Can you name the first two “adorers?” Deacon Gordon Bird from St. Joseph in Rosemount said they would be St. Joseph and our Blessed Mother.
Deacon Gordon Bird
Deacon Bird joined “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley March 12 to discuss eucharistic adoration, which he described simply as adoring the Blessed Sacrament on the altar. Deacon Bird also referenced Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI’s description of adoration as providing an opportunity to gain healing, strength and a better understanding how the Lord speaks to everyone. “He explained the value of this devotion outside of holy Mass, and how it prolongs and intensifies our Communion experience,” Deacon Bird said of the retired pontiff.
Deacon Bird suggested, “If you go, simply gaze upon Jesus, encountering him with whatever reasons you have, or thoughts you have in mind. Try to listen to him in that communication. It takes his presence there amongst us.
“There’s no trick to it,” he said. “I don’t have a corner on (adoration). … Simply gazing upon Christ and talking to him about what’s going on in your mind and your heart and your soul at that time and see what he’s speaking to you.”
Asked about the benefits of eucharistic adoration over other forms of devotion, Deacon Bird said people who often participate talk about taking 15 minutes after work or 30 minutes a day, or every other day. “You can recollect what’s going on in your life in the present moment; it can really impact you on how you advance going forward in your life,” he said.
As the Church celebrates the Year of St. Joseph, Conley asked Deacon Bird how to invite St. Joseph to be a fellow adorer and to model what adoration of Jesus looks like. The deacon replied, “If you can simply gaze and contemplate on the truths of our Lord … why not look at his earthly father as an example of who really was one of the first adorers of Christ?
“If you look at what St. Joseph was asked to do, in the Scriptures … and we encounter Jesus in the Scriptures, that’s how God speaks to us, and we can do this through this patron saint of our universal Church.”
Deacon Bird, who assists the archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ men’s ministry the Catholic Watchmen, writes a column by the same name for The Catholic Spirit and serves at St. Joseph and at All Saints in Lakeville, said he recently participated in a three-day Lenten retreat called A Journey of Adoration with the Holy Family Through the Eyes of St. Joseph. Deacon Bird also referenced three daily disciplines from the Catholic Watchmen: Pray with devotion to Jesus, Mary and Joseph; encounter Jesus in the Scriptures; and reflect on the teachings of these spiritual providers, defenders and leaders of the faith.
Tune in to March 12 episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show to hear the complete interview. In addition to 9 p.m. March 12, the show airs on Relevant Radio 1330 AM at 1 p.m. March 13 and 2 p.m. March 14.
“Practicing Catholic” is produced by the archdiocese and Relevant Radio. Other guest interviews on the March 12?“Practicing Catholic”?show are Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who provides encouraging reflections one year into the pandemic, and Father John Ubel, who discusses selling his collection of baseball cards to help students attend Catholic schools.
Listen to their interviews after they have aired:
soundcloud.com/practicingcatholic
Practicing Catholic on Spotify
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