Rosary Marathon: May 3, 2021

Please take a moment to subscribe to the website so that you do not miss a post. You can also subscribe to The Friar podcast wherever you get your podcasts, by clicking a provider over on the right of the page. A document for the entire list of daily intentions. The Liturgical Guide for the Celebrations. Today's Reflection: Contrary to what some may think, there really is no right or wrong way to grieve. In fact, when someone dies, we simply grieve. At first, we may feel quite sad, overwhelmed and maybe even depressed. We ask ourselves what life means now, because our loved one no longer lives here on earth. Not knowing what else to do we pray and welcome the support of loved ones. After this initial grief we may find there is simply no rhyme nor reason to when we feel sad, when we laugh, and when we might even do both at the same time. The pandemic brought us a new type of suffering and grieving as far as death was concerned. Often when a loved one dies, the members of the family can surround the loved one. I know this was the case for me when my father died. But due to the risk of transmission to health care workers and other patients in the hospital, it was too often the case that those who died did so alone. The number of visitors was severely limited. As difficult as the death of a loved one due to COVID was, it was made more difficult by the distance that was created by the virus itself. It becomes important, however, to rely on our faith. We are part of a great mystical body. Our community is created not only with physical or geographic proximity, but with spiritual proximity as well. When we lift up loved ones in prayer, we are closer to them than we could be physically, because both we and they are brought into the presence of God. As we continue the Rosary Marathon, we pray for all those who have not been able to say goodbye to their deceased loved ones. As we think of the harm from the COVID, let us pray the rosary today for the entire world wounded by this pandemic. Today's Intention: For all those who have not been able to say goodbye to their deceased loved ones.