Not being able to gather as a community in your parish church for Mass is spiritually very painful for our faithful Catholics in the diocese. Not being able to receive Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, increases that spiritual pain. COVID-19 forces us to do church in a different way. That this is a temporary situation, until the civil authorities lift restrictions about public gathering in groups, gives us hope as we learn to do and to be church in another way.
I write on Sunday, March 29th and can report that as of now (this could change!) many of our churches remain open all day for visits to the Blessed Sacrament. One of our pastors told me that his parish church is open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. and that throughout the day there are people in church praying while observing the recommended distancing. The Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of the Lord, is reserved in the tabernacle. Jesus is sacramentally present which is such a spiritual comfort as we are forced to fast from reception of the Holy Sacrament.
Those who have the necessary technology can gather around their screens and are able to watch Mass live streamed which can be a spiritual help. I am happy to report that 25 of our parishes are equipped for this and some are gearing up. The list of parishes which live stream is available on our diocesan website (camdendiocese.org).
Your parish priest is privately offering Mass every day and you can be spiritually joined to the Mass through an Act of Spiritual Communion. Our Catholic tradition has taught Spiritual Communion for centuries. Saint Alphonsus Liguori composed this prayer for spiritual communion which expresses our desire for union with Jesus:
MY JESUS, I BELIEVE YOU ARE PRESENT IN THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT. I LOVE YOU ABOVE ALL THINGS AND I DESIRE TO RECEIVE YOU INTO MY SOUL. SINCE I CANNOT NOW 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.
Praying continues outside of Mass. Beseeching. Begging. Asking. Knocking on the door of Heaven. Families can pray together, perhaps, as never before. We must pray for those who work in hospitals and nursing homes; for scientists who are seeking a cure to the Corona virus; for first responders; for those who staff grocery stores; for those who have been diagnosed with the virus and for the deceased (RIP). Pray the Rosary; read the Bible; the daily Mass Lenten Scriptures are a treasure; try reading a book on a spiritual topic. These are ways to feed our spiritual hungers. And, do not forget to reach out to the elderly and to those who live alone in your neighborhood. We express our love for God when we demonstrate our love for our neighbor.
Regarding the Sacrament of Penance, Pope Francis has reminded us to go directly to God. To be specific with your request for pardon for your sins so that you can experience the Mercy of God. Afterward, when the restrictions are lifted, you must go to Confession to a priest but now you can experience the forgiveness of your sins.
Who would have ever thought this is how we would spiritually live Lent 2020? In this special season of the liturgical year we can still grow in grace and in the love of God despite the crisis of the pandemic. May God help us bear this burden of distance from our parish church and may we know that we are never far from Him who hears the cries and the pleas of His children.
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A prayer for all those affected by coronavirus
The following prayer was written by one of the priests of the Camden Diocese:
Lord Jesus, you heal the sick. We pray that the coronavirus that has affected so many in our world can be contained, controlled, and cured. We lift up to your mercy all those affected, all those working hard to study and cure this illness, and all health care professionals and emergency management teams that are working day and night to keep us safe. Help us, Lord, to trust in your merciful care. Our Blessed Mother, pray for us, Saint Joseph, pray for us, Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Amen.
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