Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes … a Marian feast that is very significant to our family: dh and I met teaching at Our Lady of Lourdes School, we got married at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, we have visited the site in Lourdes, France on two separate occasions and good things always seem to happen to us around this time.

This year, however, we need prayers … prayers for Our Holy Father and Our Mother Church. Pope Benedict XVI announced today that he would retire as of February 28, 2013. He has led our Church since 2005, a thankless task that has taxed him beyond measure. He cites age, health, and stress …

Please pray for Pope Benedict XVI.

Please pray for Holy Mother Church. The Church, founded by Christ, will prevail … but times of persecution are sure to follow such an announcement. The vultures have started circling … assuming conspiracies, hidden secrets and other despicable “facts”.

Please pray for the conclave which will be called in March to elect, through the Holy Spirit’s intercession, a pope to lead us through.