Do a "Holy Hour"? Me? What's That?

Many years ago, the first time I knelt before the tabernacle to spend a Holy Hour, I made the Sign of the Cross. I looked at the monstrance. Then I panicked quietly because I didn’t know what to do! And all this happened within the first two minutes of my Holy Hour, with 58 more minutes to go! Yikes!

My spiritual director, who was a Passionist priest, recommended a structure for me to follow for a Holy Hour, a process that had been practiced by saints for 500 years:

First 15 minutes: You are not praying yet. You are arriving. Sit quietly. Let your breathing slow. Tell Jesus, “I am here to be with you.”

Second 15 minutes: Bring one thing: one worry, one gratitude, one scripture verse you can carry. Talk to Jesus about it out loud in your mind as you would talk to a friend.

Third 15 minutes: Stop talking. Simply stay. Let the Lord look at you. Listen in silence.

Final 15 minutes: Ask for one grace you need today. Pray the Our Father, a Hail Mary, and Glory be … Make the sign of the cross. Leave.