For Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the day began with an hour of silence before the Blessed Sacrament. Away from the noise of public life, he taught that spending time before the Eucharistic Lord could gradually transform a person from within.
He called it “an hour of companionship”. He devoted 60 minutes to adoration every day throughout his priesthood, fulfilling a promise he made on his ordination day. According to the National Catholic Register, the archbishop regarded this as a regular observance and as a way to grow closer to Jesus and become more like Him.
SHEEN REVEALS THE POWER OF DAILY HOLY HOUR
In his autobiography, Treasure in Clay, the renowned preacher compared this spiritual change to Moses returning from the mountain after being with God. He also recalled the disciples on the road to Emmaus, whose hearts burned with renewed faith after encountering the risen Lord.
His own experiences offer seven practical lessons for anyone seeking to begin a Holy Hour.Do not expect every holy hour to be perfect. The archbishop recalled once falling asleep during adoration in a Paris church and waking exactly an hour later. With humour, he compared the incident to the apostles falling asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane. His experience showed that distraction or tiredness should not discourage a person from continuing the practice.
Make the sacrifice when necessary. Maintaining the devotion was not always easy. At times, he had to rise early, adjust his travel plans or make extra effort to set aside time for God, even during demanding journeys and busy schedules.
SILENCE OPENS A DEEPER ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
Choose a time you can keep. As his priestly responsibilities increased, the Catholic preacher began making his Holy Hour early in the morning, generally before Mass. His routine showed that choosing a fixed time each day helped him remain faithful to the practice.Come ready to encounter Christ. The archbishop described the devotion as a personal encounter with the Lord, not simply a time for reciting prayers. He taught that silence helped distractions settle and allowed the soul to become more attentive to Jesus.
Allow Christ to teach you. For archbishop Sheen, quiet time before the tabernacle was also a source of spiritual understanding. He held that a deeper knowledge of the Lord came not only through study but also through silent adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.Encourage others through your example. The archbishop encouraged others to adopt the practice he had faithfully maintained himself. He maintained that his own example gave greater meaning to what he preached.
Remain faithful and let the habit grow. Throughout his life, the Catholic preacher returned to the Blessed Sacrament whenever he could, making even brief visits part of his routine. Whether studying, teaching, travelling or living in New York, he made moments of devotion part of his routine.The archbishop offered a simple lesson. Begin, remain present and return each day. Over time, he taught, the Holy Hour could become more than a devotion. Such companionship with the Lord could shape how a person prayed, lived and loved.
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