Moment of prayer with Bishops at the National Shrine in Šaštín

This morning, after taking leave of the staff, benefactors and friends of the apostolic nunciature in Bratislava, the Holy Father Francis transferred by car to the National Shrine in Šaštín.

Upon arrival, the Pope met privately with the Slovak bishops for a moment of prayer in the Basilica of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The following is the text of the Holy Father’s prayer:

Prayer of the Holy Father

The Holy Father:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

R/. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

R/. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Holy Father and the Bishops together recite the Prayer of Entrustment:

Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows,

we are gathered here in your presence as brothers,

grateful to the Lord for his merciful love.

And you are here with us,

as you were with the Apostles in the Upper Room.

Mother of the Church, Consoler of the Afflicted,

with confidence we turn to you,

in the joys and struggles of our ministry.

Look upon us with tenderness

and open your arms to embrace us.

Queen of the Apostles, Refuge of Sinners,

you know our human limitations,

our spiritual failings,

our sorrow in the face of loneliness and abandonment:

with your gentle touch heal our wounds.

Mother of God, our Mother,

to you we entrust our lives and our nation.

To you we entrust our episcopal communion.

Obtain for us the grace

faithfully to put into practice each day

the words your Son taught us,

the words that, in him and with him,

we now lift up to God our Father.

The Holy Father and the Bishops:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

The Holy Father:

O God, you invite your Church,

in imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

to contemplate the passion of Christ.

Grant that, by her intercession,

we may be ever more conformed

to your only-begotten Son

and attain to the fullness of his grace,

who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

R/. Amen.

The Holy Father:

Let us bless the Lord.

R/. Thanks be to God.