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P.E.T.E.R.* Prayer Program : His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, will come to the United States April 2008 to speak at the United Nations, to visit the WTC Site in New York City, after visiting Washington. This international program of Eucharistic prayer to support The Vicar of Christ consists of three distinct novenas of Masses and adoration outside Mass (in petition and reparation to The Most Holy Trinity): March 21-29,, to Jesus, The Son; April1-9, to The Most Holy Spirit; and April 11-19, to The Eternal Father, before and through His visit to the UN. Catholic faithful should make a private indi- vidual Confession receiving the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) at least once before beginning the novena. Catholic faithful should seek out chapels, churches and oratories which offer Exposition of The Most Blessed Sacrament, whether as a site of Perpetual Adoration, or established to accommodate Eucharistic Adoration for the specific purpose of prayer support throughout the time of this prayer program, with the aim of spending one (1) hour each day in prayer before The Most Blessed Sacrament. At Dublin in Ireland on September 29, A.D. 1979, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, proclaimed, about adoration of Our Lord Jesus Truly Present in The Most Holy Eucharist, that: “The call to conversion in The Eucharist links The Eucharist with that other great Sacrament of God’s love, which is Penance.” . . . “And so I also encourage you in the exercises of devotion that you have lovingly preserved for centuries, especially those in regard to The Blessed Sacrament.” . . . “The visit to The Blessed Sacrament . . .is a great treasure of the Catholic Faith. It nourishes social love and gives us opportunities for adoration and thanksgiving, for reparation and supplication. Benediction of The Blessed Sacrament, Holy Hours and Eucharistic processions are likewise precious elements of your heritage—in full accord with the teaching of the Second Vatican Council.” * Papal Expeditionary Temporal Eucharistic Remembrance On the day His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, visits the United Nations General Assembly, each of the Catholic faithful should, to the greatest extent possible, arrange to be present before The Most Blessed Sacrament, praying for the intention of The Blessed Virgin Mary and The Supreme Pontiff. Thus, the novenas are planned to occur on this sched- ule: Novenas Dates : To : 21-29 Mar 2008 Our Lord Jesus, The Son [also Divine Mercy Novena] 1-9 April 2008 The Most Holy Spirit 11-19 April 2008 The Eternal Father Primary Eucharistic Adoration Time : Follow the news media, and on Friday, April 18, A.D. 2008, immediately before Pope Benedict XVI arrives at the United Nations Headquarters, go immediately to a Catholic Church, wherever you are in the world, and there, before The Most Blessed Sacrament, reserved in the tabernacle or exposed for adoration, wait with Jesus and pray most fervently for the intentions of The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Supreme Pontiff, Benedict XVI, for the approximate four (4) hours His Holiness is at UN Headquarters. During the six (6) days when Pope Benedict XVI is present in the U.S., each Catholic should attend Mass and devote at least one (1) hour each day to prayer and adoration before The Blessed Sacrament. This primary Eucharistic adoration and prayer time complements the adoration and prayer of those who will complete the Novenas. Anyone is en- couraged to join this prayer program at any time, and spend whatever time in daily prayer that he or she can, consistent with condition, state in life, and location. Pope John Paul II, as stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1380, urged Eucharistic prayer of adoration: “The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this Sacrament of Love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet Him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.” For The intentions of The Blessed Virgin Mary and Pope Benedict XVI, Supreme Pastor, please pray personal prayers from the heart, You may wish to say the following prayers : The Holy Rosary Prayer to Saint Michael, The Archangel: Saint Michael, The Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke the Devil, we humbly pray, and do Saint Michael as Prince of The Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. MEMORARE Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, Our Mother. To Thee do we come, before Thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of The Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy, here and answer us. Amen. Prayer of Saint Gertrude The Great to Release 1,000 Souls from Purgatory Eternal Father, I offer Thee The Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen. “Glory to The Blood of Jesus!” “Hail, Jesus, Son of Mary!” Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle 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. Prayer before a Crucifix “Behold, O Kind and Most Sweet Jesus, I cast myself on my knees in Your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul, I pray and beseech You that You would impress upon my heart lively sentiments of Faith, Hope and Charity, with a true repentance for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul, I ponder within myself and contemplate Your Five Most Precious Wounds, having before my eyes that about which David spoke in prophecy: “They have pierced My Hands and My Feet, they have numbered all my bones.” (Psalm 21:17-18) [Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be] PRAYER TO THE SACRED SHOULDER WOUND OF JESUS O Loving Jesus, meek Lamb of God, I, a miserable sinner, salute and worship The Most Sacred Wound of Your Shoulder on which You did bear Your heavy Cross, which so tore Your flesh and laid bare Your bones as to inflict on You an anguish greater than any other wound of Your Most Beautiful Body. I adore You, Jesus, most sorrowful; I praise and glorify You, and give You thanks for this most painful and sacred Wound, beseeching You by that exceeding pain, and by the crushing burden of Your heavy Cross to be merciful to me, a sinner, to forgive me all my mortal and venial sins, and to lead me on towards Heaven along the Way of Your Cross. Amen.
