The Last Vespers we pray for Pope Benedict XVI ( Preces Feriales )

Preces Feriales {habentur} Kyrie, eléison. Christe, eléison. Kyrie, eléison. Pater noster, qui es in cælis, sanctificétur nomen tuum: advéniat regnum tuum: fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie: et dimítte nobis débita nostra, sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris: V. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem: R. Sed líbera nos a malo. V. Ego dixi: Dómine, miserére mei. R. Sana ánimam meam quia peccávi tibi. V. Convértere, Dómine, úsquequo? R. Et deprecábilis esto super servos tuos. V. Fiat misericórdia tua, Dómine, super nos. R. Quemádmodum sperávimus in te. V. Sacerdótes tui induántur iustítiam. R. Et sancti tui exsúltent. V. Orémus pro beatíssimo Papa nostro N. R. Dóminus consérvet eum, et vivíficet eum, et beátum fáciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in ánimam inimicórum eius. V. Orémus et pro Antístite nostro N. R. Stet et pascat in fortitúdine tua, Dómine, in sublimitáte nóminis tui. Romæ præcedens Versus cum suo Responsorio omittitur; alibi vero ad litteram N. ab omnibus nomen diœcesani Episcopi exprimatur, Vacante Apostolica vel Episcopali Sede, alteruter vel uterque respectivus Versus cum suo Responsorio præteritur.	Weekday intercessions {included} Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. V. And lead us not into temptation: R. But deliver us from evil. V. I said: Lord, be merciful unto me: R. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee. V. Turn thee again, O Lord; how long will it be? R. And be gracious unto thy servants. V. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us. R. As we have hoped in thee. V. Let thy priests be clothed with justice: R. And may thy saints rejoice. V. Let us pray for our most blessed Pope N. R. The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth: and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. V. Let us pray for our bishop N. R. May he stand firm and care for us in the strength of the Lord, in the might of thy name. In Rome, the preceding Versicle and its Response are omitted. Elsewhere, the name of the local Ordinary is inserted at the letter N. If the Holy See or the See of the local Bishop is vacant, the appropriate V. and R., either or both as the case may be, is omitted.
V. Dómine, salvum fac regem. R. Et exáudi nos in die, qua invocavérimus te. V. Salvum fac pópulum tuum, Dómine, et bénedic hereditáti tuæ. R. Et rege eos, et extólle illos usque in ætérnum. V. Meménto Congregatiónis tuæ. R. Quam possedísti ab inítio. V. Fiat pax in virtúte tua. R. Et abundántia in túrribus tuis. V. Orémus pro benefactóribus nostris. R. Retribúere dignáre, Dómine, ómnibus, nobis bona faciéntibus propter nomen tuum, vitam æternam. Amen. V. Orémus pro fidélibus defúnctis. R. Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat eis. V. Requiéscant in pace. R. Amen. V. Pro frátribus nostris abséntibus. R. Salvos fac servos tuos, Deus meus, sperántes in te. V. Pro afflíctis et captívis. R. Líbera eos, Deus Israël, ex ómnibus tribulatiónibus suis. V. Mitte eis, Dómine, auxílium de sancto. R. Et de Sion tuére eos. V. Dómine, Deus virtútum, convérte nos. R. Et osténde fáciem tuam, et salvi érimus. V. Exsúrge, Christe, ádiuva nos. R. Et líbera nos propter nomen tuum. V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat.	V. O Lord, save our leaders. R. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. V. O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: R. Govern them and lift them up for ever. V. Remember thy congregation, R. Which thou hast possessed from the beginning. V. Let peace be in thy strength. R. And abundance in thy towers. V. Let us pray for our benefactors. R. O Lord, for thy name's sake, deign to reward with eternal life all who do us good. Amen. V. Let us pray for the faithful departed. R. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. V. May they rest in peace. R. Amen. V. Let us pray for our absent brothers. R. Save thy servants, O God, who put their trust in thee. V. Let us pray for the afflicted and imprisoned. R. Deliver them, God of Israel, from all their tribulations. V. O Lord, send them help from thy sanctuary. R. And defend them out of Sion. V. Turn us again, O Lord, God of Hosts. R. Show us thy face, and we shall be whole. V. Arise, O Christ, and help us. R. And redeem us for thy name's sake. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto thee.
Oratio {ex Proprio de Tempore} secunda 'Domine, exaudi' omittitur Orémus Deus, innocentiae restitutor et amator, dirige ad te tuorum corda servorum: ut spiritus tui fervore concepto, et in fide inveniantur stabiles, et in opere efficaces. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. R. Amen.	Prayer {from the Proper of the season} skip second 'O Lord, hear my prayer' Let us pray God, the Renewer and Lover of innocency, turn the hearts of all thy servants to thyself, that so they, being enkindled with the fire of thy Spirit, may be found ever rooted in faith, and fruitful in works. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
Conclusio V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat. V. Benedicámus Dómino. R. Deo grátias. V. Fidélium ánimæ per misericórdiam Dei requiéscant in pace. R. Amen.	Finish V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto thee. V. Let us bless the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. V. May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen.

Papa Semper

Very few saw it coming. As we all experience the shock, sadness, and mourning of losing our beloved Pope Benedict XVI- not through death but resignation- we continue to struggle for answers and pray and reach for the trust and faith we know should be ours.

But we're filled with many questions. What do we call him after he resigns? Where will he go? How can he leave us?

Boomers like me immediately compare Benedict with the the Pope who filled most of our life- Blessed John Paul. How could Benedict step down when John Paul showed the world what suffering and the dignity of old age really was?

But it isn't fair to compare the two Pontiffs. While great friends with great respect toward one another, they are very different. And so were their Papacies. Benedict called himself a "little pope" and JPII a "great pope." While taking nothing away from beloved Pope John Paul, who changed our lives, what Pope Benedict accomplished in seven years would make even a super hero tired.

Pope Benedict's legacy will most certainly include the restoration of orthodoxy in the liturgy, especially in reviving the Extraordinary Form, orthodox appointments to the College of Cardinals, and in relations with Anglicans, The Society of Pius X, and the orthodox churches. And numerous books, and trips. Remember, Joseph Ratzinger was never one to see himself in the spotlight- unlike Karol Wojtyla, who was born to be on the world's stage. While we would like to see him stay to fulfill this mission, Papa knows best. And who has the most direct link to Heaven, if not the Vicar of Christ?

Cardinal Arinze explains:

"I haven't any doubt about his wisdom," the cardinal said. "He doesn't rush. He is not rash. He is gentle. But he's also clear-headed and firm."

Benedict, on the other hand, is teaching another lesson. He recognizes that he can no longer give his best to the Church, he loves. He is willingly stepping down so that another pope may more effectively lead the Church. Benedict’s greatest gift to the Church and the world is his humility. His resignation will set a precedent for future popes. And, his humility will be spoken of until the end of time.- Fr. Michael Orsi

Pope Benedict shows us there is dignity in relinquishing his position, in the humility it takes to know one's limitations, and to allow for the Holy Spirit to breathe life once again into Holy Mother Church. He is doing what is best for us, whether we understand or not. Courage and virtue come in many forms.

We love you Papa Benedict! Pray for us, as we pray for you!


Let us pray. O God, our refuge and our strength, look down with mercy upon the people who cry to Thee; and by the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Joseph her spouse, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of the Holy Mother the Church. Through the same Christ Our Lord.

Read more: http://canonlawblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/papa-emeritus/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Is it surprising that the Pope tweets?

I checked my iPhone on Tuesday afternoon, and caught the breaking news that the Pope sent his first tweet. The next three tweets were insulting and offensive. Is that to be expected? An 80-something year old Pontiff is on an iPad. I think it's great! Yeah, the video revealed he isn't too familiar with the iPad, and maybe he doesn't even use a computer, and may never again. I, for one, hope I get another tweet from @PopeBenedictXVI ! As one of his 10,000+ followers, I would love to see a tweet every once in a while.

There were some very clever popular tweets about Papa Bene that made me chuckle.

My tweet lord: Pope joins Twitter and launches new Vatican website
Pope Benedict sends very first Papal tweet. With over 1 billion followers-look out Lady Gaga.
The Pope joins Twitter (and on an iPad, no less.)
UPDATE: Pope Benedict's first tweet announced that he was now the mayor of the Popemobile on FourSquare.
The Pope sent his first tweet "Praise be our Lord". Um someone should tell him he needs to put @lord if he wants him to see it.
The Pope's on Twitter, which really just raises the question of what his Klout score is
Can the Pope tweet infallibly?
The Pope used an Ipad to send his first tweet, because Steve Jobs needed a self esteem boost.

And my fav:

The Pope just sent his first Tweet. It came from an iPad. He also plays Angry Birds on it but only uses the Cardinals.

Let's not forget, it was Pope Blessed John Paul II who first commissioned the Church to "put out into the deep of the net" in 2002. Nevertheless, history has been made- and as one of his 10,000+ followers, I would love to see a tweet every once in a while, not just to launch a new website!

Will you follow @PopeBenedictXVI?