Lord Teach me to Pray
SAVE THE DATE: ONE BLOOD, BLOOD DRIVE AT THE BASILICA
January 10, 2021, 8:00 am– 1:00 pm
Right now blood supplies are critically low and demand is high. Start 2021 out right by saving a life! All donors will receive a long sleve shirt and a $10 gift certificate to Carrabbas. The bus is practicing social distancing (4 donors total) on the bus, which is why this appointment link is so beneficial. Everyone must wear masks, everyone’s temperature will be taken, and all equipment will be sanitized between donors. We are still doing the antibody testing on every donation and we encourage anyone who has had the virus to please donate blood as well, as they are helping the most critical of COVID patients right now. (Without symptoms, of course). Call 1.888.9donate. (1.888.936.6283) to reserve your spot or for more information. Identification is required!
The link to register online is below:
https://donor.oneblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/1036724
Holy Day of Obligation Important Information
Planning for Advent
Basilica Hours Open for Private Prayer
Protocols for Mass attendance
Click to read Resuming Mass General Instructions
The Holy See
LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
TO THE FAITHFUL FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with particular intensity
their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary
at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all
the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view.
For this reason, I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at
home in the month of May. This can be done either as a group or individually; you can decide
according to your own situations, making the most of both opportunities. The key to doing this is
always simplicity, and it is easy also on the internet to find good models of prayers to follow.
I am also providing two prayers to Our Lady that you can recite at the end of the Rosary, and that I
myself will pray in the month of May, in spiritual union with all of you. I include them with this letter
so that they are available to everyone.
Dear brothers and sisters, contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary our Mother will
make us even more united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this time of trial. I keep
all of you in my prayers, especially those suffering most greatly, and I ask you, please, to pray for
me. I thank you, and with great affection I send you my blessing.
Rome, Saint John Lateran, 25 April 2020
Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist
Pope Francis
First Prayer
O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.
We fly to your protection,
O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.
Second Prayer
“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.
2
In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you,
Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.
Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those
who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way
that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick
and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope
those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy
and employment.
Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering
may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at
Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to
confidence and trust.
Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this
emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them
strength, generosity and continued health.
Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern
and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.
Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they
may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.
Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of
those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired
by farsightedness and solidarity.
Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and
stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar
tragedies from occurring in the future.
Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the
bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless
situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.
Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will
stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely
resume its normal course.
To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O
Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
©Copyright – Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Bishop Wack’s Pronouncements Regarding Suppression of Masses
History and 14th century prayer to the Blessed Mother for protection from the Plague.
the Virgin Mother prays to you.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
⸙ 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