PRAYER AGAINST THE 

— CORONAVIRUS —

God of mercy and compassion, we come to you from the depths of our fears, worries, anxieties, and sorrows. Our Father and our great God, we cry to you, we call to you, hear our prayer and supplication against the coronavirus, a highly infectious disease that threatens your children.  This pandemic has worsened the gap between families, friends, neighbors, cities, communities, and nations. It is grinding our lives to a halt. It is preventing us from gathering together to worship and celebrate your love. We look to you, Lord for help and protection. 

Merciful God, with humility and contrition we approach you. Like a stray sheep, each of us has gone astray. We have sinned against you, ignored your invitation, abused your mercy and taken your love and patience for granted. Lord be merciful unto us and heal us. Heal our land and our world. Look at us through the lens of compassion and mercy. Look at us through the Precious Blood of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, that was shed on Calvary. Raise your powerful hands on the world and declare peace, healing and restoration. 

Holy Father, the world and everything in it belong to you. As much as the devil claims ownership of the world, we know you are the Maker. As much as we turn away from you and turn to secondary goods like wealth, power, pleasure and fame, deep in us we know that you are the deepest and ultimate yearning of our souls. In you alone can we truly find rest and peace and joy. 

Yahweh Rapha, do not allow us, the work of your hand to be destroyed by selfishness, arrogance, pride and godlessness. Do not allow those you created in your own image and redeemed by the Precious Blood of the Lamb be imperiled by any epidemic or pandemic. As world leaders, scientists, and medical experts wrestle to find a medical solution to COVID-19, we pray for your intervention. No progress can ever be made without your involvement. Give researchers the knowledge and the pathway to find a cure for this dreaded virus that threatens your children. Protect doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all medical personnel who work tirelessly to save the sick and the infected. Help those who have been infected to recover and feel well again. Comfort families who have already lost loved ones to coronavirus. To the diseased, grant eternal rest. For the rest of us, we pray that you protect us. Strengthen our immune system to be able to resist this virus and every other viruses out there. Protect us from whatever that will do us harm— physically and spiritually. 

Gracious God, as we turn to you at this time of fear, anxiety and panic, we pray that in times of ease and prosperity, we shall stay with you as well. Help us to be wired and connected to you today, tomorrow and everyday of our lives. Thank you, Lord, for hearing our prayers. In Jesus most wonderful name we pray. Amen. 

— By Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

On Sunday, March 15, 2020

Third Sunday of Lent, Year A