The commitment to perpetual adoration focuses on growing a personal relationship with Jesus; Fr. Don Kline, pastor of St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Parish in Scottsdale, said recently.

"Each adorer who commits to one Holy Hour per week becomes a critical link in an unbroken chain of love offered to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament," Kline said in the parish's Nov. 8 bulletin. "Our parish magnifies our Eucharistic King by giving Him the honor and glory due His Holy Name through perpetual Eucharistic adoration."

Kline noted that every adorer is called to take part in adoration and is free to respond to the first commandment of adoring God and serving him.

"Thus the chapel of perpetual adoration becomes an oasis of peace where people go to gain new strength according to the call, 'Come to me all you who labor and are overburdened and I will give you rest' (Mt. 11:28); and to open a temporary gap in the daily hustle and bustle of life to be in the Lord's Divine Presence," he said in the bulletin.

Kline referred to the story of Martha and Mary, where Martha was upset and busy while Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus.

"Jesus reminded Martha that Mary had chosen the better part," Kline said. "Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI emphasizes these words from Our Lord when he wrote, 'I would like to recall the priority of prayer over action since it is on prayer that the effectiveness of action depends. The Church's mission largely depends on each person's personal relationship with the Lord Jesus and must, therefore, be nourished by prayer.'"

The pastor said that the commitment to perpetual adoration will not only help parishioners in their personal relationship with Jesus but will also help with the Church's mission of bringing the world to Christ.