As the Church crisis continues, and Catholics around the world pray for God’s guidance, it seems particularly appropriate to pray for Pope Francis.
These two prayers are excellent in that regard. I hope you’ll all join me in praying them:
Almighty and Everlasting God, have mercy on Thy servant N., our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy loving kindness, in the way of eternal salvation, that with Thy help he may ever desire that which is pleasing to Thee and accomplish it with all his strength. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
A PRAYER TO SAINT GREGORY VII, POPE AND CONFESSOR
O invincible defender of Holy Church’s freedom, Saint Gregory of great renown, by that firmness thou didst show in maintaining the Church’s rights against all her enemies, stretch forth from Heaven thy mighty arm, we beseech thee, to comfort her and defend her in the fearful battle she must ever wage with the powers of darkness. Do thou, in an especial manner, give strength in this dread conflict to the venerable Pontiff who has fallen heir not only to thy throne, but likewise to the fearlessness of thy mighty heart; obtain for him the joy of beholding his holy endeavors crowned by the triumph of the Church and the return of the lost sheep into the right path. Grant, finally, that all may understand how vain it is to strive against that faith which has always conquered and is destined always to conquer: “this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.” This is the prayer that we raise to thee with one accord; and we are confident, that, after thou hast heard our prayers on earth, thou wilt one day call us to stand with thee in Heaven, before the eternal High Priest, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.
This post has been updated.
Steve Skojec is the Founding Publisher of OnePeterFive.com. He received his BA in Communications and Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2001. His commentary has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Crisis Magazine, EWTN, Huffington Post Live, The Fox News Channel, Foreign Policy, and the BBC. Steve and his wife Jamie have eight children. You can find more of his writing at his Substack, The Skojec File.
My favourite one:
http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Varia/ProPapa.html
Nope. not for this pontiff.
May I make a request of the editor? When you put up a gorgeous bit of Catholic art, could you put a little bit of a blurb under it to tell us the title of the painting and the artist and if possible the date? I’d like to know. I think I recognise the style here of Guido Reni, one of my favourite Baroque painters. But then again, my brain whispers “Rubens” just to be difficult.
i want to say Reni because of the great similarity in style with this Matthew and the Angel by Reni that’s in the V. museums. (And came to visit Toronto once, where I saw it first.) In real life it’s captivating. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b2221d24b0cc636ca45bc05e2bcb099120d509cc04e9e64e8098a7fe60044273.jpg