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Spiritual Resources

Our Response in Faith

 

Mass

  • Daily Mass from St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica in Toronto. Available through livestream: Monday to Saturday at 12:10 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m. (Eastern Time). Videos are archived for your convenience.

  • Several parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto livestream Mass on Sundays and/or weekdays.

  • The Book of Exodus and Why Coming Back to Mass Matters: In this article, Bishop Robert Barron invites us to look at the Book of Exodus, notably the importance placed on the liturgical and ceremonial laws. He invites us to examine the role that correct liturgical worship has in our growth in holiness, even, and perhaps in a particular way, during this time of COVID-19.

 

Spiritual Communion

Spiritual Communion is a way to be united with Christ when we cannot physically receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. It can be made at home or in church, in front of the Blessed Sacrament or not.

How do I do it?

  1. Start with the sign of the cross and prayer.

  2. Read and reflect on the readings from Mass that day.

  3. Have a real desire to be united with Christ.

  4. Acknowledge your sins and ask for pardon and forgiveness.

  5. Receive Christ in your soul and pray an act of Spiritual Communion (see below).

  6. Offer thanksgiving.

St. Alphonsus Liguori's Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

 

Prayer

  • Take some time every day to read and pray with the Scripture from the Mass of the day. This helps us stay connected to the life of the Church.

  • You can pray with Scripture using a traditional prayer known as Lectio Divina.

  • The Liturgy of the Hours is a way to pray the Psalms while also marking and consecrating time.  It allows us to pray in common, even when we cannot be physically together.  In fact, it is called the Prayer of the Church.

    • Universalis is a free online Liturgy of the Hours resource. Keep in mind that the free version uses the company's translation so it might be a bit different than the standard translation in a hard copy of the Liturgy of the Hours. Also, make sure you set your location to Canada. After that, all you need to do is pick your hour on the left sidebar and start praying!

    • ibreviary is an app and website that provides the daily prayers for the Liturgy of the Hours.

    • Video Guide: How to Pray the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Prayer In Time of COVID - Download prayer graphic
    by Bishop Robert Kasun, CSB, Auxiliary Bishop, Central Region, Archdiocese of Toronto

    Gracious God, you who are the author of all life, and who desire the well-being of all people,
    during these dark days of COVID-19, increase in us, respect and reverence for all human life.

    Grant restored health to the sick,
    comfort and hope to the dying,
    eternal peace for those who have died,
    strength to family members, relatives, clergy, friends and volunteers,
    renewed energy to hospital workers, PSWs, nurses and doctors,
    and perseverance to all in the health care professions.

    Grant wisdom to scientists for the development of effective and moral vaccines,
    discernment and right judgment for legislators,
    aid to the discouraged, poor and vulnerable,
    courage and justice for front-line workers and all who risk their lives for the benefit of others,
    and keep always in our minds the vision of the true common good of all the world.

    We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

  • A Prayer Amid an Epidemic by Kerry Weber.

  • Pray the Litany of Trust, a prayer composed by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia from the Sisters of Life. Ask Jesus to deliver us from the things that hold us bound and to place our trust in His promises.

  • Start your own Discipleship Quad, an online Prayer Group with free resources from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

  • Celebrating the Year of Saint Joseph: Prayers, consecration to Saint Joseph, and other resources from the Canadian Bishops to help you celebrate the Year of Saint Joseph.

  • Sacred Space COVID-19 ‘Isolation’ Retreat by Brendan McManus SJ and Jim Deeds.

 

Faith Formation

  • FORMED: Stream Catholic movies, programs, audio and books. Please contact your parish for access or enjoy a free trial for 7 days.

  • The Upper Room: Free webinars, talks, daily inspirational messages and resources from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

  • Alpha Online: Now more than ever people are seeking to have honest conversations about life and faith. Alpha can provide you with all the tools and resources you need to reach your community.

  • Word on Fire's 8 Principles of Evangelization: A free online course from Bishop Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

 

Charity and Care for Those Around Us

  • Check in on your neighbours and offer help when you can. Even though we should practice social distancing, we can still call or write emails and letters to those who are isolated or vulnerable.

  • We can pray for all of those impacted by this virus.

  • The Church depends on the generous offerings of our earthly treasure to continue the work of God. Online giving will be an important lifeline for parishes and the larger community while we are not able to attend Mass. Please consider making your Sunday offering online and continue giving to charitable causes (such as ShareLife) as you are able.

  • The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

 

For Parish Leaders

 

For Parents and Families

  • How to Pray the TV Mass from Home: Some helpful steps from the Diocese of Sioux Falls for creating a sacred space at your home.

  • Loyola Press offers developmentally suitable guides to each Sunday's Liturgy of the Word.

  • At Home with Your Faith: A day-by-day compilation of suggestions from the Archdiocese of Baltimore to help you live faith in the domestic church, your home.

  • The simplicity of Taizé Songs makes them perfect choices for children of all ages.  Find Lenten selections such as Jesus, Remember Me or Stay with Me, on your favorite music streaming service.  The Taizé Community Choir album is a good choice.

  • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA is offering a wealth of resources tailored to a child's developmental stage. These range from how to prepare a prayer table, praying with children at home, developmentally suitable scripture passages, and resources for celebrating liturgical seasons at home.

  • Elizabeth Foss offers free downloads of her Stories of Grace prayer journal for children, including a series of reflections on the parables.

  • Daniel Mitsui offers beautiful free coloring sheets, suitable for older children.

  • The Way of Christ faith formation program: During the COVID-19 quarantine, the St. Philip Institute encourages you to follow the Way of Christ. Download their small catechism for free and work through the lessons using the videos and 10-question quizzes for each lesson.

  • Articles by Dr. Joseph White, child and family psychologist and catechetical consultant for Our Sunday Visitor, concerning families and children coping with the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

For Youth

  • ProjectYM Live: A live online youth night run every Sunday night, covering a different topic each week.

  • Life Teen hosts a live event every Sunday primarily for teens. They also have a library of videos that focus on liturgy, current issues, entertainment and Church teachings with a youth audience in mind.

  • Contact John MacMullen, Associate Director for Youth Ministry at the Office of Catholic Youth, for a listing of online live engagements offered by parish youth ministries across the Archdiocese of Toronto.

  • ODB Films offers short videos and films for youth that engage various topics surrounding the Catholic faith.

 

For Those With Special Needs

 

For Those Who Lost a Loved One

 

For Health Care Workers

  • Prayers and resources from the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA).

  • The New Charter for Health Care Workers is a revision and updating of the earlier 1994 edition, also produced by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers. The work is divided into three major sections: “Procreating,” “Living,” and “Dying.” Each lays out authoritative teachings in medical ethics grounded in the traditional resources of the Church.

  • Divine Mercy: Now More Than Ever: An article that explores the relevance of the message of Divine Mercy for healthcare professionals and patients. It also provides links to the Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy, an apostolate of the Marian Fathers, and a free digital copy of the book Nursing with the Hands of Jesus: A Guide to Nurses for Divine Mercy by Marie Romagnano, MSN, RN.

 

Other Resources