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Artwork by John August Swanson
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Our Country
Laments
We Mourn
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny join the faith leaders of our country to remember, lament and mourn the death of over 100,000 people who have died in the United States from COVID-19. We celebrate their lives, remembering their oneness in their diversity. Today as one nation, one community, one people we mourn and lament. Let us do all we can to honor them by how we live and move and have our being. We recognize they are move than a number or statistic. They are our family, friends, neighbors and strangers. They are US.
As we witness the deep suffering of our nation to the coronavirus, we call out to God in a prayer of lament.
Faces of the coronavirus pandemic: US crosses grim milestone of 100,000 deaths
More than 100,000 people have now died from the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.
Today at NOON
we join with all the faithful to pray and remember
We Lament We Mourn
U Hear our cry, Almighty God. Listen to our prayer.
How long will we have to hide in our homes from this invisible enemy? Where will it strike next? And whom? And what if…? Our screens relay a continuous escalation of suffering and death around the world. Panic and anxiety abounds. Our souls are weary from the strain of the life-altering unknowns.
Heavenly Father, from the depths of our pain and confusion, we cry out to You. From fear-filled hearts and anxious minds, we plead with You. Rescue us, Father of compassion and grace. We lift up our eyes to You, Lord God, the One who sits enthroned in heaven.
On all who have contracted the virus
Lord have mercy
On all who have lost loved ones to this sickness and are in mourning and anguish Lord have mercy
On all who are unable to earn an income because their jobs have been suspended Lord have mercy
We cry out
We cry out for healing and needed resources
We cry out for comfort and peace
On all medical professionals and caretakers attending to those infected with the virus Christ have mercy
On all scientists and technologists striving to find a vaccine and to make it available Christ have mercy
On all leaders of institutions and governments as they make decisions to try and contain the virus
Christ have mercy
We pray for strength in the long and exhausting hours of labor
We pray for wisdom in the research and difficult decisions
On all who have not yet contracted the virus
Lord have mercy
On the most vulnerable of our society who are unable to buy extra food or get proper medical attention
Lord have mercy
On all disciples of Jesus Christ discerning how to reflect His love to others within this crisis Lord have mercy
We plead for protection of health
We plead for all to remain calm and kind
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the expanse of the universe. And yet this earth is no longer as You created it to be.
Life is sacred and precious in your sight. You are the God Who sees us and sustains us.
Nothing can separate us from the Father’s unfailing love and kindness, not even sickness or the fear of tomorrow. You are our Light as we walk in this darkness. We will remember to celebrate the beautiful gifts You have given us in this present moment.
Almighty God, You are our Rock, our Refuge from the enemy, our hiding place. You calm our frantic thoughts and fill our despairing hearts with joy and strength. In Your Presence there is faith, hope and love in the darkness.
May our people now rest in peace.
AMEN.
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