Many parishes report a resurgence in Eucharistic adoration — and a few are going the extra mile (or extra day or two) with a practice that many thought had vanished: the 40 Hours devotion.

Florida is seeing it return in at least one diocese:

Forty Hours “is something that has not been done for a long time locally, or, for that matter, for the past years elsewhere,” said Father Charles Hawkins, pastor of Ascension Parish in Boca Raton. During this devotion, the Eucharist is exposed in solemn adoration for a period of 40 hours, with parishioners attending in shifts so someone is always in the church. Forty Hours also can include Mass, Benediction and other traditional celebrations.

This unique devotion will be held, parish-by-parish, for the next 12 months to give all a chance to participate and be in the presence of Christ during the diocese’s jubilee celebration year. Titled “A Eucharistic People,” the jubilee starts next month.

“We are going to bring it (the devotion) back, and we are trying to get all the parishes to cooperate and celebrate at least twice during the anniversary year,” explained Father Hawkins.

Locally, the first Forty Hours devotion is planned for Oct. 27-29 at Holy Cross Parish in Vero Beach and the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola.

“It has lost its flavor and spark, but we are going to bring it back,” explained Father Hawkins.

Some historians say that Forty Hours originated in Europe in the 1500s and was known as “Quarant’ Ore” (“40 hours”) in Italian.

Father Hawkins fondly remembers celebrating the Forty Hours devotion when he was an altar server from fifth to twelfth grades at St. Matthias, a Slovak parish in Youngstown, Ohio.

“It used to be an annual event in churches,” he said about the celebration, which traditionally takes place over a three-day period from Sunday afternoon to Tuesday evening. Forty Hours is not widely held these days, but is still highly encouraged, according to planners.

Father Hawkins explained that during the devotion, Catholic parishes display the consecrated host in a gold monstrance. Prayer gatherings, rosary recitations, Masses, Scripture readings and processions are also part of celebrations.

“Emphasis is solely on the real presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and nothing else,” he explained. “It would be after a noon Mass, during the school year in Ohio, in September or May,” he said about his parish’s annual event.

“It was a big affair with flower processions. There were more than 500 children there from our school, parents and 50 to 60 priests. We would take turns praying before the Lord. The children were well-behaved and participated. There was a big closing. It was really prominent in the church year. It was a beautiful time that always touched me.”