There is something unreal about the sense of chaos now enveloping almost the entire world over Coronavirus, COVID-19, a sense of doom and anxiety is etched on the faces of those who still walk the streets, the media talks of nothing else and why would they? They seem to relish this kind of event.
Everything is out of control, the world is entering turmoil over a disease. For us Catholics, this is a reality check, as we are plunged suddenly into a more intense spiritual struggle than we have hitherto perhaps ever experienced.
Firstly, we are confronted with death and judgement. Well, we are, if we are Catholic and have a Catholic understanding that upon our death our souls will undergo our private judgement in the light of God Himself.
Suddenly, all our personal hopes, dreams, ambitions are being placed at the back of our minds as we contemplate just how close we could be to imminent death. This should spur us on to place ourselves at the foot of the Cross, implore God's mercy, seek the Sacraments of forgiveness and healing and desire God in prayer.
It should move us to be reconciled to others we have offended or been offended by, to forgive our enemies, to love God and our neighbour and to live in God's grace. It should move us to live a deeper Lent than we had anticipated.
In a way, it is liberating to have a different plague to confront other than Pope Francis and his hireling Bishops. Many of these men have switched the lights off in the churches and shut up shop, leaving Catholics who long for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, for our Eucharistic Lord, for the sight of statues of Our Blessed Lady and the Saints, the Sanctuary Lamp, the Tabernacle, for the Confessional light switching from red to green.
Millions of Catholics have been abandoned by Bishops precisely at our hour of deepest spiritual need. The supermarkets remain open for food for the body, but public Mass has been suppressed by Bishops, starving the Flock of Christ of food for the soul. It is unfathomable, if in purely human terms, understandable.
The Bridegroom has been taken away from the Bride, the Eucharistic Lord from many of the Faithful, in circumstances that can only feel apocalyptic. Bewildered by the present, two thoughts pass through my mind as if along parallel lines.
What if I die during this outbreak?
What if I live through this outbreak?
I look at life now through the prism of death, the end of earthly existence, fear of judgement and hope of eternity, I look at death through the prism of continuing life, one which involves complete uncertainty and fear about what could emerge from a crisis like this. Like all Catholics, in all of this, I have nowhere to turn but to God, Who alone has every right to my complete trust.
Bishops have abandoned the Faithful. God is faithful. What will emerge from this crisis? We do not know for certain but many imagine the worst. Death by virus? God is faithful. Death by vaccine? God is faithful. Communism? God is faithful. World Government? God is faithful. The Antichrist? God is faithful. Mass apostasy? God is faithful. The UN taking over our cities? God is faithful. Microchipping of the human race? God is faithful. All my conspiracy theories becoming true? God is faithful. Evil being paraded triumphant in the Vatican? God is faithful. Freemasonry lauding it over the Church on Earth? God is faithful. Camps for those who dissent from the edicts of a ruthless dictatorship? God is faithful. Imprisonment? God is faithful. Poverty, penury, pain, destitution? God is faithful? Death at the hands of the wicked? God is faithful.
God is faithful.
Whatever emerges from this, we know now that we can take nothing with us on our journey to eternity and what we have stored here is mostly rubbish. Apart from toilet roll. Toilet roll is useful.
God is faithful and all of his judgements and commandments and His promises are to be trusted. Jesus Christ is truly Saviour, Jesus Christ is truly Lord and King of Heaven and Earth, He has no rival, He is with us in life, He is with us in death, His victory is assured, and He will crown those who trust in Him, who turn to Him and turn away from sin, seeking His mercy and His love.
Jesus, Son of God, Sovereign Lord and Divine Bridegroom, look down from Your Heavenly Throne and have pity and mercy on me, a poor and wretched sinner. Spare me, O just God.
Have mercy on us, O Lord.
Spare us, O just God!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Brilliant as usual Laurence. I think I shall make a point of reading it each morning before looking at the news in these dark days. It will help to lift me up. Thank you. (And I enjoyed your touch of humour about the toilet rolls.)
ReplyDeleteAbortion, available (*)
ReplyDeleteHoly Communion, unavailable.
(*) Caveat, BPAS' current statement to "patients":
"If you have a NEW cough and or a high temperature (above 37.8 degrees) you must self isolate for 7 days. If your appointment with us is within your 7 day isolation period, please call us to rebook."
Rebook. Utterly chilling.
Many of the Desert Fathers lived for years on end in isolation so as to enable them to be as close to God as they could. Consequently, some of them attended public worship rarely. Among some monasteries it was and is the practice to live in a hut or cave and come together just once a week. We will need to become more conscientious about our individual prayer lives. Going to Mass can become a routine and substitute for developing our relationship with the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity. If we use this time as an opportunity given to us by God, then we will appreciate the Living Body and Blood of Christ when it becomes available once more.
ReplyDeleteGod is telling us something through this trial. There are also a lot of people who need our prayers. As Christians, we do not need to panic. If God wants us to die of this illness, then we need to accept that.
Thank you. Inspirational, moving, prayerful. Thank you
ReplyDeleteGood article, still is another one which is ignoring the main reality of our times, just like in the days of Noah: the end times, which Our Lady and Jesus so many times warned and instructed us. St Louis de Montfort was named by God as the 'first apostle of the end times', a period where the synagogue of satan has gradually been building a global dictatorship. Not muslims, not atheists or liberalists,but the apostate Jews of the synagogue of satan! Ecclesiastical freemason Bergoglio inaugurated the 'great apostasy' in which Mary prophecized in La Salette, but who pays attention? Just a tiny few, so without the lenses of these end times most Catholics will not comprehend all that is happening. B16 revealed in 2013 that it was God who told him to resign, so for those who understand signs of times and are knowledgable of prophecies, understand the reason behind God's request: to allow the last biblical prophecies to be fulfilled otherwise God cannot bring His ultimate Justice to an abominable world. Look how the great majority of Catholics cannot discern who Bergoglio really is - soon these same Catholics will not discern who the antichrist really is!! This pandemic is a natural consequence of what has been happening in the Church, since what happens in Jesus Church is reflected in the world. Our world always kept its balance and harmony because the many Eucharists celebrated around the world in different time scales made sure that Jesus was always present on earth. You take the Sacrifice of the Eucharist from the world and logically the world will plunge into darkness; With the Real Presence suppressed, with the 'pleasant sacrifice' gone [and this is part of prophecy], it is logical that diabolical forces will fill the gap...This pandemic is a warning from God that cathokics should get prepared spiritually for tge very last battle on this world as we know it!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're an interesting person Laurence. You're a working man, but your insights and perspective soar. You just wrote something so relatable. We all feel the same way, are thinking the same things. Both living and dying now have their own reasons for trepidation. For us, limiting exposure to news is a better idea, and increasing prayer and scripture, a definite. Here in the states, this all really kicked off Ash Wednesday, when the president made an announcement to the American people. Look at the timing of that, Ash Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteThis Lent is like no other, and now we must spend it without the Holy Mass and sacraments. But what signs abound, that this is all providence! Notre Dame. Bergoglio, perhaps the False Prophet, breaking the First Commandment with a demon idol on Vatican ground. Pestilence followed, one that affects the world. Now earthquakes in America, one that just knocked the trumpet off the "Angel Moroni" on the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. Even CNN is talking about it.
Sorry for the long comment, but, our online Catholic friends are even more dear to us than before, and it is helpful to be in communication with others. God bless you and all!
Catholic must know Dogma > Ripped from your soul.
ReplyDeleteIf you're at all interested in knowing ... the Catholic Dogma ... that we *must believe* to
get to Heaven, and which you have *never* seen ...
I list it on my website > > www.Gods-Catholic-Dogma.com
And no ... the anti-Christ vatican-2 heretic cult (founded in 1965) is not the Catholic Church (founded in 33 A.D.).
There are over 200 heresies against Catholic Dogma ... in the "vatican-2 council" documents ...50 listed on Section 12 (followed by Catholic corections) > www.Gods-Catholic-Dogma.com/section_12.html
Being outside ... the Catholic Church in any heresy ... leaves one with no chance of getting to Heaven.
Physical participation in a heretic cult (vatican-2, lutheran, evangelical, etc) ... automatically excommunicates you from the Catholic Church (that is, Christianity) > www.Gods-Catholic-Dogma.com/section_13.2.2.html
Mandatory ... Abjuration of heresy to enter the Catholic Church > www.Gods-Catholic-Dogma.com/section_40.html
Dogma that one must Abjure to leave the vatican-2 heretic cult and enter the Catholic Church > www.Gods-Catholic-Dogma.com/section_40.1.html
The BIBLE says ... 15 TIMES ... it is not the authority on Faith,
the BIBLE says the Church in it's Dogma and Doctrine ... is the authority on Faith and the definition of the Catholic Faith ... www.Gods-Catholic-Dogma.com/section_6.html
The Catholic God knows ... what we think and believe ...
Catholic writing of Romans 1:21 >
"They ... became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened."
Catholic Faith (pre-fulfillment) writing of Deuteronomy 31:21 >
"For I know their thoughts, and what they are about to do this day."
Catholic Faith (pre-fulfillment) writing of Job 21:27 >
"Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against Me."
Regards – Victoria