Archbishop Cordileone urges fasting, prayer 'to redouble spiritual efforts'

Aug. 14, 2020
Catholic San Francisco
Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone is exhorting the faithful with assistance of their priests to engage in focused prayer and penance during the difficult conditions that the coronavirus has caused.

“It is my conviction that, with all that is going on in our society at this time, we need to redouble our efforts on the spiritual level,” the archbishop said.

Archbishop Cordileone has also called his flock “to reclaim an authentic and serious spirit of fasting. I am asking you to join me in observing Friday as a day of fast (unless your health condition cannot allow for it): Please abstain from at least one meal on Fridays, and more than one if possible.”

“Let us storm heaven with prayer and fasting for a restoration of public worship unhindered, for a swift end to this pandemic, for health care workers and researchers, and for government officials who must make very complicated decisions for the overall well-being of our communities,” he said in a July 30 memo to priests.

Visit sfarch.org/prayers for prayers and resources. Follow the archdiocesan social media channels for regular prayer opportunities and fasting reminders.