Conclave!

If you are Catholic, then it is likely you know what the Conclave is.  If you are not, you have probably been seeing posts about it from your Catholic friends all over facebook.  A Conclave is when the College of Cardinals meet together to elect a new Bishop of Rome (that's the Pope). Here is a cool website explaining more How Does A Conclave Work?

It's a pretty big deal.  I saw this Novena for the Conclave posted on Facebook this morning and thought I would share.  You can join and have the novena sent to your email each day so you don't forget to pray it (am I the only one who does that?)  Here is the actual Novena prayer:

PRAYER FOR THE CONCLAVE TO ELECT THE POPE

Heavenly Father, we pray in union with the whole Church for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Cardinals. May the Princes of the Church listen attentively to Your Spirit during the conclave.

Almighty God, we pray that the conclave brings us a Pope who pleases You by guiding Your Church to grow in faithfulness to You. We pray together with the intercession of our Mother Mary and all the Saints. Please Lord, protect and guide your Church during this time of transition.

Amen.

The decision as to who will be elected Pope is not one to be taken lightly, so prayer for the Cardinals and the Church are vital.

I was reading today in Will to Love of the importance of "the interior life, the life of silence, prayer, and of love for God".  St. Maximilian Kolbe said that "to the extent that we will burn with the love of God, to that extent will we inflame it in the hearts of others." Another great Polish Saint, Sr. Faustina Kowalska, offered a beautiful prayer to God that should echo in our own hearts "Trusting in Your mercy, I walk through life like a little child, offering You each day this heart burning with love for your greater glory". 

It is important that just as the Cardinals are retreating to a place of quiet and solitude to pray and discern who the next Pope will be, that we, too, retreat to a place where we can be silent and pray.  The Cardinals are going not just for some big "show" as the media tends to view these types of events, but because they know the power of God and know the importance of listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  My prayer for our new Pope is that he will 'burn with the love of God, inflame the hearts of others, and give all the glory to God'.

In honor of the beginning of the Conclave today, March 12, 2013, we made our felt Pope some red Pope shoes.