Catholics in Arkansas said they would say more than 57,000 prayers and perform more than 21,000 various spiritual acts and good deeds for the pope’s intentions.
 See Bishop Taylor presenting Pope Benedict with the spiritual bouquetClick here |
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor met with the pope March 16 and presented him with a spiritual bouquet collected by Arkansas Catholic. Individuals, families, parishes and schools submitted their lists of spiritual acts that they would undertake for the pope in honor of Bishop Taylor’s first “ad limina” visit to the Vatican and in honor of the pope’s 85th birthday April 16.
Parishes and schools were collectively able to garner the largest outpouring.
A Fort Smith school promised to pray 10,000 Hail Marys and 10,000 Glory Bes for the pope. Fairfield Bay parishioners committed to 1,290 hours of Scripture reading. In Springdale, a family of seven committed to praying a decade of the rosary every day during Lent. Inmates at the Grimes Unit in Newport will be praying 120 rosaries for the pope among other spiritual acts.
The following list of acts was presented to the pope on a scroll with a background of “little rocks.”
2,191 general prayers
11 Acts of Contrition
750 afternoon prayers
10 Angels of God
44 Apostles Creed
18,830 Glory Bes
774 Guardian Angels prayers
5 Hail Holy Queen prayers
22,345 Hail Marys
2,729 morning prayers
6 prayers before the crucifix
20 prayers before meals
2 prayers to St. Gertrude
44 prayers to St. Francis
20 St. Michael the Archangel prayers
231 vocation prayers
40 Angelus
40 prayers to St. Dymphna
9,546 Our Father
10 prayers to Our Lady of Fatima
140 novenas to Our Lady of Lourdes
232 acts of charity
80 acts of hope
80 acts of love
42 acts of mercy
5 acts of penance
774 hours of Eucharistic adoration
2,046 Chaplets of Divine Mercy
499 days of abstaining from meat, candy or other conveniences
395 days of fasting
31 Divine Offices
2,752 ejaculations
141 good deeds
924 Holy Communions
12 holy hours
4,063 Masses
1,562 hours of Scripture and spiritual reading
6,237 rosaries
341 Stations of the Cross
5 visits to the sick
42 Benedictions
240 litanies
691 visits to the Blessed Sacrament
13 novenas
