Calling on the Blessed Mother and Honoring Her in a Time of Pandemic
In the Catholic Church we have many times throughout history turned to the Blessed Virgin Mother when tragedy has struck. During this time of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic many are moved to pray to Our Lady for help.
On March 15, the Holy Father Pope Francis made a mini-pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome to pray before the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani (Mary, Salvation/Health of the Roman People) housed in the Pauline Chapel of the Basilica. Weeks later, he had the icon brought to St. Peter’s Basilica for his March 27 extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing (“to the city and the world”). The Marian icon was also present for the liturgies of the Holy Triduum.
Following the pope’s example, numerous leaders of the Faith around the world have entrusted their nations to Our Lady, including the U.S., whose bishops re-consecrated her to the country on May 1, 2020.
The actions of the pope and Church leaders is clear: Mary is both the Mother of the Church and the Mother of all people. We must turn to Mary in times of need and let her intercede for us especially during this time of Pandemic.
Beginning at the Wedding in Cana Mary she showed her care when she asked her son to change the water into wine. Mary places herself between her Son and mankind in our wants, needs and sufferings. She acts as a mediatrix, the mediator, between her son and us, not as an outsider, but in her position as our mother”. She takes our prayer requests and wraps them up real pretty and petitions her son, Jesus for us.
Mary is our Heavenly Mother, who does not fail to come to the aid of her children in need, we know from the account of the wedding feast at Cana, that Jesus responds to the prayers of His mother. He is our divine physician, so we know that, when she prays to Him for our healing, He will answer.
Come quickly to our aid at this time, Mother of Mercy, and deliver us from the dangers that surround us in our hour of need.
On Saturday we will be coming before the Blessed Mother in the front garden in front of her statue to pray the Rosary and the Litany of Our Lady of Redemption. Fr. Michael Kennedy will lead us in prayer. We will offer our petitions to our Blessed Mother. We will ask for a relief from this Pandemic, the civil unrest, harmful protests and our divided country, in addition to our own personal requests. This event should only last a half hour or so. We will be maintaining social distancing and make sure to wear your mask.
Come on out at 1:30 on Saturday, October 3, 2020 to the front garden and pray with our community and the blessed Mother.
On October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, join the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, priests, deacons, religious and Catholics across the country in praying a virtual rosary in a moment of unified prayer for America. We ask Our Lady to lead us to her son Jesus, the Prince of Peace. The rosary will premiere on Wednesday, October 7 at 3:00PM EST on our YouTube channel and Facebook page. You can find further materials on the U.S. Bishops' website at https://www.usccb.org/rosary-america .
Parents: don't forget to visit the Diocese of Trenton's one-page resource for families, Faith At Home, updated each week at www.dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home and en español at www.dioceseoftrenton.org/fe-en-casa.
This week's edition:
We continue to pray for an end to the virus, those who are infected and those who care for the sick. May God continue to bless us and keep us close to Him.
Sunday 9AM Live-stream Mass
Not yet ready to return to the church building? WE UNDERSTAND and will continue to offer live streamed Mass on Sundays at 9AM with outdoor Communion available in the church parking lot.
Not yet ready to return to the church building? WE UNDERSTAND and will continue to offer live streamed Mass on Sundays at 9AM with outdoor Communion available in the church parking lot.
See this weekend's Mass on YouTube at