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Resurrexit in Pace
The monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey mourn the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. During this start of the Easter season, we do so bearing in mind the hope of the Resurrection, taking comfort in God’s boundless grace as we pray for the eternal repose of his soul.
As a priest of a religious order, our departed Holy Father shared a similar heritage to our own Benedictine monastic tradition, especially as we live out the Gospel in a land first evangelized by missionaries. Pope Francis, a son of the Society of Jesus and the first pope from the New World, brought to the See of Peter a missionary zeal, deep compassion, and joyful witness to the Gospel. His life and ministry—as priest, bishop, cardinal, and pope—reflected the very spirit of his first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, a call to embrace and proclaim the joy of the Gospel.
During this Jubilee Year of Hope, may his memory continue to inspire in all of us the same optimism, ardor, and pastoral care with which he led the Church these past twelve years.
We recall with reverence that, like St. John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI before him, Pope Francis has departed this life amid the most sacred days of the Church’s liturgical calendar—St. John Paul, like Pope Francis, during the Octave of Easter, and Pope Benedict during the Octave of Christmas.
We commend his spirit to God’s love so that the fullness of joy he so often preached may now greet him among the saints and angels in heaven. May he rest in peace, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Novendiales
"Novendiales" is the official nine-day mourning period following the death of a Pope. Traditionally, the College of Cardinals declares the day of the funeral Mass as the first day of Novendiales. In the Abbey Church, a portrait of the Holy Father will be displayed through the completion of this mourning period. On the day of his funeral, the monastic community will pray the Liturgy of the Hours for the Dead, and the Mass for the Dead will be offered for the repose of his soul. He will be remembered at Vespers each evening for thirty days.
During Novendiales, the monks will pray a novena for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father. Join the monks in praying this novena.
Novendiales prayer
O God, Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant Pope Francis the remission of all his sins, that through our prayers he may obtain the pardon he has always desired, for You live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
V. Eternal Rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. May perpetual light shine upon him.
V. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed
R. Rest in peace. Amen.