The traditional Vigil of Spikes of the Spanish Nocturnal Adoration brought together this weekend in Adamuz adorers from various points of the diocese of Córdoba in a day marked by prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. During the celebration, the bishop of Córdoba, Monsignor Jesús Fernández, reflected on the climate of uncertainty affecting many people and also warned about the fear some Christians experience when living and publicly expressing their faith.
The parish of San Andrés Apóstol hosted the diocesan celebration, in which adorers, seminarians, diocesan priests, religious and lay faithful participated. In his homily, the prelate recalled that the Vigil of Spikes is a night in which Christ present in the Eucharist gathers the faithful and strengthens their spiritual life.
Monsignor Fernández also had words of recognition for the town of Adamuz, recalling the solidarity shown by its neighbors after the railway accident that occurred last January.
Faith cannot remain in the private sphere
Taking as a starting point the Gospel invitation to “not be afraid,” the bishop noted that many people today live marked by various concerns related to work, the economic situation, loneliness or uncertainty about the future.
Alongside these concerns, he referred to another fear affecting numerous believers: the fear of identifying as Christians and living their faith visibly in society.
As he explained, the Gospel calls Christ’s disciples not only to keep the faith in the personal sphere, but also to proclaim and bear witness to it publicly. A mission that, he acknowledged, can be demanding and generate misunderstanding in certain environments.
For this reason, he insisted that Christian faith requires coherence between what is believed and what is practiced, avoiding attitudes that hide or reduce the Gospel message out of fear of difficulties or criticism.
A call to Christian coherence
Throughout his preaching, the bishop of Córdoba recalled that following Christ has consequences and that the Gospel invites believers to face challenges with confidence.
In this context, he pointed out three reasons to overcome fear. The first, the conviction that truth always ends up manifesting itself and that the message of the Gospel retains all its strength even when it seems hidden or relegated.
The second, the Christian perspective of God’s judgment, which places the definitive gaze on human life beyond the evaluations or recognitions that may be received in this world.
Finally, he highlighted trust in divine providence. Monsignor Fernández recalled that God’s love precedes every human response and that grace is stronger than sin. Therefore, he encouraged the faithful to trust in Christ even amid difficulties and uncertainties.
At the conclusion of his homily, he asked the participants to turn to God in moments of fear and to remain close to Him, convinced that there is no greater treasure than His friendship and His presence.
A night of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament
After the Eucharistic celebration, the participants continued the Vigil of Spikes with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the night, organized through different prayer shifts.
The day concluded on Sunday morning with the recitation of the Holy Rosary, the procession of the flags of Nocturnal Adoration and the traditional blessing of the fields.
The Vigil of Spikes is one of the most characteristic celebrations of Spanish Nocturnal Adoration and each year gathers faithful from throughout the diocese around the Eucharist, prayer and thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth.