On the day that the Irish government permitted Catholics to resume Mass without legal ramifications, a special Rosary was held at Knock Shrine.
The Rosary was part of a campaign that is taking place each day during the month of May at various Marian Shrines that were hand picked by Pope Francis to pray for an end to the pandemic and lockdown crisis of the past year.
Those at Knock today prayed for the special intention of those with disabilities.
Archbishop Michael Neary was present at the event to join in with the Rosary and expressed his appreciation for the important role which the Rosary plays in Ireland as a ‘great family prayer’, recalling that Our Lady had appeared at Knock ‘with her family’. He also recalled how Our Lady appeared when people were suffering with ‘famine, poverty and emigration’ and had brought people a message of hope.
The Rosary began in the Vatican on the 1st and will end in the Vatican on the 31st.
The following prayer was read:
We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God. In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God, and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection. Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic.
Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them.
Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment. Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew.
Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust. Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity, and continued health.
Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course. To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
You can watch the video of the event from Knock below:
