Divine Mercy and Prayer for Pandemic

Image provided by Kathy Lamb

PRAYER FOR PANDEMIC

COVID-19 has touched everyone. The whole world is united in suffering. It’s time to pray. “…have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

What are your concerns?

Are you a grandparent who must now care for your grandchildren while their parents go to work?

Do you or a family member work in a hospital caring for patients suffering from the coronavirus?

Do you or a family member work in a grocery store or convenience store?

Did you or someone you love lose a job due to COVID-19 threat?

Are you or someone you love an essentials worker who comes in contact with people every day on the job?

Or, God forbid, have you lost a loved one to COVID-19?

My husband and I are blessed to be able to stay home. When we walk around the neighborhood the streets are nearly deserted. We are in our early 70’s. We are at risk of dying if we contract the virus so we stay home and figure out our meals from what we have on hand. We’re taking care of each other. We worry and we pray.

We worry about our daughter, an RN, working only COVID-19 hospital units.

I’m worried about my sister caring for her grandchildren while her daughter works in a hospital

I worry about my dear friend who works at a gas station convenience store. I worry about her coming in contact with a steady stream of customers.

We want to visit with our children and our grandchildren but cannot and they want to be with us but cannot.

We ask ourselves, is God making this happen? Is this pandemic Divine retribution? We can’t help but wonder if God is making this happen or if God is letting it happen. Historically oftentimes we’ve seen large scale sickness and death from contagious disease. No, this is not retribution, but God is letting it happen.

In my heart I’m united with the suffering Jesus endured for our salvation and united with a whole world of suffering people.

I wonder about COVID-19 taking hold and spreading rapidly right now during Lent. God is letting it happen now. Why? Perhaps to bring souls closer to him and to bring souls back to him.

God is giving us an opportunity to turn our hearts to him as a child turns to her father for comfort; giving us an opportunity to sacrifice; to offer our suffering for world peace or some other noble cause; an opportunity to take advantage of his merciful goodness. If we trust in his merciful goodness, we will receive the extreme grace that this kind of suffering entitles us to.

The best thing we can all do during this crisis is pray. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day at 3pm. “For the sake of his sorrowful passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.” St Faustina wrote in her Dairy of the promises Jesus made to those who place the image of Divine Mercy in their homes and who honor this image. “By means of this image, I shall be granting many graces to souls; so let every soul have access to it.”

Another promise Jesus made to us through St. Faustina “…the soul that will honor this image will not perish” (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 48).

Father Christ Alar; Marian Father of the Immaculate Conception believes in the promises of Jesus. Father Alar reaches out to us in answer to the pandemic emergency in a surprising way. He invites us to seal our doorposts. The Israelites believed they would be safe if they covered their doorposts with the blood of the lamb, “so that the angel of death may pass over those houses that have been marked”’. Exodus 12:23 Father Alar tells us to place the Divine Mercy Image of Jesus on our front door facing outward. The image represents the blood of the Lamb. Placing this image on our door shows great faith and trust in God during this dreadful affliction.

Father Alar informs us that we have the authority to bless the image. He tells us how to do it. “While making the Sign of the Cross over the Image, say: Oh, Lord, I seek your blessing upon this image, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.” Procure an image. Bless it yourself. Tape it to the door.

Remember, protection for the Israelites was not in the lambs’ blood but in their faith. The Israelites believed God had spoken to Moses, so they did what God instructed them to do. Father Alar believes Jesus has spoken to St. Faustina “I am love and mercy itself. There is no misery that could be a match for my mercy, neither will misery exhaust it, because as it is being granted – it increases. The soul that trusts in my mercy is most fortunate, because I Myself take care of it.’” (1273, page 45. I believe in Jesus’ promise to protect us and have placed the Divine Mercy image on the front door of our house.

“So please, I urge you to put the Image of the Divine Mercy with the inscription Jesus, I trust in You upon your doors, as many have done in times of calamity. Remember, it is Jesus whom we worship in this Image.” Father Chris Alar.

After you secure your home with the Divine Mercy Image of Jesus make a sincere heartfelt Confession.

How is it possible to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) with social isolation in place? We have no access to a priest. Here’s what Pope Francis recently told all Catholics about the Sacrament of Reconciliation

“Do what the Catechism says. It is very clear: If you cannot find a priest to confess to, speak directly with God, your father, and tell him the truth. Say, ‘Lord, I did this, this, this. Forgive me,’ and ask for pardon with all your heart.”

“Make an act of contrition and promise God, “‘I will go to confession afterward, but forgive me now.’ And immediately you will return to a state of grace with God.”

“As the catechism teaches you can draw near to God’s forgiveness without having a priest at hand. Think about it. This is the moment.”

“This is the right time, the opportune moment. An act of contrition done well, and our souls will become white like the snow.” Quotes from Pope Francis - Crux, taking the Catholic pulse.

Here’s an excerpt from a statement on Confession our pastor Father Adam Mauman posted in the church bulletin. “The Sacrament of Reconciliation, though it is unavailable to us at the present, we are still able to turn to God and receive His loving Mercy and forgiveness of our sins. The Catechism teaches us that during a time when we are unable to confess to a priest, we can speak directly with God and make an Act of Contrition. Contrition is “sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again.” (CCC 1451). It also says that, “When it [contrition] arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect.” Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.” (CCC 1452) …when we are released from the quarantine directives, we should then get right in line to confess and receive the Sacramental Graces through the priest who sits in the place of Jesus.

So pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day. Father Chris Alar suggests we pray the chaplet 9 times a day. I sometimes do this but it’s hard. Perhaps we can pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet 2 or 3 times a day. So, again, pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and then continue with the Prayer for Pandemic.

Prayer for Pandemic.

Written by Cameron Bellm

May we who are merely inconvenienced

Remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors

Remember those most vulnerable.

May we who have the luxury of working from home

Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close

Remember those who have no options.

May we who have to cancel our trips

Remember those that have no safe place to go.