Act of Perfect Contrition
The Bishops have asked that all should make a “Perfect Act of Contrition” at this time – expressing true and real sorrow for sins, when we consider the immense love God has for us.
Contrition is expressed when we realise how we offended God by sinful words, deeds and omissions in contrast to his immeasurable love and mercy towards us.
The text of the recommended Act of Perfect Contrition is available by clicking here.
Spiritual Holy Communion
If you are currently unable to attend Mass or receive Communion, the faithful are encouraged to join in prayer with their priests who continue to offer the sacrifice of the Mass.
The use of the Spiritual Communion Prayer –posted here on the website – unites us in intention with the priest celebrating the Mass, as well as with many others who will be offering similar prayers.
Spiritual Celebration of Mass
To help us join spiritually with Fr Martin when he celebrates Mass in St Benet’s, we publish our Schedule of Mass Times and Intentions.
To help us in our homes to participate fully in this celebration, the readings for the day’s mass are available on www.universalis.com and the prayer for use When Mass Cannot Be Said Publicly can be accessed from this link.
These sources can also be used when watching televised Mass using any of the links available further down this page.
Live Streaming of Mass from East Anglia Churches
Following government advice on Coronavirus, a number of churches in the Diocese of East Anglia are live streaming their Masses online with more joining all the time.
Live streaming is currently available from:
St Laurence’s in Cambridge at: www.saintlaurence.org.uk/live
The Catholic National Shrine at Walsingham at: www.walsingham.org.uk/live-stream
St John’s Cathedral in Norwich at: www.sjbcathedral.org.uk
Our Lady of the Assumption and the English Martyrs in Cambridge, details here.
St Luke’s Peterborough, daily at 6pm can be watched here: https://twitter.com/saintlukesbull
Fr James Caulfield at Our Lady and St Charles Borromeo in Wisbech is recording a daily Mass and making it available for broadcast at 10am each day at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRJBy3cC6dX1oSF2h5clDA Fr James has also recorded the Angelus promise and will post other prayers such as the stations of the cross over the next few days.
Our Lady Star of the Sea in Lowestoft has created a Facebook group to live stream Masses, music and prayers to his parishioners and is also providing audio recordings, audio bidding prayers and PDFs of liturgy through its website https://www.ourladylowestoft.com
You can join the Lowestoft parish Facebook group through the link www.facebook.com/groups/ourladylowestoft
The Parish of Brandon and Mildenhall, under priest Fr Luke Goymour is live streaming a daily Mass Monday – Saturday at 10am and Sunday Mass at 11am via its Facebook Page
St Edmunds Church in Bury St Edmunds is live streaming Masses on its YouTube channel
Prayer
Above all, please remember that the church is a place in which the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, signifying the Real Presence of Our Lord – in a privileged way – whenever and wherever His commands are carried out.
We could also be guided by some of the printed material in this section of the website
But the very existence of the church itself is enough to remind us of the truths of our faith, represented in the Cross – the Crucifix and the People associated with Our Lord’s self-offering and Risen Life.
And when we think of “Prayer”, we think of the parishioners, past and present, for whom we are asked to pray each week.
We especially remember those who have requested that we pray with them, for their Private Intentions. At this time of national crisis we also bring to mind those directly affected by the Coronavirus – as well as those engaged in the fight against it.
St. Benet's Minster Catholic Church, Beccles 