Holy Hour Guide
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ScribdTranslationsHoly Hour Guide
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ScribdTranslationsAll you need is a tabernacle with the
sanctuary lamp lit, a Bible and
perhaps a Compendium of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church…
To pray an hour of Eucharistic Adoration, all that
you need a tabernacle with the sanctuary lamp lit,
a Bible and perhaps aCompendium of the Catechismof the Catholic Church
(available on the Internet).
Three rules
1. Silence. Do not mechanically recite the prayers or review in
silence the stress of your life. Maintain a silence and calm in your
exterior and interior.
2. Attention. It's not just an hour of reading; reading should be a
entry point to the sentence.
3. Good disposition. Sit down, stand up, or kneel, but with
Respect. Quick advice: if you feel drowsy, get up!
Minute by minute
There is not just one way to perform a holy hour. The following
structure could help you if you get lost during the hour, but you have
freedom to reconfigure it as best suits your needs.
:00-:05 – Start
First 5 minutes: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, then
perform acts of faith, hope, and charity. Tell God how you believe, trust, and
You feel love for Him. Ask for more faith, hope, and love.
Quick advice: There are great prayers to the Holy Spirit and Acts.
of Faith, Hope, and Love in the Compendium.
05-15 – Worship
Next 10 minutes: Worship God. He holds the universe as
a seed in the palm of his hand. He is all-powerful, all goodness,
more beautiful than we can imagine and more real than the
small things that we perceive so easily. Imagine Christ
sitting by your side.
And say: 'Oh my God, I adore your divine greatness from the depths
"from my smallness; you are so great and I am so small"; or pray the Glory.
Patri. Repeat as many times as you think necessary.
Quick tip: Try the Te Deum that is in the Compendium. Others
Scripture helps for worship: Exodus 33:18-23; Song
from the songs 2:8-17; Matthew 2:1-11; John 1:1-18; Colossians 1:15-20;
Philippians 2:6-11
15-25 – Contrition
Next 10 minutes: Offers repair. What saves is not your
love for God, but His love for you. Examine your conscience. Offer
repair for the sins of the world. Pray: “Oh my Jesus, I am sorry
a lot. Forgive me." (Imagine Jesus on the cross; kiss each wound).
Quick tip: Scriptures for contrition: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7;
Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; James 3:2-12; 1 John 1:5 and
2,6; Penitential psalms: 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 142.
:25-:40 - Meditation
Next 15 minutes: Contemplate the action of God. Perhaps
you want to pray meditatively the Stations of the Cross or a Rosary.
Or also:
Scripture Meditation. Read a short passage from the Gospel.
Imagine the scene. Notice Christ's reactions. Think of three.
ways in which that passage can be applied to your own life. Meditate
about each line.
Doctrinal meditation. Read passages from the Scripture or the Catechism.
that they apply to a doctrine of the Church. Evaluate God's plan and
find ways it applies to you. (Perhaps: Sunday,
Resurrection
Wednesday, Holy Spirit; Thursday, Eucharist; Friday, Passion; Saturday,
Maria).
Vital meditation. Observe your own life by delving into your
Examination of conscience. What type of pride do you usually fall into the most?
Selfishness (valuing yourself above all), Vanity (valuing for
above all the opinions of others), Sensuality (to value
first the comfort). Pray for the opposite virtues: Charity
(serve others first), Fidelity (putting the opinion of others first)
Christ), Discipline (accepting your crosses).
:40-:50 – Thanksgiving
Next 10 minutes: Express gratitude for all the gifts of
God. He did not create only you, but supports your existence for
love in every moment.
Literally thank everything and be specific: food, shelter, clothing,
health, family, friends, teachers, work colleagues and, above all, the
spiritual gifts: faith, hope, love, this moment of prayer, the
Catholic faith, the disciples who came to you.
Give thanks to God for the answers to prayer. Thank Him for them.
crosses. Thank them for having created you and for caring so much about you that
he died for you.
Quick tip: Scriptures for gratitude: Genesis 1; Genesis
8,15-22; Job 1,13-22; Daniel 3,46 ss.; Mateo 6,25-34; Lucas 17,11-19;
Salmos: 8, 65, 66, 100, 111.
:50-:55 – Prayer to God
Next 5 minutes: Ask God for your needs and those of
others. He is the king of the universe. He controls everything, even when not
It seems so obvious. Pray for the Church, for the intentions of the Pope,
for those who suffer, for the priests and bishops, for the
religious men and women, for vocations, for your country, for your family,
for what you need most in your spiritual life. Pray for peace and the
protection of the institution of the family. Pray for those who have you
order prayers.
:55-1:00
Final 5 minutes: Make a resolution to act in light of the
Holy Spirit you have received: something achievable and verifiable.
Ask Holy Mother to help you, perhaps with Marian prayers.
of the Compendium.