Lord Jesus Christ, our Divine Physician, we ask you to guard and protect us from Coronavirus COVID-19 and all serious illness. For all that have died from it, have mercy; for those that are ill now, bring healing. For those searching for a remedy, enlighten them; for medical caregivers helping the sick, strengthen and shield them. For those working to contain the spread, grant them success; for those afraid, grant peace.
May your precious blood be our defense and salvation. By your grace, may you turn the evil of disease into moments of consolation and hope. May we always fear the contagion of sin more than any illness. We abandon ourselves to your infinite mercy. Amen.
A small treatise on peace of heart by Fr. Jacques Philippe from his book "Searching for and Maintaining Peace"
The fundamental problem is that we employ too much of our own criteria as to what is and what is not good and we don't have enough confidence in the Wisdom and Power of God. We don't believe that He is capable of utilizing everything for our good and that never, under any circumstance, would He leave us lacking in the essentials - that is to say, lacking anything that would permit us to love more. Because, to grow or to enrich one's spiritual life is to learn to love. Many of the circumstances that I consider damaging could, in fact, be for me, if I had more faith, precious opportunities to love more: to be more patient, more humble, more gentle, more merciful and to abandon myself more in to the hands of God.
Let us then be convinced of this and it will be for us a source of immense strength: God may allow me to occasionally lack money, health, abilities and virtues, but He will never leave me in want of Himself, of His assistance and His mercy or of anything that would allow me to grow unceasingly ever closer to Him, to love Him more intensely, to better love my neighbor and to achieve holiness. “
St. Thomas Aquinas defined Spiritual Communion as
“an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Holy Sacrament
and a loving embrace as though we had already received Him.”
It is a wonderful practice for when we are not able to go to Mass.
Here is a prayer by which you
can make a Spiritual Communion:
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1. Build a Home Altar
Setting aside a sacred space in your home encourages your family to pray. Candles, a crucifix, a Bible, Holy Water, and your favorite sacred icons and images can all be placed around a small table to uplift the soul to God.
2. Participate in Online Mass
Catholics can still participate in the Holy Mass via live-stream and worship as if they are actually there. During this time, Our Lady of the Assumption will be live-streaming Sunday and Daily Mass on Facebook celebrated by Fr. Miguel.
3. Pray a Daily Rosary
Set aside 15 to 20 minutes each day at your home altar and to pray the Most Holy Rosary for a swift end to the pandemic, for all those afflicted, for all healthcare workers, for the souls of the faithful departed, and any intentions you and your family may have.
4. Study God’s Word
Start a virtual small group, continue your existing small group via video chat, or study Scripture on your own. By studying God’s Word and pondering it in our hearts, we will grow in our faith and fall in love with Scripture.
5. Call a Friend or Family Member
A call to an old friend or remote family member can lift both parties' spirits. Maybe a call to tell them you love them.