40 Hours Devotions and St. Charles Day

By: Rick James
Seminarian, Third Theology


Forty Hours in
St. Martin Chapel, 2010

Since the 1840’s, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary has been celebrating Forty Hours Eucharistic devotions every year. This great celebration begins every year on the Solemnity of All Saints. For three days the seminary community is blessed with extended adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. This cheerful and solemn time is both looked forward to as well as remembered throughout the years. Nobody who has studied at St. Charles would be able to forget the unique and holy experience. Many priests, some ordained for decades, are filled with happy memories of St. Charles Forty Hours—many of them consider their happiest memory of their time at the Seminary.

The Rector, Fr. Shaun Mahoney celebrates mass for
the community on the 3rd day of 40 Hours celebration

 St. Charles has been long known for its splendid celebration of liturgy. There is much careful planning by the ceremonies crew, masters of ceremonies, sacristans, musicians/choir and the priests to make Forty Hours a memorable and prayerful experience.


Dan Kravatz, 1st Theology
getting ready at Mass

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered with high solemnity, expressing the great splendor and beauty of the Roman Rite—all of which witness to the greater glory of God Himself, and His presence with us in the Blessed Sacrament.

Fr. Bongard celebrates Mass
on All Saints Day

 The seminary’s celebration of Forty Hours begins on November 1st (All Saints Day). At the very beginning of this sacred time at the seminary, we invoke the intercession of all the saints; to pray for us that we too may gaze upon our Heavenly Father’s face. Father Joseph Bongard was the principal celebrant and homilist. He asked us in his homily to reflect deeply on the words in the Canon of the Mass “For ourselves, too, we ask some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs, with John the Baptist and Stephen”— to share in that same communion with these great saints who gave their entire lives for Christ. To add greater solemnity to the day, the Seminary’s treasury of relics of various saints was displayed on the St. Joseph altar for public veneration. At the end of Mass the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and remains so until the closing of Forty Hours. For the next three days, anyone is able to visit the Blessed Sacrament at any hour of the day or night.

[Panis Angelicus Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SkdKniABZg {Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following All Saints Day mass opens this years Forty Hours Celebration}
 

At Vespers, Bishop Daniel Thomas
offers benediction with the Blessed Sacrament.

  That Evening Bishop Daniel Thomas, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, led the celebration of Vespers and gave Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. [Magnificat Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdXrw2FnxeU {The chanting of the Magnificat at Vespers on All Saints Day}



James Harper at the Organ
on All Souls Day



Mass on All Souls Day

 

The 2nd day of Forty Hours is All Souls day. Rather than the pomp and loud hymns of previous day, the Holy Mass begins with the ancient introit: “Réquiem aetérnam dona eis, Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat eis.” (Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon them). The singing of this chant unites us in prayer for the souls that have gone on before us, and remind us of our own place in our journey to eternity.




Fr. Mahoney offers Mass
on the feast of St. Martin De Porres

 

The final day of our Forty Hours devotions falls on the memorial of St. Martin de Porres. Our Rector, Father Shaun Mahoney was the principle celebrant and homilist. In his homily, he recalled St. Martin's devotion and unswerving love for his sick brethren. He then called the seminary community to consider what God reveals to us in the physical and spiritual suffering and sickness of humanity. Following the homily, Father Mahoney invited the whole community to pray for the seminarians and faculty who are currently afflicted with serious illness—and there was a celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for the seriously ill at the seminary. 



The Eucharistic procession moves into
Immaculate Conception Chapel



 The closing of Forty Hours falls on the eve of the Patronal Feast of the Seminary— St. Charles Borromeo. At the end of the chanting of Vespers, the high point of the celebration of Forty Hours concludes with the solemn procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the whole assembly from St. Martin's Chapel to Immaculate Conception Chapel for Benediction. The seminary community led by the cross and candles processes while the rector, bearing the Holy of Holies in the Monstrance follows— all the while being incensed and reverenced by the ringing of bells and chanting of St. Thomas Aquinas' great Eucharist Hymn, Pange Lingua.

[Procession Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHKgWm154vM {A clip of the procession as it moves through the campus of St. Charles Seminary}



The Closing of Forty Hours
in Immaculate Conception Chapel

 

Upon the entire assembly's arrival in Immaculate Conception Chapel, the conclusion of that great hymn of St. Thomas is sung: “Tantum ergo Sacraméntum..”. Finally benediction with the Blessed Sacrament is given to all assembled and the annual celebration of Forty Hours concludes. [Tantum Ergo Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzorpzznFbw {Incensation Hymn at Benediction of the closing of Forty Hour}

  


Cardinal Rigali offers
St. Charles Day Mass

 


The next day, The Feast of St. Charles Borromeo is celebrated with much joy by the community. The Archbishop of Philadelphia, Justin Cardinal Rigali, offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the entire community—and also presides over the Rite of Admission of the men in the 1st year of Theology to Candidacy for Holy Orders.



Dan Kravats and Mark Searles
listen to the readings at mass

 

Three men from the Diocese of Allentown received the call to Candidacy by Bishop John O. Barres, and officially expressed their intention to prepare for and receive Holy Orders before Cardinal Rigali this year: Dan Kravatz of St. Catherine of Sienna Parish- Reading, Mark Searles of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish- Easton, and Kevin Lonergan of St. Patrick Parish- Pottsville. [Picture 11] {Kevin Lonergan chants the Responsorial Psalm} During this Feast Day mass, these men express their resolution to prepare themselves in mind and spirit to give their lives in faithful witness to Christ. The whole community is invited to pray for them, that God's work may be brought to completion in the Holy Spirit.

To the right, Allentown Priests Msgr. Stephen Radocha, and Fathers Andrew Gehringer, Joel Kiefer, Gene Ritz concelebrate on St. Charles Day, and visit with the seminarians receiving candidacy from their parishes.

During the feast day, the much awaited 'Upper-side/Lower-side' football game is played. All the sems displayed great eagerness and resolve to play despite the rain—in fact, they even seemed more excited than if it were sunny! In a wet and muddy field, both teams gave it their all— at the end, covered in mud as they were— the theologate (upper-side) was victorious!




View of the Chapel of St. Martin of Tours

 

Following Solemn Vespers, the community came together for a wonderful dinner-- truly engaging the great feast day. As always this was a blessed time of the year. A holy and enjoyable time to pray, rest, and celebrate the great gift of our Lord in the Eucharist—as well as His presence here at the Seminary.