‘Wash & Pray’ – a new daily habit to lift all spirits

Photo - Louise Coghlan with her grandmother, Nancy Stewart, who is 106 years of age and lives in Clonard.

Louise Coghlan was standing at her one 106-year-old granny’s sink when a thought struck her.

She was in the middle of washing her hands as has now become the most important action we make given the threat of COVID-19.

An idea came to her as she scrubbed her hands and making sure she was spending enough time doing it.

The idea was that instead of singing Happy Birthday while we wash our hands (as has been suggested to make the 20 seconds health experts recommend), we say a prayer instead.

Louise said: “I was thinking maybe we could be doing something extra special while we are washing our hands.

“If we said a Hail Mary or two at the sink, we would be helping ourselves by the act of washing our hands, and we would be helping someone else by offering our prayers for someone who might need one right at this moment.”

Louise said it would be an ideal opportunity to include children in this practice and it might instil less fear in them about COVID-19 but a symbol of hope, faith and love while washing their little hands.

Louise added: “ Lots of children know their prayers better than most of us adults really, so it would be no problem for them to say it.

“Also a lot of children were looking forward to receiving their First Holy Communion and making their Confirmations, so it would be a nice tie-in with what was meant to be a special time of year for them.

“Children are amazing. Once you lead them with something like this, they will not only take it on but they will embrace it in a way only a beautiful young child can.”

Louise works for ‘Third Age’, which is based in Summerhill, County Meath.

She also is the granddaughter of the well-known 106-year-old Nancy Stewart of Clonard, who is approaching COVID-19 with the same calming mentality as her granddaughter.

In a recent Facebook video (with more than 400,000 views), Nancy advised people “not to get stressed and worried about this virus”.

“Just do the right thing. Stay calm and stay at home, wash your hands well and trust in God that everything will be alright.

“I am saying lots of prayers for everyone and once we keep our faith that everything will be alright, I’m sure it will be.”

Louise’s idea of saying a Hail Mary or two when you wash your hands is an opportunity to bring a little bit of faith back into the home and into your life.

She believes that it might help calm nerves, and says it can’t be a bad habit to start in such a worrying time.

“By saying a prayer while you are washing your hands, it’s a win-win,” said Louise.

“You are washing your hands to keep yourself safe and by saying a prayer, you are doing good for someone else.

“Your first washing of your hands in the morning could be for the doctors; the second time could be for nurses; the third time for people who have COVID-19 or who are worried that they have it.

“The fourth prayer could be for people who are lonely and isolated in their houses, and so on for the whole day ahead.

“Children love a story behind an action. And children are amazing for creating love and kindness in this manner, the washing of your hands along with the prayer could be the structure to let their hearts bloom.

“Also, it adds a different dimension to washing their little hands and it would be good for their brains and their emotions.

“Prayer is a meditative approach to repeating words that have such a lovely meaning behind them. And also it allows children to attach something doubly positive to the habit of washing their hands.

“They are protecting themselves but they are also sending good energy and thoughts for someone else.”

Louise’s idea has gained traction on social media and people are beginning to include it in their daily lives.