Eve of the English Welsh ad limina: Prayer before Punditry:

I composed this Litany just after the Holy Father appointed. Archbishop Nichols to Westminster and mistakenly thought I'd posted it in February last year. It is highly appropriate for the eve of the Ad limina and is published here with slight adjustments and additions. I invite you all to pray it with me tonight and throughout the coming week.

FOR OUR HOLY FATHER BENEDICT AND FOR OUR BISHOPS

Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy

Holy Spirit have mercy
Holy Spirit have mercy

Prayer for the Pope
Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy on your servant Benedict, our Pope. Guide him in your wisdom, and lead him in your goodness on the way of eternal salvation, so that, with the promptings of your grace, he may desire what pleases you and accomplish it with all his strength. Grant him health, fortitude and courage, and protect him from his enemies and from all dangers. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord Amen.

Mary Mother of the Church, pray for him..
Mother of Good Counsel, pray for him.
Virgin most Prudent, pray for him.
Seat of Wisdom, pray for him.

St. Joseph, pray for him.
St. Peter, pray for him.
St Benedict, pray for him.
St. Corbianus of Friesing, pray for him.
Pope John Paul II, servant of God, pray for him.

Prayer for England and Wales:

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon Wales, upon England thy dowry , and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and hope was given unto the world and He has given thee to us that we may hope still more. Plead for us thy children, whom thour didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother. Itercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the Chief Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son. Pray for us all dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works, we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee in our heavenly home. Amen

Immaculate Mother of God, Mediatrix of all graces, pray for our Pope and our bishops.

Queen of Apostles, pray for them

Mother and Queen of Clergy, pray for them

Mother of Perpetual help, pray for them

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for them

Queen of Confessors, pray for them

Queen of Martyrs, pray for them

Queen of Peace, pray for them

Our Lady of Good Hope, pray for them

Our Lady of Trust, pray for them

FOR OUR BISHOPS

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for them; Our Lady of Cardigan, pray for them

St David, Patron of Wales; St George, Patron of England, pray for them

St Alban, protomartyr of England, pray for them; SS Julian and Aaron martyrs of Caerleon, pray for them

SS Hilda of Whitby and Bede the Venerable, pray for them;

SS Beuno and Winefride, pray for them

SS Augustine of Canterbury, Edmund, Edward Confessor, pray for them

SS Boniface of Crediton, Dunstan, and Thomas a Becket pray for them

Saint John Fisher, pray for them. May you not say of them "the fort is betrayed, even of them that should have defended it."

St. Thomas More, pray for them; Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, pray for them

Blessed Dominic Barberi and John Henry Newman, Servant of God, pray for them

All Saints of England and Wales, pray for them

Prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Come O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love, send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. O God who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen

Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us O Lord.

Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us O Lord

Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Amen

Next post tomorrow evening on various 'matters arising'.