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 7: Wednesday 11 January 2023: Peter, The First of the Apostles
✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Matthew.
At that time: Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Matthew 10:1–4
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.
O God, from whom the just receive an unfailing reward; grant, we beseech thee, that thy servant Pope Benedict, whom thou didst make vicar of Peter and shepherd of thy Church, as he was a faithful steward here on earth of the mysteries of thy forgiveness and grace, so may he rejoice for ever in the vision of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.