The Forty Hours Devotion is a special 40-hour period of prayer before the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration. It is almost like a mini-retreat in which the faithful are invited to come spend time with the Lord.

How do people participate in a 40-Hour Devotion?

People come to the chapel for Eucharistic Adoration, which means praying silently before the Blessed Sacrament, visible on the altar. Some people bring a Bible or other spiritual reading.

People can come and pray at anytime from 10 am to 8 pm and stay for as long or as little as they would like. People can also sign up to pray for a specific time to help ensure there will always be a group praying throughout the entire 40 hours.

For ideas on how to pray with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration, click HERE.

Why 40 hours?

In salvation history, 40 has often represented a time of preparation. For example, Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days before beginning his public ministry. And Jesus appeared to the disciples for 40 days after his Resurection to prepare the disciples to more fully undertake the Church's mission.

During this 40-hour devotion, we prepare to celebrate Jesus' gift of himself in the Eucharist on the Feast of Christ's Body and Blood.

What is a Eucharistic Procession?

During a Eucharistic Procession, people prayerfully walk behind the Eucharist, which is carried in a mostrance (like the ones shown in the flyers on this page).

Eucharistic processions are a way to publically honor and venerate the Eucharist and give witness to our Faith.

St. Mary's will hold a Eucharistic Procession around the parish grounds at 7:30 pm on Sunday, June 11th, to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi.

What is the Eucharist?

At Mass, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus---- by the words of Jesus spoken by the priest and by the invocation and power of the Holy Spirit. 

When we receive the Eucharist, we receive the resurrected Jesus---His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity--under the appearances of bread and wine. When we pray before the Eucharist, we are extending the time of adoration that occurs during the Mass.

"In the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself." (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

When did Jesus give us the Eucharist?

The night before He died on the Cross, Jesus shared a Passover meal with the apostles. It was at this meal that He instituted the Eucharist and entrusted this Sacrament to the Church. This is written in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20

The Gospel of John describes Jesus teaching that His Body and Blood are true Food for us and that He lives in those who receive Him in this way. John 6:22-59