Reflections, news and prayers to lift your spirit

Pope Francis

Pope Francis called for all Christians to respond to the coronavirus pandemic “with the universality of prayer, of compassion, of tenderness”, adding, “Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried”.

Speaking after the traditional recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father called on all Christians to join together in prayer. “In these trying days, while humanity trembles due to the threat of the pandemic, I would like to propose to all Christians that together we lift our voices towards Heaven.”

Urbi et Orbi Blessing - Friday 27th March 5pm

Pope Francis invites all the Christian faithful to participate in a special time of prayer led by him at Saint Peter Square on Friday, 27 March 2020. The ceremony will include readings from the Scriptures and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It will conclude with the Pope imparting the Urbi et Orbi blessing which is usually held only twice per year, at Christmas and Easter, from the balcony over the entrance of Saint Peter Basilica. The prayer and blessing will be live-streamed on the Vatican News website (www.vaticannews.va) at 5:00 pm.

We encourage you to sit in stillness for ten to fifteen minutes and open your heart to receive God’s gift of the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual Exercise

This spiritual exercise will deepen your awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your heart and give you confidence that the Spirit will be with you in everything you do to make Christ known.

1. Centre yourself; sit upright, two feet firmly on the floor; breathe rhythmically with deep breaths, in and out, from the abdomen; clear your mind of all preoccupations.
2. Bring yourself to bodily stillness.
3. Now welcome in your heart this gift that Jesus has for you: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
4. Quietly repeat those words of Jesus and hand over to him all worries or trouble.
5. You may find it helpful if you name to God a specific area where you need healing or forgiveness.
6. Now be still for some time in the presence of God as you welcome the Holy Spirit into your heart.
7. As you are about to finish your time of prayer, focus again on your breathing while you relax in God’s presence.
8. Bring yourself gently back to your daily concerns.

May you receive that peace of Christ each day.

Good News From Around The World

Drive-thru confession

Prior to many US states going into lockdown a priest in Maryland was offering drive-thru confessions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Father Scott Holmer administered the confession every day in the parking lot of St. Edward Church in Bowie. He sat on a chair while cars pulled up to him. Fr Scott kept a distance of 6-feet between himself and those wishing to confess.

Balcony performance

“I have performed at the Liceu [Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona] 273 times and now it seems I have become famous for singing at my window.”

56-year-old Spanish soprano, Begoña Alberdi, self-isolating with her husband in their Barcelona apartment, is only one of an amazing variety of some of the world’s most famous musicians and singers who have tried to cheer up their neighbours with free performances, often from the balcony of their home.

Every cloud has a silver lining

In the battle against global warming, scientists say that the number of people staying in their homes has caused levels of air pollutants and warming gases to fall. In fact, it's down almost 50 percent on this point in time last year.