Pope Benedict XVI will begin Advent by celebrating a solemn “Vigil for all nascent (newly developing) human life” at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, Nov. 27. The day the Holy Father selected is the eve of First Sunday of Advent, when Christians begin their spiritual preparation for the birth of the Christ Child.
In the Diocese of Davenport, Bishop Martin Amos invites the public to join him for evening prayer and eucharistic adoration at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport on Nov. 27 at 7 p.m.
Bishop Amos encourages everyone to join in prayer, whether it is by attending the evening prayer at the cathedral, participating in a service in a parish, or gathering with family at home.
“There is great meaning in the Holy Father’s vigil and his invitation to join him in prayer,” Bishop Amos said. “U.S. bishops have long recognized prayer as the foundation of all that we do in defense of human life. Let us come together in prayer for some of the most vulnerable, as we prepare for the coming of the Lord.”
A prayer service booklet that families can use in their homes is available on the Diocese of Davenport website (www.davenportdiocese.org/lit/litevents.htm), said Deacon Frank Agnoli, the diocese’s director of liturgy.
Additional resources for prayer services — in English and in Spanish — are available on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website (www.usccb.org).
