Covid 19 – Corona Virus
During this time it is very important for us to remember that God is always with us and close to us in prayer and in our needs. We wish God’s blessing on you and your families and urge you to follow the guidelines and to stay safe.
The Cork & Ross Diocesan Website has much valuable material on many items, including the present situation caused by Covid 19. It may be accessed at: www.corkandross.org.
It includes:
Covid 19 our Diocese & you.
Mass Reading for Sunday & weekdays.
Prayer during Pandemic.
Statement by Munster Catholic Bishops.
List of Churches in Dioceses with facility to live stream Masses.
There is also Mass on RTE1 this weekend at 11am.
Mass is available on each weekday on RTE News Now and may be accessed as follows:
Saorview (Channel 21), Sky (Channel 521), Virgin Media (Channel 200),Eir (Channel 517).
Cathedral Cork on: corkcathedral.ie. Weekdays: 10.15am & Sundays 11.30am.
Mass is available on Radio as follows:
Radio Maria: daily at 10am. http//.www.radiomaria.ie
Cork University Hospital: on 102FM.
Beannacht Dé orainn ag an am seo agus I gcónaí.
Praying at Home when we cannot attend Mass
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
As you light a candle pray: Lord Jesus, you came as a light that shines in darkness and a light that darkness cannot overpower, enlighten our hearts and minds to your presence in our midst.
We Pray (pause for Silent Prayer)
Almighty and merciful God look with compassion on our concerns, and so lighten your children’s burden and confirm our faith that we may always trust without hesitation in your fatherly providence. 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. Amen.
Gospel Reading
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according John.
As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. He spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man and said to him, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (a name that means ‘sent’)/ So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.
His neighbours and people who earlier had seen him begging said, ‘Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?’. Some said, ‘Yes, it is the same one’. Others said, ‘No, he only looks like him’. The man himself said, ‘I am the man’.
They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It had been a Sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man’s eyes, so when the Pharisees asked him how he had come to see, he said, ‘He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed and I can see’. Then some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man cannot be from God, he does not keep the Sabbath’. Others said, ‘How could a sinner produce signs like this?’ and there was disagreement among them. So they spoke to the blind man again, ‘What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?’ ‘He is a prophet’, replied the man.’
Are you trying to teach us’, they replied and you a sinner through an through, since you were born!’ and they drove him away.
Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ Sir, the man replied, ‘Tell me who he is so that I may believe in him’. Jesus said, ‘You are looking at him; he is speaking to you. ‘The man said, Lord, I believe and worshipped him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
(Pause for silent reflection on the Gospel)
Intercessions:
We bring our needs and prayers before our heavenly Father.
We pray for our world at this time.
Lord, grant healing and comfort to those who are afflicted by the Coronavirus.
We pray for all who work in our health care system, carers at home and clergy who are working with those who are sick.
Lord, protect them and strengthen them as they care in your name.
We pray for our civil leaders.
Lord, inspire them to make wise decisions in these days.
We pray for our scientists.
Lord, enlighten them as they work to understand what is happening, guide their work as they strive to find ways to treat and protect us.
We pray for those who are anxious in these days.
Lord, ease their fears and grant them the consolation of your presence.
We pray for our families and friends.
Lord, protect and care for them.
We pray for a spirit of charity among our fellow citizens.
Lord, at this time of national crisis, help the people of Ireland to be generous and to look out for and care for each other.
We pause to pray for our own private intentions (name your intentions in silence)
Lord, hear my prayer.
Father, we ask you to hear these our prayers and if it be your will to answer them, for we make them in faith and trust, through Christ our Lord, Amen.
We recite the Lord’s Prayer.
Act of Spiritual Communion (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. (pause for silent prayer).
O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine.
Prayer of Blessing
The Lord bless us and keep us.
The Lord make his face shine on us and be gracious to us.
The lord turn his face toward us and give us his peace both now and forever. Amen.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.