“Were not our hearts burning within us?”
Luke 24:32
ar•dor - - - - - - -
/ˈärdər/
fervor; passion
intense devotion, eagerness, or enthusiasm; zeal.
Etymology: Middle English ardour, from Anglo-French ardur, ardour “burning, fever, passion,” from Latin ardēre “to burn, be fiercely hot, be violently excited, be eager.”
What Is Ardor?
Ardor Nights are evenings of prayer, praise & worship, and witness that we bring to your home. Inspired by the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24), the name Ardor comes from the Latin “ardere”, meaning “to burn,” echoing the words of the disciples on the road: “Were not our hearts burning within us?” The hope of these nights is to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to a deeper encounter with God through the gifts of music and community. We pray that the Holy Spirit would stir up His fire in us to bring about a renewed passion and devotion so that our hearts would also burn for love of God.
Why Praise?
St. Paul encourages the Church to gather in this way, “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart” (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16). The Catechism teaches that “praise is the form of prayer which recognizes most immediately that God is God” (CCC 2639). In praising God, we grow in our understanding of who He is and who we are in light of Him. Praise glorifies God for His own sake, builds up the faithful, and awakens the heart to love Jesus more deeply. The more we know Him, love Him, and praise Him, the more readily we recognize Him in our daily lives and especially in the Sacraments, where we encounter Him most powerfully.
How Can I Host?
Ardor Nights take place in homes, where the setting is naturally warm, personal, and approachable. Each night can be customized to match the setting and easily allows for the needs of different groups. The disciples’ invitation to Jesus on the road to Emmaus was “Stay with us” (Luke 24:29). This is our invitation as well, to invite the Lord into our daily lives. These nights are an opportunity to invite others in our communities to join us in our journey of faith and can offer a more familiar and non-assuming setting where friends, family members, neighbors, and fellow parishioners may feel more at ease taking a step into prayer, praise, and encounter with God.
You provide the home and invite the guests, we’ll bring the message and the music.
If you would like to host an Ardor Night please fill out the form below and we will reach out to get the conversation started!
