On Thursday, January 5th, Pope Francis will preside over the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at 9:30am Rome time in St. Peter’s Square. The Mass booklet for the funeral has been released by the Vatican and includes a collect prayer in Latin, readings in Spanish, Latin, English, and Italian, and Prayers of the Faithful in German and Latin.
The collect prayer, which will be prayed in Latin, reads: “Let us pray. O God, who in your wondrous providence chose your servant Benedict to preside over your Church, grant, we pray, that, having served as the Vicar of your Son on earth, he may be welcomed by him into eternal glory. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.”
The readings for the Mass will be: Isaiah 29:16–19 in Spanish, Psalm 23 sung in Latin, 1 Peter 1: 3–9 in English, and the Gospel of Luke 23: 39–46 in Italian.
In the Prayers of the Faithful, the second prayer will be said in German: “For Pope Emeritus Benedict, who has fallen asleep in the Lord: may the eternal Shepherd receive him into his kingdom of light and peace.” At the end of the Prayers of the Faithful, Pope Francis will pray in Latin: “God our Father, lover of life, hear the prayers we raise to you with faith in the Risen Lord for Pope Emeritus Benedict and for the needs of the Church and our world. Grant us a share in fellowship with you in the heavenly Jerusalem, where sorrow and tears will be no more. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
The Prayer over the Offerings will be in Latin: “Look with favor on the offerings of your Church as she calls on you, O Lord, and by the power of this sacrifice grant that, as you placed your servant Benedict as High Priest over your flock, so you may set him among the number of your chosen Priests in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
The Prayer at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer III will be offered in Latin: “Remember your servant Pope Emeritus Benedict, whom you have called from this world to yourself. Grant that he who was united with your Son in a death like his, may also be one with him in his Resurrection, when from the earth he will raise up in the flesh those who have died, and transform our lowly body after the pattern of his own glorious body. To our departed brothers and sisters, too, and to all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life, give kind admittance to your kingdom. There we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory, when you will wipe away every tear from our eyes. For seeing you, our God, as you are, we shall be like you for all the ages and praise you without end, through Christ our Lord, through whom you bestow on the world all that is good.”
The Prayer after Communion will be prayed in Latin: “Let us pray. As we receive sacred sustenance from your charity, O Lord, we pray that your servant Benedict, who was a faithful steward of your mysteries on earth, may praise your mercy forever in the glory of the Saints. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
After Communion, there will be a Final Commendation and Farewell followed by a moment for silent prayer. Pope Francis will then incense the mortal remains of Benedict XVI and pray in Latin: “Gracious Father, we commend to your mercy Pope Emeritus Benedict whom you made Successor of Peter and shepherd of the Church, a fearless preacher of the Gospel and a faithful servant of your people. May he find mercy on the day of your just judgement, through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
The Mass will conclude with the prayer for the dead and the final blessing.
Pray for Pope Benedict XVI!
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