The Year of the Vocation of St Clare
The Gift of Mercy
Our Holy Father Benedict XVI because, it says in the Decree, ‘of his special affection for the Poor Clare nuns’ has given an Plenary Indulgence for the Year of St Clare 2011-2012. It is offered under the traditional conditions of having a prayerful heart which places no obstacles before God’s mercy and reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion reasonably near to the occasion.
We are invited to say the Lord’s prayer, the Creed, to invoke Our Lady, St Clare and St Francis in any prayers of our choice, and to pray for our Holy Father and his intentions for the Church.
Whilst the People of God as a whole can only receive it by making a pilgrimage or by attending a Clare Year Celebration or on the three days before the feasts of Francis (October 4) and Clare (August 11), your little sisters may gain in every time they enter their Choir. If you would like us to remember your intentions please write or email.
The full text of the Decree is here.
Prayers for the Gift of Mercy
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amen
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by
the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again
from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
Prayer of St Clare to Mary
O glorious Virgin of Virgins
you carried Christ in the little cloister of your holy womb.
May we, by following in your footprints,
carry in Spirit and hold him
who holds all things together.
Amen
For Our Holy Father
Hear our prayer, O Lord,
for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI
through whose ministry
we receive this Gift of Mercy.
Mary Immaculate, Queen of the Seraphic Order: pray for us
St Clare: pray for us
St Francis pray for us