Tuesday, June 2, 2009

More Than 700,000 Prayers in Thanks for Bishops Who Opposed the Scandal




Notre Dame ora pro nobis!
June 2, 2009
More Than 700,000 Prayers in Thanks for Bishops Who Opposed the Scandal 

Beginning the weekend of May 31, Pentecost Sunday, the 83 U.S. Catholic bishops who publicly opposed the University of Notre Dame’s commencement honor for President Obama started to receive Spiritual Bouquet Certificates consisting of hundreds of thousands of prayers. The prayers, primarily from people who signed The Cardinal Newman Society’s petition opposing the Notre Dame scandal, were offered in thanksgiving for the bishops’ inspiring witness to the importance of Catholic identity.

The request for the prayers was made by The Cardinal Newman Society on Ascension Thursday, May 21, and the bouquets were sent to the bishops on Friday, May 29, in advance of Pentecost Sunday.

Each of the 83 bishops was sent a Spiritual Bouquet Certificate which reads:

“On behalf of the members and staff of The Cardinal Newman Society and the more than 367,000 faithful who signed the petition at NotreDameScandal.com, this spiritual bouquet is made on the twenty-ninth day of May 
Anno Domini Nostri Jesu Christi two thousand and nine in grateful appreciation to the Church’s shepherds who prayerfully provided witness for a strong Catholic identity on Catholic campuses.”

A copy of the Spiritual Bouquet Certificate sent to the bishops may be viewed by clicking here. A list of the 83 bishops may be viewed at LifeSiteNews.com.

The overwhelming prayer response in the spiritual bouquet includes:

Mass Intentions: 116,741

Divine Mercy Chaplets: 74,974

Aspirations: 57,728

General Prayers: 236,615

Eucharistic Holy Hours: 37,125

Holy Rosaries: 146,944

Novenas: 19,877

Days of Fasting: 28,862

In addition to these prayers, Catholic priests offered 3,272 Holy Sacrifices of the Mass for the bishops.

Our bishops deserve our support and prayers for their defense of Catholic identity.  They will need our prayers more than ever as the battle for the soul of Catholic campuses continues.
May God Bless You!
Patrick J. Reilly
President of The Cardinal Newman Society
P.S. Please join us with your prayers and support as a member of The Cardinal Newman Society. We continue to tirelessly fulfill our mission to bring about the renewal of Catholic higher education.   Won't you join us today?