FOR A POPE. After the last papal funeral, for Pope Saint John Paul II – at which the then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, soon to be Pope Benedict XVI, was the main celebrant, on April 8, 2005, almost 18 years ago – and after the Funeral for Pope John Paul I (October 4, 1978) and Pope Saint Paul VI (August 12, 1978) – some noted how the requiem rites offered for Supreme Pontiffs were basically what every Catholic gets. This is also true for the rites offered for Pope Benedict XVI, pictured above, on April 20, 2008, in NYC. For as God’s children, all are equally loved by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and gifted by the Holy Spirit. So, we all get the same basic ‘send-off’ – although a Pope usually gets far more attendees!
After blessing the hallowed Ground Zero site with holy water and lighting a candle, he prayed: “God of peace… turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred … Grant that those whose lives were spared may live so that the lives lost here may not have been lost in vain. Comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope, and give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.” It is now our turn to pray for the Holy Father († – December 31, 2022) which we will do at holy Mass on Monday, January 23 at 6:15 pm.
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Collect – For a Pope – A O God, faithful rewarder of souls, |
MAY HE RECEIVE WHAT HE GAVE. Whether we shepherd a Family as a Parent or Grandparent, a Parish as a Priest, a Diocese as a Bishop, or a Pope as the Church’s Supreme Pastor, we hope to receive from God in heaven what we tried to give to others while on earth. As worldwide leaders, Popes and others receive tons of prayers … and tons of criticism, some of it cruel and downright nasty. May our prayers for Pope Benedict drown out anything negatively said against him. And may others pray for us when we stand before the Lord for judgment so that our sins may be blotted out by a sea of love.
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Prayer over the Offerings – For the Pope – A We pray, O Lord, that through |
WE APPLY CHRIST’S ‘ONCE-FOR-ALL’ SACRIFICE TO ALL PEOPLE OF ALL TIMES. Christ’s eternal self-sacrifice to atone for our sins is truly the greatest of gifts that keeps on giving. When we offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, each participant applies the graces won for us to their intentions. So, what the Priest prays at the start of The Liturgy of the Eucharist now more properly says, “Pray … that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable …”. When the above oration is prayed at a Holy Father’s Funeral or Memorial Mass, the deceased Pontiff is graced – as are those who join in offering this prayer.
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Prayer after Communion – For a Pope – A Renewed by the Sacrament |
WE RETURN THE FAVOR. In the Bible, the most common image of a leader may be of a shepherd who guards his flock. To today’s ‘flock,’ a better analogy may be Anti-Virus Software, which warns of potential dangers and blocks anything harmful or hazardous to our computer’s health. And although he knows only a minute percentage of his flock by name, a Pope prays for each sheep in the fold. By praying for Popes, living or deceased, we return the favor! May Pope Benedict rest in peace.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
FOR A POPE. After the last papal funeral, for Pope Saint John Paul II – at which the then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, soon to be Pope Benedict XVI, was the main celebrant, on April 8, 2005, almost 18 years ago – and after the Funeral for Pope John Paul I (October 4, 1978) and Pope Saint Paul VI (August 12, 1978) – some noted how the requiem rites offered for Supreme Pontiffs were basically what every Catholic gets. This is also true for the rites offered for Pope Benedict XVI, pictured above, on April 20, 2008, in NYC. For as God’s children, all are equally loved by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and gifted by the Holy Spirit. So, we all get the same basic ‘send-off’ – although a Pope usually gets far more attendees!
After blessing the hallowed Ground Zero site with holy water and lighting a candle, he prayed: “God of peace… turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred … Grant that those whose lives were spared may live so that the lives lost here may not have been lost in vain. Comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope, and give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.” It is now our turn to pray for the Holy Father († – December 31, 2022) which we will do at holy Mass on Monday, January 23 at 6:15 pm.
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Collect – For a Pope – A O God, faithful rewarder of souls, |
MAY HE RECEIVE WHAT HE GAVE. Whether we shepherd a Family as a Parent or Grandparent, a Parish as a Priest, a Diocese as a Bishop, or a Pope as the Church’s Supreme Pastor, we hope to receive from God in heaven what we tried to give to others while on earth. As worldwide leaders, Popes and others receive tons of prayers … and tons of criticism, some of it cruel and downright nasty. May our prayers for Pope Benedict drown out anything negatively said against him. And may others pray for us when we stand before the Lord for judgment so that our sins may be blotted out by a sea of love.
|
Prayer over the Offerings – For the Pope – A We pray, O Lord, that through |
WE APPLY CHRIST’S ‘ONCE-FOR-ALL’ SACRIFICE TO ALL PEOPLE OF ALL TIMES. Christ’s eternal self-sacrifice to atone for our sins is truly the greatest of gifts that keeps on giving. When we offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, each participant applies the graces won for us to their intentions. So, what the Priest prays at the start of The Liturgy of the Eucharist now more properly says, “Pray … that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable …”. When the above oration is prayed at a Holy Father’s Funeral or Memorial Mass, the deceased Pontiff is graced – as are those who join in offering this prayer.
|
Prayer after Communion – For a Pope – A Renewed by the Sacrament |
WE RETURN THE FAVOR. In the Bible, the most common image of a leader may be of a shepherd who guards his flock. To today’s ‘flock,’ a better analogy may be Anti-Virus Software, which warns of potential dangers and blocks anything harmful or hazardous to our computer’s health. And although he knows only a minute percentage of his flock by name, a Pope prays for each sheep in the fold. By praying for Popes, living or deceased, we return the favor! May Pope Benedict rest in peace.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS