THE SACREDNESS OF THE HOLY HOUR

 Divine Appeal Reflection  - 121

Today, consider in Divine Appeal 121: " ... pray a great deal and spend this hour with Me. With  your prayers restore light to souls."

The Holy Hour, a cherished tradition of the Catholic Church, is entrenched in the mystery of Christ’s Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. In a moment that forever changed the history of mankind, our Lord asked His disciples, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40). This was an invitation for all souls to join Him in His Passion. This hour is not just about praying, but it is more about love, suffering along with Christ, and making amends for sins committed by the world. We are called during this time to forget ourselves from ordinary life uncertainties and give space for grace from our Adorable Jesus to enter and change us.

To spend the Holy Hour in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament is to immerse oneself in the very heart of the Eucharistic mystery. The Eucharist is not merely a symbol but the true and substantial Presence of our Adorable Jesus; His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. When we adore the Blessed Sacrament, we do more than offer prayers to a distant God; we gaze upon the living God, truly present before us in the tabernacle or exposed in the monstrance. This sacred encounter draws us ever closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, enabling us to listen to His voice, converse with Him intimately, and offer Him the homage of our love and adoration.

With the utmost intensity, our Lord’s request to “restore light to souls” during this hour calls our attention in the most forceful manner as a course of action because we are His disciples. Our prayers joined with that of Christ on the altar become vessels of grace, healing, and conversion for souls engulfed by darkness. Hence, this Holy Hour is not simply a time for personal sanctification; it is an expression of intense love for the whole Mystical Body of Christ, especially sinners. When we spend this sacred period daily with our Adorable Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we let Him change us through His grace so that our hearts may imitate His heart more and more closely.

May our Adorable Jesus, who revealed His infinite love and mercy to Sister Anna Ali, draw us ever closer to His Eucharistic presence through the faithful practice of the Holy Hour. As we respond to His call to "restore light to souls," may we become radiant beacons of His divine light, bringing His peace and love into our homes, workplaces, and communities. In this sacred commitment, let us strive to be true instruments of His grace, allowing His transforming presence to permeate every aspect of our lives, and thereby fulfill the mission entrusted to us by our Lord, in union with the prayers and example of Sister Anna Ali.

Prayer:

Our adorable Jesus, help us to give you priority in our busy daily schedules. May we cherish the Holy Hour, allowing your grace to transform our hearts. Unite our prayers with your sacrifice and bring light to souls in darkness. Guide us to reflect your love and compassion to the world.

Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.