Faith Formation: Spiritual Hygiene - Making Prayer Part of Your Hand-washing Practice

Today’s message deals with "spiritual hygiene" as it focuses on making prayer part of your hand-washing practice.

Most of us have been washing our hands for all of our life (... and maybe extra recently). But how many of us have used this common hygienic action to receive or give forgiveness? Washing our hands could be a personal reflection to remember our covenant or it could be a time to pray over a situation in which we ask God for forgiveness. What may seem like a meaningless task can be turned into an intentional one. This could be a practice that not only cleans our hands for health reasons but can open our hearts up to receive or give forgiveness through the Holy Spirit.

In fact, earlier last week "How to hand-wash Catholic style" was the headline on an informational graphic from the Diocese of Dallas. It suggests Catholics say the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be as they follow the protocol for hand-washing being recommended around the globe as one of many ways for people to protect themselves against the coronavirus, designated COVID-19 by world health authorities. See below for the actual image!

"Clean hands are life savers ... and prayers save souls!" says the Dallas diocesan guidance on handwashing for 30 to 45 seconds.

For those Catholics who are busy and, on the go, but are still up to be cleansed, I have found the following with an modified time-frame . . .

The guidance is just part of several protocols issued by Dallas Bishop Edward J. Burns to protect the faithful from coronavirus, like his brother bishops and other church leaders in this country's nearly 200 archdioceses and dioceses.  "May we continue to observe the precautions prescribed by our public health department to protect ourselves and our brothers and sisters.  Let us also continue to pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died from this illness, for the healing of those who are ill, and for the protection of all our health care workers. He added, "We hope and pray that our medical professionals will be able to find a cure to this illness. As people of faith, we want to place this entire crisis into the hands of the Lord. It is fitting, therefore, that the universal prayer at Masses include a petition to ask God’s mercy for those who have died from the coronavirus, His healing for those suffering from it and his protection for all others against it."

Several dioceses around the word included in its memorandum on protocols several suggested prayers of the faithful at Mass:

• "For those who are suffering in the current outbreak of sickness that they might be healed, and for the happy repose of all who have died from this sickness in recent weeks; let us pray to the Lord." 
• "For scientists, health professionals, public officials, and all who are serving the common good in this difficult and uncertain time, that they will be filled with wisdom and understanding; let us pray to the Lord."
• "That in times of illness our merciful and loving Father will strengthen our faith and trust in his goodness and divine providence; let us pray to the Lord."
• "That our compassionate Father would touch all affected by the current outbreak with healing and peace; let us pray to the Lord."

Please reflect on the power of prayer to cleanse the soul as we pray . . .

Lord, I need you in my own strength, but only in the power of the Holy Spirit,

who alone can take my heart and change me from the inside out

to become more and more like Jesus.

May I like Him walk in spirit and truth and help me to seek to do only those things

that are pleasing in Your sight and honoring to Your holy name.

Guide me into all truth and help me to lay aside all the hindrances of this world

that deter my pursuit of You and Your wisdom.

I ask this in the name of my precious Savior, Jesus Christ my Lord.

Amen

In closing, please take a few minutes to listen to the beautiful song “Give Us Clean Hands” by Chris Tomlin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT4Rt04In4w).Some of its lyrics follow...

“So give us clean hands and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh give us clean hands and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another”

And . . . for a little fun . . . although he missed the chance to call it “Sweet Quarantine,” Neil Diamond sings “Sweet Caroline” with updated lyric for safety during Covid-19 pandemic. Enjoy both songs and hopefully like prayer, the power of song helps cleanse your soul!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPLgsV_Ms3Q&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2oTwapfVkwK4ZRCI8DY9TZgE9KrUS9_LRPjs8_N3s4OI38wtr5oT5Wlws  - Neil Diamond - “Sweet Caroline”