Director's Message: Our Pope

The announcement from our Holy Father this morning that he will be stepping down at the end of the month saddens my heart, for he has been a good and faithful servant. At the same time it is also a beautiful reminder that the Holy Spirit has always been with the Church, and always will. Our Lord asks us to trust, and pray. 

 As we enter Lent, I urge each of us to direct our prayers and sacrifices to the needs of holy Mother Church. This is a time of great grace, and as Scripture reminds us, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against us" (Mt 16:18). God never loses battles. Trust in His providence. To prepare our hearts, and the hearts of the Cardinals, check out the prayer for the upcoming conclave. 

I remain with you in prayer,
Melissa

Novena Prayer for the Conclave

Heavenly Father,

We, the people of God, gathered in solidarity as did the disciples in the Upper Room, pray for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the cardinals who will be in conclave for the election of the next Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the hearts of our cardinals be open to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, beyond any human judgment, to elect the candidate most pleasing to you, Heavenly Father, and who will guide the Church at this momentous time in history and the beginning of the Third Millenium.

We invoke our Mother Mary, united in prayer with the disciples in the Upper Room, to intercede for our cardinals to select the next Holy Father in docility to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, her divine Spouse. With Mary, Mother of God and of the Church, we entrust this conclave to your maternal and Immaculate Heart, and offer these prayers for your guidance and protection over the choosing of the next Vicar of your Son.

Our Father...

Hail Mary...

Glory Be...

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

(credit: Dr. Mark Miravalle)