Pope Francis’ Intention for August

Pope Francis releases the prayer intention for the month of August, inviting everyone to work for a transformation of the Church - a work that begins with “a reform of ourselves” through an experience of prayer, charity and service, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

In August we pray with Pope Francis that we, as Church, may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to be reformed in the light of the Gospel.

As Pope Francis calls us to pray for the Church throughout August, we remind ourselves that Church is so much more than buildings, offices and mechanisms. Let us pray as ‘the entire People of God, united in praise, worship and the infinite mystery of God, who continues to seek out each one of us’*, that we may be strengthened to face the many challenges of our current world, meeting them with love, compassion and transformative action.

Pope Francis in prayer for his intentions for the whole church.

6 August is the feast of the Transfiguration. Like Jesus, we pray that we, as the global Church may be transformed in the light of God, and fulfil our calling to be light to the world.

We love the Olympic mission to ‘contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.’ We pray that we will all bring those values to our own homes and lives.

As we feel the heat of the summer months – in many places an uncomfortable reminder of our ever-heating climate, we bear in mind that our poorest sisters and brothers are often the hardest hit by the climate crisis. Your parish could join thousands of others in holding a climate-focused service on any Sunday before the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.