Archbishop Aymond calls for Day of Prayer and Fasting

The Holy Family went through a lot of trials and tribulations. A few of those trials are mentioned in Scripture, but most of them are not recorded. We can only imagine what they went through. We know that Mary and Joseph had to discern what was going on when Mary became the mother of the Messiah through the Holy Spirit. We know that Herod was looking to kill Jesus; we remember that Jesus got lost in the temple. Mary also had the suffering of being with her Son during the time of his passion and then standing at the foot of his cross, seeing her Son take his last breath.

The Holy Family had many trials and tribulations – not the coronavirus – but as we look at their life and we find strength in them, we have the strength to deal with our own issues, whatever they may be. That includes the challenges we find ourselves in at this time of the virus. 
    

What message are you sending to the priests, deacons, religious and the laity of the Archdiocese of New Orleans?
    

I’ve been very gratified and impressed by the number of people who have said to me and to others, “I hunger for the Eucharist. I really miss Mass. I miss going to Communion.” I can well understand that. We are so used to receiving Christ in the Eucharist. But let us also remember that it is our sacrifice for right now. It’s an opportunity for us to remember that there are some people in the mission parts of the world who receive Communion a couple of times a year or maybe once a month. We unite with them in their cross as they hunger for Christ.

Also, this is an opportunity to say the Prayer for Spiritual Communion, which is on our website ( nolacatholic.org). It’s a very beautiful prayer in which we are telling Jesus we want to receive him but we can’t, and so we desire to receive him and desire for him to take up a dwelling place in our hearts. 
    

You have called for a Day of Prayer and Fasting in the archdiocese on Friday, March 27.
    

In a time of crisis, it’s important that we turn to the Lord. Obviously, the real prayer at this point is, “Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit. Lord, I place myself in your hands. Tell me how to walk, tell me how to move, tell me how to move forward.”

 

It is a time of trust. In those times of trust, Jesus has told us that certain things can be dealt with only by prayer and fasting. I’ve called for a day of fasting on March 27. I am asking us all of us to spend a bit more time in prayer, not only for our own personal needs but also to embrace the challenge of the coronavirus and to pray for all the challenges it has brought and will continue to bring for us. I’m also asking for us to fast. It can be fasting from food, it can be fasting from technology, from social media, it can be fasting from going out with someone.

Whatever it is, it’s an opportunity for us to sacrifice and to be able to say, “As I hunger for food, Lord, I really hunger for you more than for the food. I really hunger for you more than for social media.” It’s an opportunity for prayer and fasting, and I beg you to join me in that prayer and fasting on that Friday.
    

What do you hope to tell people who are anxious about the unknown?

    

This is an opportunity to tell God, “I really have no power. I don’t know how this started. I don’t know how this is going to end. And, so, I come before you. I place myself in your hands, and I trust you. I don’t know how it’s going to play out, but I trust you.” Also, it’s an opportunity for you to say, “Lord, thank you for my belief; help my unbelief.” I think all of us at this time struggle with belief – what’s going to happen, all the unanswered questions. So it is an opportunity to say, “Lord, I thank you for my belief, but help my unbelief.”
  

Archbishop Gregory Aymond can be reached at [email protected].