Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Praying to the Lord, with the current COVID-19 crisis on my mind, I was reminded of something that St. Thérèse of Lisieux once said, many years ago: “The greatest honor God can do a soul is not to give it much, but to ask much of it.” Right now, our good Lord is asking much of us. In the middle of this coronavirus pandemic, we can certainly be left feeling confused, frustrated, afraid, disappointed, and anxious. It can be tempting to react with that much-too-easy sense of dread, or to give-in to a sense of being overwhelmed with the cruel situation that is presently beyond our control. In times like these, when the Lord is asking much of us, it is important to keep our hearts in balance, with the supportive touch of God’s steady hand.

With all Masses and parish activities (throughout Ohio) having been suspended through Easter Sunday, I want to offer to you the following spiritual resources. Going for such a long time without being able to receive the Holy Eucharist is a great hardship; It is a cross that none of us could have anticipated as we started this Lent. While we may be uncertain of any further challenges to come, we can sincerely trust that our Lord Jesus Christ accompanies us with His powerful presence: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid,” (John 14: 27). With faith in the fact that, when we seek Him, our compassionate God surely does sustain us with His peace and grace, let’s press forward, together, holding ourselves (and our loved ones) closely to His Love and Presence.

Right now, He may be asking much of us, but it will be in our courageous answer - with hope and trust, with patience and kindness - that we’ll find the peace that will see us through. Below is a holy card, with some great advice from another special and very holy Theresa: St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. May her words, along with the intercession of our Mother Mary, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, lead us forward, knowing that God will renew us, every day, when we turn to His unrelenting Mercy.

May God bless you, this day and all days. Amen.

With love and prayers,

Fr. Dave

A Prayer for Protection in Time of Pandemic

https://www.archbalt.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/11036-3-20-Protection-Prayer-V2_r5.pdf

Masses through Media:

1) Sunday Mass on the radio is live-broadcast every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., from St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus, on St. Gabriel Radio: AM 820

Weekday Masses are also live-broadcast, every day at 12:05pm, from St. Joseph Cathedral, on the same station, St. Gabriel Radio: AM 820

https://stgabrielradio.com/

2) Audio from the Weekday Mass is also provided every day from Eternal Word Television Network, at 8:00am, 12:00pm, 7:00pm, and 12:00am

https://www.ewtn.com/radio/listen-live

3) Local, Live-streaming online Masses with the Dominicans at St. Patrick Catholic Church, in downtown Columbus; Weekdays at 7:00am and 11:45am; Saturdays at 5:00pm; Sundays at 12:00pm

https://www.stpatrickcolumbus.org/live-streaming

Faith Resources for Children

1) Weekly Mass Resources for Kids (When Attending Mass Isn’t Possible)

https://www.catholicicing.com/weekly-mass-resources-for-kids/

2) Catholic Kids Homilies

The Sunday readings explained with neat animations (along with many other devotions and prayers for kids)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ-wlL3_x_XbF--5a9rW3sg/featured

3) Sunday Coloring Sheets and Gospel-related Activities for Children

http://catholicmom.com/kids/catholic-gospel-coloring-worksheets-sunday-mass/#prettyPhoto

Faith Resources for Adults

Scripture Reflections/Homilies for Adults:

1) Bishop Robert Barron - Weekend Homilies

https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/

2) Dr. Scott Hahn (and others) offers Weekend reflections

http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/category/scripture-reflections/

3) Fr. Larry Richards - Daily/Weekend Homilies

https://thereasonforourhope.org/category/2020/

4) Fr. Mike Schmitz - Weekend Homilies

https://bulldogcatholic.org/category/homilies/

Prayer/Spiritual Resources for Adults:

1) Living Faith: Daily Catholic Devotions

http://www.livingfaith.com/

2) Father Jacques Philippe, “Finding Interior Peace and Joy in an Uncertain Future”

http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/resources/prayer-life/father-jacques-philippe/

3) Loyola Press: Daily Three-Minute Retreat

https://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer

4) Word on Fire blog (Bishop Robert Barron’s Catholic Ministry)

https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/

5) The Young Catholic Woman

http://www.theyoungcatholicwoman.com/

6) The Catholic Gentleman

https://www.catholicgentleman.net/

7) Catholic Culture

https://www.catholicculture.org/

Catholic News Resources:

1) Vatican News

https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html

2) United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

http://www.usccb.org/

3) Catholic News Service

https://www.catholicnews.com/

4) Zenit - The World Seen from Rome

https://zenit.org/

Devotions

1) The Rosary online

https://therosary.online/

2) The Chaplet of Divine Mercy online

https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/chaplet

3) Online Eucharistic Adoration

https://virtualadoration.home.blog/ or

http://www.savior.org/devotions.htm

4) Stations of the Cross online

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6_W_YI2Au8

Prayers

1) A Prayer for Protection in Time of Pandemic

https://www.archbalt.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/11036-3-20-Protection-Prayer-V2_r5.pdf

(Shannon, please make each of the following prayers a simple link for people to click on, that will open to the text of the prayers on a different page. Thanks!)

2) Spiritual Communion

Option 1) My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You! Amen.

Option 2) Oh Jesus, I turn toward the holy tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. I cannot receive you in Holy Communion. Come, nevertheless, and visit me with Your grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Your own. Amen.

3) The Liturgy of the Hours

What is The Liturgy of the Hours (also known as “The Breviary”)?

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgy-of-the-hours/index.cfm

Pray the Liturgy of the Hours online

(Shannon, this is a link to the page that has their (iBreviary’s) coding to add a button on our website. Please include that button under “Pray the Liturgy of the Hours online”)

https://www.ibreviary.org/en/tools/ibreviary-on-your-website.html

4) Intercessory Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe for Help with COVID-19

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe,

Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.

We fly to you today as your beloved children.

We ask you to intercede for us with your Son,

as you did at the wedding in Cana.

Pray for us, loving Mother,

and gain for our nation and world,

and for all our families and loved ones,

the protection of your holy angels,

that we may be spared the worst of this illness.

For those already afflicted,

we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.

Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,

wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing,

teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.

Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence,

knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,

health of the sick and cause of our joy.

Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,

keep us in the embrace of your arms,

help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

- Archbishop Gomez, Diocese of Los Angeles

5) Litany of Trust in Christ

From the belief that I have to earn Your love

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear that I am unlovable

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the false security that I have what it takes

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear that trusting You will leave me more destitute

Deliver me, Jesus.

From all suspicion of Your words and promises

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the rebellion against childlike dependency on You

Deliver me, Jesus.

From refusals and reluctances in accepting Your will

Deliver me, Jesus.

From anxiety about the future

Deliver me, Jesus.

From resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past

Deliver me, Jesus.

From restless self-seeking in the present moment

Deliver me, Jesus.

From disbelief in Your love and presence

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being asked to give more than I have

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the belief that my life has no meaning or worth

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of what love demands

Deliver me, Jesus.

From discouragement

Deliver me, Jesus.

That You are continually holding me sustaining me, loving me

Jesus, I trust in you.

That Your love goes deeper than my sins and failings, and transforms me

Jesus, I trust in you.

That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You

Jesus, I trust in you.

That you are with me in my suffering

Jesus, I trust in you.

That my suffering, united to Your own, will bear fruit in this life and the next

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You will not leave me orphan, that You are present in Your Church

Jesus, I trust in you.

That Your plan is better than anything else

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You always hear me and in Your goodness always respond to me

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You give me the grace to accept forgiveness and to forgive others

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You give me all the strength I need for what is asked

Jesus, I trust in you.

That my life is a gift

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You will teach me to trust You

Jesus, I trust in you.

That You are my Lord and my God

Jesus, I trust in you.

That I am Your beloved one

Jesus, I trust in you.

Amen.

- Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, Sister of Life.

[Still need to add: Suggestions for videos/series/books on Formed.org]