At adoration hours I find that it is very easy for me to put my thoughts and feelings down on paper; and I find myself writing sometimes well past the hour I originally planned. It feels so good just to be here, in His physical presence, that I felt compelled a few months ago to start writing. Now it seems that every time I’m here in adoration I’m writing more and more about the incredible gift we have been given and we continue to be given every moment of every day

"until the end of days".

Try writing down your thoughts on the Blessed Sacrament or your dialog with God, if you are called to do it. The pen expresses what’s in my heart. The more I write, the more I find myself entering deeper into my relationship with God and appreciation for this

miracle and mystery.

These are my private thoughts and musings, yet as I re-read them it occured to me that these certainly are not just my experiences. These words can apply to just about anyone who spends time in the Lord’s presence. So, please enjoy reading and reflecting on these words as I do, and hopefully your heart will be as filled as mine is

with the awe and wonder of being here in His presence.

"For it is good to be here"

Andy Cirmo

Eucharistic Adorer

Pope John Paul II Eucharistic Chapel

St. Elizabeth Seton Parish

Naperville, IL.

Copyright © 2005 by Andy Cirmo

I wander, sway, and drift away

As my life’s journey passes by

I have not seen where I have looked

For causes or for reasons why

From You I came yet wandered far

So far I could barely see

From where I came, You still remain

Forever patient, waiting just for me

But lately now I’ve come to know

You present in every way

In my loves and fears and often doubts

You’re always here, right here, to stay

I found some time I thought was mine\

And gave some back to You

In thanks and praise for what you’ve done

I’ve thanked You, times, far to few

Yet in this place I stop to pray

That I could find You too

And spend an hour in this place away

From life’s pulls and back to You

The peace I find in just one hour

With the One who created it all

Stays with me as I leave and live

Remaining when I trip and fall

The joy I find in being here

In an hour spent alone in prayer

Comes with me and spreads to those I meet

His love makes me complete

This simple gift of bread and wine

Which for us has become His gift Divine

Is here, right here. There’s no greater love,

Remaining till the end of time.

I sit and wait Lord

As You Yourself asked of me

When in that last sacred garden

Of timeless pain and beauty...Gethsemane

I wait for Your grace

To lead me Your way

And pray while I’m waiting

To You, in thanks, this day

As You in the garden

So asked that it pass

This cup, You have served me

So I take on this task

I pray, my mind drifting

From darkness to the light

For guidance in confusion

For the gift of clear sight

My vision so clouded

By worldly pursuit

Needing bright and clear judgment

Or my journey be moot

So I sit and I wait

Listening with mind and my heart

To Your voice and call

Hoping never again to be apart

Show me, tell me, help me Lord

Lead me, teach me, and heal me

I search while time slowly passes

For what You’ve planned for me

To open my soul’s hidden valley

I pray ever so deeply

That Your life I may enter

And salvation so keep

I pray now, heart wide open

To receive what You send

Here may I be present

And my heart so to mend

Asking for favors

And for help along my way

In Your presence I, Your creature

Kneel humbly and pray

This gift, You, God, Creator

Almighty Lord, and King

In awe now and in timeless wonder

Of this miracle do I sing

For me, in my sinfulness

You became like us, just to save

And now here with us forever

Till the end of all days

Bring me out of this valley

Onto the heights of your kingdom

And into Your presence always

For this I pray

Your graces come like a mountain breeze

From heights where cool freshness abounds

Soothing pain, healing wounds

Healing souls, on this Holy ground

Majestic and skyward as the peaks,Your love

Soaring above all earthly fray

Lifting up my head now I can clearly see

Your mercy in everything and way

Like an alpine stream, crystal clear

Refreshing the plains below

Your mercy cascading from Holy springs

Healing my wounds with their endless flow

I climb my mountains sore and weak

And look up from my daily sorrow

To reach a place closer to You dear Lord

Away from this life here below

As the eagle soars to its safe haven

I soar unto You

Out of my life’s confusion

To a place away, here with You

You lift me up when I call to You

And cry for help in this place

Your strength, my fortress

Empowering me with Your grace

It is good that I am here

Before You and hour this day

Before You my life is an open book

Showing all I do and say

Oh glorious, marvelous Lord on high

You gave Yourself for us this way

In bread and wine You stay with us

For all times and still today

To You my very life I bring

My joy, my troubles and my pain

You know my inmost secrets Lord

Yet shower Your mercy like rain

I need Your help to live this life

Alone I’m blind and can not see

You help, my strength refreshes now

For this life’s journey; all I need

You call to me in the quiet of life

When I am looking and waiting to hear

And tell me all will be ok

That I have nothing but sin to fear

Thank You for the gifts You send

To me in surprising ways

And help me use them to Your honor

All of my earthly days

An hour I spend before You Lord

My hopes and dreams today I bring

You’re always here in every way

For this gift in thanks I sing

It is good that I am here oh Lord

In Your presence I humbly pray

For help in staying close to You

In all I do and say

Your smile of love, I feel today

On my frail imperfect life

Your never ending love remains’

To help me in times of strife

I bring to You my broken-ness

Your arms embrace my need

And hold me close in perfect love

My very soul You feed

I bring to You my joy

In what You have given to me

And humbly offer it back with thanks

For without You I cease to be

I kneel and wonder where to turn

On life’s curving path I lead

And pray for Your direction and sign

That Your way I may finally see

I bring to You all my broken-ness

My hurts and pains and needs

My insecurities and daily fears

My sins and painful deeds

I’ve taken gifts and squandered them

For reasons wrong I know

Yet even more Your grace You send

On me, Your mercy, You show

How can I say I’m sorry enough

For doing so much wrong

I’ve had it all and wasted more

Yet for Your mercy I still long

As I spend some time and think of the gifts

You have gently put into my care

I ask for help in using them well

For these are given to me to share

You listen, You care, You know my heart

How weak and down I am

I can’t believe yet again You say

I still love you, just learn and try again

How I marvel at Your patience with me

As I struggle with the smallest of things

And try to use life to honor you

Lifting my heart in praise to sing...

Alleluia. Thanks be to God.

To You oh Lord I bring my life

In all its imperfections

In sadness and joy

In gladness and more

I come as I am

From You oh Lord I ask for Your grace

Though I am not worthy

In emptiness and need

For help and s upport

I come as I am

I come as I am

Broken and weak

For Your love and forgiveness

For strength and clear vision

Of these things I seek

For Your love and Your mercy

I ask of all these things

I will try again, I’m sorry

Your forgiveness sweetness brings

For I come as I am

Your child, created in love

To ask for Your grace

To help mend my heart

In this Your holy place

Through the blinding light of sun

You help me to clearly see

That my life has been so apart from You

Closer to You should I always strive to be

In the heat and in the dryness

Of summer times away

I know that Your loving cool grace

Come like a flowing spring each day

I visit You Jesus

This hour do I pray

And lift my eyes up to find You

To see You more clearly this day

This time I return to You oh Lord

Oh God of all space and time

From my life’s time I take it

It never has been mine

I see my wrongs and pause to pray

For change of heart and life

That I may lead a better way

And end my sin and strife

Thank You for the gift of summer days

When the warmth of sun on my face

Reminds me always of

Your mercy and boundless grace

I look to You my dear Jesus

My gaze fixed upon Your stares

In awe and wonder as I kneel

And speak humbly through my prayers

The gift of Your presence

My mind, spirit, and soul

Can barely fathom nor speak of it

Nor grasp this miracle at all

In sheer amazement and wonder

How this came to be

The Creator of all things; here

For lowly me to see!

I bow down now and ask You

Oh God, Creator, King,

To look down on me now in favor

Your graces to me please bring

In awe and wonder this blessing rare

Is here in my humble tent

That the God of all Creation

Would be here in simple form

What blessing immense

We kneel, we pray, to You each day

In this special place

And beg forgiveness and ask for strength

That comes only through Your grace

I pine for You oh Lord of all

As I spend these moments in prayer

In Your presence to You I call

For I know You are always here

I come here and You listen

As I open my heart

And tell You all things hidden

You knew from the start

And yet again I am comforted

Knowing You are here

In a special way now present

To soothe all my fear

I bring my life’s burdens

To You for Your help

And ask for direction

Not just for myself

I sit and am filled up

With awe of this place

Where I can be with You

And be present in Your grace

I want now to join You

To have You now in me

As I head out into life again

And bring You with me

I long for communion

When I can be closest to You

To join with Your Body

In all that I do

Alone with You but also with

All who live and ever lived

I offer myself to You my Maker

From whom all life has been given

My prayers like incense rise toYou

Please listen and hear me this day

My plea, Your answer in Your right time

Is given in surprising ways

You wait for me to come back to You

From wanderings far and distractions near

No matter how long, or how distant I am

Of Your patience I need not fear

I call to You, my Father above

To come into my life today

And open my heart to Your great love

And will live a better life this day

A vessel, broken in sadness I plead

That You will repair my break

And fill me up with Your lasting love

To be poured out for my neighbor’s sake

I’m here, Lord hear me

As I ask to seek Your will

Be with me, beside me

Help me climb this lonely hill

Hello Jesus, it’s me again

I’m here to spend some time

Waiting and seeking, I kneel and I pray

And spend moments I know are not mine

I stop by just for mere moments

To end my long troubled day

And thank You for little favors

I’ve received along the way

As I look back and see how I lived it

I wonder how I drifted away

And ask for another chance tomorrow

To right my wrongs and repay

Reflecting on what I did here

In my little world of time and place

I’m comforted to know now

That there’s no end to Your healing grace

So I’m here, now again, today

To spend some short time with You

In Your awesome presence, I know

You’re always here for me too

Thank You dear Jesus

For the gift of today

Help me bring You tomorrow

To all, through all, I do and I say

I am humbled and broken and weak now

But still I kneel again in Your presence

For You already know too well

What I need, what makes sense

You’ve given me my very life, oh Lord

To live it well, and to love

And pray that I humbly follow

Your words given from above

Dear Lord,

I pray, You listen

I ask, You answer

I cry, You console me

I worry, You care for me

I listen, You speak

I fail, You show mercy

You ask, I must answer

You teach, I must learn

You listen, I must speak to You

You forgive, I must change

You died, that I might live

You’re really present, that I may believe

********

(A quote from "God With Us" by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Now Pope Benedict XVI)