31 March 2013

Easter ANNO DOMINI MMXXIII

31 MARCH 2013. A happy and blessed Easter to all who find these pages. May the love that has shone through the depths of man's darkness and death, to reveal the light of salvation in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus the Christ, provide for all who come to Him the refreshment of forgiveness and mercy in this Easter season and always!

Trust in the Lord, His mercy endures forever.
Trust in the Lord, He is without equal.
Trust in the Lord, whose love is without end,
never changing, without limit or redress.
Rest in the Lord,
Take refuge in Him,
He is the true and only solace of the world!

16 March 2013

Franciscus PP. - The Holy Father's choice of his name and Poverty in the Church

16 MARCH 2013. In the Holy Father's own words, why he chose the name Francis, following in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi:
Some people didn't know why the Bishop of Rome wanted to call himself "Francis." Some though of Francis Xavier, Francis de Sales, even Francis of Assisi. I will tell you the story. At the election I had the archbishop emeritus of Sao Paulo next to me. He is also prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes [O.F.M.]: a dear, dear friend. When things were getting a little "dangerous," he comforted me. And then, when the votes reached the two-thirds, there was the usual applause because the Pope had been elected. He hugged me and said: "Do not forget the poor." And that word stuck here [tapping his forehead as shown above]; the poor, the poor. Then, immediately in relation to the poor I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then I thought of war, while the voting continued, until all the votes [were counted]. And so the name came to my heart:: Francis of Assisi. For me he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who love and safeguards Creation. In this moment when our relationship with Creation is not so good—right?—He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man … Oh, how I wish for a Church that is poor and for the poor!

13 March 2013

Prayer of Thanksgiving for Pope Francis


Dear Lord, gracious God.
In Your love and benevolence, 
You have delivered a humble and trusted servant,
to serve Your bride on earth, as the servant of servants.
Thank you for the gift of Pope Francis 
for the people of God.
May the Holy Spirit always guide and protect him, and
may the Mother of Christ, our Lady, always watch over him
and give him the blessing of her prayers to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

01 March 2013

Novena Prayer for the Conclave


1 MARCH 2013. From this date until the election of a new Pope, I would ask that all readers pray this novena prayer for the faithful election of the new Pope in a spirit of docility to the Divine Will of God:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send down your Spirit over the conclave. Let the Holy Spirit inspire the hearts of the Cardinals, that they may choose the man most pleasing to You, as Successor of Peter and Your Vicar on earth. May Mary, Your Mother and Mother of the Church, be our advocate.

Amen.

AUTHOR: Mr Mark Miraville, Professor of Theology and Mariology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
IMAGE: Photo of 2005 Conclave.