Re-implement Leonine Prayers or similar for US bishops?

[YoungTradCath]

I’ve been thinking about all this Obama abortion-contraception puke and it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to re-implement the Leonine Prayers–or something similar–after masses for the intention of the bishops, as they’re the ones who will most certainly be the front-line combatants against these death mandates. There’s only one year before the death mandates go into effect, which isn’t a lot of time.

I really, really think Leonine Prayers, in the US of course, for the bishops is a good idea. I am actually tempted to write my bishop to offer my suggestion to him in hopes that he might implement a diocesan-wide policy regarding this making it mandatory after mass. This is really the most glaring governmental affront to American Catholicism that I can think of, and I think a common, broad-reaching thing like this will do infinite good, much more so than one of those “Please pray a rosary” things in bulletins that nobody reads. What do you think?

 

[DexUK]

I most fervently and wholeheartedly second your idea.

Go ahead and write to your Bishop immediately. Encourage all your friends to as well.

The Leonine prayers are lovely and they really bolster one against the ‘slings and arrows of the enemy’. I keep a copy of them in my Sunday Missal and if I take it with me I try to read them to myself, although the cacophony after Mass in Church can make that quite a challenge.

 

[bluerose]

My brother-in-law already does this at his parish in Mesa, AZ, Queen of Peace!

 

[CaptCrunch73]

I’ve been thinking about all this Obama abortion-contraception puke and it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to re-implement the Leonine Prayers–or something similar–after masses for the intention of the bishops, as they’re the ones who will most certainly be the front-line combatants against these death mandates. There’s only one year before the death mandates go into effect, which isn’t a lot of time.

I really, really think Leonine Prayers, in the US of course, for the bishops is a good idea. I am actually tempted to write my bishop to offer my suggestion to him in hopes that he might implement a diocesan-wide policy regarding this making it mandatory after mass. This is really the most glaring governmental affront to American Catholicism that I can think of, and I think a common, broad-reaching thing like this will do infinite good, much more so than one of those “Please pray a rosary” things in bulletins that nobody reads. What do you think?

I third this idea!!

 

[MarkThompson]

I’ve been thinking about all this Obama abortion-contraception puke and it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to re-implement the Leonine Prayers–or something similar–after masses for the intention of the bishops, as they’re the ones who will most certainly be the front-line combatants against these death mandates. There’s only one year before the death mandates go into effect, which isn’t a lot of time.

I really, really think Leonine Prayers, in the US of course, for the bishops is a good idea. I am actually tempted to write my bishop to offer my suggestion to him in hopes that he might implement a diocesan-wide policy regarding this making it mandatory after mass. This is really the most glaring governmental affront to American Catholicism that I can think of, and I think a common, broad-reaching thing like this will do infinite good, much more so than one of those “Please pray a rosary” things in bulletins that nobody reads. What do you think?

Rather than reinstate the Leonine prayers after low Mass, which would not be the equivalent of what most people attend, I think it would be preferable to designate them to be said after Sunday Mass, or perhaps after the principal Mass on Sunday. One should acknowledge that the purpose of doing so would be not only to gain the graces of the prayers, but also to raise awareness of the issues themselves. In that regard, I would think that having the prayers said only after weekday or low Masses, whose small congregations would be more likely to be already aware and politically motivated, would somewhat miss the point – or at least miss the opportunity of acting across a broader spectrum.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Rather than reinstate the Leonine prayers after low Mass, which would not be the equivalent of what most people attend, I think it would be preferable to designate them to be said after Sunday Mass, or perhaps after the principal Mass on Sunday. One should acknowledge that the purpose of doing so would be not only to gain the graces of the prayers, but also to raise awareness of the issues themselves. In that regard, I would think that having the prayers said only after weekday or low Masses, whose small congregations would be more likely to be already aware and politically motivated, would somewhat miss the point – or at least miss the opportunity of acting across a broader spectrum.

My intent was that they would be recited after each and every mass. I do know that Leonine Prayers in the EF are only said (if at all) after Low Mass, but for OF parishes, as they make up a majority of parishes now, I mean for them to be prayed after every mass. I don’t mean that the rules that govern when they are said should be reintroduced, but only the prayers themselves, to be said after every mass. And as you said, this should be done not only as a way to aid the bishops with spiritual graces, but also to bring much attention to the subject as far as the laity goes.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

A good suggestion from the OP. Others have been suggesting this, too.

I pray the St. Michael Prayer silently after mass, myself (Sunday and daily).

 

[Timothysis]

I doubt a bishop would be in favor of such a suggestion. It has been reported here at CAF before that a bishop had asked some to stop praying the Leonine prayers after Mass publicly because it was confusing to those in attendance who had already heard that “the Mass is ended,” sung the recessional hymn and had the priest depart.

I think a bishop would be more agreeable to having something said in the general intentions of the Mass which is, after all, the formal communion of the faithful gathered for the celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy than try to force something at the end that would confuse and would no doubt be met with hostility by those who have already heard that things were “ended.” Besides, the Leonine prayers are not part of the Roman Missal and therefore do not have a place at the end of Mass.

 

[agnes_therese]

A good suggestion from the OP. Others have been suggesting this, too.

I pray the St. Michael Prayer silently after mass, myself (Sunday and daily).

Ditto. It just feels like the right thing to do.

 

[MelissaCaritas]

An excellent idea…however. Our parish is huge. In order to accommodate the large number of people who come each weekend, we have several Masses that have to be stacked up pretty close together to fit them all in, and can’t be moved without inconveniencing a few thousand people.

Lengthening any of the Masses, even by a few minutes, would cause some really unpleasant logistical issues. This is really a disappointment to me - last Sunday, I asked one of our priests if we might expect to hear Eucharistic Prayer I anytime soon, since the new translation is AMAZING. He explained the logistical problem, and said that they would really have to reserve that one for special occasions. We MIGHT be able to squeeze them in after some of the weekday Masses, but the early morning Mass at least has to be kept short so that people can come and still make it to work on time. As short as they are, there are still a few who unfortunately are obliged to do the Judas Shuffle (Receive and Leave), in order to get to work and not be late.

So, as awesome as it would be to say these prayers after Mass, it’s not terribly feasible at our parish. I imagine that many bishops have at least one parish in their dioceses with a problem like ours, which is why they haven’t mandated these prayers.

I would suggest that you bring it up with your priest, and ask if it would be possible without being unreasonably inconvenient. See what he says. If nothing else, say the prayers yourself after Mass. Ask your friends and family to say them after Mass. Ask all the people on this forum to say them (I’m in!). Maybe even organize a group at your parish to meet weekly and pray for the Church in this matter.

God will hear our prayers, and He will protect His Church. Especially if we ask St. Michael.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I doubt a bishop would be in favor of such a suggestion. It has been reported here at CAF before that a bishop had asked some to stop praying the Leonine prayers after Mass publicly because it was confusing to those in attendance who had already heard that “the Mass is ended,” sung the recessional hymn and had the priest depart.

I think a bishop would be more agreeable to having something said in the general intentions of the Mass which is, after all, the formal communion of the faithful gathered for the celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy than try to force something at the end that would confuse and would no doubt be met with hostility by those who have already heard that things were “ended.” Besides, the Leonine prayers are not part of the Roman Missal and therefore do not have a place at the end of Mass.

That seems like the lamest complainer debbie-downer excuse ever. I really think I would have to laugh very hard at someone if he told me that in real life. It’s “confusing?” Wow, they must get confused really, really easily. This seems super PC, “respect my feelings.”

General intercessions are, well… so general and boring. After you get done with the 50 “my parakeet died” things, are people really going to pay attention? The Leonine Prayers set things off audibly. The fact that they are done after mass makes it very clear that they are done for a special intention. If people get hostile and, as I said, confused (lol!) over that, then I think they might have bigger personal problems than praying after mass… You are correct, the Lenonine Prayers are not part of the Roman Missal, but they never actually were, even when they were obligatory. So even now, the Roman Missal doesn’t regulate what comes after mass, so anything goes then. The recessional song isn’t even regulated by the Roman Missal, as it doesn’t even recognize a recessional song.

But please don’t take this as being hostile to you, only your objection, as it really doesn’t make much real sense to me.

 

[MissRose73]

I would say Hail Mary at least after the prayers of the faithful, it doesn’t even take an minute to recite one Hail Mary if the Leonine prayers aren’t re-implemented after Mass. I have no issue saying them after Low Mass in the Extra Ordinary Form of the Mass, its a beautiful thing.

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

At two of the parishes I attend regularly, we say the Saint Michael prayer after every Mass.

 

[MelissaCaritas]

ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/US.php?id=4749#.TyK-i9X79ot.facebook

One Bishop has done something similar.

 

[ProVobis]

At two of the parishes I attend regularly, we say the Saint Michael prayer after every Mass.

By the way, is there an official version to this prayer? It’s said after the low EF and it seems as if there is no unison among the Anglophones. Some say “cast,” some say “thrust”; some say “protect,” some say “defend.” And so on. It gets to be unnnecessarily difficult. I hope this doesn’t turn out to be another translation issue. Might be just as good to ask people to pray it on their own outside Mass, in whatever language they wish, however they wish to say it. Just saying.

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

By the way, is there an official version to this prayer? It’s said after the low EF and it seems as if there is no unison among the Anglophones. Some say “cast,” some say “thrust”; some say “protect,” some say “defend.” And so on. I hope this doesn’t turn out to be another translation issue. Might be just as good to ask people to pray it on their own outside Mass, in whatever language they wish. Just saying.

?
No, there isn’t an official of the short version, only the long one.

Well, I like that we pray it after the Mass(after the blessing). That ensures that people do pray it(and don’t forget), and that “where two or more pray” sort of thing is done. Besides, why not offer your prayers while the Holy Presence of Our Lord may still be present in those present?

We actually had a mandatory(by the Diocese) prayer for vocations during the offertory where everyone said the prayer together. It was a very solemn, to the point prayer. How are vocations doing in my diocese? They are really coming forward. Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary has a large amount of new seminarians. There is much to be said for praying in groups.

 

[ProVobis]

Well, I like that we pray it after the Mass(after the blessing). That ensures that people do pray it(and don’t forget), and that “where two or more pray” sort of thing is done. Besides, why not offer your prayers while the Holy Presence of Our Lord may still be present in those present?

True but only one part of the Leonine prayers is directed to God. That’s where the confusion can arise.

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

True but only one part of the Leonine prayers is directed to God. That’s where the confusion can arise.

Yeah, that’s why we pray the short Saint Michael Prayer. Whether one word or two words are off, it generally doesn’t make a difference.

I’m not talking about a whole group praying the Rite of Exorcism or the Long St. Michael prayer with the priest’s part.

 

[Timothysis]

That seems like the lamest complainer debbie-downer excuse ever. I really think I would have to laugh very hard at someone if he told me that in real life. It’s “confusing?” Wow, they must get confused really, really easily. This seems super PC, “respect my feelings.”

General intercessions are, well… so general and boring. After you get done with the 50 “my parakeet died” things, are people really going to pay attention? The Leonine Prayers set things off audibly. The fact that they are done after mass makes it very clear that they are done for a special intention. If people get hostile and, as I said, confused (lol!) over that, then I think they might have bigger personal problems than praying after mass… You are correct, the Lenonine Prayers are not part of the Roman Missal, but they never actually were, even when they were obligatory. So even now, the Roman Missal doesn’t regulate what comes after mass, so anything goes then. The recessional song isn’t even regulated by the Roman Missal, as it doesn’t even recognize a recessional song.

But please don’t take this as being hostile to you, only your objection, as it really doesn’t make much real sense to me.

Glad that you had such a laugh but it was indeed reported on this site by a member that they were asked by the bishop to stop their public prayer after Mass because of the very reason that it was confusing to those who were not aware of the Leonine prayers (which includes most people born after the Vatican II Council). Also, the fact that you regard the general intentions to be “boring” tells me that you are more about the style than the substance in the celebration of Mass. How many people today approach problems by reviving past practices that have been disposed of over 40 years ago? The proper time for your suggestion is indeed during the general intentions regardless as to how general and boring they are to you personally.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Glad that you had such a laugh but it was indeed reported on this site by a member that they were asked by the bishop to stop their public prayer after Mass because of the very reason that it was confusing to those who were not aware of the Leonine prayers (which includes most people born after the Vatican II Council). Also, the fact that you regard the general intentions to be “boring” tells me that you are more about the style than the substance in the celebration of Mass. How many people today approach problems by reviving past practices that have been disposed of over 40 years ago? The proper time for your suggestion is indeed during the general intentions regardless as to how general and boring they are to you personally.

Thanks for the suggestion!