The Holy Father’s intentions for May

Pope Benedict’s general prayer intention for May is: "That the laity and the Christian communities may be responsible promoters of priestly and religious vocations."

His mission intention is: "That the recently founded Catholic Churches, grateful to the Lord for the gift of faith, may be ready to share in the universal mission of the Church, offering their availability to preach the Gospel throughout the world."

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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9 Comments

  1. JohnE says:

    Could someone instruct the ignorant (me) and tell me what are the “recently founded Catholic Churches”?

  2. inillotempore says:

    My guess, based on the fact that this is the pope’s missionary intention, would be to pray for newly-established mission churches recently founded in the most remote parts of the world (or not-so-remote, but maybe hostile to the true faith –many people are and always have been).

  3. mom says:

    What is the best way for a a mother to encourage vocations in her sons without pushing?

  4. mom,

    First, pray for them intensely to God and ask Him to do
    some of the heavy lifting for you. Children are
    impressionable and if they see a good example, they
    generally will follow it.

    Secondly, talk to your children about vocations
    every once in a while. Don’t make it a big deal.
    Just say, “Have you ever thought about…” and then
    leave it alone.

  5. PMcGrath says:

    mom:

    In addition to the other suggestions posted here, you might want to have a look at the Wee Believers My Mass Kit.

  6. Geoffrey says:

    I always had a question regarding indulgences and praying for the Pope’s intentions: Can the Pope obtain indulgences? Considering how one of the requirements is to “pray for the Pope’s intentions”, you can see how I have wondered this!

  7. Roland de Chanson says:

    There is no such thing as “recently founded Catholic Churches.” The Catholic Church was founded upon the rock of Peter. There is but One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Can it be that the Patriarch of the West doubts this?

    But who abrogated the title “Patriarch of the West”? Was it he who rescinded Mrs. Windor’s claim to be “Defender of the Faith”? What a perversion of history!

    This quote smacks of the most insidious and tendentious inculturation, to put the most charitable interpretation on it.

    Benedict needs a better copy editor. Even since Regensburg. Let him absent himself from mosques and synagoges as well.

  8. Geoffrey says:

    “But who abrogated the title “Patriarch of the West”? Was it he who rescinded Mrs. Windor’s claim to be “Defender of the Faith”? What a perversion of history!”

    I am not sure if you are speaking in jest or not, but I will address this. His Holiness the Pope decided to drop the title “Patriarch of the West” because using the title made it appear that he was on an equal basis to the patriarchs of the east, i.e. Constantinople, Moscow, etc. The Vicar of Christ is not on an equal basis with anyone.

    Referring to Her Majesty the Queen as “Mrs. Windsor” is very disrespectful. Though if anything, it would be “Mrs. Mountbatten”.

  9. HM the Queen’s current style ‘Defendor of the faith’ originates in the parliamentary bestowal of the title on Edward VI in 1544. Each sovereign who has acceded the throne since then has been known by that title. There is no legal continuity between that title granted by Leo X to Henry VIII (which was revoked by Paul III) and that of the current monarch.

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