This devotion, known in Italy as the Quarant’ Ore, continues for forty hours, in memory of the forty hours during which the body of Our Lord remained in the sepulchre. It was begun at Milan in 1534, and was introduced into Rome by St. Philip Neri in 1548, and sanctioned by Pope Clement VIII, who issued a solemn bull respecting it, November 25, 1592.
The devotion owes its origin to Fr. Joseph, a Capuchin friar at Milan. In the year 1534, the city of Milan was suffering all the horrors attendant on war, and was reduced almost to despair, when Fr. Joseph called upon the citizens to raise their eyes from the miseries around them, and look up to heaven for succor, assuring them, on the part of God, that if they would give themselves to fervent prayer for forty hours, their city and their country would be liberated from the devastations of their enemies. The citizens obeyed the call. The Forty Hours’ prayer commenced in the cathedral, and was taken up by the other churches of the city in rotation. The people meanwhile attended with fervor at the appointed prayers, and approached with great devotion the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist. Heaven did not delay to fulfill the assurance given by the pious servant of God; for, in a short time, the emperor Charles V and Francis, king of France, were seen at the gate of Milan arranging the articles of peace.
To promote this devotion, Pope Clement VIII granted a plenary indulgence to all such as, confessing their sins and receiving Holy Communion, should visit any church or chapel where this devotion was being performed.
To gain this indulgence, it is required 1) to visit the Blessed Sacrament once during the three days of Exposition; and 2) to receive Holy Communion on the day preceding, or on one of the three days, but not necessarily in the same church or chapel in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.
Pope Paul V also granted an indulgence of ten years and ten quadragenæ for every visit made to the Blessed Sacrament thus exposed.
These indulgences are applicable to the souls in purgatory.
Visit to the Blessed Sacrament
An Act of Adoration to the Most Holy Trinity
I most humbly adore Thee, O uncreated Father, and Thee, O only begotten Son, and Thee, O Holy Ghost the Paraclete, one Almighty, everlasting and unchangeable God, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. I acknowledge in Thee a true and ineffable trinity of Persons, a true and indivisible unity of substance. I glorify Thee, O Almighty Trinity, one only Deity, my most compassionate Lord, my sweetest hope, my dearest light, my most desired repose, my joy, my life, and all my good. To Thy most merciful goodness I commend my soul and body; to Thy most sacred Majesty I wholly devote myself, and to Thy divine will I resign and yield myself eternally. All honor and glory be to Thee forever and ever. Amen.
O heavenly Father, O most forgiving Father, O Lord God, have mercy upon me a wretched sinner, have mercy upon all men. In fullest reparation, expiation, and satisfaction for all my iniquities and negligences, and for the sins of the whole world, and perfectly to supply the deficiency of my works, I offer unto Thee Thy beloved Son, Christ Jesus, in union with that sovereign charity with which Thou didst send Him to us, and didst give Him to us as our Savior. I offer His transcendent virtues, and all that He did and suffered for us. I offer His labors, sorrows, torments, and most Precious Blood. I offer the merits of the most Blessed Virgin Mary and of all Thy saints. Assist me, I beseech Thee, O most merciful Father, through the same Thy Son, by the power of Thy Holy Spirit. Have mercy on all unhappy sinners, and graciously call them back to the way of salvation. Grant to all the living pardon and grace, and to the faithful departed eternal light and rest. Amen.
O Holy Spirit, sweetest Comforter, Who proceedest from the Father and the Son in an ineffable manner, come, I beseech Thee, and enter into my heart. Purify and cleanse me from all sin, and sanctify my soul. Wash away its defilements, moisten its dryness, heal its wounds, subdue its stubbornness, melt its coldness, and correct its wanderings. Make me truly humble and resigned, that I may be pleasing unto Thee, and Thou mayest abide with me forever. O most blessed Light, O Light worthy of all love, enlighten me. O Joy of paradise, O Fount of purest delights, O my God, give Thyself to me, and kindle in my inmost soul the fire of Thy love. O my Lord, instruct, direct, and defend me in all things. Give me strength against all undue fears and a cowardly spirit; bestow upon me a right faith, a firm hope, and a sincere and perfect charity; and grant that I may ever do Thy most gracious will. Amen.
A Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori
Lord Jesus Christ, Who, through the love which Thou bearest to men, dost remain with them, day and night, in this Sacrament, full of mercy and of love, expecting, inviting, and receiving all who come to visit Thee: I believe that Thou art present in the Sacrament of the Altar. From the abyss of my nothingness I adore Thee, and I thank Thee for all the graces which Thou hast bestowed upon me, particularly for having given me Thyself in this Sacrament, for having given me for my advocate Thy most holy Mother, Mary, and for having called me to visit Thee in this church. I pay my homage this day to Thy most loving Heart, and I do so, first, in thanksgiving for this great gift itself; secondly, as a reparation for all the injuries which Thou hast received from Thine enemies in this Sacrament; thirdly, I wish, by this visit, to adore Thee in all those places on earth where Thou art sacramentally present, and in which Thou art the least honored and the most abandoned. My Jesus, I love Thee with my whole heart. I am sorry for having hitherto so many times offended Thine infinite goodness. I purpose, with the assistance of Thy grace, nevermore to offend Thee; and, at this moment, miserable as I am, I consecrate my whole being to Thee. I give Thee my entire will, all my affections and desires, and all that I have. From this day forward do what Thou wilt with me, and with everything that belongs to me. I ask and desire only Thy holy love, the gift of final perseverance, and the perfect fulfillment of Thy will. I commend to Thee the souls in purgatory, particularly those who were most devoted to the most Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary; and I also commend to Thee all poor sinners. Finally, my dear Savior, I unite all my affections with the affections of Thy most loving Heart; and, thus united, I offer them to Thine eternal Father, and I entreat Him, in Thy name and for Thy sake, to accept and answer them. Amen.
The prayer Look down, O Lord may be used here.
