The Catholic Weekly 29 March 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 13 29, March, 2020 Christy Lugo, a resident at a Catholic aged care residence, holds up a sign on 19 March thanking the public for taking the necessary precautions to protect the elderly from the coronavirus. PHOTO: CNS, LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR If you have a cute baby vid- eo or a funny animal picture, a silly joke, a lovely photo, a sweet song, an intriguing sto- ry, or absolutely anything you can share to get the world’s mind off its troubles, now’s the time to share it. 15. Don’t let it get you down MANY PARENTS are afraid their kids will develop PTSD or other emotional problems from being exposed to a time of trial, deprivation, and fear; so they’re going out of their way to introduce pleasant new activities, so their kids will have some happy associ- ations with this time of COV- ID-19. You can do this for your- self, too. Many things are out of our hands, but we can give ourselves the gift of being in- tentional with our time. If the hours are long, don’t just kill time; use it to take care of yourself. Exercise; pray; bake; sing; draw; knit; read; hone a skill or meditate. Think back on the things you used to enjoy before you got so busy, and figure out if there’s a way you can return to them. Be good to each other, and be good to yourself. We’ll come out stronger on the oth- er side. Turn to Mary and Joseph, urges Francis IN THE midst of the coronavi- rus pandemic, the daily lives and routines of millions of people have been turned up- side down, Pope Francis said, but they must help each other stay firm in faith. In a video message re- leased on 19 March, the feast of St Joseph, the pope said Jesus’ stepfather also knew “uncertainty and disappoint- ment” and worry about what the future would bring, but he still placed himself without reservation into God’s hands. The Vatican released the text of the pope’s message a few hours before the video was to be broadcast as part of a campaign, led by the Italian bishops’ conference, to have Catholics pray the rosary to- gether for an end to the pan- demic, for the healing of the sick and for the well-being of families in their second week of lockdown. “The rosary is the prayer of the humble and of the saints who use its mysteries to con- template with Mary the life of Jesus, the merciful face of the Father,” the pope said in his message. “How we all need to be tru- ly consoled, to feel surround- ed by his loving presence!” “With the Virgin Mother, we beg the Lord to free the world from every form of pan- demic,” he prayed. Pope Francis said he un- derstood how the lockdown could be difficult for families whose worlds now are “re- stricted to the walls of our homes,” but he urged people to be kind and gentle and “be ¾ ¾ Cindy Wooden the first to demonstrate char- ity, understanding, patience, forgiveness.” “This evening,” he said, “we pray together, entrusting ourselves to the intercession of St Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family, guardian of our families. “Even the carpenter from Nazareth knew uncertainty and disappointment, concern about the future, but he also knew how to walk in the dark of certain moments letting himself be guided, without reservation, by God’s will.” Pope Francis prayed that God would enlighten scien- tists seeking a cure for the pandemic and political lead- ers, so that, like St Joseph, they would safeguard the good of all those entrusted to their care. “Sustain those who give of themselves for the needy,” he prayed to St Joseph, mention- ing especially “the volunteers, nurses (and) doctors, who are on the frontlines in caring for the sick, even at the cost of their own safety.” He prayed that God would make the church “a sign and instrument of your light and goodness.” “St Joseph,” he prayed, “ac- company families. With your prayerful silence, build har- mony between parents and children, especially the small- est ones.” And, he continued, “pro- tect the elderly from solitude. Make sure that no one is left in the desperation of abandon- ment and discouragement. Console those who are most fragile, encourage those who waver, intercede for the poor.” A portrayal of St Joseph in contemplation. SOURCE: SONS OF ST JOSEPH Pope Francis speaks in his video message. SOURCE: CNS FEATURE