spiritually) 3.Dealing with Distractions (putting things away) 1)Don’t chase them or “think them through” 2)Use them as an opportunity to center on Jesus Christ 4.Presenting yourself and your intentions (Restoring Order)

7. Stage Three: Extension Growing in Adoration is like becoming a runner Contemplation: “I look at Him and He looks at me.” Experiencing the transformative effects of contemplative gazing without experiencing the cause.

8. Stage Four: Excess 1. Experiencing a spiritual “runner’s high”. 2. It is safe to leave prayer when you want to stay. 3. The “too much” (being filled to overflowing) of adoration.

9. 1.Shift from “going to exposition” to “living an exposed life”. 2.Examples in our tradition 1.Abp. Sheen – the daily Holy Hour 2.St. Francis of Assisi – the stigmata 3.Fruit of striving for transparency: you gain a capacity to recognize when someone is not being transparent. Stage Five: Exposition

10. 1.Move from Adoration to Mass 2.The Mass becomes the Source, Summit and Center of my life 3.Not “Take and look at.” but “Take and eat.” 4.I become a “monstrance.” Stage Six: Eucharistic