As the cardinals gather in Rome today to begin the conclave, the faithful may wonder what to do. Nothing more than watch nervously from afar? Should we break out the popcorn or antacids? Even if we can’t enter the Sistine Chapel, there is more than waiting we can do to participate in this important moment for the Church.
Because we are one body in Christ, all the members of the Body influence one another. If some members are healthy, the rest benefit. If some members are sick, the rest suffer. We are not aware of how intertwined we are, how our actions influence others. If we are distracted, trapped in sinful habits, or disengaged, we will not be able to contribute to the general well-being of the communion of the Church on earth.
Knowing this, the men of Exodus 90 are dedicating themselves to daily prayer starting on Monday, April 28, and continuing through the Installation Mass of the new pope. Everyone needs to join in their own way, praying and making sacrifice. These things can and will make a difference, surrounding the conclave and the ministry of the new pope with spiritual support.
The outcome of the conclave is not preordained. God does not force His will on the cardinals, or on any of us. He invites us to cooperate with His plan of salvation, and the deeper we enter into conversion, the more we will be able to work with God and not against Him. The laity can become passive before the role of the clergy, blaming the state of the Church on their decisions. Yes, our leaders do make mistakes and fail us. But we don’t realize how much our own lukewarmness may weigh them down. They need our support!
Following the events in Rome gives us an opportunity to enter into the holy mystery of the Church. Exodus 90’s daily prayers can serve as a model for praying in support of the conclave. We are reading and meditating on Gospel passages related to the life of St. Peter, reciting hymns in honor of the ministry of Peter, praying psalms, making intercession, and lifting up the specific actions of the cardinals each day. Peter was chief of the twelve apostles, but Jesus was also followed by groups of 70 and 120 disciples as well as the crowds. Even from the back of the crowd, we can affirm Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of God,” and remain firmly fixed upon the rock of the Church. This will only strengthen the faith of the entire Church.
As the cardinals enter the conclave, they pray the ancient hymn to the Holy Spirit, Veni Creator Spiritus, asking God to guide their decisions and votes. A great way to support them is to begin praying this beautiful and powerful prayer yourself. We can also choose a particular sacrifice and penance to strengthen our prayer. Jesus tells the disciples in Mark 9:29 that some spiritual problems can only be overcome by prayer and fasting.
The Church faces many serious problems, both internal and external. Think of what a difference it would make if the laity banded together in united prayer and penance. Instead of watching the TV or computer for the latest updates, we can enter into the events in Rome by uniting our souls to what is happening. We may not know the difference now, but one day we’ll find out.
Take this opportunity to pray hard and offer up what you can for the good of the whole Body of the Church!
Editor’s Note: Starting now and continuing daily until the conclave ends, let us unite in prayer and pray for the cardinals and the election of our next pope. The cardinals need our prayers now more than ever, and the Church needs to be united in invoking the Holy Spirit! Download the Exodus 90 app and/or the Rosario app to join Catholics around the world united in prayer for these intentions.
Photo by Davide Buttani on Unsplash
