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.)

Habemus Papam - Pope Francis

The Lord bless him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not into the hands of his enemies!

God bless Pope Francis – formerly Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

I was awoken to the news breaking via radio, and raced to turn on the television, hear the Habemus Papam, and then watched him come forth, listened to him speak, and received his Apostolic Blessing. I was moved by his evident piety, in asking for prayers for Benedict XVI, leading the crowd in a Pater, Ave and Gloria, and then asking all to pray for him – which the vast host did, falling silent in prayer – before he gave all the world his blessing.

He certainly looks a Pope, humble and kindly.

At Mass at Carmel this morning, my parish priest offered the Sacrifice for our new Pope, and reminded us that Our Lord doubtless says to His Vicar what He once said to St Francis of Assisi: "Rebuild My House, which is falling into ruin".

His radical choice of name speaks of the voluntary poverty and humility and evangelizing zeal and love of Christ and His Church that was the mark of St Francis; and it refers also to the great Jesuit missionary St Francis Xavier.

His episcopal (and now papal) motto, miserando atque eligendo, "lowly and yet chosen", has certainly come true! It apparently derives from St Bede the Venerable's Homily 21 for the feast of St Matthew the Evangelist:

Vidit ergo Jesus publicanum, et quia miserando atque eligendo vidit, ait illi, Sequere me. Sequere autem dixit imitare. Sequere dixit non tam incessu pedum, quam executione morum.

(For Jesus saw the tax collector, and because he saw one who needed mercy and to be chosen, he said to him “Follow me”. And he said “follow” meaning “to imitate”. He said “Follow” not so much with the movement of the feet, as by the practice of life.)

God grant that this son of St Ignatius in all things work for the greater glory of God: for what we need now is holiness, the only cure for the ills of the Church and the world.

His Holiness has asked our prayers – pray therefore:

Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy on your servant Pope Francis, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to your loving kindness, in the way of eternal salvation, that with your help he may ever desire that which is pleasing to you and accomplish it with all his strength. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus, shelter our Holy Father the Pope under the protection of Your Sacred Heart. Be his light, his strength and his consolation.

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.

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.

Litany for the Election of the New Pope

While I mourn for the impeding abdication of Pope Benedict XVI, whose Papacy I prayed would endure still, I can but bow my head in sorrowful acknowledgement of the wisdom of this most humble Servant of the Servants of God, knowing that he, after wrestling in prayer before God, has freely determined in conscience that for the good of the Church and souls it were best for him to abdicate, that the burden now too great for him to bear should be taken up by a new Pope.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant

As of 6 am on Friday the 1st of March (local time here in Eastern Australia), just a fortnight away, the Holy Roman Church will be sede vacante.  All faithful men ought then turn their eyes and lift up hearts and hands to God in heaven, begging the Lord, true Pastor of the Universal Church, to grant us a Pope not according to our sins but according to our dire needs. Certainly he who will have abdicated will be interceding to this end; as Fr Pacwa remarked, it may be more by his prayer and contemplation than even by his Petrine ministry that Benedict shall accomplish what it shall please God to grant (it would be foul Americanism, that detestable heresy, to say otherwise).

Here is a slightly updated version of a private Litany I drew up at the time of the last Papal election, in 2005. It certainly worked then! – so may it storm heaven now:

LITANY FOR THE ELECTION OF A POPE

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Church, pray for us.

St Michael Archangel, Protector of the Universal Church, pray for us.

All holy Angels and Archangels, and all holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.

St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.

SS Peter and Paul, Princes of the Apostles, Founders of the Church of Rome, pray for us. 

St Linus, pray for us.

St Cletus, pray for us.

St Clement, pray for us.

St Sixtus, pray for us.

St Cornelius, pray for us.

All Holy Popes and Martyrs, pray for us.

All Martyrs of the Church of Rome, pray for us.

St Leo the Great, pray for us.

St Gregory the Great, pray for us.

St Pius V, pray for us.

St Pius X, pray for us.

Bl Pius IX, pray for us.

Bl John XXIII, pray for us.

Bl John Paul II, pray for us.

All Holy Popes, pray for us.

All Saints of God, holy men and women, pray for us.

Be merciful, Graciously hear us, Lord.

Be merciful, Spare us, Lord.

We sinners, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to rule and preserve thy holy Church, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst not forsake thy Church bereft of her pastor, We beseech thee, hear us.

That the universal Church, spiritually united with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, would persevere with one heart in prayer, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst grant the Church a new Pope as a gift of thy goodness and providence, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst raise up and provide for thy people a shepherd after thine own heart, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst raise up for thyself a faithful priest, who shall act according to thy heart and soul, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to direct the Cardinals of the most holy Roman church by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst enlighten the electors and make them likeminded in their task, We beseech thee, hear us.

That a speedy, harmonious and fruitful election may take place, as the salvation of souls and the good of the whole people of God demand, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou deign graciously to hear us, We beseech thee, hear us.

Son of God, We beseech thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Our Father…

Psalm 122

To thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven.

Behold as the eyes of the servants are on the hands of their masters, 

As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress: so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: for we are greatly filled with contempt.

For our soul is greatly filled: we are a reproach to the rich, and contempt to the proud.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. 

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V/. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R/. Who made heaven and earth.

V/. Lord, hear our prayer.

R/. And let our cry come unto thee.

Let us pray.

Lord, with humility we entreat thee, that in thy boundless mercy thou wouldst grant the most holy Roman Church a pontiff who, by his zeal for us, may ever be pleasing to thee, and, by his good government, may ever be honoured by thy people, to the glory of thy name.

Grant us, Lord, from the fulness of thy loving kindness, that we may rejoice in a pontiff pleasing to thy majesty to rule over the government of holy Mother Church.

May we, Lord, be gladdened by the wonderful grace of thy majesty in granting us a supreme pontiff, who shall both instruct thy people by his virtues, and fill the minds of the faithful with spiritual fragrance. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

V/. May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us.

R/. Amen.

Names...

Benedict XVII? (A most suitable gesture, signifying deep respect and a pledge of continuity, but perhaps confusing, given "ex-Benedict" would be living in a granny flat in the garden.)

John Paul III? (Many, apart from curmudgeonly traddies, would like it; at WYD, the young could chant "J. P. III, we love thee!")

John XXIV? (Good Pope John was just that, in every respect; pity about that Council, but, well, good intentions...)

Paul VII? (Yuck. The wreckage he's responsible for will take centuries to clear. Luckily, among moderates or whatever less traditional types may call themselves, the sixth of that name still hasn't lived down that encyclical of 1968 – eminently true, orthodox and indeed prophetic as it is.)

Pius XIII? (Inevitably, a name inspiring or terrifying, implying some such sobriquet as "the Excommunicator" – unlikely, and titillating only to SSPXers and perfervid trad bloggers...)

Leo XIV? (My personal favourite: no baggage attaches, and it nicely breaks up the repetitiveness of recent papal names.)

Gregory XVII? (We haven't had one since 1846.)

Clement XV? (That name hasn't been used since before the French Revolution; and so for all the rest.)

I predict: Scola, to be known as Benedict XVII, or John Paul III, or John XXIV.

(How about a triple-barrelled moniker: John Paul Benedict? – of course, a wag would suggest Peter Paul Mary!)

His Holiness to Resign!

I feel quite unable to believe it, but it is true – His Holiness Benedict XVI has staggered all, by announcing that he freely renounces the Papacy, on the grounds of ill-health, effective as of 8 pm Rome time on Friday 28th February. A conclave will then be held to elect his successor.

Pray, pray for the Holy Roman Church, that she be not long bereaved of an earthly pastor, but that the Cardinals may elect a worthy successor to this most humble Supreme Pontiff, the first since St Celestine V to resign the Papal throne, and, like him, doing so conscious of his frailty, and intent upon henceforth devoting himself to a life of prayer.