Resources and Prayers
The following are resources and prayers offered to the ESA community in a spirit of love. Students, faculty, and families will all need to find ways of maintaining their spiritual connections as we move forward. As your chaplain, I am dedicated to helping you with whatever resources at my disposal. May God look with favor on the ESA community, on our nation, and on the whole world as we ask for God's strength and guidance in the days to come.
Prayer for a Pandemic (from Cameron Bellm)
(from the Jesuit magazine America)
(from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore)
(used by Episcopalians and Roman Catholics when unable to attend Mass)
(appropriate for those of all faith traditions and/or none)
(a poem from Daniel Halpern)
(from Peter Bolland, teacher at the Chopra Center)
AN EPISCOPAL LITANY FOR COVID19
(from Chaplain Nate Bostian's blog) God the Father, your will for all people is health and salvation; We praise you and thank you, O Lord. God the Son, you came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly; We praise you and thank you, O Lord. God the Holy Spirit, you make our bodies the temple of your presence; We praise you and thank you, O Lord. Holy Trinity, one God, in you we live and move and have our being; We praise you and thank you, O Lord. All you Holy Angels, Archangels, and bodiless powers of heaven; Stand beside us to guide and guard us on our way. Holy Mary, Mother of God; Pray for us and the people of the world. Lord, hear our prayer; And let our cry come to you. For all who have died as a result of COVID-19; Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. For all who grieve the death of family, friends, and citizens; Give them courage and strength to meet the days ahead, O Lord, and the consolation of your love. Pour out your healing grace on all who are sick, injured, or disabled, that they may be made whole; Hear us, O Lord of life. Grant to all who seek your guidance, and to all who are afraid, anxious, or overwhelmed, a knowledge of your will and an awareness of your presence; Hear us, O Lord of life. Give peace, courage, and hope to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; Hear us, O Lord of life. Restore to wholeness whatever is broken by human sin, in our lives, in our nation, and in the world; Hear us, O Lord of life. Bless physicians, nurses, and all others who minister to the sick and suffering, keep them safe and healthy, and grant them wisdom and skill, sympathy, and patience; Hear us, O Lord of life. Send down upon our President, Congress, and all political leaders, the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice; that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people; Hear us, O Lord of life. Give wisdom, creativity, and perseverance to all medical professionals, researchers, policy makers, and leaders as they respond to this pandemic; Hear us, O Lord of Life. Guide us in finding and developing the resources, medical skill, and political will to contain and end this pandemic; Hear us, O Lord of life. Open our eyes to see that you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and that our life and death are with each other; Hear us, O Lord of life. Open our hearts and hands to assist and care for those who will lose their jobs or be affected financially by COVID-19; Hear us, O Lord of life. Give us compassion for those in need, patience in this time of distress, and love for our neighbors; Hear us, O Lord of life. Let our hearts be not afraid; Hear us, O Lord of life. You are the Lord who does wonders: You have declared your power among the peoples. With you, O Lord, is the well of life: And in your light we see light. Let us pray: (A period of silence follows.) O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.