Today is the feast day of the Seat of Peter. In honor of this day and in light of our Holy Father retiring and a new Pope being elected next month, my hubby (and better half) Brian put together a Novena for the Papacy. Here is the intro and first day. You can read the rest on his blog The Beggar Saint.

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This Novena is to begin on February 22nd, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter and it ends on March 2nd. If you would like to start this Novena after the 22nd, feel free.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph #811: “The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the “rock” of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.”

Let us offer this novena for:

• Pope Benedict XVI , who will leave the Petrine Ministry on February 28th .
• For the upcoming conclave, that the Holy Spirit will guide the Cardinals in electing a new Pope.
• For the new Pope
• For the Church

This Novena is divided into six parts. 1) Prayers to be recited each day before the Novena. 2) The Novena Prayer. 3) A reading from the Scriptures. 4) The Consideration which is brief to help facilitate, if need be, reflection. 5) Quiet time with Jesus. 6) Concluding Prayer.

The following prayers are to be said daily, before praying the Novena:

Prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Prayer to St. Peter:

O Glorious Saint Peter, because of your vibrant and generous faith, sincere humility and unfailing charity, Our Lord honored you with singular privileges and especially leadership of the whole Church. Obtain for us the grace of a living faith, a sincere loyalty to the Church, acceptance of all her teachings, and obedience to all her precepts. Let us enjoy an undisturbed peace on earth and everlasting happiness in Heaven. Amen.

Day One –

Lord Jesus Christ, I trust in You!

Novena Prayer: Heavenly Father, We love You! We praise You and we bless You! We ask, in the Precious name of Jesus Christ, to send forth Your Holy Spirit to enlighten, guide, strengthen and bless all the Cardinals gathering in the coming weeks to elect a new Pope. May Your Holy Will be done! Amen.

Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

Reading – John 1:40-42 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

Consideration: Jesus, “looked at” and “called”, Peter by name. Today, He “looks at” and “calls” me by name. What does Jesus see and what does He say to me?

Spend some quiet time with Jesus…

Concluding Prayer:

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
St. Peter, to whom were given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, pray for us.
St. Peter, so ardent for the glory of Christ, pray for us.
St. Peter, whose heart was pierced with one look from Jesus, pray for us.

Pray (3) Glory be’s… Amen.

For Days 2 – 9, visit The Beggar Saint Blog.