The forty hours of the Eucharist in San Giovanni Rotondo: a moment of great devotion to Padre Pio

Le forty hours of the Eucharist they are a moment of Eucharistic adoration which usually takes place in a church dedicated to Saint Francis or in a sanctuary of particular devotion. In the sanctuary of Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, the forty hours of the Eucharist take place twice a year: the first in the period of Advent and the second in the Octave of Easter.

Il Sanctuary of Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo is one of the most popular places of worship in the world. Its fame is due to the figure of Padre Pio, a Capuchin friar who was canonized by Papa Francesco in 2002.

Eucharistic adoration is a moment of prayer in which the faithful go to church or sanctuary, adore the Blessed Sacrament and they open themselves to the presence of Jesus in their lives. In the forty hours of the Eucharist, this moment of prayer extends for a good forty hours. During this period the faithful can stop in front of the tabernacle, participate in liturgical celebrations and guided meditations.

What are the forty hours of the Eucharist

The program includes a series of liturgical celebrationsmoments of guided meditation, in-depth meetings on the Word of God, confessions and prayers of intercession. The Blessed Sacrament is present during all 40 hours of the period of adoration.

Guided meditations are entrusted to personalities of the ecclesial world, which offer reflections related to the theme of the celebration. In the Shrine of Padre Pio, the in-depth meetings are conducted by the spiritual guides of the sanctuary. These help the faithful to discover the treasures of the Word of God and to understand Padre Pio's message.

During the forty hours of the Eucharist, there are moments of intense prayer and profound reflection on the importance of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The presence of God, manifested in a particular way in the Eucharist, is seen by many as a great source of comfort and hope.