Let's celebrate the Lord's Day ceremony during the coronavirus pandemic

The Setting Aside of the Day 

LEADER: Blessed are you, Lord our God, for the true rest you have given us in your Son Jesus and for this day which is a commemoration of his redeeming work. We welcome this day with gladness and consecrate it to the celebration founded in him. Look graciously upon your servants and show us your glory. Blessed are you, Lord our God, who favor your people in the days set aside to your honor. 

GROUP: Amen. The Blessing of the Bread 

LEADER: The eyes of all look to you, O Lord, and you give them their food in due season. 

GROUP: You open your hand, you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 

LEADER: Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who bring forth bread from the earth. 

GROUP: Amen. Distribute the bread and begin the meal. Blessings after the Meal 

LEADER: Let us bless the Lord. 

GROUP: Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever. 

LEADER: Let us bless our God, of whose bounty we have partaken. GROUP: Blessed be our God, of whose bounty we have partaken and through whose goodness we live. 

LEADER: Blessed are you Lord our God, who feed the whole world with your goodness, with grace, with steadfast love and mercy. Through your great goodness food has never failed us. May it not fail us for ever and ever, for your great Name’s sake, since you nourish and sustain all beings, and do good to all, and provide food for all your creatures whom you have created. Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the Universe, who gives food to all. 

GROUP: Blessed be his name forever. 

LEADER: Blessed are you, Lord our God, for by your great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, for giving us new life in your Son. 

GROUP: Blessed be his name forever. 

LEADER: Have mercy, Lord our God, upon your people who belong to your Son, the dwelling place of your Spirit. Grant that the Christian people throughout the world may attain the unity for which Jesus prayed on the eve of his sacrifice, and that we in the [insert the name of your community here] may be a sign of that unity and a means of its growth. May all your people be renewed in the power of your Son’s return. Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Ruler and Builder of your people. 

GROUP: Blessed be his name for ever. As the cup is being passed, the Leader recites the following blessings from Numbers 6:24-26 

LEADER: May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

GROUP: Amen

The Lighting of the Candle The assistant usually presides over the Lighting of the Candle. 

ASSISTANT: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made through him and without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it (Jn.1: 1-15). Heavenly Father, in honor of your Son, Light of the World and Author of Life, we are about to kindle the light for the Lord’s Day. On this day you raised your Son Jesus from the dead and began the new creation. May our celebration of his resurrection this day be filled with your peace and heavenly blessing. Be gracious to us and cause your Holy Spirit to dwell more richly among us. Father of Mercy, continue your loving kindness toward us. Make us worthy to walk in the way of your Son, loyal to your teaching and unwavering in love and service. Keep far from us all anxiety, darkness, and gloom; and grant that peace, light, and joy ever abide among us. 

GROUP: For in you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Assistant light the candle and recite the following blessing. 

ASSISTANT: Blessed are you, Lord our God, who created light on the first day and raised your Son, the Light of the World, to begin the new creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who gives us joy as we kindle the light for the Lord’s Day. 

GROUP: Amen.

LEADER: Let us trust in the Lord and in his saving help. 

GROUP: The Lord is my light and my salvation. 

LEADER: Let us receive his life and rejoice in his presence.

GROUP: He is the true light that enlightens every man. 

LEADER: Let us keep his commandments and walk in his ways. 

GROUP: His word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. 

LEADER: Let us proclaim his goodness and show for his glory. 

GROUP: We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. The Opening Proclamation 

LEADER: Brothers and sisters, this is the Lord’s Day. Let us welcome it in joy and peace. Today we set aside the concerns of the week that we may honor the Lord and celebrate his resurrection. Today we cease from our work in order to worship God and remember the eternal life to which he has called us. The Lord himself is with us, to refresh and strengthen us. Let us welcome God among us and give him glory. Let us love one another in Christ. May the Holy Spirit be with us, to deepen our devotion to the Lord and to increase our zeal for the way of life he has given us. It is possible to insert here a song and/or time of praise. The Blessing of the Wine Pour wine into the cup, raise it, and recite the following prayer. LEADER: Let us praise God with this symbol of joy and thank him for the blessings of the past week--for health, strength, and wisdom, for our life together in the [insert name of your community here], for the discipline of our trails and temptations, for the happiness that has come to us out of our work. 

The following section of the prayer will vary depending on the season. The leader should pick the appropriate form. Standard Form 

LEADER: Let us thank him this day especially for the great blessings he has bestowed on us in Christ. From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. We who were dead through sin have been brought to life together with Christ and raised up with him and made to sit in heavenly places with him. Lord our God, you have brought us into the rest of Christ. 

GROUP: Now we live with him through the Holy Spirit, and we look for the day when we will dwell with him in your everlasting Kingdom. Lent 

LEADER: Let us thank him this day especially for the victory over sin that he won for us upon the cross and for this season in which we turn our eyes to him with renewed fervor, hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Lord our God, we fasted this week that we might seek your face. 

GROUP: And now we eat and drink with joy as we celebrate your salvation. Easter Season 

LEADER: Let us thank him this day especially for the great victory he has won for us in Christ. By his resurrection he has triumphed over sin, conquered death, defeated Satan, and won for us the riches of an eternal inheritance. We who were perishing through sin have been brought to life together with Christ and raised up with him and made to sit in heavenly places with him. Lord our God, you have given us a new birth through the resurrection of Christ.

GROUP: Now we live with him through the Holy Spirit and we look for the day when we will dwell with him in your everlasting Kingdom. Advent
LEADER: Let us thank him this day especially for the salvation we received in Christ. By his coming in the flesh he ransomed us from sin and the power of death, and by his coming again he will renew all things, destroy every evil, and establish the eternal reign of God on earth. Lord our God, you have made us yours sons and daughters through Jesus Christ.
GROUP: Now we live with him through the Holy Spirit and we look for the day when we will dwell with him in your everlasting Kingdom. Christmas Season
LEADER: Let us thank him this day especially for the great blessings he has bestowed on us in Christ. In him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, reconciling earth to heaven, and imparting to us the fullness of life. In him the Word became flesh, enabling men and women of flesh to become children of God. Lord our God, you have revealed to us your glory in Jesus your Son and have made us partakers of the divine nature.
GROUP: Now we live with him through the Holy Spirit, and we look for the day when we will dwell with him in your everlasting Kingdom. From this point onwards the prayer continues without seasonal variations.
LEADER: Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has created the fruit of the vine.
GROUP: Amen.
The leader drinks from the cup and passes it to the others present.

How to make an Act of Perfect Contrition
Receive Jesus in Spiritual Communion when you can't go to mass during the COVID-19 Plague

Receive Jesus in Spiritual Communion when you can't go to mass during the COVID-19 Plague

According to the declaration of the Council of Trent, 13th session, 3d chapter, we can communicate in three ways:

1. Sacramentally only ; 2. spiritually only; 3. sacramentally and spiritually at once.

Those persons receive sacramentally only whose souls are stained with mortal sin, and who consequently receive unworthily. These indeed receive the sacrament, and with it, instead of a blessing, a curse.

Those persons receive the Blessed Sacrament spiritually only who are animated with a burning desire to receive sacramentally, and who are filled with such a living faith that, according to the words of the Apostle, they feed in spirit on the heavenly bread, by virtue of their longings.

Those persons receive both sacramentally and spiritually who, in compliance with St. Paul's injunction, have proved themselves carefully and closely, and then, arrayed in a wedding garment of grace, approach the sacrament with the required conditions.

Thus spiritual Communion consists of a burning desire to receive Jesus in the sacrament, and of a loving union with Him, as if He had been actually received sacramentally.

This pious practice has been most emphatically commended by all spiritual teachers, and by the Council of Trent; for it is a means most conducive to the perfecting of the soul, and brings manifold blessings and consolations, inasmuch as it contains graces and benefits almost similar to those received in sacramental Communion.

Hence devout souls often communicate by this method. St. Agatha of the Cross did it two hundred times a day. Let us make a spiritual Communion at least once a day, either during a visit to the Blessed Sacrament or during the hearing of Mass. 

The Value of Spiritual Communion

Jesus once appeared to the venerable Paula Marrsca and showed her two precious vases, one of gold, the other of silver; and He said to her: "In the golden vessel I keep sacramental Communion, and in the silver vessel spiritual Communion."

To the blessed Jane of the Cross our divine Saviour once said: "As often as you make a spiritual Communion I send you a grace which is in a measure similar to the grace which I grant you in sacramental Communion."

Mode of Spiritual Communion
from St. Leonard of Port Maurice

In order to make a good spiritual Communion, be recollected, make an act of true contrition, and then awaken within you those sentiments of love and confidence which you are accustomed to have at your sacramental Communion. Join to all that a heartfelt longing to receive Jesus Christ. Who is hidden under the sacramental forms and appearances. To heighten still further your devotion, imagine that the Blessed Virgin or your guardian angel is presenting to you the sacred Host. Repeat the words: "Come, my Jesus. Thou love and life of my soul, come into my poor heart; come and quiet my longings, come and sanctify me; yes, come, O sweet Jesus, come and abide with me forever."

Then be silent, and see within yourself your merciful God, the same as if you had actually received Him in the Blessed Sacrament; adore Him, thank Him, awaken within you all those sacred aspirations which you are in the habit of awaking at your regular Communion.

As Saint Augustine put it: "No one eats that flesh without first adoring it; we should sin were we not to adore it."

St. Juliana Falconieri

This saint had reached the age of seventy years; virtuous as she had ever been, she was tried by deep afflictions. She was prostrated with an incurable weakness of the stomach. At last she could not retain a particle of food--was totally deprived of the consolation of receiving the ever-blessed body of her Lord, which she could not receive even as Holy viaticum. This privation caused her inexpressible grief, and so great was her mourning and weeping that it seemed as if she must die of sorrow. At last she begged a her father-confessor in the most humble terms to bring the Blessed Sacrament near her. He promised to comply with her request. When he appeared carrying the Blessed Sacrament, she prostrated herself in the form of a cross before her Lord, and adored Him. Her countenance became bright like an angel's. Then she begged for permission to touch the Blessed Sacrament with her lips, but this could not be permitted. Then she begged the priest to lay a veil on her longing, burning breast, and to place the Blessed Sacrament on it, that she might at least receive her Jesus in a spiritual Communion. This wish was complied with, when, lo! hardly had the sacred Host touched her fervent breast than it disappeared suddenly, and could be found no more. A moment afterwards St. Juliana departed this life, with a smile on her features.

http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/Communion.html

Act of Spiritual Communion written by St. Alphonsus de Liguori: My Jesus,

I believe that You

are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things,

and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment

receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.

Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

How to make an Act of Perfect Contrition

 A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalm 50:19 (DRA)


Let's learn how to make a perfect act of contrition in this time of pandemic.
America Needs Fatima

Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, Saint Maximilian Kolbe wrote a letter to his followers.

The purpose of this letter was to exhort his disciples to prepare themselves for the approaching feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8.

But it also showed them how to receive forgiveness for sin in the coming war, where priests were scarce and it was hard to receive sacramental confession.

He wrote:

"Whoever can, should receive the Sacrament of Penance.  Whoever cannot, because of prohibiting circumstances, should cleanse his soul by acts of perfect contrition: i.e., the sorrow of a loving child who does not consider so much the pain or reward as he does the pardon from his father and mother to whom he has brought displeasure."

This is a magnificent formula and lesson on how to make an act of perfect contrition.

As most people know, there are two types of contrition:

- perfect: out of love of God;

- imperfect: out of fear of Hell.

Catholic teaching distinguishes a twofold hatred of sin; one, perfect contrition, rises from the love of God Who has been grievously offended; the other, imperfect contrition, arises principally from some other motives, such as loss of heaven, fear of hell, the heinousness of sin, etc. (Council of Trent, Sess. XIV, ch. iv de Contritione). (The Catholic Encyclopedia, "Contrition")

When we go to confession, imperfect contrition is sufficient to receive the pardon of our sins.

However, in extraordinary circumstances where [when] we cannot get to confession, we can make an act of perfect contrition, which is sufficient to have our sins forgiven.

Important: The act of perfect contrition includes the desire for the sacrament of Penance (or Reconciliation) and the intention to receive sacramental confession at the very first opportunity.

NOTE: One who is conscious of mortal sin may not receive the Holy Eucharist without prior sacramental confession.

The fact that we can always make an act of perfect contrition, in any circumstance, and at any time, is very consoling and very important to remember.

Especially when we think of our troops who are in harm's way.  They may not have a chaplain in their battalion before entering battle.  In that case, they should always say an act of perfect contrition.

Actually, not only in extraordinary circumstances should we make acts of perfect contrition. At any time, if we have the misfortune of committing a mortal sin, we should seek to reconcile ourselves with God as soon as possible by an act of perfect contrition, before going to confession.

Furthermore, even not being guilty of serious sin, we should make frequent acts of perfect contrition to ask forgiveness for the serious sins of the past, and for the venial sins of the present.

In doing so, we show our love for God. And we prove our aversion to sin, which offends Him. In doing so, we surely receive more abundant graces to sin no more. A highly recommended practice is to include an act of contrition in our "before bed" prayers.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.

Amen. 

Prayer to St. Corona for Protection Against Plague and Pandemics

Saint Corona is especially venerate in Austria and Bavaria, as the patron saint of treasure hunters and against epidemics. 

Saint Corona is invoked as patron Saint against plague and epidemics. Her feast day is celebrated on May 14.

DETROIT (ChurchMilitant.com) - A little known — until now — 16-year-old saint of the second century is currently being hailed as a source of hope and protection against the communist-created Wuhan virus. 
For traditional Catholics, St. Corona has been honored in various places for centuries for her adherence to the Faith in the face of suffering and martyrdom. According to ancient hagiographic accounts and the Roman Martyrology, she is the saint to pray to in times of plagues and pandemics.

Almighty God, who forgive the sins of your people and heal all their faults, you who call the Lord our healer and sent your beloved Son to bear our sickness, look upon us who stand humbly before You. We pray to You in this time of plague and need, remember Your love and kindness that You have always shown to Your people in times of tribulation. Just as You graciously looked upon Aaron's atonement and stopped the plague that broke out, just as You accepted David's sacrifice and commanded the destroying angel to withdraw his hand, accept also today our prayer and sacrifice and show us mercy. Keep this disease away from us, allow those affected to be healed, protect those who have been preserved from it so far by Your goodness, and do not let the plague spread any further. Holy Mary, health of the sick, pray for us! Saint Corona, pray for us! Saint Sebastian, pray for us! Saint Roch, pray for us! Amen!

St Corona, protect us from coronavirus.

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As an antidote Against the cholera plague Don Bosco recommended to his Oratory boys the use of the Miraculous Medal and the purity of life

 Summer 1854. Outbreak of cholera at Turin. Don Bosco's boys standout in the care of the sick. He has  guaranteed them that no one would be struck by the disease on conditions of being in the state of grace and wearing a medal of Our Lady.

During the cholera epidemic Don Bosco explained that the cause of the divine scourge was sin and recommended that young people stay in a state of Grace and flee from Deadly Sin.
Since May 1854, Don Bosco had announced to his boys that the cholera plague would reach Turin and that it would cause tremendous damage among the population. Then he said to them:

         "Do not be alarmed and remain at peace; if you do what I tell you to do, you will be free from such scourge. First of all is to live in the Grace of God; in addition, wear around your neck a medal of María Santísima (Miracle Medal), which I will bless and give to each one of you. In addition you should pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Gloria with the Oremus  of St. Louis (Gonzaga)  plus the invocation: Ab omni malo líbera nos, Domine." 

He repeated then: "Remain in the Grace of God, pray to the Virgin and I assure you that no student from this Oratory will be touched by the plague."

Don Bosco and his priests became involved in caring for the victims of the disease.

Among the heroic young volunteers to assist the sick were Miguel Rua, Juan Cagliero and Luis Anfossi, all adolescents between 14 and 17 years old. Years later, the three will form part of the group that –with Don Bosco– will found the Salesian Congregation. It is also said that among the 14 front-line volunteers was 14-year-old Domingo Sabio. And 30 young children, who naturally will not come into contact with the sick, entrusting them with auxiliary tasks.

Don Bosco and his Oratory boys  during the awful cholera plague of 1854, demon­strated truly extraordinary heroism and sacrifice in admin­istering to its abandoned vic­tims. It had a higher mortality rate of up to sixty percent.

“In all the miracles of healing
performed by Our Divine Savior, we must
admire the remarkable goodness which caused Him
to heal first the sickness of the soul, then that of the body.
He teaches us the great lesson
that we must first purify our consciences
before turning to God for help in our earthly needs”.

St. John Bosco

Maria Auxilium Christianorum ora pro nobis.

Sancte Joannes Bosco, Ora Pro Nobis. 

Sancte Aloysi Gonzaga, Ora pro nobis.  

Prayer to the Archangel Gabriel for protection and healing in our hour of need

Powerful prayer to the angelic messenger of our Redemption

The whole human race is indebted to Thee, O Gabriel! and, on this day, we would fain pay thee the honour and gratitude we owe thee. Thou wast moved to holy compassion when seeing the miseries of the world; for all flesh had corrupted its way, and the forgetfulness of God increased with each new generation of men. Then did the Most High commission thee to bring to the world the good tidings of its Salvation. How beautiful thy steps, O Prince of the heavenly court, as thou camest down to this our humble sphere! How tender and fraternal is thy love of man, whose nature, though so inferior to thine own, was to be raised, by the mystery of the Incarnation, to union with God Himself! With what respectful awe didst thou not approach the Virgin, who surpassed all the Angels in holiness!

Blessed Messenger of our Redemption! whom God selects as his Minister when He would show His power, we beseech thee, offer the homage of our gratitude to Him that thus sent thee. Help us to pay the immense debt we owe to the Father, Who so loved the world, as to give it his Only Begotten Son (St. John, iii. 16.); to the Son, Who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant; and to the Holy Ghost, who rested on the Flower that sprang up out of the root of Jesse (Is. xi. 1).

'Twas thou, O Gabriel! that taughtest us the salutation wherewith we should greet Mary full of grace. Thou wast the first to pronounce these sublime words, which thou broughtest from heaven. The children of the Church are now, day and night, repeating these words of thine; pray for us that we may say them in such a manner, as that our Blessed Mother may find them worthy of her acceptance.

Angel of Strength, Friend of Mankind! relent not in thy ministry of aiding us. We are surrounded by terrible enemies; our weakness makes them bold: come to our assistance, get us courage. Pray for us during these days of conversion and penance. Obtain for us the knowledge of all we owe to God in consequence of that ineffable mystery of the Incarnation, of which thou wast the first witness. We have forgotten our duties to the Man-God, and we have offended Him: enlighten us, that so, henceforth, we may be faithful to His teachings and examples. Raise up our thoughts to the happy abode where thou dwellest; assist us to merit the places left vacant by the fallen Angels, for God has reserved them for his elect among men.

Pray, O Gabriel, for the Church Militant, and defend her against the attacks of hell. The times are evil; the spirits of malice are let loose, nor can we make stand against them, unless with God's help. It is by His Holy Angels that he give victory to His Spouse. Be thou, O Strength of God! foremost in the ranks. Drive heresy back, keep schism down, foil the false wisdom of men, frustrate the policy of the world, arouse the well-minded from apathy; that thus, the Christ Whom thou didst announce, may reign over the earth He has redeemed, and that we may sing together with Thee and the whole angelic choir: Glory be to God! Peace to men!

Prayer to St. Gabriel the Archangel

Saint Gabriel the Archangel, I venerate you as the Angel of the Incarnation, because God specially appointed you to bear the messages concerning the God-Man to Daniel, Zechariah, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Give me a very tender and devoted love for the Incarnate Word and his Blessed Mother more like your own.  I venerate you also as the “Strength from God” because you are the giver of God’s strength, consoler and comforter chosen to strengthen God’s faithful and teach them important truths.  I ask for the grace of a special power of the will to strive for holiness of life.  Steady my resolutions; renew my courage; comfort and console me in the problems, trials and sufferings of daily living, as you consoled our Savior in his agony and Mary in her sorrows and Joseph in his trials. I put my confidence in you.  Saint Gabriel, I ask you especially for this favor: (mention your request). Through your earnest love for the Son of God made man and for his Blessed Mother I beg of you, intercede for me that my request may be granted, if it be God’s holy will.

Pray for us, Saint Gabriel the Archangel, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen

Sancte Gabriel, Ora pro nobis

Prayer to the Archangels to provide heavenly assistance for protection and healing in our hour of need.

Heavenly King, You have given us archangels
to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth.
Saint Michael is our protector;
I ask him to come to my aid,
fight for all my loved ones,
and protect us from danger.
Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News;
I ask him to help me
clearly hear Your voice
and to teach me the truth.

Saint Raphael is the healing angel;
I ask him to take my need for healing
and that of everyone I know,
lift it up to Your throne of grace
and deliver back to us the gift of recovery.
Help us, O Lord,
to realize more fully the reality of the archangels
and their desire to serve us.
Holy angels,
pray for us. Amen.