Prayers for the Archbishop
10 June 2001 17:52
In her letter about Archbishop Milingo last month(May 29), Vassula asked for prayers for him. Fr. John Abberton has sent the following recommended prayers:
I have been asked by some people in TLIG in England to suggest some prayers that might be offered for Archbishop Milingo. Out of my own growing devotion to two saints, may I offer the following?
A “Novena” (and Litany) asking the prayers of St. John Vianney, Cure of Ars (and patron saint of parish priests), the same saint’s instruction for intercession after receiving Holy Communion, and a short prayer to St. Philomena:
St. John Vianney, lover of Jesus. Pray for us
St. John Vianney, who smiled and wept. Pray for us
St. John Vianney, giver of sound advice. Pray for us
St. John Vianney, one who persevered. Pray for us
St. John Vianney, a confessor who ‘knew’. Pray for us
St. John Vianney, devoted heart and soul to service. Pray for us
St. John Vianney, giver of light. Pray for us
St. John Vianney, preacher of the Holy Spirit. Pray for us
St. John Vianney, administrator par excellence (where it really matters). Pray for us
St. John Vianney, leader of souls. Pray for us
Dear St. John Vianney, a saint most pleasing to the Father, we trust you will hear our prayer, as we attempt to walk in the muddy footprints of your saintdom. You hold a directness to God which cuts away the brackenwood to tread through the green bush. At times like this, we need a direct, simple, yet profoundly courageous way to live our faith. Help us dear saint: show us the way. Amen.
St. John Vianney advises us to pray after Communion in this manner: “O my good Father, who art in Heaven, I offer you, at this moment, your dear Son, such as He was when He was taken down from the Cross, and laid in the arms of the Holy Virgin, and as she offered Him to You in sacrifice for us. I offer Him to You by the hands of Mary, to obtain the grace of……………..and faith, charity, humility”
He said he was never disappointed!
To St. Philomena (whom the Cure recommended)
O Saint Philomena, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us and for all our bishops and priests, that through your powerful intercession we may all obtain that purity of soul and body, that singleness of heart and mind, which leads to the most powerful healing, joy and praise, in the perfect love of God. Amen.
Of course there are other powerful prayers. We already have the Memorare and Prayers in honour of the Two Hearts. Any of these could be enough offered as a Novena.
Fr. John Abberton
