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 9: Friday 13 January 2023: Successor to the Apostle Peter

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

A reading from the Letter to the Corinthians of Pope St Clement I (A.D. 80 ):

Through countryside and city [the apostles] preached, and they appointed their earliest converts, testing them by the Spirit, to be the bishops and deacons of future believers. Nor was this a novelty, for bishops and deacons had been written about a long time earlier… Our apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the office of bishop. For this reason, therefore, having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have already been mentioned and afterwards added the further provision that, if they should die, other approved men should succeed to their ministry. 1 Clement 42:4–5, 44:1–3

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.

Give ear, O Lord, to the prayers we offer unto thee for Benedict, thy servant and priest; that having faithfully fulfilled his ministry in thy Name, he might rejoice for ever in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.