Prayers for Times of Pestilence
Protection against the epidemic by the Miraculous Medal
While in 1832 the first Miraculous Medals were being produced, Paris was hit by a terrible cholera epidemic that claimed more than 20,000 lives.
In June, the Daughters of Charity started to distribute the first 2,000 medals, especially to infected people who filled the hospitals.
The healings increased, also the special protection against the disease and the healing in emotional distress. It was overwhelming. The population of Paris began to call the medal „miraculous”.
Prayer to our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in special need
Immaculate, Holy Virgin Mary, beloved daughter of the Father, Mother of the Son and Bride of the Holy Spirit! Through the revelation of the Miraculous Medal, you have shown yourself as the Mediatrix of all graces. We thank God from our hearts that He has given you to us as Mother, intercessor and helper in all our needs. With confidence, I take refuge in you in all my needs of body and soul, especially in this special request ... You gave me your Miraculous Medal in which you stretch your motherly arms towards me. Your mother’s hands offer me all the graces for time and eternity that I need, to get to you and your Divine Son in the heavenly kingdom. I trustingly lift up my hands to you to receive all these graces. Also, I thank you for all the graces you have already given me. Help me to keep all the graces faithfully and always eagerly cooperate with them. Amen. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.
Prayer to St. Joseph
To thee, O Blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our tribulations, and while imploring the aid of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. By that love which united thee to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection with which thou didst embrace the Infant Jesus, we humbly beseech thee graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His Blood and to help us in our necessities by thy powerful intercession.
Protect, O most provident guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen children of Jesus Christ; ward off from us, O most loving father, all taint of error and corruption; graciously assist us from Heaven, O most powerful protector, in our struggle with the powers of darkness; and as thou didst once rescue the Child Jesus from imminent peril to His life, so now defend the Holy Church of God from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us with thy unceasing patronage that, imitating thy example and supported by thine aid, we may be enabled to live a good life, die a holy death, and secure everlasting happiness in Heaven. Amen.
Prayers from the Mass for Times of Pestilence
Collect:
O God, who desirest not the death but the repentane of sinners, mercifully look upon Thy people who return to Thee: and grant that they, being devoted to Thee, may by Thy mercy bedelivered from the scoures of Thy anger. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.
Secret:
Let the sacrifice which we now offer assist us, O Lord; may it effectually absolve us from all sin and deliver us from ruin and destruction. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.
Postcommunion:
Hear us, O God of our salvation, and deliver Thy people from the terrors of Thy anger, and make them secure by the bountifulness of Thy mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.
