The Vatican, at the urging of Pope Francis, has published a book to help us navigate through these stormy times. The entire book (192 pages) is available online, free, and a link to it appears below. The book offers a collection of prayers & rituals, some food for thought, and also the daily homilies of Pope Francis from the Chapel of St. Martha. The book is a work in progress and it will be regularly updated.
Here is a sampling from the introduction: “The grave situation in which many countries throughout the world have plunged, due to the very rapid spread of Covid-19, puts us all to the test. Unfortunately, we know that this crisis will not be resolved quickly, and that the pandemic is spreading. We are facing a state of affairs that until just a few weeks ago would have seemed unimaginable, like the premise of a science fiction film. Everything has suddenly changed. What we previously took for granted seems to be uncertain: the way we relate with others at work, how we manage our emotions, study, recreation, prayer, even the possibility of attending Mass… In any case, the most serious aspect is that this epidemic – like every epidemic – is not only a threat to habits formed over time. It is, above all, the cause of many deaths, of great pain, and great suffering. Thousands of people are gravely ill, thousands have died.
For many members of the faithful, the impossibility of participating in the liturgy and partaking of the Sacraments aggravates this condition of uncertainty, discomfort and confusion, even though the Church invites us to renew our faith in the Risen Christ, who conquered death, and made it the place of the sure encounter with the loving face of the Father.”
The book’s title is Strong in the Face of Tribulation and it is intended to be a little help offered to all, so as to know how to discern and experience God’s closeness and tenderness in pain, in suffering, in solitude, and in fear. Of course, faith does not eliminate pain; communion does not eliminate anguish. Rather, it does illuminate reality and reveal that it is pervaded by the love and hope based not on our abilities, but on the One Who is faithful and never abandons us.
Take a look: Strong in the Face of Tribulation:
