Praying for the Pope

There are no doubt, thousands of persons worldwide praying for the Pope and praying for the success of his apostolic visit to the United States, but special among them would be religious communities whose very lives are set aside for prayer.

Apostolic Nuncio Pietro Sambi has asked the contemplative communities in the U.S. to take one of the activities of the Holy Father and make it the object of prayer, consecration, suffering and self-offering.

 I am certain there are hundreds of communities who are doing so. Among them are the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at St. Joseph's Monastery in Portsmouth, Ohio. They have created a special web page welcoming the Holy Father and committing themselves to prayer and retreat on Saturday, April 19th - the third anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's election.

They are praying that the event will be "a blessed occasion for the renewal of the faith, hope and charity of the Church in America."

The USCCB recommends praying the Act of Hope each day for the intentions of the Holy Father. Here it is:

O Lord God,

I hope by your grace for the pardon

of all my sins

and after life here to gain eternal happiness

because you have promised it

who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind,

and merciful.

In this hope I intend to live and die.

 Amen.

Covered by that much prayer, the Pope's journey cannot help but be a success.

If you are a religious order or consecrated community that has set aside a particular day or activity of the Holy Father for prayer, please let us know in the comment boxes.