35.5 F
Saint Paul
Monday, March 18, 2024

For archdiocese, let’s take a page from pope’s prayer book

Bishop Andrew Cozzens

BishopCozzensI must admit that when I received the news that Archbishop Bernard Hebda had been named archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, I was moved to tears with overwhelming gratitude in my heart.

With all the difficulty and struggle that we have walked through as an archdiocese for the past two and a half years, this news was such a welcome joy. I have gotten to know Archbishop Hebda so well these past months, and I know him to be a humble, intelligent, generous and loving man who is just the sort of shepherd we need right now.

This news also brought a sense of stability; with a permanent archbishop we can begin to move forward into the new day the Lord desires to bring. While we can never simply put the past behind us — not forgetting what we have learned in this struggle — we can go forward to grow into the Church Christ wants us to be. The cross can give way to the resurrection.

Even as we slowly move forward, we are still dealing with serious legal struggles. The archdiocese is still in bankruptcy and working hard to reach a financial resolution for the victims of clergy sexual abuse. The archdiocese is also still involved with civil protocols and criminal charges. With this, hopefully victims will receive a fair compensation from our bankruptcy, and the civil agreement with Ramsey County is helping us move forward with transparency and accountability. Resolving the criminal charges and the bankruptcy will be important steps that allow us to go forward.

To that end, I’d like to invite us to redouble our efforts in prayer for the archdiocese as we prepare for our new archbishop. Many biographers of Pope Francis have noted that he has a strong devotion to Our Lady the Undoer of Knots. He discovered this image of Mary during his time of study in Germany in the mid-1980s. It shows Our Lady untying the knots of a ribbon handed to her by angels. Pope Francis has made this prayer his own and handed out this image on the holy card he made when he was ordained a bishop. The theology of the devotion goes back to the second century. St. Irenaeus wrote that, “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by the obedience of Mary; what the virgin Eve bound by her unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith.” As a bishop in Argentina, Pope Francis encouraged people to bring to Our Lady Undoer of Knots the most difficult problems in their lives. I’m praying this prayer that the legal knots in which the archdiocese finds itself will be undone with justice and truth for all involved. Please join me daily in praying this prayer, attributed to Pope Francis, until these knots are untied.

Holy Mary, full of the presence of God, during your life you accepted with great humility the holy will of the father, and the devil was never able to entangle you with his confusion. Since then you have interceded for all of our difficulties as you did at the wedding feast of Cana. Full of kindness and patience, you have given us an example of how to untangle the knots of our life. By remaining forever our mother, you make clear and firm the ties that unite us to our Lord. Holy Mary, mother of God and our mother, who untie with a maternal heart the knots of our life, we ask you to receive into your hands the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and deliver us from the chains and confusion that restrain us. Through your grace, your intercession and by your example, deliver us from evil, and untie the knots that keep us from being united to God. So that free of all sin and error, we may find him in all things, may have our hearts placed with him, and may serve him always in our brothers and sisters. Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us. Amen.


Installation events for Archbishop Bernard Hebda

Thursday, May 12

- Advertisement -
  • Celebration of welcome and evening prayer
    7 p.m. at the Basilica of St. Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
    A reception will follow in Teresa of Calcutta Hall, lower level of the church.

Friday, May 13

  • Installation Mass
    2 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul; 1:45 p.m. procession
  • Public reception
    4–6 p.m. at Cretin-Derham Hall High School, 550 Albert St. S., St. Paul

Watch and listen

  • On May 13, Eternal Word Television Network will broadcast the Installation Mass live on cable. It will also be broadcast locally on channel 16.2 (St. Michael Broadcasting).
  • A live stream of the Installation Mass will be posted at archspm.org, courtesy of Town Square TV and EWTN.
  • Listen to the Installation Mass live May 13 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.

For more information: installation@archspm.org, 651-291-4486 or archspm.org


Para la arquidiócesis, tomemos una página del libro de oraciones del papa

 


Related Articles

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Trending

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
12,743FansLike
1,478FollowersFollow
6,479FollowersFollow
35,922FollowersFollow
583SubscribersSubscribe
- Advertisement -