Bishop Ricken Offers ‘10 Prayers For Year Of Faith’

WASHINGTON—Catholics can prepare forthe Christmas season and deepen their experience of the Year of Faith bystrengthening their prayer lives, says the bishop who chairs the U.S. bishops'Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay,Wisconsin, offers "10 Prayers for the Year of Faith" at the start of the Adventseason, a time of prayer, as a way of drawing Catholics more deeply into theYear of Faith. Pope Benedict XVI called for the Year of Faith, which began October11 and ends November 24, 2013.

BishopRicken offers:

1.The Nicene Creed. The Year of Faithis about returning to the foundational teachings of the Church and drawingstrength from them. This prayer, which is the official prayer of the Year ofFaith, articulates the core of Christian belief.

2.The Lord's Prayer. Like the Creed,the Our Faith is so central to the faith that it's said at every Mass. The Yearof Faith is also about encouraging the personal encounter with Jesus Christ.Praying the prayer he gave us brings us closer to him.

3.The Hail Mary. Similarly, Mary willalways assist Christians and bring them to her son.

4.The Glory Be. This doxology, or shorthymn of praise, beautifully captures the essence of our faith in an eternal,Trinitarian God.

5.The Magnificat. The Canticle of Maryin the Gospel of Luke (1:46-55) gives a glimpse of the faith of someone whotrusted God so much that he entered the world through her.

6.The Canticle of Zechariah. Also foundin Luke (1:68-79), this prayer is a vivid testament of faith from someoneexperiencing God's goodness at work in the world.

7.The Memorare. Another powerful Marianprayer, the Memorare reminds God's people that Mary is our mother and that wecan turn to her with anything.

8.The Acts of Contrition, Faith, Hope andLove. Most people know the Act of Contrition from going to confession, butthe Acts of Faith, Hope and Love are also wonderful for a Christian's prayerlife. They can all be found in the Compendiumof the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

9.The Angel prayers. Children learn theprayer to their guardian angel, and adults learn the prayer to St. Michael thearchangel. Both are helpful reminders of the need to ask for God's protectionand guidance every day.

10.Prayer for the New Evangelization.The purpose of the Year of Faith is to renew and strengthen Catholics in theirpractice of the faith so that they may inspire the world with their example.This is the New Evangelization. The Prayer for the New Evangelization can befound online: www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers/new-evangelization-prayer.cfm

Moreprayers for the Year of Faith are available online at: www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/prayer-in-the-year-of-faith.cfm

Adventresources from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are available at: www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/advent/

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Keywords: Bishop David Ricken,Evangelization and Catechesis, Year of Faith, prayers, Nicene Creed, CatholicChurch, New Evangelization, Pope Benedict XVI, Advent, Jesus Christ, Lord'sprayer

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