by Dr. Christine Wood
Many of us felt spiritually abandoned when public Masses were cancelled last year, or more recently in localised lockdowns. But in lieu of direct access to the Eucharist the laity be creative in their spiritual activities. Recalling that through our baptism we are made sharers in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and kingly offices, we recognised that the graces received at baptism continue to work in our daily lives so long as we are united to Christ-crucified and risen, through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
The baptised all share in the baptismal priesthood. Those men who have been ordained to the ministerial priesthood are at the service of the baptismal priesthood. When our priests said their daily Masses in private they continued to offer the sacrifice of Christ for our intentions. I personally know some priests who asked for specific Mass intentions during the pandemic in order to keep their parishioners connected to the parish’s daily liturgical prayer.
Each day we would do well to unite our prayer intentions to the Eucharist offered that same day by our priests even if we can’t be in attendance. Besides praying for the end to the pandemic, consider praying for those who have died, who are sick, and for all the medical staff and priests ministering to the sick throughout the world. Be sure to include our government leaders, that the Lord will bestow on them the wisdom needed to govern society well in this difficult time.
Although we lacked access to public Masses last year, we were not deprived of the liturgy altogether. Many took up the practice of praying the daily Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours, in union with all those Catholics throughout the world who pray it. This enabled them to participate with the universal Church in the liturgy throughout the day. A number of websites and apps provide ready access to these prayers (e.g. universalis.com or divineoffice.org).
The practice of setting up a prayer space within the home is helpful in lockdowns, but also worth maintaining afterwards. This might include a crucifix, bible, holy picture of the Madonna and Child, a candle, and a cloth in the liturgical colour of the day to help connect us to the current liturgical season or feast. This creates a sacred space within the home where the family can gather to offer daily prayers in union with those of the local parish and the universal Church. Families can consider reading the daily Mass readings together, and praying a rosary asking the Blessed Mother for her protection and intercession to stop this pandemic. Spontaneous family prayer time helps to deepen our relationship with Jesus. Prayerful intercession of the saints, particularly Ss. Roch and Sebastian who are powerful intercessors against plagues, is a practice worth fostering.
Now is not the time to feel isolated nor abandoned. Pope Francis says, ‘Every man for himself’ is not a solution to pandemic. Rather, it is a time to pray in solidarity with the universal Church for those most in need. In so doing, our baptismal graces become active through our baptismal priesthood.
