What are the norms of the Church regarding prayer to Father McGivney?
Several members of the Father McGivney Guild have asked about the possibility of developing a Father McGivney holy hour that could be celebrated before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. The norms of the Church in this matter are very clear. Eucharistic holy hours are to be encouraged, but when praying before the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the monstrance, all prayers should be directed to Christ, who is present in the sacred host. The Church does not permit us to pray to Father McGivney in our public worship. You will note that all the prayer cards you receive from the Guild are directed to God, not to Father McGivney. We are humbly asking God to hear our petition for the canonization of Father McGivney. Only at a later stage, with the permission of the Church, can we publicly address Father McGivney in prayer. A holy hour celebrated for the intention of Father McGivney’s cause is well in order, but directing public prayer to him is not permissible and would violate the very norms that t
