PRAYER IN THIS TIME OF CORONAVIRUS

In this challenging time Lord Jesus Christ, our true physician and healer, be merciful to us and bring us your aid in these troubled times. Heal all our sickness and every affliction of your people. Drive out our infirmities of soul and body; free us from all disease and especially from this pestilence. We place in your gentle Heart the elderly, the frail, people with disability, children, young people and families, our indigenous peoples, those who are poor, lonely and isolated. As you walk with us, free them from fear, and give them patience and hope together with our loving care. In your mercy deal also with the causes of our pitiful condition, that in curing our lack of faith and spiritual weakness, you may also remedy our bodily ills. We place our trust in you, the risen Lord, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

For those who care for the sick
For those seeking a cure for the virus
Father of mercies, we thank you for all who care for the sick. When they diagnose, give them patience. When they protect the vulnerable, give them your protection. When they work to heal, give them strength. When they comfort, give them consolation. When they are tired, give them rest. When they are discouraged, bring them your hope. May we welcome and respect them as we support one another in this time of trial.

For those seeking a cure for the virus
Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten the minds of women and men of medical science who are working to find a solution to this viral infection. Guide their research and help them discover what you provide in creation, sure ways of control, protection, inoculation and healing. Strengthen them in their tiring work and enrich in them the virtue of hope. Amen.

For those who govern and represent us
Eternal Wisdom, guide our leaders called to serve us in our Nation. May they respond to the challenges of this affliction with prudence and sound judgement. With foresight, may their planning alleviate the economic burdens, compensate for losses, protect employment and ensure ample food for the poor and isolated. Amen

For Humility
Merciful Lord, we stand before you in our human weakness. We confess that we have been caught up in the pride and presumption that drives our worldly society. Free us from the arrogance that afflicts our age, for now we stand confounded by conditions beyond our control or understanding. Give us humble and honest hearts to discern the greater mystery of your providence in creation. May we accept your justice and trust your redeeming mercy. Amen

Our Lady of Good Health
Mother of Mercy, Our Lady of Good Health, in visiting St Elizabeth and in watching at the foot of the Cross of your suffering Son, you showed your solidarity with suffering humanity. Hear the prayer of all your infirm children who come to you with the certainty of finding a Mother who welcomes, heals and comforts them. Mother of our Saviour and our Mother, hear the intentions that we entrust to your intercession: heal our illnesses, transform our tears into prayer and our sufferings into moments of growth, change our loneliness into contemplation and our waiting into hope, assist us in our final hours and transform our death into resurrection. Amen

Our Lady of Valainkanni
Radiant Queen, our gentle Mother of mercy and compassion, look kindly on your children who seek your help and consolation in these times. Pray for our protection and healing, for patience, perseverance in suffering, and conformity to God’s Will. Amen.

Litany In the communion of saints,
At this time we are surrounded by many unseen friends. Let us confidently invoke the Saints and Angels for the healing and health of those who are infected and for protection from the virus. Mary, Health of the Sick, pray for us.
Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Mary Immaculate of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
Saint Raphael the Archangel, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.
Saint Blaise, Bishop, pray for us.
Saint Edmund, King and Martyr, pray for us.
Saint Peregrine Laziosi, pray for us.
Saint Juliana Falconieri, pray for us.
Saint Margaret of Castello, pray for us.
Saint Lidwina, pray for us.
Saint Roch the hermit, pray for us.
Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, pray for us.
Saint John of God, pray for us.
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us.
Saint Charles Borromeo, Cardinal, pray for us.
Saint Martin de Porres, pray for us.
Saint Camillus de Lellis, pray for us.
Saint Louise de Marillac, pray for us.
Saint Jeanne Jugan, pray for us.
Saint Damien of Molokai, pray for us.
Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us.
Saint Teresa of Kolcata, pray for us.

who abide in the shade of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare,
from the destroying plague,
He will shelter you with his pinions,
and under his wings you may take refuge;
his faithfulness is a protecting shield.
You shall not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,
nor the plague that ravages at noon.
Through a thousand fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
near you it shall not come.
Because you have the LORD for your refuge
and have made the Most High your stronghold,
No evil shall befall you,
no affliction will come near your tent.
For he commands his angels with regard to you,
to guard you wherever you go.
With their hands they shall support you,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You can tread upon the asp and the viper,
trample the lion and the dragon.
Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
because he knows my name, I will set him on high.
He will call upon me and I will answer;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and give him honor.
With length on days I will satisfy him,
and fill with my saving power.

Reading from Saint Augustine

I will sing and play the lyre to the Lord. We shall be free from anxiety, and carefree we shall sing, and carefree we shall play the lyre when we contemplate the delight of the Lord and are protected as his temple, in that incorruptibility where death is swallowed up in victory. But what of the present? Already we have spoken of the joys that will be ours when that one petition is granted to us. But what of the present? Hearken, Lord, to my voice. Let us groan now, let us pray now. Groaning is proper only to people in misery, prayer only to those in need. Prayer will pass away, praise will take over; weeping will pass away, joy will take its place. In the meantime, when we are in the days of our troubles, let our prayer to God not cease, and let us go on asking him for that one thing. Let us not interrupt that petition until it is answered, by God’s gift and through God’s goodness. Hearken, Lord, to my voice, with which I have cried to you; have mercy on me, and hearken to me. He made that one petition; through his long begging, weeping, groaning, he asked only that. He has made an end of all desires; that one plea alone is left (Exposition 2 of Psalm 26, 14).

Pray together:

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory to the Father

Prayer

+ Almighty and merciful God, refreshment in our weariness, support in our weakness, comfort in our sadness. We come to you to invoke your mercy, since today we still experience the fragility of the human condition in the presence of a new viral pandemic. Listen to the prayer we offer, comfort your children, save us from the present distress and open our hearts to be people of hope. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.