What is 40 Hours Devotion?
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The Forty Hours Devotion is a special forty-hour period of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition. The primary focus of this devotion is on the Holy Eucharist. As Catholics, the words of our Lord burn in our hearts: “I myself am the living bread come down from Heaven. If anyone eats this bread, He shall live forever; the bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
Forty Hours Devotion begins with a Solemn Mass of Exposition and includes a procession with the Blessed Sacrament at the end of Mass, concluding with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament which remains on the altar in a monstrance. During the next 40 hours, the faithful gather for personal or public prayer in adoration of our Lord. The Blessed Sacrament is reposed in the tabernacle during Mass, and then returned for exposition after Mass is ended. At the end of the devotions, a Mass of Reposition is offered, again concluding with a procession, benediction and final reposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The Forty Hours Devotion can be seen almost like a parish mini-retreat or mission. Confessions should be offered and are encouraged. We will be holding Forty Hours Devotion at Holy Family as a lead into our patronal feast: St. Francis of Assisi, October 4th, and to pray for the 2015 Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which our Holy Father, Pope Francis has called to convene Oct. 4th-25th to discuss "The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and the Modern World". |
