Ember Friday: Day of Penance - Sept. 21

Bishop Lopes is offering personal prayer and penance for the sins of bishops on Ember Friday, Sept. 21, which is a day of abstinence in the Ordinariate. He invites the members of Ordinariate Catholic parish communities, like St. Alban's, to pray and do acts of penance for the renewal of Christ's Holy Church. 

In his most recent letter to our communities, Bishop Lopes said, "September 21 is Ember Friday after Holy Cross Day. As your Bishop, I will offer that day in particular penance for the sins of bishops. I invite you to pray with me and offer some act of penance that day for the renewal of the Church."

Our bishop made the following suggesetions for acts of prayer and penance: 

1. "Pray for the victims of sexual abuse by clergy, so that the peace of God beyond all understanding may heal their hearts and minds in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ."

2. "Pray for priests, that they may live their lives in integrity of heart, faithful to the vows of their ordination. Pray the Prayer of St. Michael daily, especially for priests! The Devil is never happier than when he corrupts a servant of God."

3. "Join with me in setting aside 30 minutes of prayer before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament to pray in reparation for the sins committed by clergy and faithful alike, sins which have disfigured the Body of Christ and caused many to turn away." 

4. "Find some way to express Christian charity to your neighbor. Sin repels, but authentic love attracts and transforms."

The Fellowship of St. Alban will soon acquire St. Michael prayer cards for parishioners and guests to use following Holy Mass.

We will provide copies of The Litany on Trinity XVI Sunday (Sept. 16) to families and individuals that would like to unite with Bishop Lopes in prayer  and penance for the state of Christ's Church.