COVID-19 AND THE MISSION OF THE BLESSED MOTHER

Today is EASTER SATURDAY! The ancient Russian monks used to say and listen well: “When there is spiritual turmoil, we need to take refuge under the mantle of the Holy Mother of God.” On EASTER SUNDAY at the Holy Mass, I said that the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic is a Gift and a blessing. COVID-19 is a pandemic that will reveal how much we love God and His Church. Fear of it is not the antidote! What we need is a rediscovery of our original identity – that is our connectedness with God. Meanwhile, I still know that the Lord God will never change in His ways and dealings with us. Our prayers, surely cannot change God. They are rather meant to change us and even to transform us to conform and become totally given to the person of God. May our Mother Mary help us to attain this oneness with God.

However, in the heat of the current coronavirus syndrome, we must not give up in focusing our gaze on the risen Lord. We must also rediscover the Blessed Virgin Mary’s mission in the salvation history and in the life of the Church and the world. Meaning, we have to renew our encounter with our Blessed and Sweet Mother Mary. She is the spiritual solution to our challenge before, today and always. Please pray and invoke her maternal shield and intercession as you say the Holy Rosary copiously, and prayerfully recite the fifteen promises associated with the Holy Rosary Devotion and Spirituality. I am with you prayerfully, “Do not be afraid.” Please pray for me!

Prayer of Pope Francis to Mary during coronavirus pandemic

O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.