Apostleship of Prayer

In our General Intention we are praying with Pope Benedict that Christians may use literature, art, and mass media to create a culture which defends and promotes the values of the human person. Our prayer is not only for those who create art and media but also for all of us who use them. We pray that our use of these things may not support a culture of death but a culture of life. Let us reflect today on part of Pope Benedict’s 2007 Message for World Communications Day—“Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education.”

Educating children to be discriminating in their use of the media is a responsibility of parents, Church, and school. The role of parents is of primary importance. They have a right and duty to ensure the prudent use of the media by training the conscience of their children to express sound and objective judgments which will then guide them in choosing or rejecting programs available. In doing so, parents should have the encouragement and assistance of schools and parishes in ensuring that this difficult, though satisfying, aspect of parenting is supported by the wider community.

This year we are celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations and today Pope Benedict will travel to New York City where, at 10:45 AM, he will address the world at the United Nations. As Apostles of Prayer we are committed to praying for the Holy Father and his intentions. Surely he is depending upon us in a special way at this time. Then, at 6 PM he will celebrate an ecumenical prayer service with other Christian leaders at St. Joseph’s Church in Manhattan. Joseph is Pope Benedict’s baptismal name and St. Joseph was proclaimed the Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1870. Let us pray today for Pope Benedict and our Church with a prayer that was officially approved by the Church in 1885.

O blessed Joseph, on whom God bestowed the name and dignity of foster-father of Jesus; and gave Mary ever Virgin to be your most pure spouse; head of the Holy Family on earth; finally chosen by the Vicar of Christ as Patron and Protector of the Universal Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ, with the greatest confidence I implore for that same Church militant on earth, your most powerful assistance. Keep, I beseech you, in the special care of that paternal love with which you burn forever, the Roman Pontiff, all bishops and priests united to the See of Peter. Be the defender of all who labor for the salvation of souls among the sorrows and trials of this life. Bring all peoples of their own free will to submit themselves to the Church, which is everywhere the necessary means of salvation. Accept, most holy Joseph, the offering of myself, whole and entire, which I make to you, freely and willingly. I consecrate myself wholly to you, to be always my father, protector, and leader in the way of salvation. Obtain for me exceeding great cleanliness of heart, and a burning love of the interior life. Grant that, following your footsteps, I may direct all my actions to the greater glory of God, in union with the love of the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary. Finally, pray that I may share in the peace and joy that was yours in your most holy death. Amen.

Today’s Readings:  Acts 13:26-33;  Psalm 2:6-11ab;  John 14:1-6

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations and the theme Pope Benedict has chosen for it is “Vocations at the Service of the Church on Mission.” As we pray for religious and priestly vocations today, let us also remember our monthly Mission Intention that the future priests of mission lands may be formed to evangelize their nations and the entire world. Our reflection is from Pope Benedict’s Message for today.

The Risen Jesus gave to the Apostles this command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19), assuring them: “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Matthew 28: 20). The Church is missionary in herself and in each one of her members. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, every Christian is called to bear witness and to announce the Gospel, but this missionary dimension is associated in a special and intimate way with the priestly vocation. … Jesus already in his public life, while preaching in Galilee, chose some disciples to be his close collaborators in the messianic ministry. … He was moved to compassion for the people, because while visiting cities and villages, he found the crowds weary and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9: 36). From this gaze of love came the invitation to his disciples: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9: 38), and he sent the Twelve initially “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” with precise instructions.

If we pause to meditate on this passage of Matthew’s Gospel, commonly called the “missionary discourse”, we may take note of those aspects which distinguish the missionary activity of a Christian community, eager to remain faithful to the example and teaching of Jesus. To respond to the Lord’s call means facing in prudence and simplicity every danger and even persecutions, since “a disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Matthew 10: 24). Having become one with their Master, the disciples are no longer alone as they announce the Kingdom of heaven; Jesus himself is acting in them: “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me” (Matthew 10: 40). Furthermore, as true witnesses, “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24: 49), they preach “repentance and the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24: 47) to all peoples.

Todays Readings: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 23:1-6; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10

Pope Benedict’s last encyclical letter to us was about Hope. Clearly he feels that in the dark and often hopeless times in which we live, we desperately need this virtue. His General Intention for April is another expression of this as he asks us to join him in praying that Christians may not tire of proclaiming with their lives that Christ’s resurrection is the source of hope and peace. Let us pray with Pope Benedict and a great contemporary witness to hope, Archbishop Michael Sabbah of Jerusalem, by reflecting on the Archbishop’s Easter Sunday homily.

Brothers and Sisters, Christ is risen. Yes, right here, this tomb that we venerate witnessed the events that have been transmitted to us by our faith. Here, the empty tomb, in front of which we celebrate Easter this morning, testifies to our faith. It testifies to God’s love for all of humanity. With the entire Church, we renew our faith and we proclaim that Christ rose here. Yes, He is truly risen. We pray in this Eucharist for Christians, for Muslims, and for Jews, for all religions and for our two peoples, Palestinian and Israeli. We pray so that the hope of the Resurrection might revive and renew the hearts of all, and fill them with the mystery of God and of his love. …

Look up to heaven, contemplate Christ who died and resurrected, in order to learn how to die and resurrect each day and each moment and in order to give new hope to this land. Chosen people, your vocation is the same one that Jesus had: to give new life to the world, but first of all to yourselves…. We are witnesses of the Resurrection, said Saint Peter to the crowd after Pentecost. Like him, here, in this very place, we are witnesses of the Resurrection, in order to give new hope and to maintain this hope in everyone, despite all the evil of the people who destroy this land. Let us pray, my brothers and sisters, so that the Resurrection of the Lord will enable all of us to give new life to our land and to all those with whom we are called to live. With the Psalmist we proclaim our hope: “God will deliver my soul” (Ps 49:16) and deliver our land.

Today’s Readings: Acts 9:31-42; Psalm 116:12-17; John 6:60-69

Praying in a particular way for Pope Benedict’s General Intention, we conclude our reading of his “Urbi et Orbi” Easter Message.

How often relations between individuals, between groups and between peoples are marked not by love but by selfishness, injustice, hatred and violence! These are the scourges of humanity, open and festering in every corner of the planet, although they are often ignored and sometimes deliberately concealed; wounds that torture the souls and bodies of countless of our brothers and sisters. They are waiting to be tended and healed by the glorious wounds of our Risen Lord (1 Peter 2:24-25) and by the solidarity of people who, following in his footsteps, perform deeds of charity in his name, make an active commitment to justice, and spread luminous signs of hope in areas bloodied by conflict and wherever the dignity of the human person continues to be scorned and trampled. It is hoped that these are precisely the places where gestures of moderation and forgiveness will increase!

Dear brothers and sisters! Let us allow the light that streams forth from this solemn day to enlighten us; let us open ourselves in sincere trust to the risen Christ, so that his victory over evil and death may also triumph in each one of us, in our families, in our cities and in our nations. Let it shine forth in every part of the world. In particular, how can we fail to remember certain African regions, such as Darfur and Somalia, the tormented Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon, and finally Tibet, all of whom I encourage to seek solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good! Let us invoke the fullness of his Paschal gifts, through the intercession of Mary who, after sharing the sufferings of the passion and crucifixion of her innocent Son, also experienced the inexpressible joy of his resurrection. Sharing in the glory of Christ, may she be the one to protect us and guide us along the path of fraternal solidarity and peace.

Today’s Readings: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; John 6:44-51

Here are Pope Benedict XVI’s intentions for the upcoming month. For monthly reflections and related Scripture passages, visit our website.

Proclamation of the Resurrection. That Christians may not tire of proclaiming with their lives that Christ’s resurrection is the source of hope and peace.

Future Priests. That the future priests of the young Churches may be formed to evangelize their nations and the whole world.

We enter upon a new month with new intentions and a special reason to support the Holy Father with our prayers: from April 15-20 he will be visiting the United States. As we prepare for his visit let us make an extra effort to lift him up in prayer, to ask God to protect him and keep him safe. Let us also pray that the Church in the U.S., all citizens of the U.S., the delegates at the United Nations, and all people may be receptive to the message he will bring.

In his General Intention this month Pope Benedict has asked us to pray that Christians may not tire of proclaiming with their lives that Christ’s resurrection is the source of hope and peace. It is not enough for us to profess our faith in the resurrection of Jesus when we pray the Creed at Mass or at the beginning of the Rosary. Words are not enough. Our words, our belief must take flesh in the way we lead our lives. Our lives must witness to the world that the hope for peace is not some empty dream. Because Jesus triumphed over sin and death through His resurrection, His power makes peace possible. But we must turn to Him and place all our hopes in Him.

And for his Mission Intention this month the Holy Father asks us to pray with him that the future priests of the “young Churches”, those dioceses in mission lands, may be formed to evangelize their nations and the whole world. May seminarians be filled with great zeal and a desire to share the riches of Christ with all people.

Our prayer is from William G. Storey’s A Prayer Book of Catholic Devotions (Loyola Press):

Lord Jesus Christ, you were fastened with nails to the wood of the cross and raised on high for all to see. As the sun grew dark and the earth quaked, you surrendered your spirit to your Father, descended among the dead, broke open the gates of hell, and freed those bound in darkness. As angel choirs rejoiced, you were raised to life again on the third day, mastering death by your own death, and canceling the power of sin. By these mighty deeds on our behalf, rescue us from our blindness and tepidity, inspire us anew by your Holy Spirit, and lead us into a life of prayer and service worthy of your awesome sacrifice, O Savior of the world, living and reigning, now and forever. Amen.

Todays Readings: Acts 4:32-37; Psalm 93: 1-2, 5; John 3:7b-15