Powerhouse Of The Laity

In light of the recent papal election of Pope Benedict XVI and the situation of the Catholic Church at large, it has become an undeniable fact that, we the faithful, have been entrusted with the solemn duty to support the Holy Father through prayers, penance and preaching.

St. Peter’s Helpers is an informal movement of lay Roman Catholics loyal to the Holy Father and the Church Magisterium. It is a response to the Holy Father’s invitation to walk with him and to pray for him as he undertakes the enormous task of the Petrine Ministry which has been entrusted to him.

The primary mission of the association is to build a powerhouse among the laity to help the Holy Father in the salvation of souls. For it was with Peter the first Pope, that Jesus left the keys of Heaven and it is through the Pope that Jesus will shepherd the Universal Church. The flock who hears the voice of the Good Shepherd must listen and obey.

If you are a practicing Catholic, you are invited to become a member. As members, we are called to live out nine simple rules of Christian life, for the intentions of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. It is advised that members familiarize themselves with the Pope's monthly intentions.

1. Daily Mass and Communion (if possible)

2. Confession at least once a month

3. Praying for the intentions of the Holy Father

4. Daily Rosary

5. Acts of penance such as abstinence from meat on Fridays

6. Evangelization through word or deed

7. Eucharistic adoration once a week

8. Spiritual readings including papal encyclicals

9. Attending retreats or days of recollection

Members are asked to live out the rules to the best of their abilities and according to their state in life. That means that if you are married and have family obligations, you must make a proper discernment to work the rules around priorities of family life. In the same way, if one is suffering from an illness, one is to avoid any act of penance that may pose as a danger to one's health. For this reason, members are encouraged to find a good spiritual director.

As a member of St. Peter's Helpers, one must acknowledge that the Holy Father is "the Rock" and that through him, we must always be drawn closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The association’s patrons are the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church, St. Catherine of Sienna, Doctor of the Church who called the Pope “Sweet Christ on earth”, St. Benedict of Nursia, the patron saint of our present Pope, Benedict XVI and St. Peter, the first Pope.

If you are seriuosly interested in giving your spiritual support to the Holy Father, we ask that you pray to the Holy Spirit in guiding you as you make your pledge of loyalty to the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.

Personal pledge to support the Holy Father: I pledge my loyalty to the Supreme Pontiff and the Magisterium of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. I promise to the best of my abilities to support the Holy Father through a life of prayer, penance and preaching, for his intentions, his temporal and spiritual protection and that he may receive a superabundance of grace to continue his Petrine Ministry, for the salvation of souls including my own.