It’s November 1st, All Saints’ Day (a holy day of obligation), and the day to print your “pray for priests” calendar:
www.mprp-roc.org/mprp10-13november.html
Don’t forget to pray for the future 9th bishop of Rochester as well as current and future seminarians.
Thank you to the good folks at mprp-roc.org for providing these calendars.
Also, the Pope’s prayer intentions for November are:
|Vatican City, 31 October 2013 (VIS) – Pope Francis’ prayer intention for November is: “That priests who experience difficulties may find comfort in their suffering, support in their doubts, and confirmation in their fidelity”.
His mission intention is: “That as fruit of the continental mission, Latin American Churches may send missionaries to other Churches”.
We might need some special prayer for priests leading up to and during the Advent Season this year. Apparently there is some misunderstanding about whether or not our Apostolic Administrator really meant no penance services (i.e. no general absolution) for last Lent, or from now on. Dribbling out of some liturgy committees is planning for 1 or 2 Advent penance (general absolution unless you have mortal sin) services. So, as the evil one said to Eve: “Did He really say that?” we ask: “Did he really say no general absolution services in the Syracuse and Rochester dioceses” would continue past Lent, into the next Church year? (Does Canon Law require a bishop to renew his declarations every year? I have no idea.)
I just hope those closely reading church bulletins or participating on liturgy committees will take careful note of what is happening and do something about it. You may hear it posed as simply a prayer and examination of conscience service, but even if general absolution is not conferred, will the people think it is a real conveying of forgiveness as in prior years, or not? And will faithful priests under such a pastor cave and participate or not? Sorry to grab this post, but I think it is as good a place to discuss bolstering up our priests as any, for the kinds of pressure they face from all sides.