Ash Wednesday

13 February 2013 - Ash Wednesday

May your Lent be everything Jesus wishes it to be for you.  The Pope's last public Mass will be today http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/popes-last-mass-will-be-on-ash-wednesday-in-st-peters/.  

That is a surreal thing to say.  For those who wish, here is his Lenten Message that he published last week:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20121015_lent-2013_en.html

Archbishop Vlazny and Archbishop-elect Sample have both made statements in response to Pope Benedict's announcement:  http://www.archdpdx.org/.

Each day after class I go and pray at the Cathedra of the Pope since I go to school there.  After walking back, I stop by St. Peter's Square and pray again there for Pope Benedict XVI and the Church.  Dale and I are offering up a Novena for our good Pope Benedict and his successor.  Prayer and study are the avenues I have to offer my solidarity to the Pope and the Church.  Every time I pray the office my thoughts draw my intention to enter in more deeply into the prayer of Christ for His Church; the prayer of the Church praising her Lord.

Our Rector, Msgr. Checchio, has asked us to further our union with the Church in this time by praying for the Cardinals.  Below is a prayer that we are praying if you'd like to join us:


A Novena Prayer
for the Election of the Supreme Pontiff

Lord Jesus Christ,
you who have established your Church
on the solid foundation of the Apostle Peter
and have promised to remain with us
until the end of time,
grant we beseech you
that we may all be steadfast in faith
and filled with zeal for the glory of your Name.
We humbly ask that you grant
to the College of Cardinals
the Spirit of Truth that they may know your will,
and acting in courage and faith,
may elect as Supreme Pontiff
him whom you have chosen to be
Chief Shepherd of your flock
Successor of Peter, Bishop of Rome,
and Servant of the Servants of God.
Grant to us a Pope who will teach and guide
by word and example so that
together with the flock entrusted
to his care
he may arrive at eternal life in your Kingdom
where you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.