Prayer of Cardinal Péter Erdő in Times of Epidemy

Cardinal Péter Erdő, Primate of Hungary, while expressing his compassion and togetherness to those suffering from coronavirus infection in Hungary and abroad, and urging everyone to be cautious and do everything in their power to prevent the spreading of the disease, has asked the faithful to recite the following prayer.

Lord Almighty, God of our Fathers!

We are grateful to you for this world, where you made human life possible. We are grateful for the richness and marvellous rules of nature. We are grateful that we have prevailed against devastating forces and we are able to gain newer and newer insights about the world and ourselves.

We thank you for being able to fight for our place in the world and a better and more meaningful life. But most importantly, we thank you for inviting us to an eternal life and for opening us the way to everlasting joy through the redeeming death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

When we are stricken by natural disasters, against which we have not found unfailing protection on our own yet, we experience that our life is ultimately in your hands.

We humbly ask you to help scientist to find a cure for this current disease swiftly! Give keen insight to the leaders of society, so they can stem the spreading of the infection with appropriate action, help prevent and combat the disease and deliver efficient tools to those in need. Grant mercy and eternal peace to those who passed away in the disease, grant recovery to the sick and grant strength and blessing to the doctors and health care workers for bravely standing their ground. Strengthen our faith, trust and compassionate love so we can provide all spiritual and material help to our sick brothers and sisters and grieving or worried family members. Let us contribute to the prevention of the spreading of this disease with our responsible behaviour.

Our Lord, forgive all our sins, which we have committed by thought, word, deed or omission.

One God in Trinity, have mercy on us!

Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick, pray for us!

Amen!