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THE 40 HOURS DEVOTION - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025

What happens during the 40 Hours devotion?

The Blessed Sacrament is publicly exposed in the church for 40 hours, during which parishioners take turns keeping watch so that Jesus is never alone. The devotion begins after the 10:30 Mass on Sunday and concludes with Benediction on Tuesday evening. Each evening at 7:00 there is a service that includes the Liturgy of the Hours (prayers are provided) and a homily by a visiting priest.

History of the 40 Hours devotion

40 Hours has been part of the parish life of the Church for 500 over years. It flourished under the promotion of many saints, such as St. John Neumann when he was bishop of Philadelphia in the 1850’s.

Why 40 hours?

Scripture gives us repeated symbolic instances of the number: the years the Israelites wandered in the desert, the days of Jonah’s preaching in Nineveh, Jesus’ days of fasting in the desert and many more. Most importantly, from the crucifixion on the afternoon of Good Friday to the Resurrection on Easter morning, our Lord lay in the tomb for roughly 40 hours.

Those 40 years in the desert were an opportunity for the Israelites to be strengthened in faith. Jonah spent weeks pleading with the Ninevites to lay aside their sins and turn to God. Jesus’ fasting in the desert for 40 days prepared him to go out and bring souls to his Father, calling them to conversion. His death and resurrection opened the door for us not only to convert once, but to have an ongoing relationship with the God who loves us.

And that’s exactly what the 40 Hours devotion offers. In every era, in every cultural struggle, Christ comes in the Eucharist to be the heart of our communities. Made humble on the altar, he invites us to bring our troubled souls to him, and through him to the Father.

The 40 hours devotion reminds us that this is no mere wafer of bread, it is the actual and real Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ! 

(Adapted from the Our Sunday Visitor article “How to bring the 40 Hours devotion to your parish” By Rebecca W. Martin May 26, 2023)

What to do in Adoration

Reverence - Upon entering, genuflect to acknowledge the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Silence your phone and try to clear your mind of outside concerns.

Come with an open heart - No specific expectations or perfect prayers are required. Jesus welcomes you as you are. Simply show up with a heart open to encountering Him. Eucharistic Adoration is less about “doing” and more about “being” in His presence. However, here are some ideas:

Pray a Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

Read and meditate on Scripture or one of the books in the Adoration library at the entrance to the church.

Journal your thoughts by writing out prayers, reflect on your day, or note inspirations that come during your time in Adoration.

Speak to Jesus as if in conversation. Thank Him, express your struggles, or simply tell Him what’s on your mind.

Be Still - Sit or kneel before the Eucharist. Gaze at Him in the monstrance and let His presence fill you with peace.

Repeat a simple prayer using phrases like “Jesus, I trust in You,” or “Lord, have mercy on me” to focus your mind and heart.

Offer Intercessions by praying for your family, friends, Church leaders, and the world.

Why You Should Go

The one-hour visits answer the request Jesus made during his agony in the Garden of Olives before his Crucifixion and death on Good Friday when he asked, “Could you not watch with me one hour?” (Mark 26:40). In addition, Adoration is transformative. Here’s why it’s worth your time:

Encounter Christ Personally - Eucharistic Adoration gives you a chance to quiet your mind and heart to experience Jesus’ love more deeply. The peace you’ll find in His presence often carries over into your daily life. Bring Him your joys, sorrows, and everything in between. Adoration is a space where you can unburden your heart to the One who loves you unconditionally.

Deepen Your Worship - Spending time before the Eucharist strengthens your faith in His real presence and brings you closer to Him. This act of reverence reminds us of God’s greatness and His intimate care for each of us.

Jesus is lovingly waiting for you in the Eucharist! Step into the quiet, and let Him renew your heart and soul. As you spend time in His presence, you’ll discover that He gives you the peace, strength, and clarity to carry His love into the world!

(Adapted from the FOCUS February 5, 2025, article “Eucharistic Adoration: Things to Do During Adoration”)

Families with Children Welcome!

While we observe a respectful silence during Eucharistic Adoration in the church and foyer, Jesus loves to spend time with your whole family even if your toddler squirms or your baby babbles. Don’t worry! Just by showing up, you’re giving your children one of the greatest gifts - time in the presence of Christ.

Some suggestions:

You don’t need to stay a full hour - try 10–15 minutes. 

Talk about Adoration before you go: “We’re going to visit Jesus. He’ll be on the altar, and we get to talk to Him in our hearts.”

Bring age-appropriate items to help them pray: a children’s Bible, saint storybooks, Rosary beads, coloring pages with Scripture or saints, a journal or sketch pad. (There are some children’s books in the Adoration library.)

Sit close to the front so they can see the monstrance and know “That’s Jesus.”

Start together in prayer: “Dear Jesus, thank You for being here with us. Help us to be still, to listen, and to love You more. Amen.”

Encourage the children to pray: “Thank You, Jesus, for…”, “Please help…”, or “I love You because…”

Encourage quiet sitting or kneeling. Say: “We’re going to be still and listen to Jesus in our hearts.”

To close, whisper “Jesus, thank You for this time with You. Please help us love You and each other more every day. Amen.”

Praise your children after: “You did a beautiful job being with Jesus.”

Build in a treat afterward such as a favorite snack, playground stop, or storytime, or let them light a votive candle.

Just by showing up, you’re teaching them something sacred: Jesus is real. Jesus is here. And Jesus loves us, just as we are.

(adapted from the FOCUS August 13, 2025, article Family Friendly Guide to Eucharistic Adoration)

Eucharistic Moment

EUCHARISTIC MOMENT

The greatest act of gratitude we can pay to Jesus for giving us the gift of Holy Communion is to come to resemble him throughout the day.

PRO-LIFE CORNER

For those grieving after a miscarriage, may they be comforted by God's everlasting love and his presence amidst their sorrow.

Rosary