March 13, 2020 falls under Friday. As we all know, Friday the 13th has been a day that people referred to as “bad luck”. It is something that one starts believing just by living in the culture, but what is its origin?
There is a number of stories that tells the origin of Friday the 13th, and one of them came from a religious belief. Stuart Vyse, a psychologist and superstition expert, stated that the story about this day, which has the most evidence, came from The Last Supper. He stated that it is unlucky to have 13 people eating on one table—especially with the 13th guest, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. It is also believed that the crucifixion of Jesus on Mt. Calvary happened on a Friday, based on what Vyse said.
Speaking of unfortunate events, the world is currently facing a big and fast spreading problem as of the moment, Coronavirus Disease (COVID 19). A great amount of people from different parts of the world are already infected with this disease. There are also preventive measures that are being applied in order to be safe from getting this illness.
The Catholic Church is with everyone in this problem. For this, let us offer everything to Lord our God through Oratio Imperata: Prayer against COVID-19.
God our Father,
We come to you in our need
To ask your protection against the 2019 N-Corona Virus,
That has claimed lives
And has affected many.
We pray for your grace
For the people tasked with studying the nature and cause
Of this virus and its disease
And of stemming the tide of its transmission.
Guide the hands and minds of medical experts
That they may minister to the sick
With competence and compassion,
And of those governments and private agencies
That must find cure and solution to this epidemic.
We pray for those afflicted
May they be restored to health soon.
Grant us the grace
To work for the good of all
And to help those in need.
Grant this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever. Amen.
Mary Help of all Christians, pray for us.
St. Raphael the Archangel, pray for us.
St. Rock, pray for us.
St. Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.
St. Pedro Calungsod, pray for us.
Our Lady of Aranzazu, pray for us.
May we all spend a little time in each day to say this prayer at least once and have faith that in God’s grace, this too shall pass.
Source: Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
(Jazlene Jimenez)
