On February 11, Keeping It Catholic initiated a 54 Day Rosary Novena appeal for the Holy Father's intentions. The Rosary Novena begins on February 18 and continues every every day up to and including Easter. We're asking (and still requesting) thousands of Catholics to add their names to join us in the "Promise of Rosary Prayers" list, which will be sent to the Pope within a few short days!
On February 12, the FSSP (in English, Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter) made an appeal for a 9 day Novena for the Pope, from Feb.14-22. Specifically, they asked for a 9 day Novena to the Holy Ghost.
On February 13, the Pope himself asked for prayers for "the ship of Peter."
The Holy Father said, "Let us ask the Lord, Who guides the fortunes of the 'Ship of Peter' among the not-always easy events of history, to continue to watch over this small state."
"Above all," he urged, "let us ask Him to help, with the power of his Spirit, Peter's Successor who stands at the helm of this ship, that he may faithfully and effectively undertake his ministry as the foundation of unity of the Catholic Church, which has its visible center in the Vatican whence it expands to all the corners of the earth."("Pope Urges Prayers for Ship of Peter," Zenit)
The Holy Father's choice of words again bring to mind a prophetic dream of St. John Bosco's, in which the saint saw a Pope STANDING AT THE HELM OF A GREAT SHIP (the Barque of Peter) under assault from enemy ships. The saint also saw smaller ships, attached to the great ship, which represent those lovingly attached to the Church. Those ships defended the Barque while enemy ships attacked it. The saint also saw the captains of the smaller ships attend TWO different councils with the Pope [Vatican I and Vatican II?]. After both councils, storms on the sea battered the ship as the Pope stood at the helm, trying to make the Great Ship advance and rest between two great pillars (the Holy Eucharist and Mary Most Holy)...In St. John Bosco's dream, it was after the second council that the raging storm intensified, until finally the Church's enemies actually boarded the Barque and engaged in hand-to-hand combat! It was then that the Pope was gravely wounded, fell, and lifted up by faithful servants, only to be wounded again - and die. (For more details about this dream, please read Fatima and the Great Et Cetera.)
Was it then a mere coincidence that Pope Benedict XVI chose to ask for prayers with these words:
"Let us ask the Lord....to help, with the power of his Spirit, Peter's Successor who stands at the helm of this ship, that he may faithfully and effectively undertake his ministry as the foundation of unity of the Catholic Church, which has its visible center in the Vatican whence it expands to all the corners ofthe earth."
Once more, we at Keeping It Catholic ask for what amounts to three simple requests:
1) Beginning this Wednesday, February 18th, please join us in the 54 Day Rosary Novena so that we may respond to the Holy Father's very gentle request to pray for his intentions!
2) Please ask others to also join the 54 Day Rosary Novena by forwarding this message (just click the small white envelope at the bottom of this post to send it to family, friends and co-workers).
3) To all who will participate in the Rosary Novena: Kindly email keepitcatholic@usa.net with your full name and (if applicable) title or degree, so your name can be added to the "Promise of Rosary Prayers" list and sent to the Holy Father.
May we all respond to the Holy Father's request for prayers for PETER'S SUCCESSOR who STANDS AT THE HELM OF THE BARQUE OF PETER!
We have only three days before sending the "Promise of Prayers" gift, which will be sent to Pope Benedict XVI. Can we - will we - pray one Rosary every day for the Steward of the Catholic City?
In recent weeks, the outpouring of outrage against the Pope - from within the Church as well as outside of it - is a signal that we must act in defense of the true Church and Her Vicar. As always, the best defense is the Rosary, which St. Pio called "the weapon." Through the Rosary, the Virgin Queen of the Catholic City willingly grants a "storehouse of blessings" (as Blessed Alan de la Roche beautifully phrased it) and graces to those who pray the Rosary and to those for whom we pray!
The time is well-overdue for the Church Militant to spiritually band together and advance forward, like the Romans of old, shields up in 'tortoise' formation. But we can do even better because --- the Rosary is not only our shield but also our best weapon!
To repeat: Would you please forward the message below to all those of goodwill: family, friends, priests, nuns, other Catholic email lists, Catholic organizations (from homeschooling groups to pro-life groups), Catholic publications, Catholic schools and colleges - you name it! Ask Catholic webmasters and bloggers to join and to add this entire message to their pages.
Don't Forget: Please ask everyone to alert Keeping It Catholic by email so that their names can be added to the list which will be sent to the Holy Father on the evening of February 18th (this Wednesday!). - MCB, Keeping It Catholic
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