THE DEDICATION OF THE CHURCHES OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL - 18 NOVEMBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER

Saints celebrated on the 18th of November 

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

THE DEDICATION OF THE CHURCHES OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

The tomb of St Peter in the Vatican was the site for the great basilica of St Peter built by the Emperor Constantine about 330. The basilica of St Paul was built about the end of the fourth century. These two sites have always been centres of Christian pilgrimage.

PRAYER:

Lord,

give your Church the protection of the apostles.

From them it first received the faith of Christ.

May they help your Church to grow in your grace

until the end of time.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

÷÷÷

TODAY'S ENTRY IN THE ROMAN MARTYROLOGY: 

"At Rome, the Dedication of the basilicas of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. The former, having been enlarged, was on this day solemnly consecrated by Urban VIII, while the latter, more sumptuously rebuilt after its total destruction by the flames, was solemnly dedicated on the 10th of December by Pius IX, though the festival in commemoration of that event was transferred to this day."

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