the reading and the prayer for the first day of the novendiales

With the conclusion of today’s Funeral Mass and burial for John Paul, the nine-day period of mourning begins: the novendiales. For nine days, requiem Masses will be celebrated in nine basilicas in Rome. Today's funeral Mass or Messa esequiale at St. Peter's Square is the first.

The US Conference of Catholic bishops has released a novena (prayers for nine days) to guide the faithful in observing the novendiales. For a review on how to pray this novena from the US bishops, look here. But basically, the prayer begins with the sign of the cross; followed by a reading; one prayer of the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the doxology (Glory to the Father….); then the prayer—“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him”; and then a closing prayer.

For the next nine days I will post here the readings and the closing prayers for each of the nine days. Here is the reading and prayer for the first day of the novendiales.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (16:13-19):

“When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter said in reply, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’”

Prayer:

God our Father,
You reward all who believe in You.
May your servant, John Paul our Pope,
vicar of Peter, and shepherd of your Church,
who faithfully administered the mysteries
of your forgiveness and love on earth,
rejoice with you for ever in heaven.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen