Intercessions ~ Palm Sunday

Many of us are away from Mass this Palm Sunday because of the world health crisis./ We pray for all the people with whom we'd normally worship today;/ may they be safe and well./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for Pope Francis,/ who recently said that this time is not about God's judgement,/ but our judgement about the things that truly matter./ May human hearts be transformed to mercy,/ compassion and love./ We pray to the Lord.

For the President of the United States/ who says frequently these days,/ "We are all in this together."/ May we learn in new ways the depth of what it means to be part of God's global community./ We pray to the Lord.

The health care providers are working themselves to exhaustion:/ the doctors,/ nurses/ and all who support the work of caring for the sick./ We pray for them and their loved ones./ We pray to the Lord.

Some people are not being helpful these days,/ playing politics,/ defying new regulations,/ looking to make money,/ hoarding,/ acting recklessly./ May consciences evolve by God's light./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the well-being of our families and friends./ For the sick/ and the many who have died recently by this terrible disease./ For the newly afflicted countries/ lacking the resources needed to help the sick./ We pray to the Lord.

Joining Pope Francis in Prayer for the World

Recently, during the Coronavirus health crisis,  Pope Francis prayed for the whole world outside St. Peter's in Rome. He prayed in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and alongside a miraculous crucifix and the Salus Populi icon of the Mother of God. To hear the Litany of Supplication, click on the photograph of Pope Francis blessing the world.

Praying in Solitude ~ Santo Stefano ~ Assisi

This is the interior of the early 12th century church of Santo Stefano in Assisi, Italy. When I made my three month sabbatical some years ago, I offered Mass here, alone most mornings, as the church is above and at the edge of Assisi away from the noisy, tourist crowds below. It is charmingly said, that when Saint Francis died on the evening of October 3, 1226, the three small bells of the church rang spontaneously.

I'm thinking that now, during the Coronavirus lockdown, no one is offering Mass here, as is also true of many churches and chapels in the United States and in other parts of the world. So maybe you'd like to imagine entering this dear church with its soft light, come to pray deeply the words of this lovely Eucharistic hymn.

O Food to pilgrims given, 
O Bread of life from heaven,
O Manna from on high! 
We hunger; Lord, supply us,
nor thy delights deny us,
whose hearts to thee draw nigh.

O stream of love past telling,
O purest fountain, welling
from out the Savior's side!
We faint with thirst; revive us,
of thine abundance give us,
and all we need provide.

O Jesus, by thee bidden,
we here adore thee, hidden
in forms of bread and wine.
Grant when the veil is riven,
we may behold, in heaven,
thy countenance divine.