Adoration – the measure of the vitality of the Church

“The Lord is always there. The church is not simply a space where something takes place in the morning, remaining empty and ‘without function’ for the rest of the day. Inside the church it is always ‘Church’ because the Lord continues always to give himself; because the Eucharistic Mystery remains and because, in approaching it, we are forever included in the worship of the believing, praying and loving Church.
We face a great danger today that our churches may become museums and be treated like museums – which, if they are not locked up, are robbed. They are no longer alive. The measure of the vitality of our churches, the measure of their inner openness, will be demonstrated by the fact that they can keep their doors open because they are churches that are prayed in.”

Pope Benedict XVI