A new prayer guide has been produced to help support healthcare workers as they tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
Developed by online prayer resource Pray As You Go, the Healing Hands guide aims to encourage and support doctors, nurses and health care professionals to pray as they face the daily challenges of working amidst the current pandemic.
The guide consists of two sessions: one for preparation before a shift and another as a reflective prayer to look back over a day or shift (also known as an Examen).
Producer of Pray As You Go, Emma Holland told Premier that the company's other prayer plans have been a source of encouragement to many in the health service and she was inspired to develop a tailored resource to help them as much as possible during the crisis.
"We really hope that this will help them on their way to a shift, to settle their minds and reflect with God on where they're going and how they're going to be helping people that day.
"And similarly, to reflect and look back, to see where God was at work through the difficult times and through the lighter moments as well," she said.
Written by Christian doctor, Father Paul O'Reilly SJ, the resources combine his experiences of both medical life and his Catholic faith to produce a short burst of prayer and reflection for those working in the health care system.
"I created these prayer guides simply based on the way I pray as I go to and from my work as a GP for homeless people in Central London. What I offer here is not any form of guidance, consensus statement, established protocol, expert advice or, least of all, an example of good practice.
"It is simply how I pray as I go to and from the work I offer to the Lord. It helps me and I shall be delighted if it helps you," O'Reilly SJ said.
Pray As You Go provides a range of online materials in ten different languages to help people establish a time of prayer and spiritual reflection amidst the business of life.
Holland told Premier: "Prayer can really transform your day - It can transform how we perceive the small moments, the big moments, and to know God's presence with us and to focus on God's activity in our day to day life."