This devotion, known in Italy as the Qua rant' 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 in Milan in 1534, and was introduced into Rome by St. Phillip 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 Father 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 Father Joseph called upon the citizens to raise their eyes from the miseries around tem, and look up to heaven for their 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 quarantines for every visit made to the Blessed Sacrament thus exposed.

These Indulgences are applicable to the Souls in Purgatory.

The forms of prayers used in this devotion are, the Litany of the Saints, Collects, etc. as given on page 256; to which may be added the Litany of the Holy Name (p. 60), the Litany of the Blessed Virgin (p. 65), the Miserere (p. 249), and the Te Deum (p. 160).