Dom Pietro Vitorelli, Abbot of Monte Cassino
Last June I learned of the serious illness of the young and gifted Abbot of Monte Cassino, 51 year old Dom Pietro Vitorelli. Nothing could be more fitting, it seems to me, than to seek the intercession of another Benedictine Abbot, Blessed Columba Marmion, to obtain Abbot Pietro's complete restoration to health. The liturgical feast of Blessed Abbot Marmion is October 3rd. Beginning today, please join with me in making this novena. If you leave a comment indicating that you too are praying for Abbot Pietro, I will be sure to let him know that prayers are rising heavenward from all over the globe on his behalf.
Feel free to post this novena on your own blogs and sites and to diffuse it widely among Catholics the world over, who treasure the spiritual patrimony of Monte Cassino and desire to see its Father Abbot strong and healthy again.
Novena to Blessed Abbot Columba Marmion,O.S.B.
O Holy Spirit, Love of the Father and the Son,
establish Thyself as a furnace of love in the centre of our hearts
and bear constantly upwards, like eager flames,
our thoughts, our affections, and our actions
even to the bosom of the Father.
V. Pray for us, Blessed Columba Marmion.
R. That our lives may be hid with Christ in God.
Let us pray.
O God, Almighty Father,
who, having called the blessed abbot Columba
to the priesthood and to the monastic way of life,
wonderfully opened to him the secrets of the mysteries of Christ,
grant, in Thy goodness,
that, strengthened by his teachings
in the spirit of our adoption as Thy sons,
we may pray to Thee with a boundless confidence,
and so obtain, through his intercession,
the full restoration to health of Dom Pietro Vittorelli,
Abbot of Monte Cassino.
We ask this grace for the joy of Thy Church,
for the consolation of the community of Monte Cassino,
and for the praise of Thy glory,
through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
who liveth and reigneth with Thee,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
R. Amen.