The Pope’s intentions for November
The general intention
That all who suffer loneliness may experience of closeness of God and the support of others.
The mission intention
That young seminarians and religious may have wise and well-formed mentors.
Let us be united in prayer with Pope Francis for the good of the whole Church. Prayer, that is, conversation with God, keeps alive a relationship.
Pope Francis’ prayer intentions for September
The General Intention
That the mentally disabled may receive the love and help they need for a dignified life.
The Mission Intention
That Christians, inspired by the Word of God, may serve the poor and suffering.
For more info: www.apostleshipofprayer.org
Pope Francis’ prayer intentions for the month of August
The general intention: That refugees, forced by violence to abandon their homes, may find a generous welcome and the protection of their rights.
The mission intention: That Christians in Oceania may joyfully announce the faith to all the people of that region.
Using these intentions, let us be united in prayer with the Holy Father.
The prayer intentions of Pope Francis for July:
The general intention
That sports may always be occasions of human fraternity and growth.
The missionary intention
That the Holy Spirit may support the work of the laity who proclaim the Gospel in the poorest countries.
Having completed the month of June which is dedicated the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we begin July as the month dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Christ. The deeper we move into summer the more I think it is fitting to recommit ourselves to a daily offering of the whole self to the Lord, leaving nothing out, returning to Him what we have received as a gift: life and freedom. Prayers for the daily offering are found on the Apostleship of Prayer website. Do you belong to the network of people making up the Apostleship of Prayer?
The month of May brings our attention to Mary, the Mother of God. The rosary is said more, the Regina Caeli is sung daily for Eastertide, the crowing of Mary as our mother and queen happens.
All Catholics have a filial devotion to her as Mother. The pope told us that like a good mom, “she helps us to grow, to confront life, to be free.” Indeed, Mary, Our Lady of Help (or health, if you like/need), gives us the first and critical witness of her Son Jesus. With the Holy Father let us go to Mary asking for her help in following her Son more closely and lovingly.
The general intention
That the media may be instruments in the service of truth and peace.
The missionary intention
That Mary, Star of Evangelization, may guide the Church in proclaiming Christ to all nations.
Pope Francis said this about prayer: “The Lord tells us: ‘the first task in life is this: prayer.’ But not the prayer of words, like a parrot; but the prayer, the heart: gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord” (Oct. 8 homily).
Challenging words viz. this post where the prayer of intercession for the pope’s intentions. Rather than thinking the pope is dismissing the prayer of intention, think of his teaching as not merely spending time in prayer bombarding God with words. It is true God knows the needs of the human heart; we also live in relationship with God and therefore it is entirely necessary to ask God —this shows our dependence upon God the Father for all things. A relationship also indicates that we sit and listen to the other. Do we listen to God in prayer? Or do we fill up the time we spend in prayer with words?
The general intention
That governments may foster the protection of creation and the just distribution of natural resources.
The missionary intention
That the Risen Lord may fill with hope the hearts of those who are being tested by pain and sickness.
The papal intentions for March combine a concern for the dignity of women and one’s consecration to the preaching of the Gospel. Let us join Pope Francis in beseeching the Lord for these graces.
The general intention
That all cultures may respect the rights and dignity of women.
The mission intention
That many young people may accept the Lord’s invitation to consecrate their lives to proclaiming the Gospel.
Let’s also pray for the people of the Ukraine.
Prayer is our recognizing the fact that we are in relationship with Another: God certainly takes the first step, but we respond in kind. Prayer is not talking to yourself but time spent before and with the Divine Mystery.
Pope Francis asked the other day: do we pray for AND with the Church, locally and universally?
I would recommend that you connect with the Apostleship of Prayer … they do good work.
The papal prayer intentions that we are asked to remember during the month of February:
The general intention
That the Church and society may respect the wisdom and experience of older people.
The missionary intention
That priests, religious, and lay people may work together with generosity.
2014 is a new year of faith, hope and charity. A new of knowing, loving and serving the Lord. It is also a new year of interceding before the Throne of Grace for those graces we need to fully live as Christian men and women in a diverse world.
Each month we recall the prayer intentions of the Holy Father. Just as Jesuit Father Francis Xavier Gautrelet told a group of Jesuit scholastics eager to serve on the missions: “Be apostles now, apostles of prayer! Offer everything you are doing each day in union with the Heart of our Lord for what He wishes, the spread of the Kingdom for the salvation of souls.” We who attend to praying for these intentions form the Pope’s prayer group, we are the Pope’s apostles of prayer in our local context. Though local, our prayer is expansive; its scope is for the City and the World. You may be interested in joining the Apostleship of Prayer.
With Pope Francis we remember in our prayer to the Most Holy Trinity, the following in January:
The general intention
That all may promote authentic economic development that respects the dignity of peoples.
The mission intention
That Christians of diverse denominations may walk toward the unity desired by Christ.