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April 2, 2020“This time of pandemic must also be a time of prayer,” Bishop McManus said in a letter to priests Sunday. He asked them to invite their parishioners to participate in a new prayer initiative so that someone in the diocese is praying every hour of the day until Easter Sunday.
The bishop has asked each of the parishes to choose one 24-hour period to have parishioners pray, from home, with the goal of covering every hour.
“As Catholics, our part is not just isolating ourselves through social distancing, adapting and carrying on with the duties of our state in life. As Catholics, our part is also to unite ourselves in prayer for the sick, our nation, and the world,” the bishop wrote.
His request is that the people pray for “an end to the pandemic, the healing of the sick, the salvation of the dead and the protection of healthcare workers and those who keep the necessities of life flowing in our nation and throughout the world.”
The days of prayer began Tuesday, March 31, and run through midnight Holy Saturday.
“I just ask you to make this appeal to your parishioners and make reasonable efforts to see that the hours are covered on the day you chose,” he wrote.
St. Mary Parish in Shrewsbury has chosen the 24-hour period beginning at noon today and ending at noon on Saturday, according to a Flocknote message to parishioners.
“We are asking you to consider taking one hour on that day to pray from home. It could be by yourself or with your family,” said the note from Msgr. Michael Rose, pastor, and Father Javier Julio, associate. They asked that people choose a particular hour and inform the parish of the time they choose.
Included in the Flocknote were suggested prayers sent by Bishop McManus including the diocesan “Prayer in Time of Pandemic,” a “Prayer to Virgin Mary for Protection,” by Pope Francis; links to the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and suggested Scripture readings: Psalms 6, 34, 41, 73, 107, and accounts of Christ’s healing miracles found in the Gospels of Matthew 8: 5-13; Mark 5: 25-34; Luke 17: 11-19 and John 5: 5-9.
St. Joseph Parish in Charlton informed its parishioners by email that their chosen day to pray is Monday, April 6.
Parishes were to contact their parishioners however they could.
“Circumstances prevent us from physically uniting around the altar to celebrate the sacraments but they do not prevent us from prayer. May our fervent prayer unite us as one flock under one Shepherd, the crucified and Risen Lord who is the hope of us all,” Bishop McManus said in his letter.
The Holy Rosary
http://www.kofc.org/en/resources/cis/devotionals/4772.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgtJ-sFzWww
The Divine Mercy Chaplet
https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet
https://divinemercy.life/chaplet-of-divine-mercy/
Prayer to Virgin Mary for Protection, Pope Francis
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
A Prayer in Time of Pandemic
O God, whose Only Begotten Son bore the weight of human suffering for our salvation, hear the prayers of your Church for our sick brothers and sisters and deliver us from this time of trial. Open our ears and our hearts to the voice of your Son: Be not afraid, for I am with you always. Bless all doctors and nurses, researchers and public servants; give us the wisdom to do what is right and the faith to endure this hour, that we might gather once again to praise your name in the heart of your Church, delivered from all distress and confident in your mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen
