April 27, 2020

Pope Francis Encourages Families to Pray the Rosary Together

Dear SMMS Families,

In a letter to the faithful dated April 25th, Pope Francis stated, “I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May.”

He concluded his letter with this appeal:

Dear brothers and sisters, contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary our Mother will make us even more united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this time of trial.

I join with Pope Francis in inviting all of you to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary as a family. 
Pope Francis has also given to the Church two new prayers that can be said at the end of
praying the Rosary together.

Prayer #1
O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering, and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people,” you know our needs, and we know that you will
provide, so that, as at Cana in Galilee, joy and celebration may return after this time of
trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us. For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows to bring us, through the cross
to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.
We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Prayer #2
“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.
In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly
to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.
Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic.  Comfort
those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are
buried in a way that grieves them deeply.  Be close to those who are concerned for their
loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be
close to them.  Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and
the consequences for the economy and employment.
Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great
suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew.  Plead with your divine Son,
as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their
hearts be opened to confidence and trust.
Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of
this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others.  Support their heroic effort and
grant them strength, generosity and continued health.
Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral
concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.
Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that
they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.
Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to
the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic
solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.
Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing
and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to
prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to
recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can
help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need.  Make us strong in faith,
persevering in service, constant in prayer.
Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God
will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life
can serenely resume its normal course.

To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust
ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary.  Amen.

So once again we look forward to posting on our webpage and Facebook videos of our families praying the Rosary together.
Stay well.

May Mary, our Mother, continue to wrap us in her mantle of love.

Bro. James