Novena for Benedict XVI’s visit to Britain starts

by Anna Arco

Parish novenas for the Pope’s upcoming visit to Britain begin today.

The Magnificat booklet of liturgies and events recommends a brief time of silent prayer followed by the prayer of preparation after Mass for the success of the visit, nine days before the visit. There is a more extended version which suggests using readings taken from the lectionary and divine office sections for the Chair of Peter and the feast of St Peter and St Paul or to simply use readings from chapters 14 to 17 of the Gospel of St John.

As another alternative, the book recommends that faithful prepare for the papal visit with evening prayer from the Divine Office or Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass.

The prayer of Preparation follows here:

God of truth and love, your Son, Jesus Christ, stands as the light to all who seek you with a sincere heart.

As we strive with your grace to be faithful in word and deed, may we reflect the kindly light of Christ and offer a witness of hope and peace to all.

We pray for Pope Benedict and look forward with joy to his forthcoming visit to our countries. May he be a witness to the unity and hope which is your will for all people.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Our Lady, Mother of the Church pray for us.
St Andrew pray for us.
St George pray for us.
St David pray for us.

To access the full Magnificat booklet online, go to the papal visit website to download it.

A novena is a customarily Catholic devotion which stretches over nine days and can range from a small prayer every day to a full rosary.

(reproduced from The Catholic Herald Online)

Murphy lobbies over Pope's visit

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy has said he hopes that the Pope will make a visit to Scotland next year

Mr Murphy will travel to Rome next week for talks with the Vatican about a possible visit to the UK next year by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Pope is expected to visit the UK in 2010 but nothing has been formally announced.

To read the full article (BBC News) please click HERE.

confirmed: Pope Benedict XVI to visit UK

Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office officially confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI will visit Great Britain next year.

Father Lombardi told reporters about plans for papal voyages in 2010 to Malta, Portugal, and Great Britain. The trips to Malta and Portugal have already been announced by the hosts in each country. Father Lombardi added that it was a "good hypothesis" that the Holy Father would visit Great Britain, and the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman would be "an obvious occasion" for that trip. He said that preparations for all of the projected trips on the calendar for 2010 are still incomplete.

Novena of Prayer for the Pope

To the members of the Confraternity of Saint Peter:-

Reading, England, February 12th, 2009: Novena for the Pope

Dear Members of the Confraternity of Saint Peter (CSP),

You are all well aware of the opposition which the Holy Father has faced in his efforts to reconcile the Society of Pius X. The current pressure from the media and others seems to not only threaten Pope Benedict's work with SSPX. It also seems as though some would like to see it work as a means to undermine his very teaching and governing authority for his pontificate.

Given these oppositions which the Holy Father faces; given the particular role of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter in working as a bridge for those who have grown apart from the Church in the last forty years; finally, given that we hold St. Peter as our patron and have a particular attachment to his successor, as also requested by our Superior General Very Rev Fr John Berg, FSSP, I would ask all of the members of the Confraternity of St. Peter to offer increased prayers at this time for strength for Pope Benedict XVI.

I suggest that each of our members may offer the following novena, which will be prayed as well by all our seminarians and priests, beginning on February 14th and concluding on the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, February 22nd.

Please remember that as a CSP member you can earn a plenary indulgence on that day, February 22nd, the second anniversary of the foundation of the CSP. On the same day the CSP chaplains will hold a meeting at the General House and will pray for all your intentions.

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Armand de Malleray, FSSP,
General Chaplain CSP

~~*~~

Novena (February 14 to 22)

Pater Noster, 3 Ave Maria, Gloria Patri

V. Orémus pro Pontífice nostro Benedícto.
R. Dóminus consérvet eum, et vivíficet eum, et beátum fáciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in ánimam inimicórum eius.

V. Tu es Petrus.
R. Et super hanc petram ædificábo Ecclésiam meam.

Orémus. Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, miserére fámulo tuo Pontífici nostro Benedícto : et dírige eum secúndum tuam cleméntiam in viam salútis ætérnæ : ut, te donánte, tibi plácita cúpiat, et tota virtúte perfíciat. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
R. Amen.

V. Mater Ecclésiæ, R. ora pro nobis.
V. Sancte Petre, R. ora pro nobis.


Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory be.

V: Let us pray for our Pope Benedict.

R: May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.

V. Thou art Peter,
R. And upon this Rock, I will build My Church.

Let us Pray,
Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon your servant, Benedict, our Sovereign Pontiff, and guide him in your goodness on the way of eternal salvation; so that, with the prompting of your grace, he may desire what pleases you and accomplish it with all his strength. Through Christ Our Lord.

V. Mother of the Church. R. Pray for us
V. St. Peter. R. Pray for us

Pray for the Pope

Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Benedicto!
Dominus conservet eum,
et vivificet eum,
et beatum faciat eum in terra,
et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius. (Ps. xl:3)