Adoration
Adoration expresses the mental or exterior homage paid to exalted persons — human or divine — or the veneration of objects believed to be sacred. It's often expressed in attitudes of kneeling or prostration, betokening humility and awe. Other acts include turning oneself from left ("widdershins", the direction of evil) to right; kissing the feet or the knees of the images of gods; laying and resting one's face at the prince's feet, striking the earth with the forehead or kissing the ground. The striking of the head or the number of kisses given are often done a fixed number of times, depending upon tradition. Western Europe adopted the ceremony of kissing the sovereign's hand, or other acts performed while kneeling.
Adoration is an act of utterly surrendering oneself. The purpose of lowering the eyes and dropping the head is to make oneself vulnerable to attack, ceremonially giving up one's life if the authority should wish to take it. Adoration is also an act of trust; there is a comfort in surrendering one's rights and will to decide to another who is viewed as a person more capable, such as following someone seen as a brilliant leader into battle rather than deciding for oneself.
With objects such as the bread and wine of the Catholic Communion service, adoration is an act of faith in which the worshipper believes that he or she will be transformed through the veneration of these sacred objects.
