Archbishop José H. Gomez is calling on Catholics in Los Angeles to take up Pope Francis’ call to pray the rosary for the protection of the Church throughout the Marian month of October.
In a communique issued Sept. 29, the date the Church traditionally celebrates the Feast of the Archangels, Pope Francis invited the faithful to pray the rosary every day during October “to join in communion and in penitence, as the people of God, in asking the Holy Mother of God and Saint Michael Archangel to protect the Church from the devil, who always seeks to separate us from God and from each other.”
The Pope asked the world’s Catholics to conclude their praying of the rosary during October with two special prayers — the ancient “Sub Tuum Praesidium” (“Beneath thy protection”) and the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, written in 1886 by Pope Leo XIII.
The Vatican explained that in asking for the Mother of God’s intercession, he hoped that she would “place the Church beneath her protective mantle: to preserve her from the attacks by the devil, the great accuser.”
In addition, the Vatican said the Pope hoped that the Blessed Mother would inspire the Church to be “more aware of the faults, the errors and the abuses committed in the present and in the past, and committed to combating without any hesitation, so that evil may not prevail.”
In embracing the Holy Father’s invitation, Archbishop Gomez said he would be praying the Rosary each day while attending the Synod of Bishops on “Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment,” Oct. 3–28.
In a statement issued Sept. 29, the Archbishop said: “Friends, let us join our Holy Father Pope Francis in making this month of October a time of prayer for the Church. The Pope is asking all of us to pray the Rosary every day this month and to conclude our prayer each day with the prayer, ‘Beneath thy protection,’ and also the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. Our Lady, Mother of the Church, pray for us!”
Prayers to be said with the Rosary during the Marian Month of October
Sub Tuum Praesidium
We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael
Saint Michael Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
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