The Culture of Perpetual Adoration, in Duluth

.
Sharon, photographer, poet, professor, mother, grandmother and blogger from California who now blogs in Duluth at Clairity's Journal, recently signed up for some time at a Perpetual Adoration Chapel:

I recently got involved with the Perpetual Adoration chapel here in Duluth when a friend asked if she could put me on the substitute list. After a while, it's easier to keep track of a regular hour, and I was enjoying it so much, I got my own hour and still pick up some "shifts" for adorers who are sick or on vacation.

Our chapel is located right downtown, conveniently across from the Emergency Room at St. Mary's Hospital and in the St. Mary Star of the Sea Church. During the day, I'm seldom alone for long. There are those who just crave a quiet visit or who take advantage to stop in before or after Mass. Then there are the street people who stop by to surreptitiously give a nod and use the facilities. Many can't help recognizing Who is there, waiting as silently as the child in the crib in Bethlehem. A disheveled older woman rushes up and kneels and crosses herself several times confusedly and kisses her fingers and moves on. Outside she continues her loud argument with a man and is asked by another adorer to take it elsewhere. Most us who are on duty spend our hour sitting at the back right at the entrance of the chapel where we can watch who comes in and out. I'm from the metropolises of California, so I can't help but smile about Duluth's rough edges, but be glad for Christ's presence there.

In a certain small town in Minnesota, which shall remain unnamed, I'm told that they are very possessive of their adoration hours. It's something that with a population of 2,000, every hour around the clock is filled. These seem to be more personal hours, spent for some even by prostrating in front of the Lord.

Whatever the local culture, the adoration hour is something that grows on you, like any invitation by the Church to help us. A friend of mine once advised a confused young woman to say an Angelus every single day and that she would change. Such a simple but concrete action. So many forms of invitations and there is always one that just fits to size, just waiting for a yes. Clairity's Journal

Perpetual Adoration Chapels in the Archdiocese of St Paul-Minneapolis