French Catholics praying for presidential elections. From today until 22 April, the day before the first round of presidential elections, The Sanctuary of Ile-Bouchard, the Emmanuel community and the monthly magazine “Prier” will make a “novena” of prayers via web for France. The appointment is every Saturday at the site www.prierpourlafrance.fr  for the next nine weeks: every week, the theme will be a burning issue for French electors, and will be a great subject in the social and ecclesial life of the country. The beginning was Saturday, 18 February, and the initiative was launched by young Archbishop of Fort-de-France (Martinique), Msgr. David Macaire, sharing his reflections on the subject of family in a video posted on the site.

What about the result of the first novena? It was a click success: over 4 thousand people followed the prayer through YouTube, and almost 6 thousand in Facebook. The novena can rely on 7 thousand people registered in Hozana, the Christian site already dedicated to prayers and chains of prayers, and on the 4 thousand registered at the site prierpourlafrance.fr.  The very organisers are surprised about the enthusiasm with which Catholic France welcomed the initiative. The idea of launching a novena of prayer for France and presidential elections was Father Xavier Malle’s, priest in Ile-Bouchard, the Sanctuary where – in 1947 – the Virgin appeared to some children asking them to pray for France, “because She needs them a lot”. The Emmanuel community, to which the Sanctuary was entrusted, promptly accepted the idea.

Msgr. Macaire was the only bishop animating the novena, which would go on with Sister Nathalie Becquart from the Youth Evangelisation and Vocation National Service, speaking about youth. Martin Choutet will tackle the solidarity and inclusion question. Journalist Philippine de Saint-Pierre, KTO executive director, will invite us to pray for the media. Ecology, culture, and security will also be part of the novena.