Heavenly Father,
in these trying times
when the spirit of the age
threatens Christian values,
give our bishop holiness of life
and wisdom to direct and guide our (arch)diocesan
family so that we may grow in your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The story of Prayer for the Bishop
The Prayer for the Bishop is a Catholic prayer that seeks God’s guidance and blessings on bishops who are appointed to serve the Church.
The prayer has its roots in the early Christian Church, where bishops were seen as successors to the apostles and spiritual leaders of the community. As such, the Church viewed the appointment of bishops as a crucial step in ensuring the proper functioning and growth of the Church.
Over time, the Church developed various prayers to support and guide bishops in their roles as spiritual leaders of the community. One such prayer is the Prayer for the Bishop, which asks God to endow the bishop with wisdom, strength, and grace to lead the community with love and compassion.
The Prayer for the Bishop has since been incorporated into various Catholic liturgies, especially during the ordination of new bishops. It serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual leadership and the need to support bishops in their roles as guides and shepherds of the community.
The prayer also emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the bishop and the need for unity and cooperation among the community to achieve the ultimate goal of Christian discipleship – to love and serve God and one another.