The BLESSED SACRAMENT was the focal point in the life of St. Francis of Assisi and has been so among his faithful followers throughout the centuries since his death 750 years ago this year. The “Little Poor Man” of Assisi was especially attracted to the unfathomable Poverty of a God who “shed” his Divinity to take on our weak human nature; who gave up his human life so that we could have eternal life; and who did not leave us orphans but remains with us, hiding both humanity and Divinity, in the Eucharist. So much could be written about Francis, both from the standpoint of his life and writings, to show how deep and consuming was the fire of his love for his Lord in the Eucharist. 

He personally repaired churches out of reverence for the Sacred Mysteries that took place there; he urged his followers to see to it that all that pertained to the Eucharist was immaculate and in Perfect condition as fitting for the service of the King. His great reverence for the priesthood, which has remained unsurpassed in the history of the Church, was motivated primarily because of the awesome power the priest has in changing ordinary bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. 

The greatest Franciscan Saints in the First, Second and Third Orders have without exception shown tremendous love for Our Lord present in the Eucharist. They would not be the Franciscan Saints they are today if it were otherwise. One has to recall but a handful, St.  Bonaventure, St. Anthony, St. Bernardine, St. Paschal, St. Lawrence, and down to our own time the saintly Padre Pio and Bl. Maximilian Kolbe. 

In our own country a Very holy Franciscan priest gave up his life while distributing Holy Communion. Quite consistent with the tradition of devotion to the Eucharist that Franciscans are among the front ranks of those who promote Eucharistic adoration in our own times and country. To take one example “close to home,” Fr.  Dominic Szymanski, OFM Conv. added a special Eucharistic character to the ideals of Bl. Maximilian Kolbe, the founder of the first Marytown in Poland. 

Parish Perpetual Adoration 

Father Dominic was first introduced to that unique form of Eucharistic adoration, called Parish Perpetual Adoration, at a meeting of priests in Strawberry Point, Iowa in 1944. One of the priests attending the meeting described how he had begun such a Program of around-the-clock adoration in his small country parish and the many graces which came as a result. So impressed was Father Dominic that he decided to give the program a try in his own parish in Rockford, Fl. After all, there are only 168 hours in a week and surely he could find that many generous soul in his parish who would be willing to mate the sacrifice of just one hour a week to adore their Eucharistic Lord. 

The program produced such spiritual fruits that Father Dominic decided he would promote it wherever and whenever he could. When he began Marytown in 1948 he naturally in, eluded the promotion of Parish Perpetual Adoration as one of its apostolates In the fifties and early sixties there were many parishes in this country that had adoration programs. At one time there were over 90 which were in touch with Marytown. 

With a decline in Marian devotion, which began in the early sixties, there was also a drop in Eucharistic adoration, especially Perpetual Adoration. 

Adoration Reintroduced 

Though the Franciscan Friars had to give up the adoration program they had at Marytown due to a shortage of Brother-adorers they did not give up their personal commitment to adore our Lord in the Eucharist, nor the hope that some day they would again be able to have Perpetual Adoration. There was much discussion on how to reintroduce it and it was finally decided to seek outside help from the people in Kenosha. The Holy Year (1975) seemed to be the opportune time. A dedicated lay apostle, Mr. Jerry Trimble, was instrumental in helping the friars begin the program on August 14, 1975. It is true that the friars have a long way to go before the number of adoration parishes equal that of the peak period in the early sixties, yet a start has been made. Let us hope that the year of the Eucharistic Congress will see a renewed impetus in this direction.