The Vatican has issued a special Good Friday prayer for all those who suffer the consequences of the current pandemic.
As prime minister Boris Johnson entered intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital in London after suffering from Covid-19 and self-isolating at Downing Street for more than a week, the Church continued to publish its liturgies for Holy Week, urging Catholics to pray for God to grant health to the sick.
Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols tweeted: "Prime Minister Boris Johnson has a personal fight on his hands against the vicious #coronavirus and needs our prayers. Let us #pray for him, all who are suffering and our NHS workers caring for them."
The Good Friday prayer prays for “all those who suffer the consequences of the current pandemic, that God the Father may grant health to the sick, strength to those who care for them, comfort to families and salvation to all the victims who have died.”
It came as Pope Francis sent a video message to Christians across the world preparing to celebrate Holy Week during the coronavirus lockdown.
“We will celebrate Holy Week in a truly unusual way,” the Pope said. “And in the silence of our cities, the Easter Gospel will resound.”
With public liturgies suspended and hundreds of millions across the world urged to stay at home during the pandemic, the celebration of Easter will take place through virtual Masses and gatherings at home.
In the Vatican, the Pope celebrated Palm Sunday in an empty St Peter’s Basilica with a handful of priests and religious sitting in pews observing social distancing. Francis’ liturgies will be live-streamed, including his traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter Sunday.
“It is a difficult time for everyone,” Francis said in his message. “For many, very difficult. The Pope knows this and, with these words, he wants to tell everyone of his closeness and affection.”
The 83-year-old Roman Pontiff talked about children and young people who cannot go out, those who are sick, in financial difficulty, the elderly, and the people guaranteeing essential services.
During his Palm Sunday homily, he referenced medical professionals and others on the front line fighting against the pandemic.
“Look at the real heroes who come to light in these days: they are not famous, rich and successful people,” the Pope explained. “They are those who are giving themselves in order to serve others.”
He added: “the tragedy we are experiencing summons us to take seriously the things that are serious, and not to be caught up in those that matter less.”
Although public liturgies are suspended, priests continue to say private Masses and are live-streaming them on Facebook and other social media platforms. Last week, the Pope approved a new text for a “Mass in the time of pandemic” and special prayer to be said on Good Friday.
The Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments issued the text for the Mass on its website, and The New Liturgical Movement blog has a full list of the documents.
Cardinal Robert Sarah, the congregation’s prefect, explained: “In these days, during which the whole world has been gravely stricken by the Covid-19 virus, many requests have come to this dicastery to be able to celebrate a specific Mass to implore God to bring an end to this pandemic.”
The Pope’s Holy Week video broadcast, he explained, was a way to “enter your homes in a different way” and the chance to have “a conversation with you for a few moments.”
He said that isolation could be overcome by the “creativity of love” and stressed that the message of Easter was hope.
“It is the hope of a better time, in which we can be better, finally freed from evil and from this pandemic,” Francis said. “It is a hope: hope does not disappoint. It is not an illusion, it is a hope.”
Prayer to be said during the Good Friday liturgy for the afflicted in time of pandemic.
Priest: Let us pray also for all those who suffer the consequences of the current pandemic, that God the Father may grant health to the sick, strength to those who care for them, comfort to families and salvation to all the victims who have died.
A moment of silent prayer.
Priest: Almighty ever-living God, only support of our human weakness, look with compassion upon the sorrowful condition of your children who suffer because of this pandemic; relieve the pain of the sick, give strength to those who care for them, welcome into your peace those who have died and, throughout this time of tribulation, grant that we may all find comfort in your merciful love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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