Prayer: Lord Jesus, the one thing of which we are sure is that one day we shall die. We know our birthdays. We also have death days, but we do not know which day it is. If we will remember that we are going to die someday, then we will live every day as precious and unrepeatable, with the gifts and graces given us today, and every day until we die. Help us to live well. Please grant us a holy death. Please impart your divine wisdom that a cure for the COVID-19 virus is soon discovered. Amen.

Lord, you take upon yourself the burden of the cross and all that weighs us down. Give us the strength to walk onward, uncrushed by whatever is placed on our shoulders. May we help others to endure in the trials and suffering of their lives, with joy undefeated. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Jesus, when we fall and feel discouraged, may we know that you are especially close to us then, bearing our shame and giving us the strength to stand up on our feet and begin to walk again. Make our hearts tender toward all those who fall under the weight of this cross. Grant us renewed charity and unity. May the desire for holiness burn within us. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

All suffering is embraced by God when Jesus and his mother meet on the way of the cross. Jesus is every child lost prematurely; Mary is every parent grieving for his or her child. Lord be close to all who lose or become distant from people they love. During this pandemic draw families closer together; let barriers fall down and closer relationships form. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Lord Jesus, may I be unashamed to accept help when I need it, and may I be eager to offer it when others have needs. May our mutual dependence be a source of joy and an occasion of grace, knitting us together in the community of your love. We pray for our government leaders, medical personnel, priests, armed services, first responders, all who need extraordinary grace at this moment. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Lord Jesus, may I see with your compassion and smile with your radiance, so that your unfailing tenderness is made flesh and blood in me. May I always be alert to those who feel invisible and despised. May I help them to recognize that they are your brothers and sisters sharing in your dignity. We implore special graces for families, children, elderly, sick. We ask you to provide for the employed and the unemployed, for the economic needs of all people. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Lord Jesus, lift me to my feet when I feel that I can go no further. When I feel battered by the storms of life, with neither the energy or strength to carry on, then may I know that you, the strong Son of God, will bear me onward until I arrive at home in God. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Lord Jesus, give me a new heart of flesh so I may rejoice with those who rejoice and share sorrow with those who are saddened. Peel away the shell of my selfishness that holds others at a distance, so I may be one with their lives, free to act with your own spontaneous generosity. Dress us in the armor of your protection. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Lord Jesus, after so many falls, let me not lose hope for happiness and holiness. If you are with me, then I am not doomed to be stuck in the endless repetition of my failures. May your grace arise in the wilderness of my heart. Grant a new beginning even today. Help your people to arise beyond what is physical to see the spiritual dynamic at work in our midst. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Lord Jesus, I fear to be seen as I am, with my foolish fears and hidden failures. I would be ashamed and wish to hide, like Adam and Eve. But for us, you have been stripped naked and borne the jeers of the world. Comfort those who feel despised. Clothe me with your love, please. Clothe humanity in your garment of love. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Lord Jesus, your life had seemed so full of promise, and yet it ended in the disgrace of the cross. Embrace all those who seem to be utter failures. And as you are close to us in these dark moments, so may we share with you in the radiance of your resurrection. As we journey our way of the cross now, help us to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel—resurrection. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Lord Jesus, be with us in the hour of our death. May those who feel abandoned by God know that he is closer than we can imagine. May those who feel that there is no God at all discover his intimate presence. Before our death, inspire us to offer reparation for our sins that we may be well prepared for our particular judgment. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Lord Jesus, now you are lowered from the cross into the hands of those who loved you and who stayed by your side to the end. May we have the courage to remain faithful to you when it is costly. Grant, us to be faithful to all those whom we love, even when you receive nothing in return. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.

Lord Jesus, now you are laid to rest in the tomb. May we rest in your love, confident that even when the future is obscure, we nestle in your Father’s care. Grant us patient endurance until we hear your final summons to the fullness of life. Graciously calm our fears, and increase faith, hope, and love. We pray for a swift end to this pandemic. Amen.