Pope's missionary prayer intention for November

The missionary prayer intention of Pope Francis for the month of November – that pastors of the Church, with profound love for their flocks, may  accompany them and enliven their hope. The model for priests and bishops to follow is the Good Shepherd, who not only guards the flock but goes out to search for the lost sheep.  In the heart of Jesus the Good Shepherd, each person is infinitely precious, for whom he has laid down his life.  Pope Francis asks that the  shepherds of the Church not regard themselves above the people but be  close to them.  He challenged priests and bishops to be shepherds with the odor of the sheep.   He also said the Church should be the Good Samaritan to heal and offer hope to a world that like the man beaten and robbed is lying in a ditch in need of help.   The Pope further challenged the Church to be “a  field hospital,” amidst the people’s suffering and pain offeriggn them hope.  However, this hope that the Church offers is not  superficial and passing, as this month of November reminds us when we recall our beloved departed who hope in the Resurrection and eternal reward.  Our great hope is that  Christ, the Good Shepherd, will hold  each of us close to his heart and carry us  beyond this life, beyond death, into the  eternal happiness of heaven.    Let’s therefore join Pope Francis, this month, in praying  that pastors of the Church, with profound love for their flocks, may accompany them and enliven their hope.