Dear Friend,
Some moments in history call us to our knees, and this is one of those times.
A few hours ago, the Holy See Press Office announced that our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has had surgery for lung cancer. The Vatican statement acknowledges that the surgery completely removed the nodule, that there were no complications and that our Holy Father is awake and resting. However, the Holy Father was diagnosed with an early stage of lung cancer.
Now the man who carries Peter’s keys will be carrying a cross, in a body as fragile and mortal as any of ours.
The Pope is not a celebrity or a head of state in the usual sense. He is a father and, for more than 1.4 billion Catholics, the visible sign of unity Christ gave His Church. When a father is sick, his children don’t just send their regards. They gather around him.
Let’s remember that the future Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, was born in Chicago; was baptized, raised and taught the faith in American parishes and American schools.
He is the first son of this country to sit in the Chair of Peter. So, if any Catholics should be first in line to pray for him, it’s us.
That’s why I’m inviting you to join CatholicVote in doing something very old and very bold: storming Heaven.
And let’s not storm Heaven alone. Let’s bring with us the intercession of the American saints who came to this land to bless it with their holiness—including the American martyrs—and those who came from our own soil. Especially our recently beatified Blessed Fulton Sheen.
Here is a short prayer I invite you to pray every day for the next nine days:
Lord Jesus Christ, Divine Physician, look with mercy on Your servant, Pope Leo, whom You have chosen to shepherd Your Church. Through the intercession of Our Lady, Patroness of the United States, of all the holy men and women of America, and of Blessed Fulton Sheen, grant him a swift and complete recovery. Strengthen his body, steady his heart, and guide the hands of all who care for him. Unite his suffering to Your Cross, for the good of Your Church and the salvation of souls. Amen.
Here is what I’m asking you to do:
- Pray the prayer above every day for the next nine days.
- Offer a Rosary, a Holy Hour, or a Mass this week for the Holy Father’s full recovery.
- Add your name to our prayer wall for Pope Leo, telling him that American Catholics are praying for him.
Let’s show the Holy Father that the Church in his homeland is with him. Pray boldly and without ceasing. And go forward bravely.
In Christ,
No comments:
Post a Comment