Pope Francis makes history with first ever worldwide Holy Hour of Eucharistic adoration

Pope Francis has made history once again, by holding the first worldwide "Holy Hour" in history. Many of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics spent an hour on Sunday with the Holy Father in Eucharistic Adoration.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Pope Francis asked all the Catholics of the world to join him for an hour between 5 and 6 PM, Rome time, which was mid-to-late morning in the United States. The hour was spent in prayer before the Body of Christ in a special form of devotion known as Eucharistic adoration.

During Eucharistic adoration, Catholics pray before the actual body of Christ. It is one of the most solemn prayer rituals of the faith.

The intentions of the Holy Father certainly warranted a high level of solemnity. Pope Francis personally chose two intentions. The first was for those "who still suffer slavery and who are victims of war, human trafficking, drug running and slave labor." He also added, "the unemployed, the elderly, migrants, the homeless, prisoners, and those who experienced marginalization."

The second intention was for the Church itself and that it be "without stain or blemish." Many believe this was an allusion to the recent scandals which rocked the church before his tenure.

According to the Vatican, this is the first time ever, in the history of the world, that a universal hour of Holy Eucharistic Adoration has ever taken place. It was even more remarkable that it was led by the Holy Father himself.

Catholics around the world were excited to have an opportunity to pray directly alongside the Holy Father, even if they were only next to him in a temporal and spiritual sense.

This universal hour of Holy Eucharistic Adoration is just one more sign that Pope Francis is a genuine, pious, and holy man who is truly dedicated to shepherding his flock. Francis has electrified the Church, and brought new life to many whose faith was lagging. He has even managed to reach outsiders and inspire them to greater efforts of humility and good.

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