Pillars
Adoration, Compassion, and Evangelization
Two Spiritual Experiences
Where Our
Grace Begins
The Emmanuel Community grows from two spiritual experiences: the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, and the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
First Pillar
Adoration
Called to the Emmanuel Community, its members are drawn to Eucharistic Adoration as the genesis of the call — and the response to that call.
"Members of the Emmanuel Community commit themselves, as far as possible, to a long period of daily adoration." — Statutes n° 15
As Catholic Christians, our life should be grounded in prayer — a time of heart-to-heart with Jesus, Our Lord. He is the source of our life, and we grow in faith by spending time together. Eucharistic Adoration allows us to be in God's presence, because we believe He is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. Through adoration we intercede for the whole world.
Watch the Adoration Chapel Live Stream (Navan, Ireland) →Second Pillar
Compassion
As Adoration is lived day after day, it leads us to live and share Christ's compassion toward all — compassion for those "who are dying of hunger, materially and spiritually." This is expressed concretely in the conduct of Community members and through various Community activities. It is our call to live authentic charity, as Jesus offers Himself to the poor and those who suffer (cf. Mt 25:40).
Adoration also leads members to realize that the deepest suffering is when humanity does not know God and is separated from Him through sin. This unites them to the compassion of Jesus, which found its ultimate expression on the Cross: "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so the world be saved by Him" (Jn 3:16–17). To become a follower of Jesus — whose name is Emmanuel, "God with us" — means to burn with the desire to take part in His mission so that all people may be saved.
Third Pillar
Evangelization
Adoration and Compassion naturally lead to evangelization — the ultimate reason the Emmanuel Community exists. Evangelization is first and foremost participation in announcing the Gospel, following Christ in the Church. The Good News is addressed to every person of good will, in respect and freedom of conscience, directed in a particular way toward those who do not know God or who have moved away from Him.
- Firstly, evangelization is witnessed in the individual actions and inner circles of each Community member — a missionary in daily life, among family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers.
- Secondly, it is expressed by each member's commitment to their local parish and to the universal Church, being faithful to Church teaching and seeking to grow in knowledge and faith.
- Thirdly, it encompasses participation in the Community's apostolic activities addressing social, economic, political, and cultural realities — evangelization of families, couples, youth, and children, as well as street and workplace evangelization.
- Finally, it is incarnated in the missions entrusted explicitly by the Catholic Church to the Emmanuel Community.
"From Adoration comes compassion for all who are dying of hunger, materially or spiritually. From this compassion comes the thirst to evangelize throughout the whole world."