Collect taken from the memorial of St. Leo the Great, Pope
Collect: O God, who never allow the gates of hell to prevail against your Church, firmly founded on the apostolic rock, grant her, we pray, that through the intercession of Pope Saint Leo, she may stand firm in your truth and know the protection of lasting peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son…
“O God, who never allow the gates of hell to prevail against your Church, firmly founded on the apostolic rock”
— We recall the promise made to Peter by Jesus in Matthew 16 and use it to stir up our faith in God’s protection of the Church. This promise is not an abstract one, but has direct historical implications in that the Holy Spirit will prevent the Pope from officially compromising the Truth entrusted to us by Christ, even if that pope is a sinful or foolish man (as Peter sometimes was). It’s also worthwhile to think about what the image of “gates” means for this teaching. If there is a battle and gates are involved, just who is on the offense?
“grant her, we pray, that through the intercession of Pope Saint Leo, she may stand firm in your truth and know the protection of lasting peace”
— Even though we know the Church is protected, we know that her ministers can fail to proclaim the Truth, that popes and bishops can sin and be silent when they should speak, and that simple division or war can prevent her from carrying out her mission in its fullness. So, we pray for firmness and peace.
Advice: Do you doubt that promise of Christ given to the Church? Are you worried that the Church will leave behind Christ’s teaching and join the world of craziness and relativism? Chances are that most of us have some misconceptions about the Church’s “indefectibility” (she won’t “defect” from Christ). Some people think it goes farther than it really does (e.g. “The Holy Spirit directly picks every pope), or that it doesn’t go as far as it does (e.g. “Only the invisible, ‘spiritual’ Church will stay faithful”). Read this article on the Church, specifically the section on indefectiblity to get a better idea.
Pray for the gift of faith in God and His Church. The Our Father’s “deliver us from evil” can include this idea. Also, you can make what is called the “act of faith.” Even a simple “Lord, I believe that your Catholic Church will never be led astray, help my unbelief” will do.
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| Pope St. Leo the Great, pray for us! |