Keeping the Sabbath
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How do we “Keep the Sabbath” in this time of social distancing? There are many ways to feel connected at home with your faith. For personal prayer, this can be a ‘prayer corner’ with the Sacred Scriptures and icons, in order to be there, in secret, before our Father.
Prayer Table
In a Christian family, this kind of little oratory fosters prayer in common. This is easy to accomplish. Find a dresser top, a bookcase or a special table or countertop. Lay down a beautiful cloth worthy of the honorable space. Place holy items such as crucifixes, statues, rosaries, and holy books on your prayer space/altar. This is not a decorative only space in your home only. This is a space to be used.
How do you do that?
A sample prayer day may look like this: Start your morning or end your day with a special prayer of gratitude. Many families have a set schedule for different prayers in their families or for their individual private prayer. For example, your day may start with a Morning Offering upon waking, the Angelus at noon, and a Rosary at the end of the day. It can be as simple as that. For families with young children, this can be a great way to continue to teach the faith beyond weekend Masses. For those living alone, this can be a comforting way to feel close to Our Lord. Do you have a special altar at home already set up? Send us a picture when you do! You can email it to frkcoyle@stpaulsinannville.org
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Bringing Church HomeKeeping the Sabbath means remembering that even if we cannot attend the Sunday Masses being celebrated in our churches, it is important to bring church home. Here are some ideas that may help to keep some semblance of a normal Sunday morning in your own house.
Get Up and Get Dressed
It feels more like Sunday if we are not in our pajamas (although that may work for some also) when we sit down to the Mass that is livestreamed. Try to keep your Sunday morning schedule (without the mad dash out the door!)Prepare for the Liturgy
If you are able, take the time either right before Mass or a day or two before Mass to read the Sunday readings. Preparing for the Sunday message from our God before the Mass further enriches the experience of Sunday Mass.Pray for Your Priest
Celebrating Sunday Mass without a congregation present is difficult. Pray for your parish priest and all priests on Sunday who are ministering to you in a different way than he and we ever thought possible. Consider gathering the family before Mass and praying the following prayer.Lord, Jesus Christ, fill our home with your Spirit during this virtual time with our pastor. Strengthen our pastor and all priests and bishops during this difficult time. Keep them safe physically as they minister to the faithful throughout the world. Help Father Coyle know of our unending support for him. Amen.Don’t Just Watch... Participate
Try as best as you can to participate in the prayers and responses. Listen carefully to the message prepared in your pastor’s homily. Jesus is speaking to us through our pastor. Be still and open yourself up to His message. Stand when we stand, sit when we sit, and kneel when we kneel.Hold Your Fellow Parishioners in Prayer
While there is a specific Mass Intention for each Mass, for each day of the week, at the end of Mass consider praying in a special way for all the parishioners of your parish. Many of us are feeling overwhelming emotion and feelings including those of loneliness, frustration, anger, sadness, and fear. Many are also sick, even if it is not with the Coronavirus. Let us pray for healing for all of us. Consider the following prayer,Lord, give us all strength to weather the storm of this pandemic. Help us to grow closer to you as we hold all the parishioners of St. Paul’s in our hearts through our prayer to you. As we yearn for all of us to be united again to You through the Holy Eucharist, let us remember that you always surround us with your unending love. Protect us from the evil one and keep our homes safe from all harm. Amen.
Pray the Spiritual Communion Prayer
At the end of Mass, remember to pray the pray for a Spiritual Communion if you didn't pray it already at the time of communion.My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, 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.
