I find one aspect that gets neglected in most people’s prayer life is their diocese. Sure, at Mass, we pray for the Holy Father, our diocese’s bishop and all Church leaders. But how often do we include our respective dioceses in our personal intentions? For its growth through more people returning to the Church as well as new converts to the faith? For its staff, that it will be administered well and proper? For the culture around the diocese, such as the closing of abortion centers?
There are many needs, not to mention an increase in religious and priestly vocations in every diocese. One nice thing to do is to learn your diocese’s patron saint and attend Mass on his or her feast day, and constantly seek the patron’s intercession for your diocese’s needs. Ask your Bishop to say a special Mass that day at your diocese’s cathedral, perhaps in the evening so many can attend, instead of a normal morning daily Mass, and ask him to request all parishes schedule a special Mass of their own. Ask your pastor to do a special Mass on this feast day, as well as on the feast day of your parish’s patron saint.
So, please keep you diocese in your prayers. Here is a prayer I came across a couple of years ago. Pray it yourself and with prayer groups. If there is a Rosary after daily Mass at your parish, perhaps you can have the group say it before or after, or maybe ask your pastor to lead the congregation in it one Sunday. As I am “bi-ritual,” so to speak, I pray for my local Roman Rite diocese and my Maronite Rite eparchy in this prayer, and pray it at least once a week:
Heavenly Father, author and inspirer of all things holy, hear (my/our) prayers for the Diocese of ( ).
Send forth Your Spirit that we may humbly be guided by your Divine Will.
Touch our hearts with true generosity to raise up a house of God for the inspiration and renewal of all your faithful.
We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
