We love you, Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI
Thank you!!!
J.M.J.
February 12, 2013
Dear Family of Mary!
As we enter into Lent, we have been given stunning and sobering news. Pope Benedict XVI has announced he will be stepping down from the Chair of Peter. Here is his short and very clear statement, released on February 10:
DECLARATIO
Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.
For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.
Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.
From the Vatican, 10 February 2013
BENEDICTUS PP XVI
We accept our Holy Father's decision with heavy hearts and with a deep call to prayer, prayer for the Pope, and prayer for Holy Mother Church as she enters into this time of change. Our Lady spoke to us these words on January 25, 2013:
"Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer. May your prayer be as strong as a living stone, until with your lives you become witnesses. Witness the beauty of your faith. I am with you and intercede before my Son for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call."
She was urging us to be as strong as "living stones" in our prayer and in our faith. Now is the time for us to be "living stones" for the Church, strong in prayer and strong in faith, steady and solid as rocks, so that our Church can manage this transition in peace and God's providence. Our job is to believe and pray with all our hearts for our beloved Benedict XVI and for his soon-to-be successor. Let's not put our rosaries down all day long. Let's pray constantly!
Our Lady is with us, and intercedes before Jesus for each of us. With her help, and God's grace, all will be well.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2013
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