During COVID-19 Crisis ...

[BarbTherese]

                                                                     CONFESSION

https://www.catholicregister.org/faith/item/31311-vatican-says-general-absolution-may-be-permissible-during-pandemic

 

Excerpt only - read more on above link: "VATICAN CITY -- In places particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic and with severe limits on people leaving their homes, conditions may exist to grant general absolution without people personally confessing their sins first, the Vatican said.

That came after Pope Francis said people who cannot get to confession because of the COVID-19 lockdown or another serious reason can go to God directly, be specific about their sins, request pardon and experience God's loving forgiveness, Pope Francis said.

"This is the right time, the opportune moment," he said March 20 during his live-streamed morning Mass. "An act of contrition done well, and our souls will become white like the snow." 

The Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican tribunal that deals with matters of conscience, including confession, issued a notice that while individual confession and absolution is the normal means for the forgiveness of sins, "grave necessity" can lead to other solutions.  ..................EDIT

...............Make an act of contrition, the pope said, and promise God, "'I will go to confession afterward, but forgive me now.' And immediately you will return to a state of grace with God."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, N. 1452, says: "When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called 'perfect' -- contrition of charity. Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible."

"As the catechism teaches," Pope Francis said, "you can draw near to God's forgiveness without having a priest at hand. Think about it. This is the moment."

 

 

                                                                    A PRAYER

 

Dear Lord,

 

At this time of pandemic, please grant us the Grace to foster respect and solidarity with others, especially those who are weak or poor; to remain calm and ignore unsubstantiated rumours; to take advantage of living together as a family. Let us attend to moments of prayer. Let us cultivate responsibility, patience and hope. Lord God, loving Creator, You fashioned us from clay, And breathed life into us. We are made and loved by you and look to You for all things.

Grant health and strength doctors and nurses, to all front line workers and health to all the sick.  Grant eternal Peace and Joy to all who have died.

            R: The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

Heavenly Father, Your Spirit fills us with hope and lights the path to fullness of life. Hear us! As we cry out to you, uncertain and afraid.

             R: The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

In your mercy, Lord, Grant us the strength to rebuild when all seems lost. And the courage to reach out to those in pain.

            R: The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

God of all,
we cry out to you for help.
In your mercy, hear our prayer.

Protect us, Lord, and be with us
especially those of us most vulnerable
during this coronavirus crisis.

Move us to reach out in love
to our neighbours near and far.
So that the humble may be exalted,
the hungry filled with good things.

Grant us the courage
not to rush back to our old ways,
but to rebuild our world together,
creating foundations of justice,
with equality and peace for all.

                                                  Amen 

 

The Holy Father has also advocated a daily Rosary if it is possible in honour of Our Lady asking for her advocacy for strength, encouragement and overcoming of all undue distress associated with the crisis and especially the sick.  St Joseph is Patron of The Church and also of a happy death.  Great St Joseph, foster father of Jesus, please pray for them that they will be rewarded with eternal Mercy, Peace and Joy with the Beatific Vision in Heaven.

Online Eucharistic Adoration:   Catholic Cathedral of The Good Shepherd  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz5gektkF0o&feature=youtu.be

 

Online On Demand Weekly Mass:  http://www.catholictv.org/masses/catholictv-mass/masses-live-demand (Scroll down for today's and recent past Masses, including that of last Sunday)

 

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                                                  PLENARY INDULGENCE
I have found it very difficult to find a simple and straightforward explanation of the conditions for a Plenary Indulgence during the COVID-19 crisis.  I found the official announcement from the Apostolic Penitentiary as below a bit involved, but that's me.  Others may not.  The most simple explanation I could find is summarised: "On 20 March, the Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree granting plenary indulgences to “the faithful suffering from the Covid-19 virus, commonly known as coronavirus, as well as to healthcare workers, family members and all those who in any capacity, including through prayer, care for them.”   (excerpt from the full Vatican official announcement as below)

For the full Vatican official announcement which includes conditions for the Plenary Indulgence: 

                                           "Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary

                                on the granting of special Indulgences to the faithful

                                                  in the current pandemic,               

                                                            20.03.2020"  

 https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/20/200320c.html 

 "The gift of special Indulgences is granted to the faithful suffering from COVID-19 disease, commonly known as Coronavirus, as well as to health care workers, family members and all those who in any capacity, including through prayer, care for them."  Read the full announcement by the Apostolic Penitentiary on the link above.

 

                                                           

                                                                      DONATIONS

International Committee of The Red Cross https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/covid-19-emergency-appeal

 

Now I need to resolve to walk the talk.  God bless all Pham membership.....and all others - and most especially anyone at all intimately involved in any way in the COVID-19 crisis all over our world.  Amen