Pray in May
with
Pope Francis
Pope Francis is urging us to dedicate the month of May to pray for end to the Covid-19 pandemic. May is known as “Mary’s Month,” a special time of the year when devotions are performed in honour of Our Lady, in particular Praying the Rosary.
The Holy Father has invited Catholics and 30 Marian Shrines around the world to participate in a marathon of prayer for an end to the pandemic. The National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham has been selected to start the month of prayer on 1 May.
“The initiative will involve all the Shrines of the world in a special way, so that they might encourage the faithful, families, and communities to recite the Rosary to pray for an end to the pandemic.” The Vatican
The theme – “The whole Church was fervently praying to God.” – refers to the miraculous event recounted in the Acts of the Apostles (12:1-12) when all the church prayed for Peter, who was imprisoned until God sent an angel to free him, illustrating how the Christian community comes together to pray in the face of danger and how the Lord listens and performs an unexpected miracle.
After more than a year, with the world still in the grips of the pandemic, the Pope and the Church around the world are once again leading the way in imploring God for an end to the suffering which so many people are forced to bear.
MARIAN SHRINES & DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS
May 1 Our Lady of Walsingham (England)
For all the deceased
May 2 Jesus the Saviour and Mother Mary (Nigeria)
For all those who have not been able to say goodbye to their deceased loved ones
May 3 Our Lady of Częstochowa (Poland)
For all those infected with the corona virus and all the sick
May 4 Basilica of the Annunciation (Israel)
For all expectant women and their unborn babies
May 5 Blessed Virgen del Rosario (South Korea)
For all children and adolescents
May 6 Our Lady of Aparecida (Brazil)
For all young people
May 7 Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Philippines)
For all families
May 8 Our Lady of Luján (Argentina)
For all communication workers
May 9 Holy house of Loreto (Italy)
For all seniors
May 10 Our Lady of Knock (Ireland)
For all people with disabilities
May 11 Virgin of the Poor (Belgium)
For all the poor, the homeless, and the economically distressed
May 12 Our Lady of Africa (Algeria)
For all people who live alone and those who have lost hope
May 13 Blessed Virgen del Rosario (Portugal)
For all prisoners
May 14 Our Lady of Health (India)
For all scientists and medical research institutions
May 15 Our Lady Queen of Peace (Bosnia)
For all migrants
May 16 St Mary’s Cathedral (Australia)
For all victims of violence and human trafficking
May 17 Immaculate Conception (USA)
For all world leaders and for all heads of international organizations
May 18 Our Lady of Lourdes (France)
For all doctors and nurses
May 19 Mother Mary's House (Turkey)
For all people at war and for world peace
May 20 Our Lady of Charity of Copper (Cuba)
For all pharmacists and health care personnel
May 21 Our Lady of Nagasaki (Japan)
For all social workers
May 22 Our Lady of Montserrat (Spain)
For all volunteers
May 23 Our Lady of Cap (Canada)
For all law enforcement and military personnel and for all firefighters
May 24 To be confirmed
For all those who provide essential services
May 25 Basilica of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’Pinu (Malta)
For all teachers, students and educators
May 26 Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico)
For all workers and entrepreneurs
May 27 Mother of God (Ukraine)
For all the unemployed
May 28 Black Madonna of Altötting (Germany)
For the Holy Father, bishops, presbyters, and deacons
May 29 Our Lady of Lebanon (Lebanon)
For all consecrated men and women
May 30 Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii (Italy)
For the Church
May 31 Vatican Gardens (Italy)
For the end of the pandemic and the resumption of our social and economic life
In 2020, Pope Francis wrote the new prayer below for Mary’s intercession. The prayer asks for her protection from the virus and comfort to all those who are sick from it.
“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.
In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection. Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment. Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.
Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.
Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.
Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.
Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.
Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Beloved Mother, help us realise that we are all members of one great family and to recognise the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.
Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.
To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary.
Amen.