By Verghese V Joseph –
The Holy Father Francis on Sunday invited Catholics from all over the world to join spiritually in prayer with him next Friday 27 March at 18.00 (Italy time). He affirmed this after the Angelus on Sunday, in this time of emergency for humanity.
The Holy Father’s prayer can be followed live through the media and will conclude with the Eucharistic blessing which will be given “Urbi et orbi” through the media.
All those who spiritually join this moment of prayer through the media will be granted the plenary indulgence according to the conditions provided for in the recent decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary.
Pope Francis said, “In these days of trial, while humanity trembles with the threat of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians to unite their voices towards Heaven. I invite all the heads of the Churches and the leaders of all the Christian communities, together with all the Christians of the various confessions, to invoke the Most High, Almighty God, while simultaneously reciting the prayer that Jesus Our Lord has taught us. So I invite everyone to do it several times a day, but, all together, to recite the Our Father next Wednesday 25 March at noon , all together. On the day when many Christians remember the announcement to the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation of the Word, may the Lord hear the unanimous prayer of all his disciples who are preparing to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ.”
“With this same intention, next Friday March 27, at 6 pm, I will preside over a moment of prayer on the churchyard of St. Peter’s Basilica, with the square empty. As of now, I invite everyone to participate spiritually through the media. We will listen to the Word of God, raise our supplication, adore the Blessed Sacrament, with which at the end I will give the Urbi et Orbi Blessing , to which the possibility of receiving the plenary indulgence will be attached,” he added.
“We want to respond to the pandemic of the virus with the universality of prayer, compassion, tenderness. Let’s stay united. We make our closeness feel to the loneliest and most experienced people. Our proximity to doctors, health workers, nurses and nurses, volunteers … Our proximity to the authorities who must take tough measures, but for our own good. Our closeness to the policemen, to the soldiers who always try to maintain order on the road, so that the things the government asks to do for the good of all of us are accomplished. Proximity to everyone.” the Holy Father urged.
In the good old days, with prayer we could solve the unthinkable and achieve the impossible. It is time to relaunch our prayer life.