How Outlander Taught Me About Catholic Adoration
The first time I ever heard of Catholic Adoration was in Outlander, a book written by Diana Gabaldon. Outlander is one of my favorite books of all time, having read it multiple times long before it became the popular series on Starz. Also, long before I became a devout Catholic Christian.
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my website!
In the book, Claire and Jamie, the main characters in the story, are hiding out with monks in an Abbey while Jamie recovers from a major trauma. This is when Claire meets a Franciscan Monk who introduces her (and me) to Perpetual Adoration. I remember thinking how strange it was that I had never heard of this! Claire, a baptized Catholic, also hadn’t heard of it. But in this abbey, adoration had deep roots.
It was around this time in my life, after reading about this in Outlander, that I had a sort of conversion- I call it my “re”-version- to the Catholic faith. Many things contributed to the realization that, while I thought I knew all there was to know, I had so much to learn. We joined a parish in South Florida with a pastor on fire for the Eucharist- especially Eucharist Adoration. It did not seem like a coincidence.
I became curious.
Curious in a way that non-runners are curious about people that run marathons: You wonder why they do it, you think it is an amazing accomplishment and admire the effort- yet you have no desire to do that hard work.
What is Adoration?
I learned back then about how we adore the physical presence of Jesus in the Eucharist – the bread that becomes the body of Christ during Mass when the priest consecrates it. The priest puts the Eucharist in a Monstrance and then on the Altar where people can worship and adore him.
Perpetual Adoration, as described in Outlander, is when this is happening 24 hours a day every day. People typically come and sit with Jesus for a Holy Hour. (I found this great guide to explain better than I could.)
Why Do Adoration?
It was the night of the Last Supper, and Jesus had just celebrated Passover, knowing this was the night he would be given up. He chose three disciples to accompany him to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he would suffer his agony.
In Matthew 14:34, Jesus says, “Remain here and watch.” Then a bit later, in Matthew 14:37, Jesus returns and says, “Are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?”
It only took 3 verses for these 3 disciples- his favorites, his chosen, his trusted- to let Jesus down. 3 small verses: Remain and watch in verse 34 and asleep by verse 37.
We attempt to make up for the disciples in Adoration. Our Holy Hour is our opportunity to “keep watch for one hour“.
Back to my Pastor in Florida. He said I would gain grace if I attended Adoration. In need of that grace, I went. I gave it a shot.
But it was more like a non-runner signing up for a race and expecting to do as well as everyone else. I remember running a 5K race once- I did horribly, felt stupid, cried after and never did it again. And so it was with Adoration.
“What Shall I do?”
Claire asked the monk this question when attending adoration for the first time. The monk replied, “Nothing…just be…” Many years later, I asked myself that same question. I was feeling utterly powerless and at the end of my rope when the idea of adoration came up again. I attended an Advent retreat, and the speaker, also a Franciscan, compared Adoration and radiation.
“Adoration is to healing our soul what radiation is to healing cancer.”
Adoration is like radiation. Both heal. Both require our consent. Both simply need our presence. To show up. To sit. To get a healing treatment. “Just be.” Simple. Sometimes the hardest part is simply showing up.
Start Small, Get Good and Grow
I wrote about the concept of starting small in an earlier blog post. This has been key to my spiritual growth and consequent growth in my joy.
I believe that this is also the key learning about Catholic Adoration. Start small by showing up.
Here are the steps I took that may help you to start small, get good, and grow in Catholic Adoration:
- Learn adoration hours at the parishes nearby. Write them down in your phone or your planner and you will have the information at your fingertips whenever you need it or have free time you want to devote.
- Make a commitment to go for 5 minutes each week. Bringing your children helps them learn about adoration and quiet time with Jesus.
- Go to daily mass on days when adoration immediately follows. Sometimes the challenge is just getting there. By doing this, you can accomplish two things in one trip. Plan to stay for 15 minutes after Mass when you get to this step.
- Sign up to be a Substitute. When people who are committed to regular time slots cannot attend, you will be on the list to be called. This gives space for the Holy Spirit to work- calling you, reminding you.
- Sign up for one-time only special Holy Hours. Sometimes there are special events such as First Friday, Advent, Corpus Christi. Keep your eyes out for these sign-up sheets and be sure to take a slot.
- Commit to that regular time-slot. When a slot, that works for your schedule, grab it. Remember, there is a substitute list of people to fill if something comes up.
My story continues as I now surprise myself by going to adoration several times a week. There is nothing quite like being alone with the Lord in my church. If I go to daily mass, I always stay after. If I get called to substitute, I say yes. If I have something important to write, I bring my notebook. Adoration has become a huge part of my faith practice- a time of sweet solace. A time where I can write, where I can talk to God, where I can cry, where I can marvel and rejoice.
A later Outlander book (I can’t remember which one) has Claire going to adoration regularly. I often wondered about that since she was not particularly devout in any other way. Though there is still time- Diana is still writing Claire’s story! My story is also still being written- so too is yours.
It has taken me decades to learn. Decades to show up. Decades to appreciate it. I continue growing still.
Don’t wait like I did.
(Disclaimer...By the way, there may be some amazon affiliate links, as I explore opportunities to help pay for my website. I am supposed to let you know that I earn a little money if you click on my links and buy anything. I appreciate your support!)
If you want to get started on a morning prayer routine- I have the perfect book for you. And it is Free! I put together a prayer book of all of my favorite morning prayers and challenge you to spend a couple of your morning minutes each day with God. Get it here!
