Resources for Home Use during the COVID-19 Crisis
During this time of crisis, it is important for us to continue to develop our spiritual lives even while not able to come to the Church for Mass and for other studies. It is a time to read Scripture and Spiritual Classics. It is a time to pray–to pray the Liturgy by uniting ourselves in prayer with Masses on TV or online or by praying a Service of the Word at home. It is also a time to pray by discovering or rediscovering devotions such as the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Stations of the Cross, and Litanies. Please use and share these resources for your own prayer, devotion, and formation at home. Unless otherwise stated, resources on Facebook can be found on Fr. Matthew’s Facebook page and resources on YouTube can be found on his YouTube Channel. Please “Like”/”Subscribe” to receive new content as it is created.
Stations of the Cross
Scripture-based reflections (link to YouTube video)
Divine Mercy Novena
Novena Prayers (pdf, links offsite to EWTN)
An Act of Contrition
(shared by Bishop Malesic in his April 4 Letter):
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, Who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.
The Act of Spiritual Communion of St. Alphonsus Liguori
(shared by Bishop Malesic in his April 4 Letter):
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Encountering Jesus in the Bible
The Bible
The New American Bible (on the USCCB Website) – This is the translation of the Bible that we hear at Mass.
USCCB Resources Page for the Sunday of the Word of God
Papal/Conciliar Documents about the Bible
Aperuit Illis (2019) – Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter instituting the Sunday of the Word of God.
Verbum Domini (2010) – Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation following the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God
Dei Verbum (1965) – Second Vatican Council’s Apostolic Constitution on Divine Revelation
Divino Afflante Spiritu (1946) – Pope Pius XII’s Encyclical Letter promoting scholarly Biblical studies.
Providentissimus Deus (1893) – Pope Leo XIII’s Encyclical Letter on the reading and study of Holy Scripture
Faith Formation
Parent Resource Newsletters from National Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (link offsite) — these Newsletters complement the formation that the children in the Good Shepherd Catechesis program receive. They also help parents to have a greater understanding of the methods of CGS.