It started in the chapel on at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. There, members of Rockhurst College Council 8970 knelt as the council’s chaplain placed the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance on the altar. Students then had the chance to spend time in adoration — not just for a single hour, but throughout the night until Mass the next day.
According to Jack Oxley, a member of Council 8970, the Knights wanted “to give people a chance to come before the Lord and to just be there in silence with him.”
The council organized the devotion to take place once a week during Lent and Advent in 2019. The Advent adoration coincided with final exams, and many students would take a break from studying to adore the Eucharist.
“There in the midst of everything, either in the middle of the night or middle of the school day, people would stop in,” Oxley said.
No matter the time of day — or night — the chapel had several Rockhurst students and staff devoting themselves to the Eucharist in silent prayer. Some signed up in advance to stay an hour, while others stopped by for a few minutes.
Oxley’s passion for the devotion came from his involvement with campus ministry and the Knights of Columbus, which encourages all councils to organize Holy Hours as part of their Faith in Action programs.
“The Knights of Columbus are there to help build up the spiritual wellbeing of their parish. Our parish is the college university,” he said.
The event also allowed young Knights to revive their own faith through traditional Catholic devotions.
“There were men in the Knights that haven’t been to adoration in ages or had no idea what adoration was. And they sign up for holy hours in the middle of the night,” Oxley said. “It was a good example of how the Lord reaches people at every place.”
Oxley has seen the impact of the event on his fellow students, and he thinks “it’s a great and easy way” to engage everyone in a parish.
Those wishing to bring this devotion to their parishes, or who wish to restore the practice to their parish, “just need people who are willing to take that time, and really just give it to the Lord for an hour,” Oxley said.
He recommends that councils ask people to sign up early and find adorers to fill in when needed, especially between 2 and 4 a.m. according to his experience. Finding these volunteers can be difficult, but it’s worth the effort.
“The root of the Catholic faith is having a personal relationship with Christ. And I think this is a good steppingstone for that,” Oxley said. “Just like you would want to spend time with someone you love.”
Questions on hosting a Knights of Columbus Holy Hour? Visit kofc.org/holyhour.
Article originally published in Knightline, a monthly resource for K of C leaders and members. To access Knightline archives, click here.
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