From the Pastor’s Desk:

When I was growing up there was a special devotion to the Eucharist built around 40 hours over a weekend with each parish in rotation once a year. It has slipped by the wayside in many parishes as so much crowds in on our lives in our modern 21st century. However, there is something that builds upon it and I invite and urge you to find in this prayer/ meditative form, a strengthening from Jesus our Lord. Here at St. Agnes we do not set aside a weekend, but every Monday the Lord is present on the Altar in the Monstrance for private devotion. Centuries ago, the Forty Hours Devotion began in Europe. St. John Neumann came to this country as a missionary. He became bishop of Philadelphia and was known for his hard work and devotion to the people of his diocese. He had a tremendous devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. St. John had an intense desire to help lead others to prayer before Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament exposed in a monstrance. One night, after nearly abandoning his dream of spreading the “Forty Hours Devotion”, St. John fell asleep from total exhaustion while writing at his desk. A little while later he awoke to the smell of smoke, a lit candle had overturned and started a fire. Of the charred remains of his papers, only one letter remained unburned, the letter he had written about the “Forty Hours Devotion.” St. John knelt to thank God for sparing him from harm and he did not hesitate any longer to carry out his teaching of the spiritual importance of Eucharistic Prayer Devotion. In 1853 Bishop John Neumann began the Forty Hours Devotion on the feast of Corpus Christi, in the Church of St. Philip Neri, the saint who had started the Devotion in Rome. In the United States we are blessed to have over 1100 chapels of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist, if we believe what takes place at the altar. When we come before Jesus exposed in the Blessed Sacrament, we come to Him as we are, creatures made in His image. He already knows us. He has called us to Himself; He loves us and longs to be with us. “Come to Me all of you who are weary and find life burdensome and I will refresh you.” (Mt. 11:28) Please consider spending some time with our Eucharistic Lord on Monday in the Chapel following the 8:30 Mass to 5:30 pm. This is a quiet time to reflect and thank God for all the many blessings He has given us. Also it is a time to pray and ask the Lord for safety and protection for our country. “Can you spend even 30 minutes with Me?” asks the Lord.