Prayer Warriors: Pray the Luminous Mysteries for Bishops this Week
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November 12, 2019
And when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel overcame: but if he let them down a little, Amalec overcame. And Moses’ hands were heavy: so they took a stone, and put under him, and he sat on it: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands on both sides. And it came to pass that his hands were not weary until sunset. (Exodus 17:11)
Our bishops could use intentional prayer support for their weighty ministry as they gather in Baltimore for their Fall General Assembly. Items on their agenda are provided below, following the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary for the Bishops. Our leaders face countless challenges in guiding the Church through today’s climate of disillusionment, disbelief, and apostasy. There are clergy who are heart sick, physically weary, discouraged, overwhelmed, and grieving for the entire Church.
We desperately need courageous bishop leaders to shine the glorious light of truth into the darkness of the world. The brotherhood of bishops could use spiritual backup today. Let us contribute to the bishops by releasing the power of prayer to uphold our spiritual fathers.
The laity’s spiritual responsibility in the quality of the priesthood is becoming more widely understood. Love for God is the core of intentional intercession for the clergy. Let us pray, and even offer up our suffering, and make little sacrifices as did the lineage of spiritual mothers and fathers since the Apostolic age.
The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary for Bishops
Intention: That the Holy Spirit will fill the bishops with renewed hope, wisdom, and joy for all their labors of love, truth and justice.
The Luminous Mysteries focus on the public ministry of Jesus Christ.
The Baptism in the Jordan
As Christ descends into the waters, the heavens open wide and the voice of the Father declares him the beloved Son (cf. Mt 3:17), while the Spirit descends on him to invest him with the mission which he is to carry out.
Eternal Father, we implore your abundant blessing upon our bishop’s. Graciously send the Holy Spirit to envelop their meetings and ministry making more fruitful their labor of love. May they experience the accompaniment of your grace, and our prayers, refreshing their minds and hearts.
The Wedding at Cana
The miracle, the first of the signs, given at Cana (cf. Jn 2:1- 12), when Christ changes water into wine and opens the hearts of the disciples to faith, occurs thanks to the intervention of Mary.
Eternal Father, through the powerful intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of all priests, we ardently implore that our bishops be empowered instruments of the divine will; emboldened with greater faith in the miracle-working gifts granted to Christ’s ministers. We beseech you to grant bishops faith-building miracle grace to build up the Church.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
Jesus proclaims the coming of the Kingdom of God, calls to conversion (cf. Mk 1:15) and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him in humble trust (cf. Mk 2:3-13; Lk 7:47- 48); the inauguration of that ministry of mercy which he continues to exercise until the end of the world, particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. (cf. Jn 20:22-23).
Eternal Father, You have anointed our bishop’s to be spiritual fathers for the human family. We implore you to build up the episcopate; build a strong force of servant leaders full of vision, virtue and vitality to lead the Church through the narrow gate that is Christ Jesus. Grant their collective voice to be that of Christ’s, holy and relevant with power to pierce the din of the chaotic world.
The Transfiguration
The Transfiguration takes place on Mount Tabor when the luminous glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ as the Father commands the Apostles to ‘listen to him’ (cf. Lk 9:35). This prepares Peter, James, and John to experience with Christ the agony of the Passion, so as to come to the joy of the Resurrection, and a life transfigured by the Holy Spirit.
Eternal Father, we ardently implore the grace of the Transfiguration to flow upon our bishop’s today. May they experience inspirations of the divine will to strengthened their ministry. Graciously render them unafraid to mount the Cross of Christ Jesus that is the bridge to all new life and restoration. Renew their hearts in your love. Conform their heart to Christ’s so they radiate only the heart of the Redeemer.
The Institution of the Eucharist
Christ offers his body and blood as food under the signs of bread and wine, and testifies ‘to the end’ his love for humanity (Jn 13:1), for whose salvation he will offer himself in sacrifice. “The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch” (CC 1324).
Eternal Father, we give you thanks for the greatest gift of your Son Jesus Christ perpetually present in the Eucharist. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders you have chosen, consecrated, equipped and sent forth the Lord’s ministers. Among them bishops were chosen to be fruitful spiritual fathers for all souls. We join our intercession for bishops to that of the Virgin Mary imploring you to protect and to provide them every necessary grace and resource. Lead them with wisdom from Above. Amen.
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US BISHOPS MEET FOR FALL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
(The following is from a press release by Vatican News/USCCB):
The agenda for the Fall Meeting will also feature votes on the Program for Priestly Formation, for use in the United States; and supplements to the document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship”, addressed to all the faithful, concerning the political responsibility of Catholics.
Bishops of the Latin-Rite will also be asked to vote on translations of two documents: the “Order of Christian Initiation of Adults as the base text for a future edition of this rite for use in the United States; and a translation of the “Hymns of the Liturgy of the Hours”.
In addition, the Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs will request authorization of the full body of Bishops to lead the process of developing a new formal statement and comprehensive vision for Hispanic/Latino ministry in response to the V Encuentro process, a process of ecclesial reflection meant to discern the way in which Latino Catholics respond as Church.
The Bishops will also vote on the Revised Strategic Priorities for the 2021-2024 Strategic Plan for the USCCB, as well as the proposed budgets for 2020. They will elect the new Board of Directors for Catholic Relief Services, which carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas.
Finally, the Bishops are also expected to hear an update on progress toward establishing a nationwide, third-party reporting system for abuse or misconduct by Bishops.
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