Praying for the Papal Conclave

And so life goes on.  Shocked and saddened as we are by the news of Pope Benedict XVI’s impending retirement, we look forward to the next pope who will guide our Church through turbulent waters.  

Dr. Mark Miravalle, professor of Theology and Mariology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, has published this very helpful prayer for our cardinals, who will soon come together in a conclave to elect the next pope.

Novena Prayer for a Conclave

Heavenly Father,

We, the People of God, gathered in solidarity as did the disciples in the Upper Room, pray for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the cardinals who will be in conclave for the election of the next Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the hearts of our cardinals be open to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, beyond any human judgment, to elect the candidate most pleasing to you, Heavenly Father, and who will guide the Church at this momentous time in history at the beginning of the Third Millennium. 

We invoke our Mother Mary, united in prayer with the disciples in the Upper Room, to intercede for our cardinals to select the next Holy Father in docility to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, her divine Spouse. Holy Mary, Mother of God and of the Church, we entrust this conclave to your maternal and Immaculate Heart, and offer these prayers for your guidance and protection over the choosing of the next Vicar of your Son:

1 Our Father
1 Hail Mary
1 Glory Be

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.