“Eternal rest grant unto him Lord, and let perpetual light shine on him. May he rest in peace.”
People came from across the Diocese to the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown on April 25 in honor and memory of Pope Francis, to participate in a Solemn Pontifical Vespers for a Deceased Pontiff. Bishop Alfred Schlert was the main celebrant.
The Vespers was the culmination of an entire day of prayer devoted to the late Pope. The day began at noon with church bells across the Diocese tolling 88 times – once for each year the Pontiff lived – followed by a Solemn Pontifical Mass for a Deceased Pontiff, which started at 12:15 p.m. at the Cathedral.
The evening Vespers concluded just hours before the Pope’s funeral was set to begin, at 10 a.m. Rome time on Saturday (4 a.m. in the Eastern United States.)
“It’s so good for us to be here this evening, as we keep vigil with the Church throughout the world before the funeral Mass for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, in Rome,” said Bishop Schlert, speaking in both English and Spanish.
“We gather with people throughout the whole world in prayerful silence of the evening, mourning the passing of our Holy Father. This quiet hour reflects the spirit of his life – simple, humble, and rooted in trust in the Lord,” he said.
“He was a servant of mercy, a voice for the forgotten, and a witness to the joy of the Gospel. May the Lord he served faithfully now grant him rest in the presence of his eternal Light.”
Evening Prayer (also called Vespers) is part of the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office. Bishops, priests, deacons, and many men and women in consecrated life pray the Liturgy of the Hours each day. Their work is organized around this prayer, keeping God always at the center of their days. A Pontifical Vespers is an Evening Prayer led by a bishop.
Sarah Marino of Allentown was there with her mother, Beverly Marino. “As head of our Church, Pope Francis’ kindness was really meaningful to me,” said Sarah.
“He was a pope for the people,” said Geoffrey Miller of Kutztown. “He was very humble and relatable, and that spoke volumes to me.”
“Thank you for this journey of prayer that we’ve had today in the Diocese of Allentown,” said Bishop Schlert at the conclusion of the Vespers, “in honor and in memory of our beloved Pope Francis.”
Copy Permalink
