Litaniæ Sanctorum tempore sedis Apostolicæ vacantis (ad usum privatum)

Kýrie, eléison. Kýrie, eléison.

Christe, eléison. Christe, eléison.

Kýrie, eléison. Kýrie, eléison.

Christe, audi nos. Christe, audi nos.

Christe, exáudi nos. Christe, exáudi nos.

Pater de cælis, Deus, miserére nobis.

Fili, Redémptor mundi, Deus, miserére nobis.

Spíritus Sancte, Deus, miserére nobis.

Sancta Trínitas, unus Deus, miserére nobis.

Sancta María, ora pro nobis.

Sancta Dei Génitrix, ora pro nobis.

Sancta Virgo vírginum, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Míchaël, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Gábriel, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Ráphaël, ora pro nobis.

Omnes sancti Ángeli et Archángeli, oráte pro nobis.

Omnes sancti beatórum Spirítuum órdines, oráte pro nobis.

Sancte Joánnes Baptísta, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Joseph, ora pro nobis.

Omnes sancti Patriárchæ et Prophétæ, oráte pro nobis.

Sancte Petre, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Paule, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Andréa, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Jacóbe, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Joánnes, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Thoma, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Jacóbe, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Philíppe, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Bartolomǽe, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Matthǽe, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Simon, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Thaddǽe, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Matthía, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Bárnaba, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Luca, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Marce, ora pro nobis.

Omnes sancti Apóstoli et Evangelístæ, oráte pro nobis.

Omnes sancti Discípuli Dómini, oráte pro nobis.

Omnes sancti Innocéntes, oráte pro nobis.

Sancte Stéphane, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Laurénti, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Vincénti, ora pro nobis.

Sancti Fabiáne et Sebastiáne, oráte pro nobis.

Sancti Joánnes et Paule, oráte pro nobis.

Sancti Cosma et Damiáne, oráte pro nobis.

Sancti Gervási et Protási, oráte pro nobis.

Omnes sancti Mártyres, oráte pro nobis.

Sancte Silvéster, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Gregóri, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Ambrósi, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Augustíne, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Hierónyme, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Martíne, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Nicoláë, ora pro nobis.

Omnes sancti Pontífices et Confessóres, oráte pro nobis.

Omnes sancti Doctóres, oráte pro nobis.

Sancte Antóni, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Benedícte, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Bernárde, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Domínice, ora pro nobis.

Sancte Francísce, ora pro nobis.

Omnes sancti Sacerdótes et Levítæ, oráte pro nobis.

Omnes sancti Mónachi et Eremítæ, oráte pro nobis.

Sancta María Magdaléna, ora pro nobis.

Sancta Agatha, ora pro nobis.

Sancta Lúcia, ora pro nobis.

Sancta Agnes, ora pro nobis.

Sancta Cæcília, ora pro nobis.

Sancta Catharína, ora pro nobis.

Sancta Anastásia, ora pro nobis.

Omnes sanctæ Vírgines et Víduæ, oráte pro nobis.

Omnes Sancti et Sanctæ Dei, intercédite pro nobis.

Propítius esto, parce nobis, Dómine.

Propítius esto, exáudi nos, Dómine.

Ab omni malo, líbera nos, Dómine.

Ab omni peccáto, líbera nos, Dómine.

Ab ira tua, líbera nos, Dómine.

Add. Ab imminéntibus perículis, líbera nos, Dómine.

A subitánea et improvísa morte, líbera nos, Dómine.

Ab insídiis diáboli, líbera nos, Dómine.

Ab ira et ódio et omni mala voluntáte, líbera nos, Dómine.

A spíritu fornicatiónis, líbera nos, Dómine.

A fúlgure et tempestáte, líbera nos, Dómine.

A flagéllo terræmótus, líbera nos, Dómine.

A peste, fame et bello, líbera nos, Dómine.

A morte perpétua, líbera nos, Dómine.

Per mystérium sanctæ Incarnatiónis tuæ, líbera nos, Dómine.

Per advéntum tuum, líbera nos, Dómine.

Per nativitátem tuam, líbera nos, Dómine.

Per baptísmum et sanctum jejúnium tuum, líbera nos, Dómine.

Per crucem et passiónem tuam, líbera nos, Dómine.

Per mortem et sepultúram tuam, líbera nos, Dómine.

Per sanctam resurrectiónem tuam, líbera nos, Dómine.

Per admirábilem ascensiónem tuam, líbera nos, Dómine.

Per advéntum Spíritus Sancti Parácliti, líbera nos, Dómine.

In die judícii, líbera nos, Dómine.

Peccatóres, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut nobis parcas, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut nobis indúlgeas, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut ad veram pœniténtiam nos perdúcere dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut Ecclésiam tuam sanctam régere et conserváre dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Add. Ut Ecclésiæ tuæ sanctæ Domnum Apostólicum tibi accéptum concédere dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut [omit. Domnum Apostólicum et] omnes ecclesiásticos órdines in sancta religióne conserváre dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Add. Ut Turcárum et hæreticórum conátus reprímere et ad níhilum redígere dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut inimícos sanctæ Ecclésiæ humiliáre dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut régibus et princípibus christiánis pacem et veram concórdiam donáre dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut cuncto pópulo christiáno pacem et unitátem largíri dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut omnes errántes ad unitátem Ecclésiæ revocáre, et infidéles univérsos ad Evangélii lumen perdúcere dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut nosmetípsos in tuo sancto servítio confortáre et conserváre dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut mentes nostras ad cæléstia desidéria érigas, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut ómnibus benefactóribus nostris sempitérna bona retríbuas, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut ánimas nostras, fratrum, propinquórum et benefactórum nostrórum ab ætérna damnatióne erípias, te rogámus, audi nos. 

Ut fructus terræ dare et conserváre dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut ómnibus fidélibus defúnctis réquiem ætérnam donáre dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Ut nos exaudíre dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

Fili Dei, te rogámus, audi nos.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi, parce nobis, Dómine.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi, exáudi nos, Dómine.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis.

Christe, audi nos. Christe, audi nos.

Christe, exáudi nos. Christe, exáudi nos.

Kýrie, eléison. Kýrie, eléison.

Christe, eléison. Christe, eléison.

Kýrie, eléison. Kýrie, eléison.

Pater noster, 

(secreto) 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.

Add. Ps. 131

Meménto, Dómine, David, * et omnis mansuetúdinis ejus:

Sicut jurávit Dómino, * votum vovit Deo Jacob:

Si introíero in tabernáculum domus meæ, * si ascéndero in lectum strati mei:

Si dédero somnum óculis meis, * et pálpebris meis dormitatiónem:

Et réquiem tempóribus meis: donec invéniam locum Dómino, * tabernáculum Deo Jacob.

Ecce, audívimus eam in Éphrata: * invénimus eam in campis silvæ.

Introíbimus in tabernáculum ejus: * adorábimus in loco, ubi stetérunt pedes ejus.

Surge, Dómine, in réquiem tuam, * tu et arca sanctificatiónis tuæ.

Sacerdótes tui induántur justítiam: * et sancti tui exsúltent.

Propter David, servum tuum, * non avértas fáciem Christi tui.

Jurávit Dóminus David veritátem, et non frustrábitur eam: * De fructu ventris tui ponam super sedem tuam.

Si custodíerint fílii tui testaméntum meum, * et testimónia mea hæc, quæ docébo eos:

Et fílii eórum usque in sǽculum, * sedébunt super sedem tuam.

Quóniam elégit Dóminus Sion: * elégit eam in habitatiónem sibi.

Hæc réquies mea in sǽculum sǽculi: * hic habitábo quóniam elégi eam.

Víduam ejus benedícens benedícam: * páuperes ejus saturábo pánibus.

Sacerdótes ejus índuam salutári: * et sancti ejus exsultatióne exsultábunt.

Illuc prodúcam cornu David, * parávi lucérnam Christo meo.

Inimícos ejus índuam confusióne: * super ipsum autem efflorébit sanctificátio mea.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

Add. Preces

V. Exáudi, quǽsumus, Dómine, súpplicum preces.

R. Et confiténtium tibi parce peccátis. Or. pro remissione peccatorum

V. Meménto Ecclésiæ tuæ.

R. Quam possedísti ab inítio. Cf. Ps. 73, 2

V. Súscita, Dómine, sacerdótem accéptum tibi.

R. Qui juxta cor tuum et voluntátem tuam fáciat. Cf. 1 Reg. 2, 35

V. Tu, Dómine, qui nosti corda hóminum.

R. Osténde quem elégeris. Cf. Act. 1, 24

V. Dómine, non secúndum peccáta nostra fácias nobis.

R. Neque secúndum iniquitátes nostras retríbuas nobis. Ps. 102, 10

V. Fiat misericórdia tua, Dómine, super nos.

R. Quemádmodum sperávimus in te. Ps. 32, 22

V. Electóres tui induántur justítiam.

R. Et sancti tui exsúltent. Cf. Ps. 131, 9

V. Fiat pax in virtúte tua.

R. Et abundántia in túrribus tuis. Ps. 121, 7

V. Osténde nobis, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam.

R. Et salutáre tuum da nobis. Ps. 84, 8

V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam.

R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat. Ps. 101, 2

(V. Dóminus vobíscum.

R. Et cum spíritu tuo.)

Orémus.

Add. Orationes

1a Oratio pro eligendo Summo Pontifice

Súpplici, Dómine, humilitáte depóscimus: ut sacrosánctæ Románæ Ecclésiæ concédat Pontíficem illum tua imménsa píetas; qui et pio in nos stúdio semper tibi plácitus, et tuo pópulo pro salúbri regímine sit assídue ad glóriam tui nóminis reveréndus.

2a Oratio (Cathedræ S. Petri Ap., alt.) Cf. Matt. 16, 19

Deus, qui beáto Petro Apóstolo tuo, collátis clávibus regni cæléstis, ligándi atque solvéndi pontifícium tradidísti: concéde; ut, intercessiónis ejus auxílio, pontíficem tibi accéptum obtinére valeámus.

3a Oratio (Miss. Rom. 1563, Missa pro electione summi pontificis)

Exáudi, quǽsumus, Dómine, preces pópuli tui, pro eligéndo Ecclésiæ tuæ pastóre humíliter supplicántis, et míttere dignéris Spíritum Sanctum, qui eligéntium mentes illúminet et inflámmet, vota eórum unanímiter in talem dirigéndo, cujus providéntia, te donánte, oves Christi pascántur verbo et exémplo, et sancta cathólica Ecclésia salúbriter gubernétur.

4a Oratio super sindonem (Miss. Amb., pro electione futuri Pontificis; cf. Miss. Rom., in benedictione Abbatis, et pro Papa) Cf. Tit. 2, 7

Concéde, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus, sanctæ Ecclésiæ Cathólicæ eum Pontíficem et Pastórem: qui, exercéndo, quæ recta sunt, exémplo bonórum óperum ánimas suórum ínstruat subditórum; et ætérnæ remuneratiónis mercédem cum crédito sibi grege a te piíssimo Pastóre percípiat.

5a Oratio (Miss. Clun., Missa eligendo Summo Pontifice) Cf. Joan. 21, 17; Luc. 22, 32; 1 Pet. 5, 4

Deus, qui beátum Petrum amóris tui Vicárium, gregi tuo præfecísti; talem ei súscita successórem, qui et fratres suos in fide confírmet, et oves sibi concréditas doctrína veritátis pascat; ut cum apparúerit princeps pastórum, cum illis percípiat immarcescíbilem glóriæ corónam.

6a Oratio (Missale Tolosanum 1774 & Missale Remensis 1770, pro Papa eligendo)

Imménsa píetas tua, Dómine, eum Ecclésiæ tuæ concédat Petri successórem, qui et tibi morum integritáte pláceat, et vígili sollicitúdine gregi tuo prosit.

7a Oratio (Rituale Sacramentorum Romanum 1584; cf. pro omni gradu Ecclesiæ et pro Papa, Feria VI in Parasceve)

Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, cujus Spíritu totum corpus Ecclésiæ sanctificátur et régitur: exáudi nos pro electióne summi Pontíficis supplicántes, ut christiána plebs tali gubernatóre gáudeat, sub quo credulitátis suæ méritis augeátur.

8a Oratio pro quacumque necessitate (Dñica XXII post Pentecosten) Cf. Ps. 45, 2

Deus, refúgium nostrum et virtus: adésto piis Ecclésiæ tuæ précibus, auctor ipse pietátis, et præsta: ut, quod fidéliter pétimus, efficáciter consequámur. 

9a Oratio ad poscenda suffragia Sanctorum (Innocentii III, add. semper et beáto Joseph; cf. Secreta, Missa votiva de omnibus Sanctis, & Or. pro Ecclesiæ libertate)

A cunctis nos, quǽsumus, Dómine, mentis et córporis defénde perículis: et, intercedénte beáta et gloriósa semper Vírgine Dei Genitríce María, cum beáto Joseph, beátis Apóstolis tuis Petro et Paulo, et ómnibus Sanctis, salútem nobis tríbue benígnus et pacem; ut, destrúctis adversitátibus et erróribus univérsis, Ecclésia tua secúra tibi sérviat libertáte. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. R. Amen.

(V. Dóminus vobíscum.

R. Et cum spíritu tuo.)

Vel, V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam.

R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat. Ps. 101, 2

V. Exáudiat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.

R. Add. Et custódiat nos semper. Amen.

V. Et fidélium ánimæ per misericórdiam Dei requiéscant in pace.

R. Amen.

******

The above is the usual Litany of the Saints down as far as the end of the Lord's Prayer, with a special petition for the election of a new Pope, a  consequent modification of the usual petition for the Pope, and two petitions from the Litany for the Forty Hours' Devotion. 

Then, in place of the usual psalm, versicles and collects, come a specially chosen psalm, with appropriate versicles and collects (to which I have added extra collects). The last versicles again contain one addition from the Litany for the Forty Hours' Devotion. 

The principal sources for this are as follows, accessed online: Ordo servandus in processionibus quotidie faciendis tempore sedis vacantis durante conclavi pro electione summi pontificis (1689 & 1758); Litaniæ quotidie recitandæ Apostolica Sede Vacante. Pro electione summi pontificis (1700); pro eligendo Summo Pontifice (1878, pp. 429-431); and Rituale Sacramentorum Romanum, pp. 656-658 (1584).

SEDE VACANTE AUC MMDCCLXXVIII

Today, the 2778th anniversary of the foundation of the City of Rome, on Easter Monday, died Pope Francis; of your charity, pray for the repose of his soul:

Deus, qui inter summos Sacerdótes fámulum tuum Francíscum ineffábili tua dispositióne connumerári voluísti: præsta, quǽsumus; ut, qui unigéniti Fílii tui vices in terris gerébat, sanctórum tuórum Pontíficum consórtio perpétuo aggregétur. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen. 

(O God, who didst will in thine unspeakable disposition to number thy servant Francis amongst the high Priests: grant, we beg, that he, who ruled as vicar of thy Son on earth, may be aggregated to the fellowship of thy holy Pontiffs. Through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who with thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.) 

Pray also that Christ the Lord may speedily grant his beloved Bride, the Catholic Church, a worthy Catholic to be his Vicar on earth, that the next Pope may rule wisely and well, for the salvation of souls and the greater glory of God:

Súpplici, Dómine, humilitáte depóscimus: ut sacrosánctæ Románæ Ecclésiæ concédat Pontíficem illum tua imménsa píetas; qui et pio in nos stúdio semper tibi plácitus, et tuo pópulo pro salúbri regímine sit assídue ad glóriam tui nóminis reveréndus. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen. 

(In suppliant humility, O Lord, we pray earnestly, that thy boundless piety may grant to the most holy Roman Church that Pontiff, who may both by pious zeal for us ever be pleasing unto thee, and to the glory of thy name assiduously be respected by thy people on account of his beneficial rule. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who with thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.)

Participatio Actuosa

Our fortnightly choir practice falling to-night, how better than to sing and pray what a few hours' hence the Cardinal electors shall chant as they advance toward the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo's Last Judgement before their eyes, begging God the Holy Ghost inspire them to choose a fit successor to St Peter? 

After first practising, then we sang in supplication (though not in procession) the Litanies of the Saints and the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus (with added versicle and Collect from a popular Novena), before concluding with the Sub tuum præsidium (appointed for use at the close of the first session).

This was our true, because inward and spiritual, participation in the Conclave, by prayer asking, seeking and knocking, a prayer also outward and vocal, sung "in the beauty of holiness", since we are a complex unity of soul and body.

As we commented later, how terrifying it must be to the Cardinals to enter upon the Conclave, what a weighty responsibility, and how the solemn moment must drive vain and ambitious fancies from any reasonable heart. They need our prayers, and above all him who shall be elected, and in a short time enter the Room of Tears to vest in the Papal clothes.

It was a pleasant surprise to have Bp Robarts of the TAC (a friend of our choir and our priest) join us for prayer and a cuppa afterwards; as cantor, I was stuck by how apposite the petition was that we sang, among so many other invocations and obsecrations:

Ut ómnibus in Christum credéntibus unitátem largíri dignéris, te rogámus, audi nos.

(That thou wouldst deign to grant unity to all who believe in Christ, We beseech Thee, hear us.)

God grant us, not the Pontiff our sins and indifference deserve, but such a most merciful and faithful High Priest as shall stand in the holy place, purge out all the corruptions into which Holy Church has fallen, and by his true preaching save many souls, to the glory of God.

Change the Cut-Off Age?

Pope Sixtus V fixed the number of Cardinals at seventy in his bull of 1587; Bl John XXIII first exceeded this limit in 1958. In 1970, Paul VI established a cut-off age of 80 for Cardinals, above which, while retaining their Cardinatial rank, they could no longer vote in a Conclave; and in 1973 he limited the number of Cardinal-electors to 120.

Now, bishops are required to submit their resignation to the Roman Pontiff when they turn 75, and he may choose to accept these resignations (indeed, he may himself choose to abdicate, as recent events have demonstrated). So it seems somewhat odd that a Cardinal may still vote to elect a Pope, when that same Cardinal, though under 80, is over 75, and has submitted his own resignation from whatever other ecclesiastical office he may hold (such as Archbishop of a see, or head of some curial department), let alone if that resignation has been accepted.

Would it not, then, seem more reasonable to drop the cut-off age for Cardinals by five years, so that, when the Roman See falls vacant, only those not yet 75 years old may vote? This would have an additional advantage, in that all the pairs of Cardinal-electors, one of whom holds a position, and the other held the same position but is now, for instance, Archbishop or Prefect emeritus, would cease to exist.

Furthermore, a simple calculation demonstrates that such a reduction would reduce the number of Cardinal-electors at present to 66, within the old limit of seventy that endured from Tridentine to modern times. It may be argued that 120 is too unwieldy a number.

The main problem with this change would be that it would clear out all but one of the Cardinal-bishops, and all of the holders of the seven suburbicarian sees. It would be necessary to make a new provision, whereby Cardinal-bishops of those sees who pass their 75th birthday should thereafter become emeritus holders of those titles, while the Pope could create new Cardinal-Bishops to have the title of the suburbicarian sees. Similarly, rather than the clumsy rule whereby the Dean and Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals hold office indefinitely, and – as this year – neither may be eligible to attend the Conclave, they too ought resign their positions when they turn 75, and new ones be chosen.

I am conscious of the fact that Benedict XVI would have been ineligible to attend the Conclave of 2005 under these rules; but the Cardinal-electors are under no obligation to choose one of their own, and the Italian newspapers have seriously suggested that in this upcoming Papal election the Cardinals could elect one of the non-voting Cardinals.

A smaller, slightly younger Conclave could well represent the sort of sane, conservative reform measure that the next Pope may consider implementing. It would not represent a major shift, but could send an important signal.

Even I'm Scandalized

Cardinal O'Brien has resigned in disgrace, and won't attend the Conclave! I'd thought that I was unshockable by these scandals, but the contrast between his vocal stance against unnatural pretended marriage, and the accusations against him, makes for a particularly upsetting form of hypocrisy. Why, in this modern age, do priests and prelates still think they can get away with being less than simon-pure? The skeletons don't stay in the closet anymore (nor do the clergy themselves).

Yes, such scandals and worse have tainted the Church down the ages (think of the Borgias in the Vatican, or the Pornocracy of the tenth century) – but combine it with modern media coverage, and how pleasing to the devils must be the result. Note also that the very similar sins and scandals of the more "liberal" clergy do not attract such attention – presumably the hypocrisy is lessened, given that they have not even bothered to pretend to decry what they love.

If per impossibile we did not have any great motive to pray for the election of the next Pope, then surely the crying need for this cesspool to be mucked out would be motivation enough.

Lord, send us a Pope who will be a true and great Reformer.

"Empty and evil hearts... How much filth..." - even in the Vatican

So it has come to this: La Repubblica reports on what the three Cardinals tasked by Benedict to investigate Curial intrigues and worse informed him about – Vatican officials no better than whitened sepulchres, so corrupted are they by their continual breaking of the sixth and seventh commandments, that is, by homosexual vice, and theft of money, money laundering, and every sort of malfeasance courtesy of the notoriously dubious "Vatican Bank". Judases, not just selling their souls for thirty pieces of silver, but committing sacrilege against their bodies, bodies consecrated to celibate chastity, for the sake of carnal pleasure! What more can be said?

Exhausted, worn out, frail with age, and now informed that the among the men who ought work for him are slaves of the Devil instead, who can wonder that the Pope has decided to resign, having prudently and carefully adjudged himself unable to fulfil his Petrine ministry given his advanced age and incapacity, and thus in duty bound to beg the Lord to appoint a new Pontiff in his stead? Pray, as Benedict no doubt does so fervently, that the new Pope to be elected will be a man of steel, able and willing to purge out the Augean stables that the Roman Curia, hitherto ever resistant to all real reform, has proven to be. From corrupt and cynical prelates, priests of empty and evil heart, good Lord, deliver us. And send us, Lord, a truly holy man of God, be he a Cardinal or not, to be the Pope to do what must be done.

Those words of His Holiness, which he spoke while yet a Cardinal, at the Ninth of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday in 2005, prove ever more prophetic and terrifying in their dreadful import:

What can the third fall of Jesus under the Cross say to us? We have considered the fall of man in general, and the falling of many Christians away from Christ and into a godless secularism. Should we not also think of how much Christ suffers in his own Church? How often is the holy sacrament of his Presence abused, how often must he enter empty and evil hearts! How often do we celebrate only ourselves, without even realizing that he is there! How often is his Word twisted and misused! What little faith is present behind so many theories, so many empty words! How much filth there is in the Church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to him! How much pride, how much self-complacency! What little respect we pay to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where he waits for us, ready to raise us up whenever we fall! All this is present in his Passion. His betrayal by his disciples, their unworthy reception of his Body and Blood, is certainly the greatest suffering endured by the Redeemer; it pierces his heart. We can only call to him from the depths of our hearts: Kyrie eleison –­ Lord, save us (cf. Mt 8: 25).

I turn now to the famous prayer for Christ's Church – now taken up for Catholic use, courtesy of the Ordinariates established by Pope Benedict – authored by the Anglican William Laud so long ago:

Gracious Father, we humbly beseech Thee to bless Thy holy Catholic Church, and fill it with truth and grace. Where it is corrupt, purge it; where it is in error, direct it; where anything is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen and confirm it; where it is wanting, furnish it; where it is divided and rent asunder, heal the breaches thereof, O Thou Holy One of Israel, for Jesus Christ’s sake, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost now liveth and reigneth, world without end.  Amen.

Mahony - Stay Home!

No Mahony!

I am glad to learn that many Catholics throughout the world are now publicly urging Roger Cardinal Mahony to desist from attending the upcoming Conclave, lest the notorious scandal of his poor handling (to say the least) of so many clerical sexual abuse cases in his former see of Los Angeles further besmirch the reputation of the Church and even the yet-to-be-elected Pope.

Your Eminence – for the good of the Church and souls, don't go to Rome: stay home.