Novena to St John Bosco Day 3

3rd Day (January 24) - Loyalty to the Church and to the Pope

From the Holy Gospel according to John:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.

From the Biographical Memoires, volumes 4 and 5.

United in heart and soul, rally around your shepherds who have always taught you the truth. Jesus said to Saint Peter: thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her, for I shall be with her shepherds forever and ever. To Peter and to his successors, and to no one else did he say this whoever tells you anything contrary to this is deceiving you. Do not believe him! Be firmly convinced of these great truths: where Saint peter's successor is there is the true church. The only true faith is the Catholic faith. One cannot be a Catholic unless he is united to the Pope.

Saint Peter is the Apostle whom the Savior Himself called blessed and who received the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, with authority so to bind and loose that, as a rule, his verdicts would precede those of God. He is the apostle whom Jesus commanded to keep his brothers steadfast in the faith, ordering him to give to his sheep – the church shepherds – and to his lambs – the faithful – the pasture they needed for their spiritual and eternal welfare. He is, in short, the apostle whom Jesus Christ delegated to govern the church and who in fact did govern her after our savior's glorious ascension into

Novena Prayer

O Saint John Bosco, you nurtured a filial love for the Church and the Pope, and you courageously spoke and wrote in their defense. Pray for us that, inspired by your example, we may be faithful sons and daughters of Holy Mother Church, and may likewise love and honor the Holy Father as the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth.

Through your intercession may God grant me the following grace.. [pause]... so that together with others I may assist in bringing young people to the love of the Church.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be to the Father...