Pope Francis has called on all Christians to respond to the coronavirus pandemic “with the universality of prayer, of compassion, of tenderness,” adding, “Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried.”
We invite you to pray for our sisters and brothers in the Global South using our prayer for this time of coronavirus.
Creator God, we pray:
May we who are far from the ones we love be reminded to find ways to be the loving embrace of God for our neighbour.
May the restrictions we face remind us of the daily threats to human dignity, life and basic safety faced by so many people around the world.
May we who are healthy remember people without access to basic health care.
May we who are limiting our travel remember those who have no safe place to go.
May we who have a social safety net remember our sisters and brothers in the Global South whose hardships will only increase.
May our fear for our elders’ lives move us to love and cherish each person we encounter every day.
In the face of fear, let us choose love, peace and hope.
Amen.
Prayer: Development and Peace – Caritas Canada
Although we cannot gather to pray, we continue the Lenten journey through personal prayer, through familial prayer and through Virtual Share Lent Activities. Development and Peace offers several Lenten resources to aid your reflection at home. For instance, our Family Bulletin can help keep children involved and our Weekly Reflections can help you engage with the Gospel.
At this uncertain time, as we care for our families and communities from home, let us remember the people around the world who do not have the same resources and support.
Development and Peace stands in solidarity with partners in the Global South who are even more affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more than ever, they need your support.
We urge you to give from the heart for Share Lent.
* Image: Praying Hands (or Study of the Hands of an Apostle), a drawing by Albrecht Dürer (c. 1508)
