Spiritually Nourished

Domestic Church
Families are to live out their vocation as the domestic Church. The Lord’s presence dwells in real and concrete families, with all their daily troubles and struggles, joys and hopes (Amoris Laetitia, #315)  

Nourish your family spiritually during the pandemic. Let us take advantage of this somewhat strange time to welcome and live the Spirit in our homes and rediscover the wealth and the gift of our domestic Churches together with Jesus, who lives with us. (Card. Farrell, March 19, 2020). 

• A concrete proposal to be a "Domestic Church" 

This global pandemic has disrupted our usual Sunday observances from gathering for the celebration of the eucharist and visiting loved ones, to sharing meals and playing games together. Creating a domestic horarium can help you and your family mark the Lord's day and stay grounded in your Christian identity in this time of flux. (S. Brosig, March 2020).

• Creating a Domestic Sunday Horarium
• How to worship at home with your family
• Keeping the faith incarnational
• 10 Family ways for quarantine days​

Prayer Life

Are parishes open for private prayers, Adoration or confession during the COVID-19 global pandemic? 

• Yes, check out list of Parish Open Hours here

Find resources for prayers, devotions and liturgies that you can use at home:  ​

• Livestream or recorded Masses:
  • Weekday Masses will be live-streamed from St. Peter’s, Calgary. Watch at calgarydiocese.ca 
  • Sunday Mass will be live-streamed from St. Mary’s Cathedral with the Bishop as celebrant. Watch at catholicyyc.ca | FB Live
  • Livestream Mass with Parishes in the Diocese of Calgary
  • Watch Masses on Television
    • Salt + Light TV (Daily at 4:30 & 9:00 am, 1 & 8:30 pm, with Shaw, Bell, Telus, Rogers etc.) 
    • EWTN (Daily at 6 & 10 am, 5 & 10 pm, with Shaw or Telus)
    • Vision TV (Daily at 6 & 10 am, with Shaw, Bell, Telus,  Broadcast) 
  • Livestream Mass with sign language
• Daily or Sunday Scriptures, practise Lectio Divina or read a spiritual reading
  • Living with Christ | Mass Readings & Prayers 
  • Give Us This Day | Mass readings, Morning & Evening Prayers
  • Daily Mass readings - CCCB Lectionary 
  • Sunday Connection | Loyola Press
• Pray the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Prayer of the Church.
  • EBreviary | Keep the Lord's Day | Universalis 
• Video and other streaming resources
  • Online Christian programs/videos for children
  • Youth / Young Adults: NFCYM webinars in time of difficulty
  • Word on Fire | Videos 
  • Ascension Press | Podcasts, videos and articles
  • FORMED | Streaming Catholic videos 
  • The Coaster | Podcast with Lance, Alisha & Dan in Lethbridge 
  • Finding Faith | Podcast with Dr. Lance Dixon, St. Mary's University
• In addition to prayer, we can keep holy the Lord’s Day by doing works of mercy. Here are some things you can do even when you cannot gather with others: write a note or call a friend or family member who might feel lonely; donate money to organizations assisting those in need; make mealtimes this day more special; read or create something beautiful (D. Macalintal, Liturgy.Life) 

 

Prayers

Spiritual Communion  Prayer

• PNG - square image
• PDF - 2 in 1 Letter size ​​

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Prayer for a Pandemic
For all who have contracted coronavirus,
We pray for care and healing.
For those who are particularly vulnerable,
We pray for safety and protection.
For all who experience fear or anxiety,
We pray for peace of mind and spirit.
For affected families who are facing difficult decisions
between food on the table or public safety,
We pray for policies that recognize their plight.
For those who do not have adequate health insurance,
We pray that no family will face financial burdens alone.
For those who are afraid to access care due to immigration status,
We pray for recognition of the God-given dignity of all.
For our brothers and sisters around the world,
We pray for shared solidarity.
For public officials and decision-makers,
We pray for wisdom and guidance.
Father, during this time may your Church be a sign of hope, comfort and love to all.
Grant peace. Grant comfort.
Grant healing. Be with us, Lord.
Amen.
​
For the Sick
Dear Jesus, Divine Physician and Healer of the sick, we turn to you in this time of illness. O dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden.  
​Dear God, we place our worries in your hands.We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that you restore your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to acknowledge your will and know that whatever you do, you do for the love of us. Amen.

For those who care for the sick
Father of mercies,
we thank you for all who care for the sick. 
When they diagnose, give them patience. 
When they protect the vulnerable,
give them your protection.
When they work to heal, give them strength.
When they comfort, give them consolation.
When they are tired, give them rest.
When they are discouraged, bring them your hope.
May we welcome and respect them
as we support one another in this time of trial.

For those seeking a cure for the virus
Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten the minds of women and men of medical science who are working to find a cure for this viral infection. Guide their research and help them discover what you provide in creation, sure ways of control, protection, inoculation and healing. Strengthen them in their tireless work and enrich in them the virtue of hope.

For those who govern and represent us
Eternal Wisdom, guide our leaders called to serve us in our nation, its provinces and territories. May they respond to the challenges of this affliction with prudence and sound judgement. With prudence, may their planning alleviate the economic burdens, compensate for losses, protect employment, and ensure ample food and shelter for the poor, the isolated and the marginalized.

For those suffering from anxiety
I pray for all those who suffer from anxiety in the midst of this exceptional situation we are going through. May they get comfort, Lord, both in your unlimited Love and in the community.

Holy Spirit, be our light so that we keep faith in the heart of our daily lives and in that way, we may transform fear into hope. Amen.

Consecration to Mary, Mother of the Church
during Pandemic. Download Prayer.

Pray the Loreto Litanies

• Does God hear my prayers? Watch video from Ken Yasinski
• Where is God in Time of suffering?​ Watch video from Catholic Minute

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Our Lady of Good Health
Mother of Mercy, Our Lady of Good Health, in visiting St. Elizabeth and in watching at the foot of the Cross of your suffering Son, you showed your solidarity with suffering humanity. Hear the prayer of all your infirm children who come to you with the certainty of finding a Mother who welcomes, heals and comforts them.

Mother of our Saviour and our Mother, hear the intentions that we entrust to your intercession: heal our illnesses; transform our tears into prayer and our sufferings into moments of growth; change our loneliness into contemplation and our waiting into hope; assist us in our final hours and transform our death into resurrection. Amen.

An Act of Spiritual Communion
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 I unite myself wholly to you. Amen.

For the faithful departed
Be merciful, Lord Jesus, to all who have entered eternity because of this virus. Comfort and strengthen their families and friends with the hope of your glorious Resurrection.

Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon them. + May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

A Litany of Saints of Mercy
In the Communion of Saints, we are always surrounded by many unseen friends whose lives embodied care for the sick. Let us confidently invoke the Saints and Angels for the healing and health of those who are infected and for protection from the virus.

Mary, Health of the Sick, pray for us.
Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Mary Immaculate of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
Saint Raphael the Archangel, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.
Saint Blaise, Bishop, pray for us.
Saint Peregrine Laziosi, pray for us.
Saint Juliana Falconieri, pray for us.
Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, pray for us.
Saint John of God, pray for us.
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us.
Saint Charles Borromeo, pray for us.
Saint Martin de Porres, pray for us.
Saint Camillus de Lellis, pray for us.
Saint Louise de Marillac, pray for us.
Saint Damien of Molokai, pray for us.
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.
Saint Marguerite d’Youville, pray for us.
Saint André Bessette, pray for us.
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
This short prayer to Our Lady has been prayed by Christians in troubled times since the third century.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our hour of need, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen. 

For peace of soul (St. Teresa of Avila)
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing:
God alone is changeless.
Patience gains all things,
Who has God wants nothing.
God alone suffices.

Prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick (Pope Francis)

• Letter Size Prayer 
• 2 in 1 Letter size Prayer
• PNG (square image files) - Image 1 & Image 2

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