FORTY HOURS DEVOTION AT OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Our Lady of Lourdes will host three days of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, known as Forty Hours Devotion, anticipating our feast of Mary's apparition to St. Bernadette on February 11, 1858.  Visitors and parishioners alike are invited to adore Jesus' Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, featuring prayers and meditations, concluding with the Vigil Mass at 5:30 PM on Saturday, Feburary 8, followed by a dinner party in the Parish Hall.  All Sunday Masses on the weekend of February 8-9 will be Masses of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

The Our Lady of Lourdes CCD community, Spanish community, and Pro Life community have special devotional times to pray for their community intentions. All are welcome to come join them! 

 Thursday, February 6

7 PM Mass & Solemn Exposition

Following Mass: Our Lady of Lourdes Novena Prayer,

prayerful meditation from Fr. Edlefsen, Litany of Loreto

Time for Quiet Prayer

Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes

9 PM Benediction

Friday, February 7

6:45 AM Mass & Simple Exposition

Following Mass: Our Lady of Lourdes Novena Prayer

7:30 AM Time for Silent Prayer

11:30 AM Rosary

12 Noon Mass
*Blessed Sacrament will be reposed for Mass*

12:30 PM Exposition & Time for Silent Prayer
*Confessions available from 12:30 - 1:00 PM*

3:00 PM Chaplet of Divine Mercy

7:00 PM Spanish Mass

8:00 PM Prayers in Spanish

9:00 PM Benediction

Saturday, February 8

 9:00 AM Mass & Simple Exposition

Following Mass: Our Lady of Lourdes Novena Prayer

Time for Quiet Prayer

1:00 PM Pro Life Holy Hour

2:00 PM CCD Guided Meditations
by Fr. Edlefsen

 3:00 PM CCD Guided Meditations
 by Fr. Edlefsen

*Confessions available 4 pm - 5 PM*

5:30 PM Mass of Our Lady of Lourdes

6:30 PM Procession with the Blessed Sacrament

 6:45 PM Solemn Benediction 
 

What Is 40 Hours?

Fr. Frederick Edlefsen

Forty Hours Devotion is a mini-retreat for the whole parish. Its main feature is prayer and meditation before the Blessed Sacrament, which is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” Forty Hours creates a continuous “sacrifice of praise” that flows from the Mass. The Mass is our most important act of worship because it unites our lives to Christ’s death andresurrection (the Paschal Mystery). The Mass makes our lives a continuous offering to the Father through the death and resurrection of Jesus. All prayer flows from the sacrifice of the Mass. In other words, prayer and meditation outside of Mass form a continuous “sacrifice of praise” that is vital to our relationship with God and one another. Charity is the fruit of prayer.

Why “forty” hours? In the Bible, “forty” signifies a sacred time. Rains fell for 40 days and nights in the time of Noah. The Israelites journeyed 40 years in the desert after fleeing from Egypt. Moses was twice on Mount Sinai for 40 days, receiving the Covenant from God. The prophet Elijah journeyed 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb (Sinai), where he prayed in a cave. Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness for 40 days after his Baptism. There were 40 hours between Christ’s burial and resurrection.  Forty Hours Devotion connects us to these sacred events, again forming a “continuous sacrifice of praise.” Forty Hours Devotion begins with a Solemn Mass of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament remains exposed on the altar in a monstrance for the next couple of days.  During this time, the Sacrament is reposed during scheduled daily Masses and exposed again after Masses.  The faithful are invited to read the Bible and meditate in the presence of the Sacrament during this sacred time. Forty Hours Devotion will conclude with a Solemn Mass at 5:30 PM on February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.