Cardinal Newman’s support prayer works as a peoples’ prayer for the pandemic

It embraces our whole day in a loving way – in just six ‘accessible’ short lines.

This prayer does an outstanding job in connecting us ‘down here’ in a human, practical, every day way with our maker ‘up there’.

It was a big help, still is, to us in our family’s Covid-19 loss. So I know it will help families with a loved one, felled by Covid. They need ‘Support all the day long’. It will help too those lonely, in hospital, nursing homes at this time.

Will also help the many Northern Ireland folk with jobs felled by the pandemic. The words are:

May the Lord support us all the day long

Till the shadows lengthen and the evening comes

And the busy world is hushed

And the fever of life is over

And our work is done

Then in thy mercy grant us safe lodgings, holy rest, and peace at last

The prayer is not ‘owned’ by any religion. It is popular in England, Cardinal Newman being an Englishman. Also the US. Now becoming popular here too, likely because of the pandemic.

Indeed it was said twice during the pandemic daily religious service (broadcast mornings, 1030, RTE News Now). And also during Detective Garda Colm Horkan’s funeral service.

Tom Bradley, Londonderry

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