Cardinal O’Malley yesterday, asked us all to keep devotional visits to churches during the daytime while honoring government directives to not assemble in groups of 10 or more.
He made a special plea to individuals and families to take up the Rosary as a way of praying in the absence of the Eucharist. He mentioned that in former days, this prayer had a powerful bonding effect on the family especially. As Father Peyton always said, “The Family that Prays Together Stays Together.”
Pope Francis echoed similar spiritual advice. In these days, when many are deprived of access to the Eucharist, even on Sunday, we turn to Mary with the prayer of the Rosary, under the loving gaze of Saint Joseph, Custodian of the Holy Family and of our families. And we ask him to guard our family, our families, in a special way, in particular the sick and the persons taking care of the sick: the doctors, the men and women nurses, the volunteers, who risk their lives in this service.”
I would like to conclude with a timely prayer to Joseph as we move into the prayer of the Rosary.
Compassionate Joseph, you are one with us in our human condition, together with Mary and Jesus you experienced exile, hunger, and violence. Through your goodness, God’s hope for humanity is preserved. Joy is yours, for the Kingdom of God is your inheritance.
Open our compassionate hands in times of war against disease and illness, famine and exile.
Keep us from developing a victim’s mentality, and make our pain a source of growth.
During this time of social distancing and working remotely, sustain us in fulfilling our responsibility of cultivating inner peace, joy, and serenity.
In your wisdom, counsel us to close all doors to bitterness, so that, watched over by God, we may dance for joy. Amen.
Father Willy Raymond's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page.
To view the daily homily and Rosary prayer steaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EDT, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too!
