03 April 2020
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We begin the solemn celebrations of Holy Week this coming Sunday with Passion or Palm Sunday. It will be televised at 10:30 Sunday morning. The blessed palms may be picked up in the parish hall during the regular office hours Monday through Wednesday, and also during Easter Week. The parish office will be closed from Holy Thursday until Easter Tuesday morning.
The Sacred Triduum will be celebrated in full and will be televised on our website with just the needed ministers present. The schedule will be as follows:
Due to the lengthy Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, I will celebrate Mass privately on Easter Sunday and so it will not be televised to give all of the ministers and musicians a break. You may watch the Vigil at that time in case you didn’t see it the night before.
We are commended to make a Spiritual Communion during these days when it is not possible to open the Mass to the public. Spiritual Communion is a traditional practice of expressing to the Lord our longing for him and our desire for him to enter our hearts. St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) said, “When you do not receive Communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you.”
Here is a prayer composed by St. Alphonsus Ligouri for a spiritual Communion:
“My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at lest 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.”
You are encouraged to increase your private prayer time and prayer time with the entire family during these trying days. There is the holy rosary, novenas and many other spiritual activities that are possible. As you watch the televised Mass you can make a spiritual communion. This should make us all long for the day when once again we can physically gather as a community. In the meantime, we are united as one family around the altar in the Basilica when Holy Mass is offered.
I want to sincerely thank all those who have begun making financial sacrifices online as well as those who are mailing in their donations. Our income is presently half of what it normally is and so I ask all of you to continue your giving to meet the demands of the parish.
In closing, here is a prayer that we should recite daily to beg the Lord to remove the present pandemic:
“Lord Jesus, hear our pleas, our Good Shepherd and Divine Physician. We implore your mercy in the wake of an outbreak of serious illness and disease.
Guide our efforts to prevent contagion and make preparations to care for those most vulnerable. Assist all professionals and volunteers who work to eradicate the epidemic now spreading. May our actions be marked by your steadfast love and selfless service and never by panic or fear.
Bestow your comfort and healing to the sick, sustain and strengthened them by your grace. May they know your closeness as they carry the cross of illness.
And may all you have called from this life come to worship you eternally with all the saints as you grant consolation and peace to their mourners. Amen.”
Holy Mary, Health of the Sick, pray for us.
St. Joseph, Hope of the Sick, pray for us.
St. Rocco, protector against epidemics, pray for us.
Please be cautious and stay well. Take seriously the restrictions that have been placed upon us for our good and the good of others, such as frequently washing hands and keeping social distance. Do not lose heart. The Lord is still in charge and he will sustain us in our present difficulties.
Devotedly yours in the Lord,
(The Very Reverend) Aquinas M. Nichols
Pastor