O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Yet we have strayed from that path of peace. We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations. We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young. We grew sick with greed, we thought only of our own nations and their interests, we grew indifferent and caught up in our selfish needs and concerns. We chose to ignore God, to be satisfied with our illusions, to grow arrogant and aggressive, to suppress innocent lives and to stockpile weapons. We stopped being our neighbour’s keepers and stewards of our common home. We have ravaged the garden of the earth with war and by our sins we have broken the heart of our heavenly Father, who desires us to be brothers and sisters. We grew indifferent to everyone and everything except ourselves. Now with shame we cry out: Forgive us, Lord!
Holy Mother, amid the misery of our sinfulness, amid our struggles and weaknesses, amid the mystery of iniquity that is evil and war, you remind us that God never abandons us, but continues to look upon us with love, ever ready to forgive us and raise us up to new life. He has given you to us and made your Immaculate Heart a refuge for the Church and for all humanity. By God’s gracious will, you are ever with us; even in the most troubled moments of our history, you are there to guide us with tender love.
We now turn to you and knock at the door of your heart. We are your beloved children. In every age you make yourself known to us, calling us to conversion. At this dark hour, help us and grant us your comfort. Say to us once more: “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?” You are able to untie the knots of our hearts and of our times. In you we place our trust. We are confident that, especially in moments of trial, you will not be deaf to our supplication and will come to our aid.
That is what you did at Cana in Galilee, when you interceded with Jesus and he worked the first of his signs. To preserve the joy of the wedding feast, you said to him: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3). Now, O Mother, repeat those words and that prayer, for in our own day we have run out of the wine of hope, joy has fled, fraternity has faded. We have forgotten our humanity and squandered the gift of peace. We opened our hearts to violence and destructiveness. How greatly we need your maternal help!
Therefore, O Mother, hear our prayer.
Star of the Sea, do not let us be shipwrecked in the tempest of war.
Ark of the New Covenant, inspire projects and paths of reconciliation.
Queen of Heaven, restore God’s peace to the world.
Eliminate hatred and the thirst for revenge, and teach us forgiveness.
Free us from war, protect our world from the menace of nuclear weapons.
Queen of the Rosary, make us realize our need to pray and to love.
Queen of the Human Family, show people the path of fraternity.
Queen of Peace, obtain peace for our world.
O Mother, may your sorrowful plea stir our hardened hearts. May the tears you shed for us make this valley parched by our hatred blossom anew. Amid the thunder of weapons, may your prayer turn our thoughts to peace. May your maternal touch soothe those who suffer and flee from the rain of bombs. May your motherly embrace comfort those forced to leave their homes and their native land. May your Sorrowful Heart move us to compassion and inspire us to open our doors and to care for our brothers and sisters who are injured and cast aside.
Holy Mother of God, as you stood beneath the cross, Jesus, seeing the disciple at your side, said: “Behold your son” (Jn 19:26.) In this way he entrusted each of us to you. To the disciple, and to each of us, he said: “Behold, your Mother” (v. 27). Mother Mary, we now desire to welcome you into our lives and our history. At this hour, a weary and distraught humanity stands with you beneath the cross, needing to entrust itself to you and, through you, to consecrate itself to Christ. The people of Ukraine and Russia, who venerate you with great love, now turn to you, even as your heart beats with compassion for them and for all those peoples decimated by war, hunger, injustice and poverty.
Therefore, Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine. Accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love. Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world. The “Fiat” that arose from your heart opened the doors of history to the Prince of Peace. We trust that, through your heart, peace will dawn once more. To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world.
Through your intercession, may God’s mercy be poured out on the earth and the gentle rhythm of peace return to mark our days. Our Lady of the “Fiat," on whom the Holy Spirit descended, restore among us the harmony that comes from God. May you, our “living fountain of hope,” water the dryness of our hearts. In your womb Jesus took flesh; help us to foster the growth of communion. You once trod the streets of our world; lead us now on the paths of peace.
Amen.
Written by Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of Palm Beach:
Diocesan Prayer for God’s Protection in the face of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Loving and gracious God, as in all times, we turn to You and implore Your protection and healing as we face a new threat to our health and peaceful well-being in the coronavirus pandemic before us. Help us to be united with each other and with all of our brothers and sisters around the world affected by this illness. We pray for all those in the medical field who are assisting patients and in the field of science who are discerning a cure, as well as for all government leaders. Remember those who, through this virus, have passed from this life as well as their families in their loss.
At this time of fragile uncertainty, we also humbly implore You to grant us prudence, hope, courage and patience. Dispel from us fear, panic and distrust which disrupt us in spirit to the detriment of our well-being.
We make our prayer in the name of your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who always cured those who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. Our Lady, Patroness of our Diocese, Queen of the Apostles and Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us, Amen.
Oración Diocesana para la protección de Dios por la Pandemia del Coronavirus
Dios amoroso y amable, como en todos los tiempos, recurrimos a ti e imploramos tu protección y curación al enfrentar una nueva amenaza para nuestra salud, bienestar y paz con la pandemia del coronavirus que tenemos ante nosotros. Ayúdanos a unirnos entre nosotros y con todos nuestros hermanos de todo el mundo afectados por esta enfermedad. Oramos por todos aquellos en el campo de la medicina que están ayudando a los pacientes y en el campo de la ciencia que están discerniendo una cura, así como por todos los líderes gubernamentales. Recuerda a aquellos que, por este virus, han pasado de esta vida, así como por sus familias en su pérdida.
En este momento de incertidumbre, también te suplicamos humildemente que nos concedas prudencia, esperanza, coraje y paciencia. Disipa de nosotros el miedo, el pánico y la desconfianza que nos perturban en espíritu y en nuestro bienestar.
Hacemos nuestra oración en el nombre de su amado Hijo, nuestro Señor Jesucristo, quien siempre curó a los que estaban enfermos de diversas enfermedades y expulsó a muchos demonios. Patrona, de nuestra Diócesis, Nuestra Señora Reina de los Apóstoles y Consoladora de los Afligidos, ruega por nosotros, Amén.
Lapriyè Dyosèz la pou Bondye proteje n kont
pandemik maladi coronavis la
Bondye renmen ak lagras la, kòm nou toujou fè tout tan, nou vire gade Ou pou n enplore proteksyon Ou ak gerizon Ou kòm nou an fas yon nouvo pandemik enemi ki se conavirus ki vini pou l boulvèse sante nou ak fason n ap viv. Ede nou fè yon sèl youn ak lòt ak tout frè n ak sè n yo ki enfekte ak maladi sa a nan mond lan. N ap lapriyè pou tout moun ki sou teren an k ap ede malad ki enfekte yo ak tout Syantis k ap travay pou jwenn yon gerizon, n ap lapriyè tou pou tout lidè gouvènman yo. N ap sonje tou tout moun ke viris sa a deja touye, n ap lapriyè pou tout fanmi ki pèdi yo.
Nan moman frajil sa a, kote tout moun pa fin konnen sa pou yo fè, n ap mandde W, Granmèt, pou W ba nou anpil pridans, lespwa, kouraj ak pasyans. Retire sou nou perèz, panik ak mank konfyans ki kapab detounen lespri nou sou kòman pou n byen viv.
N ap fè priyè nou nan non Pitit ou renmen anpil la, Jezi Kri, Ki toujou geri tout moun ki malad ak tout kalite maladi, epi chase anpil demon. Notre Dame, Patròn Dyosèz nou an, Rèn tout Apot yo, konfòtè tout moun ki aflikte yo, priye pou nou. Amèn.
God our Father, Creator of the Universe and Lord over all creation, we humbly stand before you as your children in thanksgiving for your loving care and protection. We ask that you keep us safe from all hurricanes which may threaten us in the coming seasons. Protect us from all fear and anxiety of storms and give us an ardent trust and hope in Your love and mercy. You alone have the power to command the sea, the wind and the rain. You alone bring peace, calm, and safety. Father, we thank you in advance, for you are our only Refuge. We ask this through Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Mary, Queen of the Apostles, and Patroness of our Diocese, pray for us.
En Espanol
Dios Padre nuestro, Creador del Universo y Señor de toda la creación, humildemente nos presentamos a ti, como hijos tuyos, en acción de gracias por tu amoroso cuidado y protección. Te pedimos que nos guardes de los huracanes que nos puedan amenazar en la próxima temporada. Protégenos de todo temor y de la ansiedad que nos causan las tormentas y danos confianza ardiente en Tu amor y misericordia. Solo Tú tienes el poder de mandar al mar, al viento y a la lluvia. Solo Tú traes paz, calma y seguridad. Padre, te agradecemos de antemano, pues tu eres nuestro único refugio. Te lo pedimos por Cristo, tu Hijo, que vive y reina contigo y el Espíritu Santo, un Dios, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén. María, Reina de los Apóstoles y Patrona de nuestra Diócesis, ruega por nosotros.
In Creole
Bondye Papa nou, ou menm ki kreye syèl la ak tè’a, ou menm ki Bondye kreyasyon’an, nou kanpe devan’w tou piti, nou menm ki oun an, pou nou di’w mèsi pou tout renmen ak pwoteksyon ou ban nou. Nou mande ou pou ou pwoteje oun an sezon siklon k’ap vini’an. Ban nou pwoteksyon ou kont tout sa ki vle fè nou pè, kont tout angwas e ban nou plis lafwa ak lesperans nan renmen ak mizerikod ou’a. Se ou menm sèl ki gen pouvwa pou komande lanmè’a, van ak lapli. Se ou menm sèl ki kapab bay lapè ak pwoteksyon. Papa, nou di’w mèsi davans, paske se ou menm ki refij nou. Nou lapriyè ou konsa nan non Jezi-Kri pitit ou, li menm ki vivan e ki ap komande ansanm avèk ou, ansanm ak Lespri Sen’an, yon sèl Bondye, kounye’a e pou toutan. Amen. Mari, rèn Apot yo, ou menm ki patron Dyosèz nou’an, lapriyè pou nou.