Ronan Scully
4 hrs ·
As we enter lockdown for another few weeks and as we journey towards Easter Sunday we know full well that the coronavirus outbreak has had a profound impact on our beautiful country and countries around the world—and increasingly, here now in our beautiful country of Ireland. Tough times presently and ahead , but lets not forget what it means to be Irish. Let’s try to support each other , our elderly, our children, our doctors, nurses, first responders, front line staff, all emergency and hospital and clinical staff, gardai, emergency workers, chaplains, army, priests, nuns, local businesses , retail and shop staff, volunteers, neighbors , friends , relatives and ourselves. Be thankful and feel blessed for every moment, every hour of each day that we get to spend with those we love and care for. Life is so precious and we never know what is before us.
So please join with me in praying for the sick, for their families, and for the souls of those who have lost their lives; for nurses, doctors, health care workers, first responders, our gardai and our army and emergency workers and volunteers and all those laboring to contain the disease and safeguard the elderly and other vulnerable people; and for Christ’s strength and peace to reign in the midst of suffering and fear. Please pray for anyone sick in our country and our world because of the Coronavirus and for anyone unwell and in need of our prayers.
This is an occasion for all of us – especially in families -to pray more intensely for each other and especially for those who have succumbed to the illness. We should pray also for those in the frontlines – especially doctors, nurses, medical staff and other carers, emergency workers, gardai, army and first responders including our clergy, volunteers – that the Lord will protect them as they place their own wellbeing at risk in the service of all.
Please, join me in prayer as we consecrate all our city, county, country and world to Our Lady and St Joseph. Lord, in this time of the unknown we ask you to bless all who are unwell, we implore you to protect us, eliminate all fear and anxiety and increase our trust in you as we pray this prayer:
Jesus , you traveled
through towns and villages
‘curing every disease and illness.’
At your command,
the sick were made well.
Come to our aid now,
in the midst of the
global spread of the coronavirus,
that we may experience
your healing love.
Heal those
who are sick with the virus.
May they regain their strength
and health
through quality medical care.
Heal us from our fear,
which prevents nations
from working together
and neighbors
from helping one another.
Heal us from our pride,
which can make us claim
invulnerability to a disease
that knows no borders.
Jesus Christ,
healer of all,
stay by our side
in this time of
uncertainty and sorrow.
Be with those
who have died
from the virus.
May they be at rest with you
in your eternal peace.
Be with the families
of those who are sick
or have died.
As they worry and grieve,
defend them
from illness and despair.
May they know your peace.
Be with the
doctors,
nurses,
researchers
and all medical professionals
who seek to heal
and help those affected
and who put themselves
at risk in the process.
May they know
your protection and peace.
Be with the leaders of all nations.
Give them the foresight to act with charity
and true concern
for the well-being of the people
they are meant to serve.
Give them the wisdom
to invest in long-term solutions
that will help prepare for
or prevent future outbreaks.
May they know your peace,
as they work together
to achieve it on earth.
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.
May we who are losing
our margin money
in the tumult of the economic market
remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settled in for a quarantine at home
remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country
let us choose love
during this time
when we cannot physically
wrap our arms around each other
let us yet find ways
to be the loving
embrace of God
to our neighbors
and those most in need.
Let us always pray for and stand up
for all our great nurses, doctors, emergency workers,
first responders, front line staff, gardai, army,
chaplains, priests, nuns, retail staff,
Aer Lingus Pilots and staff
and ground staff
and volunteers everywhere.
Whether we are home or abroad,
surrounded by many people suffering
from this illness or only a few,
Jesus Christ, stay with us
as we endure and mourn,
persist and prepare.
In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.Jesus Christ, hear us and heal us.
Amen.
I would urge you to follow the instructions given by the Government and Medical personnel and we will all hopefully get through this awful virus safely.
