What is Forty Hours Devotion?

“Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1)

Fr. Frederick Edlefsen

This week, Our Lady of Lourdes holds its annual Forty Hours Devotion.  Forty Hours is a retreat for all parishioners and friends.  It starts with Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 7:00 PM this Thursday, running through Saturday’s 5:30 PM Vigil Mass.  Forty Hours concludes with dinner in the Parish Hall, catered by the Crystal City Sports Pub, celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. RSVP for dinner on the “You’re Invited” section of our website.

Forty Hours’ main feature is prayer and meditation before the Blessed Sacrament – “the source and summit of the Christian life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324).  Forty Hours creates a continuous “sacrifice of praise” flowing from the Mass.

The Mass is our most important act of worship.  Mass unites our lives to Christ’s death and resurrection, known as the Paschal Mystery.  Mass turns our lives into a continuous gift to the Father, through Jesus’ sacrifice.  All prayer flows from the sacrifice of the Mass, which is Christ’s prayer.  In other words, prayer, meditation, and Mass form a continuous “sacrifice of praise” that grows our relationship with God and one another.  Charity is prayer’s flower.

Why “forty” hours?   In the Bible, “forty” signifies a sacred time.  Rains fell for 40 days and nights in Noah’s time.  The Israelites journeyed 40 years in the desert after fleeing Egypt.  Moses was twice on Mount Sinai for 40 days, receiving God’s Covenant.  The prophet Elijah journeyed 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb (Sinai), where he prayed until he heard God’s “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:11-13).   Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness for 40 days after his Baptism.  There were 40 hours between Christ’s burial and resurrection.  There were 40 days between Christ’s resurrection and ascension. Forty Hours Devotion connects us to these sacred events, forming a “continuous sacrifice of praise.”

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed all day this Friday and Saturday.  You are invited to meditate on the Bible and contemplate Christ’s intimate presence in the Blessed Sacrament.  Forty Hours Devotion concludes with a Solemn Vigil Mass of Our Lady of Lourdes at 5:30 PM this Saturday, followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament and a Dinner Celebration in the Parish Hall.   RSVP for dinner here.