Monday 18 February 2013

Praying for the Pope

We were very pleased to have so many join us throughout the day on Saturday for our day of prayer for the Church. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament continues every Saturday throughout Lent, from after the 10am Mass until Benediction at 6pm.

On Thursday 28th February, there will be a special Sung Mass for the Pope at 6pm. This will be followed by Exposition until 7pm, when the Holy Father will resign his office. Please join us to pray for him, the Church, and for the conclave that will elect his successor.

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Below are the prayers for the Holy Father that were used last Saturday.

For the Church

Let us pray for the Holy Church of God, that our God and Lord may give her peace, maintain her in union, and preserve her over the earth, making principalities and powers subject to her; and grant us to lead a quiet and peaceful life to the glory of God the almighty Father.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast revealed thy glory to all the nations in Christ, preserve the works of thy mercy, that thy Church, being spread over the whole world, may persevere with a constant faith in the confession of thy name. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Pope

God our Father,
who has given your faithful servant Benedict
grace to maintain his faith and hope in you
amid the labours of his apostolic ministry;
graciously bestow upon him, we pray,
the consolations of your Holy Spirit
and uphold him in serenity of life.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus, shelter our Holy Father the Pope under the protection of your Sacred Heart. Be his light, his strength and his consolation. Amen.

A Litany

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.

St Michael, pray for us.
St Joseph, pray for us.
St Peter, pray for us.
St Paul, pray for us.
St Benedict, pray for us.
St Aloysius, pray for us.
St Philip Neri, pray for us.
All holy men and women, pray for us.

That you would be pleased to govern and preserve your holy Church, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would keep the Pope and all the clergy faithful, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would grant peace and unity to the whole Christian people, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would strengthen and preserve us in your holy service, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would lead all people to the light of the Gospel, we beseech you, hear us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.

Let us pray.
O God the source of all holy desires, right counsels, and just works, grant to your servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be wholly devoted to your service, and that, freed from the fear of our enemies, we may pass our days in quietness under your protection.
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

For the Pope

Let us pray for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict.
May the Lord protect him
and grant him length of days.
May the Lord be his shield
and deliver him from all harm.
May the Lord give him happiness and peace
all the days of his life.
Amen.