At the end of Pope Benedict’s pontificate Rome was blessed with unseasonably beautiful weather for his last appearances.
Right now the weather is Rome is horrid and forecasts are grim. I was out the other evening and actually saw Noah and the Ark float by.
Please, friends, in your charity, stop and say a prayer for good weather for Rome now? And in the coming days?
Many people, myself included, will want to be outside in St. Peter’s Square on “SMOKE WATCH”, and then also for the announcement of a new Pope.
Please, O God, let us not have rain and lightning! I don’t ask for crystal clear skies – though that would be great – but, please, not rain.
Would you, dear readers, with your hearts united with us in Rome please say this prayer?
From the Procession for Imploring Fair Weather in the older Rituale Romanum:
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.Let us pray.
God, who are offended by our sins but appeased by our penances, may it please you to hear the entreaties of your people and to turn away the stripes that our transgressions rightly deserve.Graciously hear us, O Lord, as we cry out to you, and grant fair weather to us, your suppliants; and although we are justly afflicted for our sins, may we nonetheless know your mercy and so appreciate your clemency.
Almighty God, we appeal to your kindness, asking that you hold back the inundation of rainfall, and be pleased to show us the cheerfulness of your countenance; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
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I’d take a downpour and Cardinal Burke as Pope over sunshine and Cardinal Mahony.
Still, a good Pope and good weather are hardly mutually exclusive. Prayers your way, father.
Done
As Blessed JPII often said, the rain is God’s holy water and can be viewed as a blessing upon the Cardinals. The inclement weather may also remind the Cardinal electors of the somber and sober occasion upon which they are embarking.
Perhaps another lightning strike is in order.
Praying, Father.
Praying for clement weather, the Cardinal electors, and my “adopted cardinal” Pasinya of Kinshasa.
Praying, Fr. Z.
Said the prayers, Pater.
I prayed that prayer… and then I consulted the “AccuWeather” site. I’ve found that it actually lives up to its name, at least here in Ireland where we are – ummm, how to put this? – not infrequently favoured with the Lord’s (vertical) aqueous blessings. Anyway, for Rome it’s predicting rain for tomorrow again, then clearing for the weekend, with an actual sun symbol for Saturday, then cloudy – but not raining! – for Sunday and Monday.
Well, ok, there’s rain again by Wednesday. But maybe… by then… ???
I shall pray for an end to rain in Rome.
If readers could, perhaps they could join me in praying that rain instead visit the Plains states of the USA? The drought persists mightily here, and we certainly need the rain that Rome doesn’t. :)
Reverend Father,
Please purchase a properly clerical ( large and black) golf umbrella and send me the bill.
I like the idea of rain in Rome, and while I agree that the Church may deserve foul weather in these days, you do not. You have my contact info. Please post a photo of yourself and your new umbrella and I will reimburse you!
respectfully,
Hilltop
Hopefully there’s no wind. When I was doing door-to-door sales I got stuck outside in a torrential downpour. I had one of those giant black JW/Mormon missionary umbrellas, and within less than an hour the wind destroyed it, not to mention my phone was useless because I didn’t think to put it in a ziplock bag to keep the water out of the keypad. Every article of clothing was saturated with water and I was freezing cold. I spent like 6 hours hiding under a slide thinking about how lucky I was to be broke but not homeless.
I’ll also offer up my holy hour tonight (or this morning?? Not really sure yet what 1:00 am qualifies as yet).
Done
Pater, please get — or get somebody to get — a group Rosary going out there in St. Peter’s Square. It was really depressing to see all those people just standing around yikkity-yakking when they could have been praying. Prayer so necessary right now.
Prayers on their way.
A friend of mine, who is terrified of the upcoming election(he thinks its going to be somebody who will roll back all the Pope Benedict XVI did) is certain that the rain is a sign of foreboding. I told him he is a paranoid, but sometimes you can’t get through people’s thick heads.
Done, but I think we should go with the “Thy will be done” attitude and those of you in Rome might have to suffer through unpleasant weather. Perhaps offer it up for the conclave.
Re: giant umbrellas, nowadays they have ones with giant windvents also, to prevent the umbrella going inside out, breaking ribs, or getting blown away. You’ll see these labeled as “windproof” or the like.
And yes, getting caught outside in torrential rain is miserable.
St. Clare of Assisi – Patron Saint of Good Weather, ora pro nobis!
In July 2009, my wife, two daughters and I traveled to Italy (Venice and Rome) and the forecast was so bad, my wife thought, practical joker that I am, that I somehow created the 10-day weather graphic showing dark clouds, lightning bolts and travel warnings on every single day bar none just one day prior to the beginning of our trip.
I researched and discovered St. Clare. “Aha! An Italian!”
When my wife asked me what raincoat I planned to was pack, I told her, “None, St. Clare is taking care of it.”
Outside of one afternoon shower that began and ended as we ate lunch, we had nothing but blue skies and sunshine.
done
Another possibility could be Patton’s Weather Prayer, composed by Msgr James O’Neill.
http://www.pattonhq.com/prayer.html
The weather sucks today, I and taking a break to dry before heading back. If we can coordinate a meeting time and place I will pay for your evening meal Fr. Z.
rotbrown beat me to it (cursed slow connection). that’s a great prayer.
Johnny Domer: righton.
The weather doesn’t seem to be bothering the seagull too much. I guess he’ll be the first to know the result.
That bird perched there at about 5:40pm, and within twelve minutes had a Twitter account @SistineSeagull, which he was using to tweet about the Conclave.
What a time to be alive.
Wow, what a prayer! Love this phrase: “In Gideon’s day, and in our own, spiritually alert minorities carry the burdens and bring the victories.”
How much more so today than in 1944. It seems particularly appropriate to this time of the election of our new Holy Father. How much more of a minority will we become during his pontificate, one wonders? Oh well… just keep praying (and confession also, as Fr. Z. reminds us).
Sure I will pray for good weather for those fortunate enough to be able to be in Roma. And perhaps I will pray and keep praying that this administration’s devastating economic illiteracy will be overturned someday so that those of us suffering from these disastrous wrong headed, heavy handed policies can walk in the Roman sunshine too. Fascism and Socialism were overthrown in JPII’s homeland, I am sure the Holy Ghost can work for our good and imbue our voters with good sense too.
We have a Pope!!!
We’re waiting for the announcement of his name – and it appears the rain has stopped for the moment.
Viva Papa Francis! :)
Papa Francisco!
Father, were you in St Peter’s Square when the announcement was made?
I think Father’s having either hardware or connection issues. I’m sure he will post when he can.
Where is everyone?
BobP: bear in mind that it’s 12.30 in Rome where our good host is and he has other things to do. Vivat Papa nostra Franciscus Primus!
Hi BobP: Looks like the party is taking place at https://wdtprs.com/2013/03/more-later-but/#comment
An Argentinian Jesuit.
Can’t wait for the London tabloids tomorrow.