In the Miami suburb of Hialeah, Luisa Arguello and her husband participate in a significant spiritual practice. Twice a week, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., they dedicate time to prayer at the perpetual adoration chapel at St. Benedict Catholic Church. The chapel offers a serene environment nestled amidst a quiet, palm-lined residential street. Arguello, who has served as the chapel’s coordinator since its inception in 2019, speaks of a transformative experience through adoration. She describes feeling embraced by the Lord, leading to a profound change in her spiritual state over time.
This adoration practice, widespread across numerous parishes in the United States and globally, involves Catholics spending time before the Blessed Sacrament. This sacrament, perceived as the presence of Christ, is kept continuously available in special chapels. Many churches facilitate continuous prayer, with some organizing regular adoration sessions. The Vatican is celebrating a unique event called “24 hours for the Lord,” inviting churches worldwide to participate, including the renowned “La Ermita” sanctuary in Miami. Last summer in the United States, a massive congregation of pilgrims attended the National Eucharistic Congress, making it a significant event after over eight decades.
For many of the parishioners at St. Benedict, adoration is just as routine as attending Mass, yet it offers a more personal and tranquil experience. Alfredo Janson, a communications engineer, dedicates his mornings before work to spending an hour in the chapel, which features 10 chairs centered around a large monstrance. Janson regards the chapel as a “factory of miracles,” attributing his brother’s recovery from severe COVID-19 to the prayers he offered there.
St. Benedict’s parish, predominantly comprising Cuban American, working-class members, has around 400 regular adorers like Janson. Each commits to at least an hour of adoration weekly, and the community ensures the sacrament remains attended at all times, with adorers acting as substitutes when needed. This dedication allows individuals to engage with the chapel briefly, either before or after school, work, or other church services. The chapel remains open to the general public throughout the day but limits entry from midnight to 6 a.m. to registered adorers for security reasons. Plans for expansion are underway to accommodate growing interest.
The Rev. Yonhatan Londoño appreciates the chapel’s calming presence, though he emphasizes the communal nature of prayer. He encourages his congregation to experience unity and connection within the chapel. During his two-year tenure, Londoño has embraced a casual sartorial approach with a black guayabera shirt and clerical collar, resonating with the community’s essence.
The chapel’s perpetual adoration practice harks back to a time of tradition and adaptation. Inspired by historical practices dating back to the 16th-century Milan plague, where believers found solace in public displays of the host, the contemporary relevance is highlighted by Timothy O’Malley of Notre Dame’s Center for Liturgy. The Middle Ages saw adoration flourish after the institution of Corpus Christi, the feast celebrating Christ’s presence in consecrated bread and wine.
In many cultures, particularly in Latin America and Spain, processions and additional festivities continue to mark the occasion, while historical nighttime adoration remains a practice in Spain. Pope Francis, influenced by his youth experiences in Argentina, has promoted extended periods of adoration, a practice supported by past pontiffs like St. John Paul II. For the youth, this engagement provides an opportunity to step away from technological distractions, fostering a personal, relational connection with Christ.
Rev. Alejandro Rodríguez Artola, a Miami-area pastor, expresses that the adoration chapel’s distinctiveness lies in its serene and intimate encounter with the divine, separate from the more collective celebration of Mass. His experiences building a congregation around a newly established chapel testify to the chapel’s enduring appeal and sense of community. Today, his leadership at St. Thomas the Apostle church underscores the role of adoration in bringing families and individuals together in faith.
On a typical day, St. Benedict’s chapel buzzes with activity as worshippers recite the rosary, read scriptures, or quietly meditate. For adorers like Lastenia Vivas, who holds a midnight shift, the peace found within the walls of the chapel is incomparable. Despite any physical fatigue, the unique sense of tranquility and spiritual communication with the divine is a powerful motivator.