Bishop Wack’s Pronouncements Regarding Suppression of Masses
History and 14th century prayer to the Blessed Mother for protection from the Plague.
According to Tomasso Auriemma, SJ, writing in Venice in 1712, during the Coimbra (Portugal) plague of 1317, the nuns of the Monastery of St. Clare, fearing infection in their immediate vicinity, had decided to leave the monastery when they heard a knock at the door. They answered the knock to find a pilgrim whom they recognized as St. Bartholomew the Apostle. He consoled them and urged them to recite often the prayer to the Mother of God under her title of “Star of Heaven” that was written on the card that he gave them. Then he departed. The Poor Clares recited the antiphon every day in choir and privately, and remained free of infection “even as everything burned around them.”
Star of Heaven,
who nourished the Lord
and rooted up the plague of death
which our first parents planted:
May that star now deign
to hold in check the constellations
whose strife causes in people
the sores of a terrible death.
O glorious star of the sea,
save us from infection.
Hear us: for your Son,
who honors you, denies you nothing.
Jesus, save us, for whom
the Virgin Mother prays to you.
V. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. God of mercy and forgiveness, moved to pity at the affliction of your people, you commanded the destroying Angel to stay his arm for the love of that glorious Star, at whose precious breast you sweetly drank the remedy for the poison of our sins: come to our help with your divine grace so that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary your Mother and Blessed Bartholomew your beloved Apostle, preserve us from all contagion and untimely death, and mercifully save us from the danger of perdition. Through Jesus Christ, King of glory and Savior of the World, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
⸙ THIS WEEK AT THE BASILICA
*The celebration of all Sunday and Weekday
Masses has been suspended.
*All public, scheduled liturgical gatherings:
Reconciliation Services, Stations of the Cross,
and scheduled confessions have also been
suspended.
View our website, check myparish app and look
for emails for updates.
The church will be open for daily prayer:
Mon –Fri, 10:30 am– 12:30 pm &
Sunday, 10:00 am– 12:00 pm
