Good Friday

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

It is Good Friday and everything is the same, and isn’t.

The few times we’d stayed in Manila during Holy Week, we’d always been amazed at how little traffic there is on Good Friday. Now, there isn’t ANY. And not just some stores are closed. EVERYTHING is closed.

For as long as I can remember, we would always pause to pray at 3 p.m., the hour that the Lord is said to have given up His spirit to the Father. Mommy would have the family pray the Holy Rosary.

When we all got married and had our own families, we’d take the Lenten break to bond as a family, usually at the beach. Whatever it was we were doing, we would pause for a prayer.

Now, I have the whole family attend Mass online. 

We actually welcome it. Okay, maybe not daughter, who is probably wondering why a prayer won’t suffice. But she doesn’t ask why. She is pretty much aware that things have changed and that now, more than ever, we need to pray.

 (CNS photo/Vatican Media) 

The Vatican has asked priests around the world to recite a new prayer during this year’s Good Friday liturgy, and we find it said during the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord held by the Manila Cathedral online.

The Good Friday prayer prays for “all those who suffer the consequences of the current pandemic, that God the Father may grant health to the sick, strength to those who care for them, comfort to families and salvation to all the victims who have died.”

After a moment of silent prayer, the priest asks God to “look with compassion upon the sorrowful condition of your children who suffer because of this pandemic; relieve the pain of the sick, give strength to those who care for them, welcome into your peace those who have died and, throughout this time of tribulation, grant that we may all find comfort in your merciful love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Amen.

DoH update: As of 4 p.m. of April 10, 2020, the Philippines has reported 4,195 confirmed corona virus cases, including 140 recoveries and 221 deaths.