Patrick Comerford
Today is Saint Patrick’s Day [17 March 2020]. Later this morning, I was hoping to preside and preach at the Saint Patrick’s Day Eucharist at 11 a.m. in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, Co Limerick, and I was invited to preach this evening in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, at an ecumenical service for Saint Patrick’s Day organised by the Dublin Council of Churches. However, both these services were cancelled last week due to Covid-19 or the Corona Virus pandemic.
But Lent continues, and during Lent this year, I am using the USPG Prayer Diary, Pray with the World Church, for my morning prayers and reflections. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the end of the Holocaust, so I am illustrating my reflections each morning with images that emphasise this theme.
USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) is the Anglican mission agency that partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential, and champion justice. It was founded in 1701.
This week (15-21 March), the USPG Prayer Diary is focussing on the theme of ‘Standing with Indigenous Communities in The Philippines.’ This theme was introduced in the Prayer Diary on Sunday.
Tuesday 17 March 2020, Saint Patrick’s Day:
Pray for the Iglesia Filipina Independiente; that through ALP (‘Abundant Life’ programme) it will build bridges with indigenous people.
Readings: Tobit 13: 1b-7; Psalm 145: 1-13; II Corinthians 4: 1-12; John 4: 31-38.
The Collect of the Day:
Almighty God,
in your providence you chose your servant Patrick
to be the apostle of the Irish people,
to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error
to the true light and knowledge of your Word:
Grant that walking in that light
we may come at last to the light of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Lenten Collect:
Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Post Communion Prayer:
Hear us, most merciful God,
for that part of the Church
which through your servant Patrick you planted in our land;
that it may hold fast the faith entrusted to the saints
and in the end bear much fruit to eternal life:
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Continued tomorrow
Yesterday’s reflection
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