The Coimbra Marian Prayer against Pestilence

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There is a prayer in Portugal known by the faithful as Stella Coeli.  It began with nuns who followed the way of St. Clare of Assisi in the ancient university city of Coimbra in Portugal.  At a time when disease was killing so many, the nuns began the invocation and prayer to the Star of the Sea.

Here is an English translation of that prayer from years ago in which "the Star" refers to Saint Mary the Mother of God (Theotokos). With the COVID-19 coronavirus traversing the globe, I offer it here for all Catholics and those whose trust and love of the Lord Jesus includes love and trust for His Mother Mary:

Stella Coeli 

The Star of Heaven that nourished the Lord 
 drove away the plague of death 
which the first parents of man brought into the world.

May this bright Star now vouchsafe 
to extinguish that foul constellation 
whose battles have slain the people 
with the wound of death.

O most pious Star of the Sea, 
preserve us from pestilence; 
hear us, O Lady, for Thy Son honours Thee 
by denying Thee nothing.

Save us, O Jesus, 
for whom Thy Virgin Mother supplicates Thee.

V: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

O God of mercy, God of pity, God of benign clemency, Thou Who hast had compassion on the affliction of Thy people, and hast said to the angel striking them, “Stop thy hand;” for the love of this glorious Star, whose breasts Thou didst sweetly drink as antidote for our crimes, grant the assistance of Thy grace, that we may be safely freed from all pestilence, and from unprovided death; and mercifully save us from the gulf of eternal perdition: through Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory, who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

Collects for the First Sunday of Lent (Anglican Patrimony)

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O Lord, which for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.  Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer, 1549

Lord Jesus Christ, who wast in all points tempted as we are : Strengthen us, we pray thee, in our manifold temptations; and as thou knowest our weaknesses, so may we know thee mighty to save; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit art one God for ever and ever. 

JLG

Holy Father, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the desert: Give us grace to discipline ourselves in humble submission to your Spirit that we may lead upright and holy lives to your honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Modern Collects

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan : come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations ; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each find you mighty to save ; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 

The Book of Common Prayer 1979 USA
Based upon a prayer of William Bright "For the Tempted"

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet did not sin : give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your saving power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

APB, Ireland

Almighty God, your Son fasted forty days and forty nights in the desert : give us grace to use such discipline, that our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may always obey your will in righteousness and holiness, to your honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

An Anglican Prayer Book, South Africa

Merciful Father, your Son was tempted as we are yet without sin : be with us in our weakness that we may know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

An Anglican Prayer Book, South Africa

A hymn of Richard Rolle of Hampole, d. 1349

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I have found this text of Richard Rolle of Hampole (d. 1349) especially useful to be before or after the Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent and at other times:

Lord Jesus, when I think of Thee,

And look upon Thy cross aright,

Thy body stained with blood I see,

Lord, pierce my heart with that sad sight!

Jesus, true love I owe to Thee

Who on the cross didst show, that tide,

The crown of thorns, the sharp nails three,

The cruel spear that pierced Thy side.

Jesus, love made Thy tears to fall, 

'Twas love that made Thy blood to flow,

For love wast scourged and smitten all,

For love Thy life Thou didst forego.

Mary, I pray, as thou art free,

A part of this thy grief I'll bear,

That I may sorrow here with thee,

And bliss with thee here after share!

Richard Rolle of Hampole 

(d 1349)

To Jesus the life of our flesh

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To JESUS the life of our flesh,

Who quickeneth whom He willeth :

To JESUS the life of our soul,

Who came that we might live more abundantly:

To JESUS the life of His Church,

Who loved her and gave Himself for her :

Let all mankind in earth and in paradise,

Reconciled by His death, and saved by His life,

Give glory and honour, worship and praise,

Now and for ever and ever.

from Sursum Corda
A Handbook of Intercession and Thanksgiving
W.H. Frere and A.L. Illington

A Sarum Prayer of the Priest Before Mass

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GOD, who makest worthy of the unworthy, just and holy of sinners, and clean of the unclean, cleanse my heart and body from all taint and defilement of sin, and make me a worthy and strenuous minister at thy holy altars; and mercifully grant that on this altar, to which I unworthy make approach, I may offer a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to thy loving-kindness, for my sins and offences, and for my innumerable daily transgressions, and likewise for the washing away of the sins of all Christian people. And may my desire be acceptable to thee, through him who offered himself a sacrifice for us to thee his God and Father, Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

This prayer of the priest before Mass appears in a 1526 edition of the Sarum Missal. In the Missal this prayer is located between Holy Saturday and Easter Day. It would be an appropriate prayer before Mass for all priests in addition to other required prayers.

150th Anniversary of Helena of Gonawlla's stigmata

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Helena of Gonawila is known to Catholics from Ceylão (Ceylon/Sri Lanka) as Sister Helena. She was a lay consecrated woman.  She is widely revered and loved in the Island nation, and in the movement forward for her canonisation one of the confirmed miracles involved a Buddhist boy who received a documented miraculous healing.  Our Lord loves everyone.

A popular image of
Helena of Gonawila

You can read about this story on the AsianNews.it website here: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Catholics-celebrate-150th-anniversary-of-Helena-of-Gonawila's-stigmata-(photos)-49279.html   

I would encourage all of us who are ill, injured or suffering in some other way to seek her intercession.  We are not alone, and we have friends in the Paradise of God who willingly pray for us.

For those of you who are well and in a time of happiness, please seek her intercession on behalf of those who are suffering in whatever way they may be in need.

We must pray for the sick and suffering... especially when we are well and all is going well in our lives.  This kind of prayer is one of the clearest examples of the solidarity among sisters and brothers who are One in the Body of Christ.

Epistle Reading for Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple

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A Reading 

from the Letter to the Hebrews 

(2:14-18)

 Since the children share in blood and flesh,

Jesus likewise shared in them,

that through death he might destroy the one

who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,

and free those who through fear of death

had been subject to slavery all their life.

Surely he did not help angels

but rather the descendants of Abraham;

therefore, he had to become 

like his brothers and sisters

in every way,

that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest 

before God

to expiate the sins of the people.

Because he himself was tested

through what he suffered,

he is able to help those who are being tested.

HEBREWS 2:14-18 (NAB)