Margaret Ann

An hour with our Lord….
From an anonymous SJN adorer

On many occasions, I have been honored and blessed to observe and learn from a very special adorer who comes to honor and worship Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at SJN Eucharistic Adoration.

As I sat in prayer with eyes closed, I could only hear the faint sound of something slowly scooting along the floor at the back of the church.  I did not turn around to look, only continued in restful prayer.

Now I recognize this sound immediately upon hearing it and wait in anticipation and awe to see the smile of the face that belongs to this soft, scooting noise – the sound of walker wheels, two of which are covered with tennis balls, but the sound now is easily recognizable as soon as those wheels hit the floor as this special adorer enters the church.

She slowly but deliberately ascends from the back of the church after carefully dipping into the holy water and making the sign of the cross before heading up the aisle.  She sometimes is so intent on her ascent that she does not look up, but on the days she looks up and smiles at all who are there, it truly is a sight to see as her face glows with the love and peace of Christ.

Many times I have watched in silent awe as this small framed person ascends up the aisle, moving slowly, yet with no hesitation, her curved back showing signs of osteoporosis and her beautiful pure white hair.  She concentrates on moving her frail limbs as she slowly, but deliberately, makes her ascent to a chair close to the front to sit close to and adore Our Lord.

I observe as she very slowly goes down on one knee, holding carefully onto her walker and bowing as low as she can and pausing before rising again with quivering arms to her chair.  Many times this simple act of reverence for Our Lord brings me to tears.  It takes all of her strength to bow and rise again, but that does not deter her from her task.  Sometimes the ladies who bring her to church help her back up from her kneeling position so she can take a place in her chair before the Lord.

I’ve have since learned her name from our adoration coordinator.  It is Margaret Ann and I look forward to hearing, seeing and observing as she so intently heads to her objective – a simple hour with the Lord.

On one occasion I had the privilege of having my sister join me for adoration, and I had told her briefly about Margaret Ann.  So as soon as the familiar sound of her walker’s tennis balls and wheels hit the floor, we both smiled at one another in anticipation of observing this beautiful person on her walk up the center aisle to adore Jesus.

I have not seen Margaret Ann for some time now but can only pray that she is well and in God’s loving care.  What a special blessing it has been to simply be able watch one of God’s loving children seek his heart through adoration each week.

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Eucharistic Adoration is available every Wednesday at SJN from 9:15 a.m. to 7 p.m.  To sign up for a weekly shift to be with our Lord in this special way, contact Ann at (512) 517-5479 or e-mail her.