Christ Crowned by Carl Heinrich Bloch
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Numbers 21:4-9
I was pondering the first reading from today March 31, 2020, known as the serpent on the staff. Of course we all know this is a prefigurement of Christ on the Cross. And it got me thinking about the situation with the Corona Virus or Covid19 today. In this story we see the Israelites rebelling against God and it is that rebellion that brings their demise. The Lord saves them by having them stare at the very thing that bit them. I believe we are in a similar situation. Time and again the further we remove ourselves from God, the more we bring down destruction upon ourselves and even the innocent get lost.
As I was pondering this, it occured to me that what saved them can save us too. An action asked of them by God. In Moses’ obedience to God the people were saved. It is in our obedience that Christ saves us too. In obedience to the will of God, the Saints have always meditated on His Passion and parts of His Passion. It is in His Passion and death we get drawn into His heart and understand the depths of His love for us. His love heals. Perhaps if we meditate on the part of His passion where He endured a crown, like we are now, His Crown of Thorns, and look at it He will draw us closer and we will know who saves us. I began to search to see if there was a devotion to the Crown of Thorns, a devotion that could perhaps, by our meditating upon it, save us from this wretched disease by drawing us closer to Him.
It turns out there is a devotion to the Crown of Thorns. A devotion written in 1876 by a Passionist Father. I decided with the help of my friend Ashley Blackburn to write a prayer in the hopes that the Lord would hear our pleas.
A Prayer against Corona Virus Disease to be said while meditating on the Crown of Thorns.
O Lord Jesus, hear us as we cry out to you. We have turned away from your Holy Face. We have separated ourselves from You by sinning against you. Just as the Israelites complained against God in the desert and were bitten by the seraph serpents, we ask you save us as they were saved.
Lord, we are being plagued by the Coronavirus, the “crown” disease that steals our breath; the very breath that you gave us and that sustains our life. O Lord Jesus Christ, you suffered the Crown of Thorns during your passion and death on the cross, we implore you to protect and heal anyone who looks upon your Crown of Thorns so that they may be made pure of heart. May your Suffering Crown be lifted up at this time, may your Holy Spirit come into our hearts to convict us of our sins, so that we may, with contrite hearts, seek your forgiveness and mercy. Restore us to a place of piety. Hide not your merciful heart from us.
Heavenly Father, renew our spirit and fill us with the breath of your Holy Spirit. Help us belong to what is above. We ask that anyone who meditates upon your Crown of Thorns and looks upon the suffering you endured for us be protected and healed from the effects of this disease and be reconciled to your most Sacred Heart. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Veil of Veronica 
Litany to the Sacred Head of Jesus :
(This was composed in France and has been in widespread use since 1937)
Lord have mercy on us
Lord have mercy on us
Christ have mercy on us
Christ have mercy on us
Lord have mercy on us
Lord have mercy on us
Christ hear us
have mercy on us
God the Father of heaven
have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world
have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit
have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, One God
have mercy on us
Sacred Head of Jesus
Formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Substantially united to the Word of God
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Temple of Divine Wisdom
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Hearth of eternal clarities
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Sanctuary of infinite intelligence
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Providence against error
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Sun of heaven and earth
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Treasure of science and pledge of faith
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Beaming with beauty, justice and love
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Full of grace and truth
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Living lesson of humility
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Reflection of God’s infinite majesty
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Object of the delights of the heavenly Father
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who received the caresses of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
On whom the Holy Spirit reposed
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who allowed a reflection of Thy Glory to shine on Tabor
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who had no place on earth to lay
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
To whom the perfumed ointment of Magdalen was pleasing
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who deigned to tell Simon that he did not anoint Thy Head when Thou entered his house
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Bathed in a sweat of blood in Gethsemane
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who wept over our sins
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Crowned with thorns
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Disgracefully outraged during the passion
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Consoled by the loving gesture of Veronica
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Which thou inclined towards the earth at the moment Thou saved us by the separation of Thy Soul from Thy Body on the cross
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Light of every man coming into this world
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Our Guide and our Hope
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who knows all our needs
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who dispenses all graces
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who directs the movements of the Divine Heart
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who governs the world
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who will judge all our actions
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who knows the secrets of our hearts
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
That we want to make known and adored by the whole world
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
Who ravishes the angels and the saints
Guide me in all my ways
Sacred Head of Jesus
That we hope to contemplate one day, unveiled
Guide me in all my ways
– I adore Thy Sacred Head , oh Jesus,
– And I submit myself to all the decrees of Thine infinite Wisdom.
Let us pray
Oh Jesus, Who deigned to reveal to Thy servant Teresa Higginson Thine immense desire to see Thy Sacred Head adored, grant me the joy to make it known and honoured; let fall on my soul a ray of Thy light, in order that I may advance from clarity to clarity, conducted by Thine adorable Wisdom to the recompense promised to Thine elect. Amen.
beautiful
When He is lifted up….He will draw all things unto Himself !
Lord Jesus … draw us into Your Glorious Cross ! Hold us ! Heal us ! Seal us !
By the Sign of His Cross He has conquered death and all illness, including this Corona Virus !
Christus Vincit ! Christus Regnat ! Christus, Christus Imperat !
Behold the Cross of Jesus Christ ! Be gone you enemy powers because the Lion of the Tribe of Judah has conquered !
FYI : a priest in France sent me this news item today. Belong is the link. We are being asked by Our Lady to place the Sign of the Cross upon our homes and upon ourselves with holy oil. This is per the apparition of Our Lady last Sunday at a convent in Syria :
https://dimpenews.com/2020/03/30/thus-you-will-be-saved-by-the-pandemic-the-orders-of-the-virgin-for-the-elimination-of-the-covid-19-her-miraculous-appearance-to-a-nun-of-lady-saidnayas-covent-in-syria/
We were asked to place the Image of Divine Mercy on our doors. I did that and when I did I blessed the doorpost with Holy Oil. I will take a look at your article. Hope you’re well Lucy. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot3tVMXnOzI&feature=share
I also put the Image of Divine Mercy on my front door and then was “inspired” to add the Image of the Holy Face from the Shroud of Turin right under it. Since the stay-at-home, more people are out walking so more people can gaze at them. “In contemplating Christ’s face we become open to receiving the mystery of Trinitarian life, experiencing ever anew the love of the Father and delighting in the joy of the Holy Spirit.” (Rosarium Virginis Mariae
Since the churches are closed, the Good Shepherd must go out looking for His lost sheep (children). May none be lost.
Beautiful
BEAUTIFUL, SUSAN AND ASHLEY!!
Thank you
By His Wounds…. ours are healed….by Her sorrows ….they are revealed !
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us and help us to meditate deeply on the Fourth Sorrow today, using the words given to Luisa Piccarretta:
“Oh, pang of your two Hearts! The soldiers notice it, and with blows and shoving prevent Mama and Son from exchanging the last good-bye. The torment of both is such that your Mama remains petrified by the pain, and is about to die. Faithful John and the pious women sustain Her, while You fall again under the Cross. Then, your sorrowful Mama does with Her soul that which She cannot do with Her Body, because She is prevented: She enters into You, makes the Will of the Eternal One Her own, and associating Herself in all your pains, performs the office of your Mother, kisses You, repairs You, soothes You, and pours the balm of Her sorrowful love into all your wounds!”
Pere Eternel, par les larmes et les douleurs de la Vierge Marie, unis a la Passion de Jesus Christ, prends pitie de nous et du monde entier.
Amen.
Thank you so much for this blog. It is a wonderful companion during the lockdown. It lifts me and I have shared it with family & friends. Your thoughts & prayer for the corona virus are powerful. May God bless and keep you all
Thank you. May God Bless you and keep you safe.
Amen