On Papal Resignation

I was as shocked as anyone to hear today the announcement of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation. As usual, the usual people have the usual things to say. The AP says that he is a failure, and his papacy is marked by scandals that the Pope was either complicit in or ignorant of. Tom Peters has a good post on what it means, with links to Ed Peters on the law and politics of a Papal conclave. Thomas McDonald has an interview with my own Bishop O'Connell on the subject. Everyone from Cardinal Dolan to Michael Voris has something to say, and I am not smart enough or well spoken enough to add much to what they say.

But I will say this to those who will spend the next few weeks worrying about who will lead the Church next - trust the Holy Spirit. Popes will come and go. Some will be great, others mediocre or even bad. But the gates of hell shall not prevail.

Blessed Pope John Paul II ora pro nobis.

For any who wish to join me I plan to spend the 18 days from now until 2/28  praying the following novena for a Papal conclave that Jennifer E shared on Google +:

Prepared by Dr. Mark Miravalle, a professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville (from 2005).

Novena Prayer for a 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 at the beginning of the Third Millennium.

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. Holy 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:

1 Our Father
1 Hail Mary
1 Glory Be

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us

Posted in: