March 24, 2020: Act of entrustment
of the Salesian Family to Mary Help of Christians
At the end of the extraordinary novena to Mary Help of Christians, prayed throughout the Salesian world, I invite you to make an Act of entrustment, renewing with the heart of Don Bosco, our trust in Mary Most Holy, in this hour of trial and suffering due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
We
live this moment in unity with Pope Francis who calls the whole
Church, men of all faith and goodwill, even those who do not feel the
love of God, to "respond with the universality of prayer, of
compassion, of tenderness. Let us remain united. Let us make our
closeness felt toward those persons who are most lonely and tried.
Our closeness to doctors, health workers, nurses and nurses,
volunteers ... Our closeness to the authorities who must take tough
measures, but for our own sake ... Closeness to all." (Angelus
of March 22, 2020).
Today March 24, monthly Commemoration of the Help of Christians, let us pray the Rosary together. At the end we will make the Act of entrustment before the picture of the Help of Christians in this Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where Don Bosco celebrated Mass on May 16, 1887, interrupted fifteen times from tears, for understanding the meaning of his dream as a 9-year-old.
Like
Don Bosco, we too believe that Mary is our Mother and our help,
especially in the hour of trial and tribulation.
First
sorrowful mystery: Jesus prays in the Garden of Olives
Let us pray for all believers in Christ and for all men and women of good will: so that in this hour of trial for all humanity, they rediscover in the faith the values of compassion and solidarity with those who are most tried and needy.
"Our
Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be" - Hail,
Holy Queen
Second
sorrowful mystery: Jesus is scourged
Let
us pray for doctors and healthcare professionals who are working hard
to assist coronavirus sufferers, some even to giving their lives.
May the Spirit of the
Lord support and comfort them in their service and mission.
"Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be" - Hail, Holy Queen
Third
sorrowful mystery: Jesus is crowned with thorns
Let
us pray for the Authorities: called to make decisions for the common
good.
Let the Spirit of the
Lord enlighten them about the choices to be made and may they feel
accompanied and supported by the prayers of the people.
"Our
Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be" - Hail, Holy Queen
Fourth
sorrowful mystery: Jesus climbs Calvary loaded with the Cross
For
all families who live this time of hardship: may the Lord help them
to discover new ways, new expressions of love, of coexistence, in
this new situation.
It is a beautiful
opportunity to find true affections with creativity within the
family.
Let us pray that
relationships in the family at this time always flourish for the
good.
"Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be" - Hail, Holy Queen
Fifth
sorrowful mystery: Jesus dies on the Cross and Mary is given to us as
Mother
Let us
pray
for all those affected by Covid-19 and for the numerous victims,
including members of our Salesian Family also: men and women who live
sickness and death in solitude: may the communion in faith and Mary's
intercession be comforting and of support.
"Our
Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be" - Hail, Holy Queen
Act
of entrustment to Mary Help of Christians
O
Mary Help of Christians,
just
as
our father Don Bosco did with the boys of the Valdocco oratory,
on
the occasion of cholera,
we
too, in a world affected by the Coronavirus epidemic,
we
want, as a Salesian Family,
to
express
our filial entrustment to your Motherly Heart
Comfort
the sick and their families.
Support
doctors and healthcare professionals.
Help
all members of society and its governors.
Welcome
everyone who died from this epidemic.
Above
all, renew in each of us,
in
our communities and families.
faith
in your Son Jesus dead and risen,
Making
Don Bosco's words our own, we say to you:
O
Mary, powerful Virgin,
great and illustrious rampart of the Church,
wonderful Help of Christian,
terrible as an army deployed in battle;
you alone overcome every heresy in the world;
in anxieties, in struggles, in hardship
defend us from the enemy and at the hour of our death
receive our souls into Heaven.
Amen.
Blessing
Song
of the Hail,
Holy Queen
