Catholics across Arkansas unite in prayer, good deeds for the pope

Spiritual bouquet given to pope personally by Bishop Taylor March 16 during 'ad limina' trip

Published: March 24, 2012

Sandra Ware

A spiritual bouquet bulletin board was erected at St. Raphael Church in Springdale to collect prayers and spiritual acts offered for the pope by the parishioners.

Sandra Ware

A spiritual bouquet bulletin board was erected at St. Raphael Church in Springdale to collect prayers and spiritual acts offered for the pope by the parishioners.

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 bouquet
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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