Novena to Christ the King

Novena to Christ the King


Recite One Our Father, One Hail Mary and One Glory Be per day followed by the Novena Prayer:

O Lord our God, You alone are the Most Holy King and Ruler of all nations.

We pray to You, Lord, in the great expectation of receiving from You, O Divine King, mercy, peace, justice and all good things.

Protect, O Lord our King, our families and the land of our birth.

Guard us we pray Most Faithful One.

Protect us from our enemies and from Your Just Judgment

Forgive us, O Sovereign King, our sins against you.

Jesus, You are a King of Mercy.

We have deserved Your Just Judgment

Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us.

We trust in Your Great Mercy.

O most awe-inspiring King, we bow before You and pray;

May Your Reign, Your Kingdom, be recognized on earth.

Amen.
Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christking.htm#ixzz2Eet1B07J

Pope Benedict XVI: 'Christianity and Monotheism is of Vibrant Relevance'

Pope Benedict XVI: 'Christianity and Monotheism is of Vibrant Relevance'


Pontiff Addresses International Theological Commission
By Junno Arocho
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 7, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Pope Benedict XVI received the International Theological Commission in audience this morning at the conclusion of their Annual Plenary Assembly.

The Holy Father greeted all participants present, including Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, president of the Commission and new Secretary General, Father Serge-Thomas Bonino. The Pope expressed his joy at the pilgrimage made by the commission to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to entrust to the Virgin Mary their work on the final message of the commission.

The message builds upon themes established in the document "Theology Today, Perspectives, Principles and Criteria."
"It illustrates very well the specific way in which theologians, faithfully serving the truth of faith, can participate in the missionary efforts of the Church," the Holy Father said.

"Taking note of the vitality and diversity of theology after Vatican II, this document aims to present, so to speak, the genetic code of Catholic theology, that is, the principles that define its identity and, therefore, guarantee its unity in the diversity of its achievements. To do this, the text clarifies the criteria for a truly Catholic theology and therefore one able to contribute to the Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel to all men."

Pope Benedict also noted the document's mention of the importance that theologians must pay to sensus fidelium, or 'the sense of the faithful'. "It is very useful that your Commission has also focused on this issue which is of particular importance for the reflection on the faith and life of the Church," the Holy Father said.

"Today, however, it is particularly important to clarify the criteria used to distinguish the authentic sensus fidelium from its counterfeits. In fact, it is not some kind of public opinion of the Church, and it is unthinkable to mention it in order to challenge the teachings of the Magisterium, this because the sensus fidei cannot grow authentically in the believer except to the extent in which he or she fully participates in the life of the Church, and this requires a responsible adherence to her Magisterium."

The Holy Father also applauded the commission's study on the "Triune God, unity of mankind", which clarifies that the sense of the faith which could at times lead to strong reactions against monotheistic religions "because of the claim that they advance the existence of a universal truth." Such reactions, the Pope continued, would lead some to believe that a "'polytheism of values' can guarantee tolerance and civil peace and conform to the spirit of a pluralistic democratic society."

"Christianity and monotheism is of vibrant relevance," Pope Benedict said. "The Lord attests to a radical rejection of all forms of hatred and violence in favor of the absolute primacy of agape."

Concluding his address, Pope Benedict XVI invoked the graces of the Virgin Mary so that the commission may continue to serve the knowledge of the faith with joy.

"Renewing my profound gratitude for your service to the Church, I assure you of my constant closeness in prayer and cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing on all of you," the Pope concluded.
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=122844

Advent is time to renew faith, bring God's love to others, pope says

Advent is time to renew faith, bring God's love to others, pope says


A man dressed as St. Nicholas attends Pope Benedict XVI's general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 5. (CNS/Paul Haring)

By Cindy Wooden

Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Advent's liturgical preparation for Christmas calls Christians to renew their faith in the reality of God's great love and to make a commitment to bringing his love to the world today, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Advent, he said, "places before us the bright mystery of the coming of God's son, the great plan of God's goodness through which he desires to draw us to himself to let us live in full communion, joy and peace with him."

Addressing an estimated 4,000 people at his weekly general audience Dec. 5, Pope Benedict also asked for prayers for peace in Congo, where continuing ethnic violence and civil strife have led to dozens of deaths and has forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

In response to the fighting and "the serious humanitarian crisis" it was causing, the pope called for "dialogue and reconciliation," and he asked the international community to take action to meet the needs of the Congolese people.

In his main audience talk, Pope Benedict continued his reflections on the Year of Faith, which he opened in October.

Accepting God's love and freely choosing to follow his ways "brings a fundamental change in how we relate to the entire created reality. Everything appears in a new light; it is a true conversion. Faith is a change of mentality because God, who has made himself known in Christ and has made his plan of salvation known, draws us to himself," the pope said.

"Faith is accepting God's vision of reality, allowing God to guide us with his word and sacraments in understanding what we must do, the path we must follow, how we must live," he said.

"In the midst of many difficulties, Advent invites us once again to renew our certainty that God is present, he entered into the world, becoming human like us, in order to bring to fullness his plan of love," the pope said.

In return, he said, "God asks that we, too, become signs of his action in the world. Through our faith, our hope and our charity, he wants to enter into the world once again and make his light shine in our darkness."

Among the pilgrims at the audience were representatives of an association of Italian bakers and pastry chefs; the pope thanked them for their gifts of "panettoni," Italian Christmas cakes, which he said would be distributed to the poor.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1205084.htm

Pope appeals for peace in Mideast, greets pilgrims from four continents

Pope appeals for peace in Mideast, greets pilgrims from four continents

Pilgrims from Lebanon cheer and wave their national flag before Pope Benedict XVI's audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Nov. 26. Lebanon's Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai was among six new cardinals created by the pope at a Nov. 24 consistory. (CNS/Paul Haring)

By Carol Glatz

Catholic News Service



VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Greeting hundreds of Christians from Lebanon, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged their presence in the Middle East and launched a fresh appeal for peace in the region.



"The church encourages every effort aimed at bringing peace to the world and the Middle East," he said, adding that real peace must be "based on an authentic respect for each other."

"I wish to encourage the life and presence of Christians in the Middle East where they should be able to live their faith freely and to launch once again an urgent appeal for peace in the region," he said.

The pope made his remarks during an audience with six new cardinals and their family and friends in the Vatican's Paul VI hall Nov. 26.

The informal gathering came after a weekend of ceremonies that saw the creation of six new members of the College of Cardinals: U.S. Cardinal James M. Harvey, former prefect of the papal household; Lebanon's Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai; Indian Cardinal Baselio Cleemis Thottunkal, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church; Nigerian Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja; Colombian Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez of Bogota; and Philippine Cardinal Luis Tagle of Manila.

A large contingent of Lebanese pilgrims at the audience cheered loudly and often, and waved their nation's flag each time the pope greeted Patriarch Rai.

"My heart is flying in the sky," said Rola Rai, daughter of one of the patriarch's cousins.

She and her family, who wore large buttons displaying the patriarch's photograph, told Catholic News Service that they were thrilled about his elevation to cardinal, as well as the chance to visit Rome and see the pope.

The pope's call for Christians to remain in the Middle East was "very important," she said.

Among the several hundred pilgrims in the audience were members of Cardinal Harvey's family, including his 87-year-old mother.

Bill Harvey of Brookfield, Wis., told CNS that "it was wonderful" to see his brother be made a cardinal.

During his brother's long service as prefect of the papal household, organizing the non-liturgical side of papal events and audiences, "we got to meet Pope John Paul II, which was a great honor," he said.

Each cardinal was allowed to bring four people with him to greet the pope during the audience. Cardinal Harvey brought his mother, his nephew and two of his nieces, who were both pregnant and asked the pope to bless their unborn babies, Bill Harvey said.

Cardinal Onaiyekan brought Mercy Sister Agatha Chikelue, who wore a colorful cotton wrapper decorated with the cardinal's portrait and his episcopal motto, "Thy will be done."

All of the women in her pilgrimage group "had these made as a souvenir for the election," the sister said.

"I never thought something like this would happen to me," she said of her chance to meet the pope.

The Nigerian cardinal also introduced the former director general of his country's National Broadcasting Commission, Tom Adaba, to the pope.

Speaking to CNS, Adaba praised the new cardinal as a "good communicator who has worked for the cause of peace" and a "bridge between religions and the different areas" of Nigeria.

A novelty during the Nov. 26 audience was no longer seeing Cardinal Harvey flanking the right side of the pope.

Instead of assisting dignitaries and the pope, as he had done as prefect of the papal household since 1998, the cardinal was seated facing the stage in the VIP section. The pope named Cardinal Harvey archpriest of Rome's Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls Nov. 23.

The pope has not named a new prefect, so the regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, Rogationist Father Leonardo Sapienza, fulfilled those duties at the audience. He accompanied the pope on the stage along with the pope's personal secretary, Msgr. Georg Ganswein.



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