Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (Exposition) occurs at various times of the year where a special invitation is given to our Parishioners to attend at Church for personal silent prayer.


The Forty Hours of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament had once been a regular spiritual exercise within the Diocese whereby parishes were given a specific time on a Diocesan wide rota for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. During each of the Forty Hours parishioners would take it in turn in duet to keep watch and pray for one hour before the Blessed Sacrament. This pious practice was inspired by and reflected events in salvation history of forty years or forty days in the life of The Hebrew People.


It also reflected events in the life of Jesus – his period in the wilderness preparing for public ministry and the period between Easter Sunday and Ascension Thursday. Exposition is used for times of personal prayer in the Church during the six weeks of Lent and on Holy Thursday Evening after the Mass of the Last Supper at the Altar of Repose. It is used daily at the Glass Chapel at Carfin Grotto during the Summer Season there for pilgrims to be helped take advantage of opportunities for personal silent prayer.


Exposition is made available at the Grotto and in some parishes for prayer periods during overnight vigils such as the Vigil of Corpus Christi and of Pentecost. The spiritual exercise known as Holy Hour is in effect Exposition with an input of Readings from Scripture with music, public prayer and priest or deacon led reflection.