In the words of the Holy Father at the Eucharistic Congress, referring to Don Manuel Gonzalez, "the bishop of the abandoned tabernacles; he (Don Manuel) strove to remind everyone of Jesus' presence in the tabernacle, to which we sometimes respond so poorly. By his word and example, he never ceased to repeat that in the tabernacle of each church we possess a shining beacon, through contact with which our lives may be illuminated and transformed... It is important for us to live and teach others how to live the total mystery of the Eucharist: the sacrament of SACRIFICE, of the BANQUET, and of the abiding PRESENCE of Jesus Christ the Savior... It is true that the reservation of the Sacrament was begun in order to take Communion to the sick and those absent from the celebration. However, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "to deepen faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the Church is aware of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species."

This silent adoration of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist as food for the journey and as abiding presence in the tabernacle is the source of life and of sanctity in the Church. Again in the words of the Holy Father, "His life flows to us as the life-giving sap of the vine flows to its branches to make them live and bear fruit. Without true union with Christ–in whom we believe and who nourished us–there can be neither supernatural life in us, nor fruit." If this is so, then it is essential for the life of the Church that we take to heart the Holy Father's wishes: "If only this form of adoration would continue, so that in all the parishes and Christian communities the custom of some form of adoration of the Eucharist might take root!"

Homiletic & Pastoral Review, October 1994
Fr. Edwin Gordon