Evenings focused on beauty and Eucharistic adoration fuel prayer, devotion

Summit is a night of adoration, confessions and praise and worship every third Thursday of the Month, beginning at 7 p.m., at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City, that focuses on beauty and Eucharistic adoration. Eucharistic adoration provides adorers with a moment of intimate encounter with our Lord who humbles himself by appearing in the form of a consecrated host. These moments strengthen and nourish those who participate, and often provide some of the most powerful spiritual experiences.

However, moments like Summit are often available only to the youth of the Church during events like a youth conference or an evening of youth group. The office of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry, who organizes the event, wanted Summit to be open to anyone and everyone. 

“We love seeing families, college students, youth, young adults and women’s and men’s groups all come together as one Church to praise the Lord at Summit,” said Jayce Palmer, director of the Office of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry. 

These Summit nights were envisioned as being “the best date night with Jesus in town.” The evening begins with the lighting of more than 30 candles and placing them on special, handmade stands around the altar. Then a brief reflection is given by a priest before processing from the back of the cathedral to expose the Blessed Sacrament on the altar. After a brief moment of silence, music begins to accompany clouds of incense in filling the air of the cathedral. The atmosphere is then completed with a spotlight coming down from the choir loft to highlight the monstrance on the altar. These elements were carefully chosen to create a space that allows for contemplation, prayer and adoration of our Lord.

The music is provided by Still Morning, a worship duo from Oklahoma City. It is a combination of original songs, popular praise and worship hymns and traditional Latin chants that typically accompany adoration. Confessions are heard by the many priests around the Church to ensure everyone who wishes to experience God’s mercy is able to do so. 

Near the end of the adoration time, one of the priests takes the monstrance and processes around the Church, bringing the Lord up-close to everyone in the pews. At the end of the evening, there is an opportunity for fellowship at the reception in the Connor Center. 

Spending time in front of the blessed sacrament is necessary for the soul on the journey toward heaven. When people gather to worship the Blessed Sacrament in adoration, they have no choice but to be encountered by him in an intimate way. The beauty of the evening has a way of removing obstacles to prayer that can trick a person into believing prayer is fruitless without something “meaningful” to say. Appealing to the senses can be an encouragement on a long journey. 

Summit is a fruit of the Eucharistic Revival in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The revival is a national movement in response to the declining number of Catholics who believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The revival in Oklahoma City began in June with the Corpus Christi procession from Bishop McGuiness Catholic High School to the cathedral. Summit is an ongoing event that lifts the soul toward heaven and brings participants closer to Jesus.

Summit is every third Thursday of the month, beginning at 7 p.m., at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 3214 N Lake Ave. in Oklahoma City.