Tuesday, February 19, First Week of Lent
ST. CORRADO (Conrad) DA PIACENZA (Italy, 1290-1350), Lay Franciscan, Hermit
Corrado and his wife both belonged to nobility in Piacenza, central Italy. One day, during a hunt,
he accidentally set fire to a field that spread to the nearby forest. A peasant was accused and
sentenced to death for the crime. Corrado owned up and had to indemnify all the damages. This
drained his personal resources, and soon thereafter, he and his wife entered the religious life.
She joined the Poor Clares. He joined the Third Order of Franciscans, where he soon earned such
a reputation for holiness and received so many visitors that he left for Noto, in Sicily, where he
lived for 36 years until his death as a hermit. He was a reputed miracle-worker even in his solitary
life of prayer. He is said to have died on his knees before a Crucifix. For some reason, he is invoked
to cure hernias. He was canonized in 1625.
Readings for today's Mass: www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021913.cfm
AT THE VATICAN TODAY
The Holy Father is on the third day of a weeklong spiritual retreat at the Vatican with members of the Roman Curia.
The Press Office announced that tomorrow, Wednesday, 20 February 2013, at 11:30am in the John Paul II Hall of the Holy See Press Office, Dr. Ambrogio Piazzoni, vice-prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library, will hold a press briefing on the history of the past Conclaves.
With unbearable poignancy and a heavy heart, I am posting my last monthly 'commemoration' of the election of Benedict XVI while he is Pope,
although I will continue to post it every month as long as this Forum exists, or elsewhere in some way...
SEVEN YEARS, TEN MONTHS
AND ONLY NINE MORE DAYS LEFT
OF A GREAT HISTORIC PONTIFICATE...
AD MULTOS ANNOS, SANCTE PATER/JOSEPH RATZINGER!
Our love and prayers will always be with you.
The Web-based novena for Benedict XVI begins tomorrow:
The novena prayers:
Heavenly father, Your Providence guides the Church and the successor to St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI. May he be protected at all times from spiritual attacks so that he may lead Your Church to greater holiness and unity through your Holy Spirit.
Prince of Peace, we come to you today to ask for your grace of peace for our Holy Father. There are many problems in the world and in the Church that he must address everyday. We beg you for peace in the world, peace in our hearts as we face the brokenness of a fallen world and peace for the Pope as he shepherds your Church.
Dear Lord, your servant Benedict has given his life for the Church and for You. As he now steps down from leadership, please protect his health as he grows older so that he can continue to serve you in prayer.
Jesus, you gave to us a great Pope in Benedict XVI. You blessed him with wisdom, insight and intelligence to help guide your Church on an intellectual level. We pray for his ministry as a teacher specifically through his writing. We pray that his writings about you will reach the whole world with your saving message. We pray for a deeper understanding of our faith through the Pope’s writings.
Jesus, we pray for our beloved Pope and for his intentions. We pray for his personal intentions and for his recent decision to resign. That your will be done through the election of his successor.
Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd, Benedict XVI, a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care in these last days of his rule, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and the Vicar of Christ, continue to build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world.
[Insert your personal petitions for Benedict XVI]
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.
May your hand be upon your holy servant.
And upon your son, whom you have anointed.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Amen.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 19/02/2013 17:34]