April 7, 2010

Knights urge faithful to pray novena for pontiff

The Knights of Columbus, the largest Catholic lay organization in the world, is urging the faithful to pray a special novena for Pope Benedict XVI beginning on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 11, and concluding on April 19, which is the fifth anniversary of the Holy Father’s election in 2005.

All Catholics are invited to join the Knights in praying for the pope and for his pastoral mission as he and the Church respond to criticism of the way Catholic leaders have handled the clergy sex abuse scandal. The prayer (see below) may be downloaded at www.kofc.org.

PRAYER FOR POPE BENEDICT XVI

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd, Benedict, a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world. Amen.
V: Let us pray for Benedict, the pope.
R: May the Lord preserve him, give him a long life, make him blessed upon the earth, and not hand him over to the power of his enemies.
V: May your hand be upon your holy servant.
R: And upon your son, whom you have anointed.
Conclude with: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Adapted from the Manual of Prayers by the Knights of Columbus

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