The Novemdiales, nine days of official mourning, begin on the day of the funeral.

The entire Church mourns the death of our Emeritus Holy Father, Benedict XVI.  In cathedrals, basilicas, parish churches, shrines, and chapels the Holy Eucharist will be offered for the repose of his soul. Communities and individuals will ask God to bestow his infinite mercy on the man who served the Church as Bishop of Rome.

This novena has been prepared to help pray for the Holy Father during the next nine days.  The daily Novena consists of a short reading from scripture or some other ecclesiastical text and some brief prayers, including orations drawn from the Roman Missal and the Order of Christian Funerals as published by the Ordinariates.

This order is extracted from that prepared by the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter, reproduced in the UK by permission of the two ordinaries.

Day 4: Sunday 8 January 2023: Authentic Teacher of the Faith

✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A Reading from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, (no 2034)

The Roman Pontiff and the bishops are “authentic teachers, that is, teachers endowed with the authority of Christ, who preach the faith to the people entrusted to them, the faith to be believed and put into practice” (Lumen Gentium, 25). The ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him teaches the faithful the truth to believe, the charity to practise, the beatitude to hope for.

Pause for silent prayer for our Holy Father.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.

Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord.
And let light perpetual shine upon him.

Almighty and gracious Father, who in thy wise and loving care, didst make thy servant Benedict the pontiff and teacher of all thy Church; we humbly pray thee, that as he did the work of Christ on earth, may thy Son welcome him to eternal glory; even the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.