Forty Hours Solemn Eucharistic Devotion
Posted on 27. Feb, 2018 in Carousel, Uncategorized
The Forty Hours Eucharistic Devotion holds a special place in the spiritual life of the community at the Pontifical Irish College. During Lent, from Thursday 1st until Saturday 3rd March, the residents of the College availed of the opportunity to gather as a community before the Blessed Sacrament and to pray before the Lord in continuous solemn adoration.
This distinct time of prayer gave us time to deepen our appreciation of the importance of the mystery of the Eucharist in our lives. Forty is a significant number. Noah was on the ark for forty days. The Israelites spent forty years in the desert. Jesus fasted for forty days, and it is maintained that Jesus lay in the tomb for approximately forty hours from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. This period of prayer also reminded us of the length of time Jesus spent with his disciples between the Resurrection and the Ascension.
The Forty Hours Eucharistic Devotion was a grace-filled opportunity for the College as we gathered together as a community to recognize the great gift we have in the Holy Eucharist. This Lent the intention of the community gathered in prayer over the days of the Forty Hours Eucharistic Devotion was the protection of all human life from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death.
Throughout the period of Lent the community at the Irish College have committed to praying together twice a week for the same intention of the protection of all human life.