London, England, Oct 26, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Joined by members of the laity, clergy and religious orders, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor opened a 40-hour devotion before the Blessed Sacrament at Westminster Cathedral today.
The Quarant'Ore will conclude the Year of the Eucharist for the archdiocese, reported the Archbishops House. It will bring together the celebration of the Mass, the Divine Office, a Blessed Sacrament procession and the solemn blessing in Benediction in a continuous time of prayer and adoration.
"The Quarant'Ore is a fitting end to the year of the Eucharist," said the cardinal, just returned from the three-week bishops' synod on the Eucharist in Rome. "There is no better way than to spend time in the adoration of the Lord in this amazing Sacrament."
Along with other cardinals, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor was selected to represent Europe on the Post-Synodal Commission. The commission will reflect on the Synod and present propositions to the Pope.
The cardinal celebrated the mass today and will end the 40-hour devotion with another mass on Saturday evening.