monastery of perpetual adoration

Christ the King Monastery

El Paso, TX

Christ the King Monastery is home to an order of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Little did I know of the beauty that is held within the domes of a church whose existence is often unknown and overlooked. Hoping to be a witness to the choir of cloistered nuns that bless the church with song once a day, my mom and I sat in patient prayer, admiring the intricate golden detailing and Jesus Christ in the monstrance. There is no dedicated time to hear the sisters sing; it is instead a mystery to the visitors of this church.

Perpetual Adoration in the Catholic Church is one of many types of Eucharistic Adoration. Jesus Christ is fully present in the Eucharist and displayed within the monstrance (an open or transparent receptacle in which the consecrated Host is exposed for veneration). Usually placed within a small chapel, Christ the King Monastery breaks from this norm and beautifully places Jesus at the forefront of the church.

The opportunity to fully be submerged in the presence of Christ is an experience like no other. Just like the daily gift of Jesus in the Eucharist, He presents Himself within the monstrance and beckons us to draw near. This truth is especially significant with His infinite presence in Perpetual Adoration. He invites us to spend time together like a pair of friends or a blooming relationship. I have come to find that His presence is a blessing and a necessity.

My mom and I sat within the silence of a church built in 1938, hoping for the possibility to hear the voices of a group of women concealed from the outside world. After some time and no luck, we began to proceed towards the door. Suddenly, a woman's voice echoed from behind the monstrance. She was praying in a muddled Spanish that, although I could not make out the words, caused chills to run through my body. We sat down, closing our eyes and unsure of what to feel. The room fell into silence once more, and we waited in the hopes of another unexpected blessing. Once more, nothing came, but we left with the excitement and wonder of children.

The blessings encountered within Perpetual Adoration can never be predicted, but they are always what we need in that moment. Walk in with no expectations, and open your heart to "Be still, and know that I am God." Although my relationship with this gift is just beginning, I can say with complete confidence that I always walk out feeling better than I did stepping in.

("do small things with great love" -mother teresa ♡)