Prayer in the time of pandemic

The guest speaker of the 52 nd International Eucharistic Congress, to be held in Budapest this fall, Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana has been hospitalized at the Accra Ga East Municipal Hospital’s Infectious Disease Centre on account of contracting the coronavirus disease.
In a video message that was recorded in the hospital garden the Archbishop said:“(…) I thought of sending this message to all of my beloved ones to let them know: I have already survived the pandemic for five days, therefore I encourage everybody, who is depressed: do not be afraid, because, yes, COVID-19 is real, but if we do our best, healing is also equally real.”
The Ghanaian Archbishop, still being on the way to recovery in hospital, advised the citizens of the West African country to make every effort to religiously follow the health protocols, since this pandemic is real. “In unity of common focus and purpose we can overcome the pandemic.” – He emphasized.
“Lord helps those who help themselves” – as Charles Palmer-Buckle underlined the importance of observing the rules required by the authorities.
Furthermore, the IEC guest speaker outlined the value of respecting and adopting the so-called three Ps’ guidance, “Prayer, Protocol, Prayer” so as to curb the virus from spreading further.

Palmer-Buckle urged the citizens to proceed with supporting the health staff and doctors with their prayers. “Let’s keep on going with our prayers, thanking God for the doctors, the nurses, and the frontline workers for the great job they have been doing. (…) All of them are absolutely stretched out and stressed, and badly need our prayerful support, love and concern.”
On the 11 th February, the World Day of the Sick, Charles Palmer-Buckle prayed to Our Lady of Lourdes to protect and pray for all those affected, in particular for the doctors and nurses working in the front-line.
The many rumours and misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic that have gone viral around the African countries, have also been touched on by the Archbishop. Even BBC News Africa has started a strong fight against such fake news.

Source: cruxnow, graphic, catholicleader, ghanaweb, YouTube
Photo: IEC