Let us continue to pray for those who have been infected in any way concerning the outbreak of coronavirus. During these times we play place our trust in the merciful hands of Christ who is our cornerstone.
To assist at Mass each and every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation is very important. Nevertheless, there are times when one cannot fulfill this obligation. With this I remind you that you every Catholic in this Diocese of Knoxville is dispensed from your obligation for the month of March especially if you have an illness or because you are an older adult who has a serious chronic medical condition I encourage you not to come.
To those who are unable to assist at Mass I remind you of a practice known as spiritual communion. This is an opportunity for the faithful who cannot receive Holy Communion to unite themselves to God through prayer with the desire to spiritually receive Holy Communion in their heart. As Saint Josemaria Escriva noted of this practice: “What a source of grace there is in spiritual communion! Practice it frequently and you’ll have greater presence of God and closer union with him in all your actions.”
Here is an example of a prayer of spiritual communion: “My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacrament ally, come at least 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.”
During this time our bishop has also decreed that all the faithful receive communion only in the hand. This will be the case for each of our Masses. If one desires to refrain from receiving communion for whatever reason during this period of time I encourage them to make a spiritual communion.
Finally, following the 2pm Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite will be a Eucharistic procession around our parish grounds which will conclude with prayers taken from the Roman Ritual concerning a time of epidemic. Hopefully this will remind us to place our attention and trust upon the Lord in this time of fear as we plea for an end to this outbreak and that Churches around the world may once again be opened to the faithful.
Now let us turn our hearts together in prayer and trust in the intercession of our Blessed Mother:
O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need, and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious blessed Virgin.
In Christ,
Fr. Dustin Collins
