"Taste and See" - Forty Hours Devotion

O taste and see that the Lord is good;
 happy are those who take refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8

Goal:

Plan a 40 Hours Devotion in your parish once a year!

SCROLL DOWN: HOW TO PLAN YOUR 40 HOURS DEVOTION

Background:

The Forty Hours Devotion arose in Milan in the 16th century. Promoted by St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Philip Neri, and the Jesuit order, the devotion quickly spread throughout the universal Church. In 1866 it was formally approved for all dioceses in America, having been established some years earlier by St. John Neumann. Many aspects of the Church’s liturgical practices for Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament find their roots in the norms established by Pope Clement XII for the Forty Hours Devotion.

This devotion is a tangible, public way of honoring the Blessed Sacrament, of making reparation for sin, and of seeking the help of the Lord in times of distress. While the number 40 is of general biblical importance, St. Charles Borromeo specifically linked the length of the devotion to the number of hours that the Lord’s body remained in the tomb prior to the Resurrection.

The Forty Hours Devotion is also a particularly fitting way of fulfilling Canon 942, which recommends that parish churches undertake an annual, solemn exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament so that the faithful may “more profoundly meditate on and adore the eucharistic mystery.”

Details:

• Essential elements
  • Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist for 40 hours should begin with Mass, at which the host for Exposition is consecrated and placed in the monstrance on the altar after communion. The Mass ends with the prayer after communion, and the concluding rites are omitted. Before the priest leaves, he may incense the Blessed Sacrament. See Order for the Solemn Exposition, #14.
  • The 40 Hours Devotion traditionally also concludes with Mass at the end of the 40 hours. The Blessed Sacrament is temporarily reposed for any Masses celebrated during the period of Exposition.
  • In other respects, the requirements for the 40 Hours Devotion do not differ markedly from the general rules governing Eucharistic Exposition: at least four candles are lit, a sufficient number of worshippers are scheduled, etc.
• Optional elements
  • The Forty Hours Devotion has traditionally been an opportunity for parishes to go beyond what is minimally required, and instead seek to maximize the honor which is given to the Blessed Sacrament.
  • Time: while not strictly required, holding Exposition for 40 continuous hours offers the gift of time to the Lord and brings the community together in an arduous effort of piety.
  • Additional marks of devotion: a throne or tabor stand under the monstrance may be used to elevate the Blessed Sacrament. Flower arrangements may be placed near the altar. Additional candles may be lit. In fact, the older liturgical rubrics for the 40 Hours Devotion promulgated by Pope Clement XII had called for a minimum of 20 candles to be burned at the altar of Exposition, both day and night.
  • Liturgy: the closing Mass of the 40 Hours Devotion may include a Procession and a Eucharistic Blessing.

STEP 1: Select a Forty Hours Devotion Schema

STEP 2: Schedule the Dates and Times for Adoration

STEP 3: Plan Logistics of Exposition/Reposition and Additional Prayers

STEP 4: Promote and Recruit Adorers

STEP 5: Provide Resources