East Anglia Seminarians: "I'd like to see more smiles"

Monday, 11 July 2011

"I'd like to see more smiles"

We learned with great sadness this evening of the death of our father, the Bishop. After many years of living with cancer, and these past few months of intense suffering, by which he witnessed to Christ in such a powerful way, he has now gone to the Lord.

A few months ago, Bishop Michael recorded an interview for our local television. At the end, the interviewer asks him what would be his message for East Anglians when the day of his death finally comes. He said his message was the Good News:

"We go through death to resurrection. If there is pain, then we go through that to something even better. And, therefore, there is a way forward. It's not about standing still or just being who we are. We are on a journey, a pilgrimage, and a joyful one. I'd like to see more smiles."

Bishop Michael's pilgrimage here on earth has ended, and we rejoice in God's love and Truth. We pray for his soul, for the diocese, and for the comforting balm and guiding wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

2 comments:

Jack Regan said...: Brilliant post. Thank you.; 12 July 2011 at 08:57
Tony said...: John 11:25 seems appropriate.

"I am the Resurrection and the Life.
He that believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."

I place my hope in the Lord. And I hope and pray that Bishop Michael's soul will be welcomed by the angels into the comfort and joy of Heaven. May Bishop Michael rest in peace, bathed in the glory and majesty of God.; 12 July 2011 at 10:51

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Prayer for Priestly Vocations

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who moved to pity at the sight of the multitudes, scattered like sheep without a shepherd, didst say to Thy disciples: "The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send labourers into His harvest," deign to turn Thine eyes of pity on this our diocese, and to call to Thy priesthood young men, who will spend themselves and be spent for Thy honour and glory, and for the souls whom Thou has redeemed with Thy Most Precious Blood, Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for Seminarians

O Lord Jesus Christ, great High Priest, I pray that You call many worthy souls to Your holy priesthood.

Enlighten the Bishop in the choice of candidates, the Spiritual Director in molding them, and the professors in instructing them.

Lead the seminarians daily in Your unerring footsteps; so that they may become priests who are models of purity, possessors of wisdom and heroes of sacrifice; steeped in humility and aflame with love for God and man; apostles of Your glory and sanctifiers of souls.

Amen.

Prayer for the Pope

V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.
R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him to be blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies

Our Father. Hail Mary.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant, Benedict, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy loving-kindness, in the way of eternal salvation; that, of thy gift, he may ever desire that which is pleasing unto thee and may accomplish it with all his might. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen

Prayer for the Queen

V. O Lord, save Elizabeth, our Queen.
R. And hear us on the day we call upon you.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come before you.

[V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.]

Let us pray

Almighty God, we pray, that your servant Elizabeth, our Queen, who, by your providence has received the governance of this realm, may continue to grow in every virtue, that, imbued with your heavenly grace, she may be preserved from all that is harmful and evil and, being blessed with your favour may, with her consort and the royal family, come at last into your presence, through Christ who is the way, the truth and the life and who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.