When the priest says the words of consecration at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, “this is my body…this is my blood…given up for you,” he turns the bread and wine into the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  It’s not a symbol of Christ’s body and blood.  It really and truly is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  St. Thomas Aquinas called this action transubstantiation because while the substance of the bread and wine change to the substance of Jesus’ Body and Blood, the accidents remain the same (it still looks and tastes like bread and wine).  Just like when we get our hair cut or a nice tan on vacation in the Caribbean our substance doesn’t change.  “Accidents” refer to qualities that can change without changing the substance.  You are you regardless of the color of your hair, how tall you are, or if you wear glasses or not.  When the priest says those same words that Jesus used at the Last Supper, the accidents of bread and wine remain the same; however the substance changes from bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Jesus.

So, when we receive communion at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we are receiving Jesus Himself in the hope that we will become who we receive.  Eucharistic Adoration is where we put Jesus Body, present in the sacred host, on display for our own praise and adoration.  The fancy receptacle we use is called a monstrance and it often looks like the Sun which is a great symbol of Christ, who is in the center, being the light of the world.  Many monstrances have different designs but they all have the same purpose of giving a primary and honorable space for our Lord to reside for our praise and adoration of Him, who is Love.  

You do not necessarily need Jesus in the monstrance to adore Him.  Whenever you are in a Church that has a tabernacle (the gold box that holds the Blessed Sacrament) you can pray there in Jesus’ presence.  The only difference between a tabernacle and a monstrance is you can actually see the sacred host in the monstrance where a tabernacle has walls and a door.  Many Saints spent hours infant of the Blessed Sacrament.  Some spent hours a day and others spent an hour a week.  When we spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament our lives are changed for the better and we become holier.  So, what’s stopping you?  Go to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament! He’s waiting for you.