Twelve years ago in 2013, the College of Cardinals elected Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, as Bishop of Rome, our Supreme Pontiff, Pope. Since Easter Monday, April 21st, the day of his death, we have been praying for the happy repose of the soul of Pope Francis. The 2013 conclave was different than others before it as Pope Benedict XVI resigned and was still alive at the time of the conclave to elect his successor. The 2005 conclave which elected Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger to succeed Pope St. John Paul II was more like this one.
Our brothers, Cardinals of the Church, will begin the conclave to elect our new Pope on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Many have begun speculating on who will be the successor of Francis. I don’t want to do that or get into that. The speculation is not something that we should be doing, in my opinion. Rather, we should be engaging in prayer and fasting for the Cardinals and for ourselves.
The privilege of electing the next Bishop of Rome is that of a member of the College of Cardinals – bishops chosen from around the world by the Pope to be his advisers and to help him guide the Church. Our response in anticipating and participating in the Conclave is to Pray and Fast for our brothers. As the days draw near for them to enter into the Conclave and during it, please pray daily or multiple times a day for them. Perhaps offer a rosary for them. We should also fast for them. Acts of self-denial are good spiritual tools which we can offer for others and ourselves.
What should we pray for? Pray that the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom, insight, courage, and discernment. Throughout these days, they will be discussing the state of the Church and the world. They will dialogue about what the world needs the Church to be at this time and what the Church needs in a Pope. They will pray and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We cannot vote, but we can do what we can – pray and fast. May our brothers be open to the Holy Spirit especially during this time!
We should also pray and fast for ourselves. We have no idea who the next Pope will be. The prayer for ourselves should be that we be open to whomever our brothers chose, whomever God sends us to be our Holy Father. We must react as good sons and daughters of Holy Mother Church. We should be open to all that God wants to give us in and through our next Pope. May we receive with open hearts, minds, and arms the man sent to us to be our Shepherd.
On May 7th, the masses will be “For the Election of a Pope”. There will not be a special mass. The normal mass schedule will be observed: 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, and 5:30 PM. Please attend and offer that mass for our brothers and for ourselves.
LOURDES
Thank you for the prayers for a good pilgrimage to Lourdes! The Lord is doing great things! Be assured that I am taking you, your families, and your intentions with me as I pray at the Grotto, as I light a candle, and as I walk in procession. Y’all are with me every step of the way!
May the Lord Jesus abundantly bless you and your families this Easter Season! A Blessed Easter to you all!
Christ is Risen!
He is truly risen!
St. James the Less, pray for us!
~ Fr. Daniel Firmin