For Those Missing Not Being Inside a Church

I continue to receive question from one whose priest continues, even in video Masses, to invite his parishioners to come into the Church to pray.  The person, for whom I've answered in email repeatedly, going over the common sense reasons, sharing what a cardinal advises and explains as to why this is not the time to be going into churches due to the high contagion of COVID-19, plus the high percentage the researchers are finding now can be carrying the disease and be infectious yet without symptoms.

Once again the person wrote is tempted to go in to pray this week.  I lost my patience.  It does not take much despite the full and thorough abasement of not only my body, but my mind, heart, and soul as to the reality of my sinfulness, particular flaws that are egregious and loathsome.  And yet I blasted back, finally, and repeated what previously had explained as that priest had previously even guilted parishioners that they should come in, that Jesus was all alone in the Tabernacle, waiting for them; and then another time that the priest was alone in the church, praying, and invited them to join him.

With my final blast of bluntness (aka straight-talk but super-sized), I added for Satan to get behind me, for I was already succumbing to my own temptation to frustration and enough to try to manage too much physical pain that sets me off in its own way, more than enough, ashamedly so.  (I continue to marvel at the saints I've read about who were joyful through suffering, and I feel all the more rotten and weak-willed.  Even though some maybe did not suffer for years, constantly, some of them certainly did; and all of them suffered far better than me.  Fact.)

The person was so apologetic, thinking I was referring to the person as being Satan within that I needed to get away from.  No!  I cleared that up in a quick response.  The devil is working me over; but I do need to be adamant in answering the same question of those tempted to blindly follow even a priest who either is not listening to the news or is not evolved so much in his own faith, or is, and I think likely so quite understandable, a very lonely person whose vocation as parish priest is focused on interactions with people, as much as all the time, day and night! And for a younger priest, all the more, realistically as a human being lest we forget, the spiritual life may not be matured, the level of faith in God being in us always, no matter where might not have become a practical reality despite the words of Consecration:  through Him, with Him, and in Him.  

I must always seek to perceive as even a priest would.  I have been a Catholic hermit for over 19 years and add on nearly year and a half of discerning, practicing the life.  Parish priests are not hermits; and just as I am and all of us, priests while having several years of education and practicum, they are yet souls-in-process, and to varying degrees.  They face the same temptations as the rest of us.  (And again, religious order and hermits and others in the consecrated life of the Church are as much souls-in-process, evolving, and in varying levels of degree and progress.)  

I was not able to immediately have the discipline or have faith in the grace to stay in my hermitage, in the silence of solitude without temptations and going about on errands, or creeping back out into the world. Particularly tempting to me was to continue trying to use leadership talents in temporal ways of the parish, or to be involved in parish events and loved going to numerous weekday and weekend Masses.  It has taken years of progression, and when I was not progressing as the Lord willed in my particular hermit vocation, formed by God's particular desire for me individually, the Lord would arrange circumstances in which I'd be stripped down in sometimes very sudden and drastic ways.

We can consider Jonah thrown overboard and swallowed by the whale, remaining inside the "whale's stomach" (archetype of Christ's tomb or a hermit's cell...) for three days and three nights.  So a parish priest who is struggling very much in this global pandemic requiring sheltering in place and lockdowns of entire states and nations, has a very real situation going on within himself, trying to adapt and finding it most difficult.  

Easy enough for priests, also, to confuse the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders with thinking good shepherding is asking people to come into the church to pray, ignoring doctors, scientists, and governing leaders ordering us all to stay in unless a medical appointment or necessary food need or if we work at a pandemic-necessary job, such as medical personnel and first responders, law enforcement, and just enough to stock grocery shelves, truck drivers delivering critical goods and supplies.  

Pray for priests having a hard time adapting to being alone in ways they've not ever been.  Pray for their faith and virtues of prudence and patience, wisdom and fortitude.  This is not their norm maybe even more drastically altered than for most people who have nights off, or live with spouses, etc.  But don't encourage them by going against what those who know best of this virus, tell us to do and not do.  Daily there is new research. Now we are told it can be transmitted through air, simple talking, in addition to what we learned of it staying in air and on surfaces for hours to days.  Now we are told if we must go out, to wear a mask, and in the next week or two of added danger, to not go to the grocery unless crucial. 

This morning a well-known Catholic theologian and priest, interviewed on news, reminded all of us that this time period requires not only deep faith, but also common sense.  He emphasized both needed, with oomph added to the common sense.  

The person who wrote to me once again got a grip, knows not wise to be tempted to go in to the Church to pray.  Actually quite advanced in the spiritual life and faith, love of Jesus, in tune with the Holy Spirit, it seems a lack of confidence in the gifts God has given her of such lovely spiritual progression.  We all tend to forget that our parish priests (and people of other faiths seem to be in same dilemma) are humans and have not been through this coronavirus scourge, either.  

It is a good time in this Holy Week for us to truly live out that the Kingdom of God is within us, as Jesus taught and Scriptures repeat to us in different words and ways.  There will be the church building waiting for us to return to group worship and reception of the tangible sacraments soon enough--unless we get sick and succumb first.  That is the point of everyone doing what we must do: join Jonah in the whale, join Jesus in the tomb.  We will be spit out and resurrected one way or another, when God wills.

What St. Gertrude of Helfta (1256-130l) shares in The Herald of Divine Love, Book IV, SC 255, so made sense to me this morning!  As a hermit, and with the increased pain this past year, all the more I am not tempted to need to get out of my cell, my hermitage, this house.  My temptations are otherwise--deep,  awful, soul-wrenching, scathing, self-revealing, and so very, painfully, real.  And it is all so very, very good!  Praise God!  St. Gertrude's discussion with the Lord is just what I needed  in this present time.  Perhaps you will find it helpful, as well.

"Recalling the condescension of our Lord who, it is said, went to Bethany to the house of Mary and Martha at the close of that day (cf. Mk 11:11), Gertrude was enflamed with a longing to show hospitality to the Lord.

"So she went up to an image of the Crucified and, reverently kissing the wound in His most holy side, she made the desire of the most loving Heart of the Son of God to penetrate her completely and entreated it, thanks to the strength of all the prayers that might ever rise from this infinitely gentle Heart, to be pleased to descend into the insignificant and very unworthy inn of her heart.

"In His kindness, the Lord, who is always close to those who call on Him (cf. Ps 144(145):18), made her feel His longed for presence and said to her with sweet tenderness:  'See, I am here!  What is it that you are going to offer me?'  

"And she in return:  'Welcome to the One who is my only health and all my good; what shall I say my only One?'  And she added:  'Alas, Lord, in my unworthiness I have not prepared anything suited to Your Divine magnificence, but I offer my whole being to Your goodness.  Full of desires, I beg that You Yourself be pleased to prepare within me whatever may be most pleasing to Your divine goodness.'

"The Lord said to her:  'If you allow Me to have this liberty within you, give Me the key that will allow Me to take away and return without difficulty, all that may please Me, as much for My well-being as for My delight.'  At which she added:  'And what is that key?  The Lord's answer was:  'Your own will.'

"These words made her understand that if someone wishes to receive the Lord as a guest they must hand over the key of their own will to Him, surrendering completely to His perfect good pleasure and placing absolute confidence in His sweet goodness to work for their salvation in everything.  Then the Lord will enter into that heart and that soul to fulfill everything that His Divine pleasure may demand.

I don't know about you, dear readers, but I am so weary with physical pain (pain doctor going ahead with an external trial injection required before a pain pump surgery--surely done after lockdown lifted, of course) and I am so filled with my sinful vices and weariness in battling them, that I am going to consider St. Gertrude's creative and heartfelt words and actions with an image of Jesus crucified, or most likely with the Crucifix on this bedroom cell wall.  I am too tired to make up my own words.  

My head injury area of skull the other morning was painfully tender all over again nearly two years after the fact--reminding me of that brain effected area includes feelings, emotions, detachment. I'll adopt St. Gertrude's lovely and holy words and sentiments, and in faith know the Lord will speak to me in whatever way, including no words.  Lord, increase our faith!

God bless His Real Presence in us!

Catholic Hermit: Pray for Easter Miracle

Today, on this Solemnity of the Annunciation of Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, our hearts and minds continue to be in prayer regarding the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping our country here in the USA as well as afflicting people of all ages, all over the world.  

There are various prayers and novenas in circulation.  This morning I received a text requesting I pray the Lord's Prayer (the Our Father) as someone has begun a chain of asking people to pray this prayer that Jesus taught his disciples and all of us over the centuries--to pray it for the end to the coronavirus pandemic.  I'm all in for all and any prayers; I do remind people that our inner feelings and thoughts, our emotions, are also prayers as well as can be praise of God. 

Two brief prayers I've always admired and loved come from two saints of the 20th century.  Padre Pio tended to tell people who had concerns and trials, "Pray, hope, and don't worry."  Bl. Solanus Casey would advise, "Thank God ahead of time."  Today I found myself simply asking aloud or more often within myself "say", "Mary, please comfort your children;" and, "Mary, we love you and ask your intercessions in this time of crisis."

Then Randy from Home Depot called to remind me that the promotion for the window and door order will be over on Sunday.  Was I still wanting to add the flooring to it for him to try to get a better discount from the Pro Desk?  I decided to pivot from news and praying, from wondering how family and friends are coping, from thinking that I seem not to be praying well enough or enough at all.  

I switched gears to add up already-measured room dimensions, look up flooring product and the added pieces like stair nose and doorway transitions pieces, write the model numbers, special order sku numbers, make a few other decisions, research bath tubs to find one for the St. John the Baptist bathroom upstairs.  I called the store a couple times to ask some questions of flooring and plumbing personnel, got an email address from Randy, and typed up the specifics of the order.  Friday we will finalize it, and he will find out from Pro Desk if there is a greater percentage off than just the door/window promotion.

Feeling conflicted about moving forward with temporal aspects of gathering materials for eventual projects, I realized that life will go on.  If something occurs with me, someone will need to do a few things to this dwelling in order to make it more salable, if they choose financial prudence.  Otherwise, I will get the old carpet out, bit by bit when I improve in health (still sick from upper respiratory infection, but gradually improving).  The old carpet or any carpet at all is not helping the lungs.  I considered that my placing an order, although I will take advantage of a 24-month minimum payment, no interest store offering, my purchase will help the economy with a vote of confidence; and in two years the full amount will be paid by me or my estate. 

Most of all, I am letting the Lord know, as well as a Home Depot employee, that I have positivity and have faith that He will pull us through this global health crisis that is becoming an economic crisis for countries and the human beings who live in these countries and continents of the world.  How I react and view and express my faith will be one witness of many of those who remain steadfast and positive, hopeful in God's providence.  Some of us will pass away from COVID-19, but we all are going to pass from this life from something, sometime.  While alive, especially a consecrated Catholic hermit must be a silent preaching of Christ and a witness of the mystery of Christ and His Church--the Body of Christ.

The distraction is finished and has been for a few hours. But the prayer that is becoming most frequent and returns to my conscious thoughts is that of delight in that of an Easter miracle! I love that goal our U.S. President has suggested--not that it is a definite date, but is just something he feels within that would be a wonderful day for at least some sections of the country to perhaps be able to open up again with signs of more active life.

Easter is the day mentioned as a hopeful goal--a special day to the President and to many people.  Yes, indeed, how special a day is Easter to all Christians. To Catholics who are intently living out this Lent as none other in most of our lifetimes, the trial of COVID-19 a global crisis, we feel the unity of the Body of Christ with those around the world awaiting the celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter!  

May we see the coronavirus image that we all by now are familiar with, in a different way and light.  (Coronavirus is so named because it is shaped like and appears under a microscope to be like a crown.)  Let us not see a virus crown but rather see the crown of our Lord Jesus Christ--a crown of suffering that became a crown of victory over our sins and death by Christ's saving our souls by His own death on the Cross.

So I've been praying with increasing repetition in the joyous conviction of how wonderful if the Lord would provide an Easter miracle of returning health to God's children all over the world!  I'm praying for an Easter Miracle the likes of which we have not witnessed for decades if not longer.  Even if there are regional miracles on Easter with the coronavirus scourge abating, what great signs of Christ's being with us and interacting, intervening, in this most terrible time of serious, viral pandemic.

The first reading from today's Mass--this Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary--convinces me all the more of the faith and hope in God that I pray will and is already in the minds and hearts of many Christians around the world:  An Easter Miracle of Christ's Resurrection and a lifting up and away of the coronavirus pandemic! 

"The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; 
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered, 'I will not ask!  I will not tempt the LORD!'
Then he said:  Listen, O house of David!  Is it not enough 
for you to weary men, must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel,
which means 'God is with us!'"
                                 
                          ~ Isaiah 7:10-14, 8, 10b 

Let us ask a sign from the LORD, our God--deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!  Let us ask the LORD our God, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit, with the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the angels and the saints, to grant us an Easter Miracle along with Christ's Resurrection and the salvation of our souls.  God is with us!

May it be a sign of the LORD, also, if it be His will, may God lift the coronavirus from the world and heal those afflicted by it.  And may we all as a sign of our faith, hope, and love of God, return to God with all our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  And thank you, LORD, ahead of time.

Catholic Hermit: Encouragement from Imitation of Christ

At this time, an unknowing and unrest rolls throughout the world and very much is affecting the United States as the COVID-19 pandemic ramps up in numbers tested, afflicted, and those who have passed on.  And, at this time, those of us who are consecrated to Christ as Christians of whatever stripe, or as myself, a consecrated Catholic hermit, privately professed and avowed over 19 years, we all must bond together in prayer and encouragement one with another.

Also, as a Catholic hermit, my personal spiritual life and practical life are affected as is anyone else's.  We are all in this challenge together--this great trial which is heightening during Lent (no coincidence, I feel).  Today our country's president has set the goal of Easter for all of us to continue in our efforts to stay in, to cooperate in physical distancing and only going out for medical, occasional grocery, or if in a high-needed job.

Why Easter?  The President finds Easter as do many, to be a hopeful, historical, and spiritually meaningful celebration of resurrection.  Will the coronavirus be on the stable or downward trend in all areas of the United States in 19 days?  Only God knows.  And only we individually and communally can cooperate with one another, with our leaders, and with God  to do as needed to slow and stop the spread of a highly contagious, respiratory disease...and to PRAY.

Of course, also as a Christian, consecrated to Christ, professed and avowed Catholic hermit love the goal of our country resurrecting physically, economically, and spiritually on Easter!  On behalf of the peoples of the whole world--as an example of how to come together to battle against a pandemic and a witness to God of all of us, I am going to continue sheltering in place, praying, keeping up with prayer specifics but also to focus on the prayer of silence in solitude, of even blind faith in asking His Real Presence to be with us all and inspire everyone to follow the Slow the Spread guidelines, and to PRAY.

In a selection from the classic spiritual treatise of the 15th century The Imitation of Christ (authorship ascribed to Thomas a Kempis), there is encouragement which is appropriate to our crisis. The author, obviously inspired by holy wisdom of the Holy Spirit, encourages us today in keeping and nurturing faith in God.

"Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe?  'Whoever examines the majesty of God will be crushed by His glory' (Prov 25:27).  God can do works that pass man's understanding....  

"Faith is required of you and sincerity of life; not high intelligence, nor penetrating knowledge of the mysteries of God.  If you do not understand nor grasp what is below you, how will you comprehend what is above you?  Be subject to God, submit your feeling to the faith, and the light of knowledge will be given to you as much as you need and can use.

"Some have grave temptations concerning faith and sacrament; which are not to be imputed to them, but rather to the enemy.  Take no notice, do not argue with your thoughts, nor answer the doubts with which the devil attacks you; believe God's word, believe His saints and prophets, and the wicked enemy will be routed.  It is often most profitable to God's servant to endure such things.  For the devil does not tempt the infidel or sinner, of whom he has already secure possession; but he uses various means to tempt and harass the devout faithful.

"Go on then with simple unquestioning faith, and approach the Sacrament with reverent beseeching.  Anything you cannot understand, commit it surely to God who is omnipotent.  God does not deceive you; the over-confident person deceives himself.  God walks in step with the simple ones, He shows Himself to the humble ones, He grants understanding to the little ones; 'He reveals hidden meanings to little ones' and hides away His grace from the inquisitive and the proud.  

"Human reason is feeble and fallible; but true faith cannot be deceived.  All use of reason, all human inquiry should walk in the footsteps of faith; it should not go on in front of it nor call it in question."  

So we will be tempted in many ways during these days and weeks of greater trial than most of us have experienced as nations and countries and the world nor has visited us since World War II--and of a different nature:  an invisible enemy of disease.  Most of us in most states have our churches locked; we do not have the tangible Sacraments.  

We must pray and adore in our holy hours within our abodes; and we, in faith, receive spiritual Communion for the inner asking.  All the while, our faith leads to hope in God that Easter will come after Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

Whether or not on April 12 (although in prayerful faith and hope in God and in charity to all we will do our very most diligent efforts to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19), Easter will come.  We will rise up yet again with Christ, in Christ.  Our time of suffering will pass.  We will resurrect by the grace of God's glory and of His Son's death for our sins and the resurrection promise of our salvation.

Keep the faith!  Fan the holy flames of hope in God!  Do all in charity, including charity in prayer for others and in uniting one with another--no more enemies among us--and do what is tangibly and physically necessary to humble ourselves and sacrifice our self-wants to be out and about, to hoard products.  Pray for God's protection of our leaders, our health care professionals, law enforcement, elected politicians as they vote on aid to those most harmed economically and physically.  

Let us lead by holy example whether or not anyone sees us but God alone.  Be an imitation of Christ--ever a witness of righteousness and great belief in God.  Praise God for His mercy and love! God will lead us through this pandemic.

God bless His Real Presence in us!

Catholic Hermit: Lord, Have Mercy on Us

Well, the Lord is doubling down on humility with me.  Even my attempt to share with the person who admitted to chills on Saturday and was sick with sore throat, headache, sore glands yesterday and wise got into bed, has totally ignored my bother in texting how this illness really does need to be contained, and to stay in!  Even if a person thinks just a sore throat, just chills, might be just a cold or just swollen glands for no reason (?!!), STAY IN.

So I get a text this morning that the person and spouse were heading out the door to go shopping.  Do I need anything?  I was incredulous and texted back asking if the person is well?  No response to that.  But by time I texted, they leaving one store and were headed to another--Walmart.  What? Said could go back to the grocery if I needed anything. 

Lord, have mercy.

No, I don't need a thing.  Nothing has changed since yesterday here other than one less banana and a little less oatmeal but have more than plenty.  I tend to shop at Costco which sells items bulk, and since my hermitage has garage and I'm in here alone with God, solus Deus, I am blessed with room for items that then I don't need to replenish many of them, for a year or more.  Saves money in long run.  

And now with the economy as it is, and will be for awhile, frugality is important for a hermit who at some point could need to pay for nursing home care.  Can't qualify for long term health insurance nor could qualify for any insurance until age 65 when fortunately former spouse had plenty of "points" and legally then could qualify for Medicare.  I certainly did not have enough "points" as have not been able to be viably employed due to inconsistency of severe pain.  

But I have to pay in full for the Medicare, and along with a supplement now which I must have in order to cover what Medicare does not pay for me to remain financially solvent in event of major medical needs, my insurance payments use 1/5 of income before taxes. Just explaining one hermit's health insurance situation and the costs involved, but praise God for having it now for the past nearly four years!

Back to the situation of the person who disregarded all that I'd bothered to text:  this is part of the problem of people not taking COVID-19 seriously.  This goes for the many, especially older people seemingly, who are incapable of staying put for more than a day even when common sense and consideration of others would dictate to do so when having symptoms of illness during a global pandemic.  Or maybe it is pride in thinking they feel fine so why stay in?

A spiritual friend was in contact wanting prayers for infant grandson undergoing five hours of surgery this morning. The friend also mentioned 87-year-old mother with asthma, with walker, insisting on going to grocery today in an area that has seen uptick of cases even though testing has not yet been set up there for volumes of persons to be tested.  With help of a sibling who is in medical profession, they convinced the elderly mother to stay home.  (Very devout Catholics, all, so not a matter of having no sense of virtues.)  But the elderly mother is still going to the hair dressers.

I laughed at the irony, for had read an article of how everyday life needs to be considered, and of the barber and beauty shops in which those washing hair and cutting it, have their heads closer to their clients' heads than in most any other provided service.  Dentists perhaps as much although they wear protective masks and often face shields, plus gloves and use head gear with magnifiers to better see, or use cameras and screens to view detail of mouths, as do surgeons.  I considered the other customers in a barber and beauty shop in close proximity, but the friend said there was going to be no convincing the elderly mother to forego her beauty for awhile even if the friend had offered to wash the mothers' hair and set it.

I guess keep up the spirits by laughing even if very sad that there are so many aspects of our own unpreparedness for a virus pandemic crisis.  The leaders can only advise; we have to do as the experts ask.  Humility and sacrifice, we citizens need to embrace.

I did receive a call back from someone who'd gotten my message Friday evening as to the nearby ER phone number being incorrect on online website.  In meantime some user had written in the correct number to try, even if the print in orange was difficult to read.  I called the ER and did mention my concerns not only of the incorrect phone number but wanting to pass along that patients might have lighter symptoms and not be at death's door.

The person I spoke with said they are starting to grasp that reality.  I mentioned they might not be at point of pneumonia, but have all the symptoms, or not all of them.  We are all in this rapidly escalating learning curve, that is for sure.  And as for my situation, my lungs still hurt a lot, fever down this morning but still slight, still coughing, only one time of some chills, still wiped out, and sinuses still an issue but some better.  There is no reason to go to ER although the person on phone said they are there if I need to come in.  No, but I know to stay in, to stay down.  Praying for others who have symptoms to do so.

Thankful for a woman interviewed on national news who had similar situation.  A nurse probably in early 40's, whose symptoms began with sniffles.  She was told nothing to be concerned about by two providers.  Finally she had husband take her to ER as she as having hard time standing without feeling faint.  (Had also had body aches and as if stabbing muscle pains that had subsided but the feeling of fainting and simply "not feeling good" continued.)  He took her to ER, and she tested positive for COVID-19, and has viral pneumonia.  That had developed over the time she was sick, but did not mention coughing as a symptom.

So we must be vigilant.  I declined ER and will unless my lungs were to worsen.  I absolutely do not want to spread this to others by going anywhere.  The ER person did tell me to reach out to those I'd been around so they'd be aware I likely have it.  Thankfully as a hermit, and being as sick as I was initially, I was not out and about.  But I've alerted those I visited as well as the parent of youngster I'd been asked to transport twice.  Even then, thinking I had sinus infection, I had us roll down truck windows.  Youngster has been fine and incubation period would be over.  Yet the problem is that young persons are more likely to not have symptoms.

So I figure what the Lord wants of me is to keep PRAYING for salvation of the world and souls, for health to be restored, for people to "play hermit" a little and hunker down especially if feeling under the weather, and for me to keep PRAISING Him for all the good that He will bring from this situation.  I'm certainly, myself, appreciating the added humility that comes from not at all being heeded by the person who has been out and about today, even though the spouse could have gone, or better yet, and adult family member much younger could pick up their pet food and human food they wanted--abundance of caution.  We will see how that situation unfolds. 

But we see just the obstacles those trying to lead us through this be it national or state level, or community level or the ER's and the health providers who now are surely becoming aware to not be dismissive of cases that don't fit neatly into their initial criteria for the virus.  Yes, I would love to have such as a nebulizer to breathe in healing and soothing medicated air into my lungs.  I recall my mother using that equipment in her 18 months on earth with a mystifying case of pulmonary fibrosis that killed her gradually.  Never a smoker, not a coal miner!  The specialists said she must have been exposed to asbestos or some substance even years ago, or when young.

However, I don't want to wear myself out further by going anywhere at all, and I don't want to even expose ER personnel.  I can't be sure it was one of the first two planes--could have been Uber driver or virus in his car from some passenger without symptoms, or thinking had but a cold or "sniffles."  We all must do our best, though, to humble ourselves and sacrifice our routines and desires, and to practice the virtues especially of patience, self-control, fortitude, faith and hope in God, and above all, charity!

As St. Padre Pio always told people with concerns:  "Pray, hope, and don't worry."

God bless His Real Presence in us! 

Catholic Hermit: Humility, Sacrifice in Time of COVID-19

Just finished extra writing of comments elsewhere, trying to input what might be helpful to others, especially those wondering how to know if they are sick or imagining it, or still trying to push themselves to go out or be up and around.  It has become an international comment section--one of them--and I limit my writing, thankfully; the space is quite limited allowing only so many characters per comment. 

Some still tend to scoff at the COVID-19 pandemic, but these are becoming fewer.  As in other comment sections, occasionally after an article, I notice a few others whose comments, also, strive to remind people (strangers all of us but all in the Body of God's Beloved Children) to PRAY.  I have begun adding also to PRAISE GOD for His protection over all of us, and for His healing Presence now and forever.

Some were asking about symptoms, and I was able to mention for those who might not realize, that not everyone's normal or base body temperature is 98.6 F.  Thus I've been praying for those taking temperatures in vital screening processes around the world to know that if someone says they usually run such as 96.6 F which is my norm, to take that in account.  

It seems a small matter, but people who are sick could pass by without receiving a test or treatment.  I was concerned about those temps taken at the White House, for example. My prayers are answered.  A stranger commented that Dr. Fauci, lead doctor on the US Coronavirus Task Force, explained that yesterday, and those taking temps are being made aware.

As I was beginning to feel some better, myself, late afternoon, and got up again to get some yogurt and fruit to bring back to bed,  not long ago I felt hot again.  Yep, temp has gone up some.  I'm praising God (in Spirit and truth!) for the patience He's taught me in these going-on 8 months post-op from spine surgery.  I've had to be in bed so much that I'm blessed by the practical training!  

And all the more I am praying for those who are not so blessed that they learn to lay low.  (Ha ha--am looking for the silver lining in pain again).  Most people would push themselves on the days they feel better or not have also back pain to help them be laid out with what might seem not-so-bad-of-symptoms, and thus not stay in bed.  I wonder if the persons who keep pushing their bodies--besides those with terrible underlying conditions--are ones more likely to end up in the hospital in respiratory distress?  I pray not, but it could be.

Even this evening, my lungs are hurting more--burning and aching--so the Lord is reminding this nothing Catholic hermit that my time to declare my freedom to rise and shine physically is not yet come.  Still the dry cough, and when I cough the head has pains.  So it goes.  Praising God in Spirit and truth for being able to offer whatever is this plus the pain from spine, as prayer and praise for God's will in and through this global coronavirus pandemic.  

We all have plenty to offer of trials, as prayer and praise!  And to think we are just into third week of Lent!

Truly, we are all peoples, all nations, in this pandemic together.  May we unite as brothers and sisters and have conversions to God and deeper and deeper conversions to God.  Those whose time has come--I praise God for their release from suffering and for crossing over.  Happy Birthday into Eternity!  Pray for all souls to be desiring God and to choose His grace when they meet Him Face to Face for the loving and merciful judgment that we all must experience.

This pandemic is bringing us, if we wish to consider these points, to humility and sacrifice.  While I have prayed about what is God's will for me--my role and purpose--in this COVID-19 global crisis, I have had some answers of which I've mentioned or alluded to, which include, of course, my experiencing the sickness or at least what are the symptoms and then some.  (An eventual test will let me know for sure but that is a ways off.)  

But I read a sermon by Syrian monk and Bishop, St. Jacob of Sarug, c. 449-521), and I appreciate the implications regarding our unity as people of God, and for me and all other religious hermits--to consider Christ's example and effectual call to us in His humility and sacrifice, to follow Him in humility and sacrifice.  It is as if coronavirus pandemic is ideal for our listening, recognizing the holy value and Christ's example of humility and sacrifice, and to be willing to do as He did and does.

Some excerpts from St. Jacob of Sarug's sermon:

"...Jacob wept for Rachel when he wed her; our Lord covered the Church with his blood when he saved her.  Tears are a symbol of blood since it is not without pain that they flow from one's eyes.  The tears of righteous Jacob are a symbol of the Son's great suffering through which the Church of the Gentiles has been saved.

"Come, then, behold our Lord:  he has come into the world from his Father's side, he has emptied himself so as to complete his course in humility (Phil 2:7).... 

"He saw the Gentiles like a parched flock whose spring of life was closed by sin as by a stone.  He saw the Church like Rachel and so he ran towards her and removed the heavy sin as though it were a rock.  He has opened up the baptistery for his bride to bathe in; he has drawn water and refreshed the nations of earth as if they were his sheep.  With his almighty power he has removed the heavy burden of sin; he has uncovered the spring of sweet water for the whole world....

"Yes, our Lord has gone to great trouble for the Church's sake.  Out of love, God's Son has sold his suffering so that he might wed the forsaken Church at the price of his wounds.  For her sake, who worshipped idols, he has suffered on the cross.  For her sake he willed to be delivered up that she might belong to him, wholly and immaculate (Eph 5:25-27).  

"He consented to lead the entire flock of humankind to pasture with the great staff of the cross; he did not turn away from suffering.  He submitted to leading all--races, nations, tribes, multitudes and peoples--that in return the Church, his only one, might belong to him."

Yesterday the President of the United States called up all of us to pray; he declared today, Sunday, as a National Day of Prayer.  May we all take whatever time left in this day, while it yet be today for whoever is yet awake, to pray for all people all over the world, as we are all affected by this health crisis.  Pray for the souls of those who have passed over and for the grieving families and friends.  Pray for those who are ill with whatever ailments, including coronavirus, and pray for protection for all those who are not afflicted.  

Pray for all the medical personnel and the law enforcement and all those involved in trying to help test people and help those stricken, as well as their families.  Pray that we all have great patience and willingness to stay in, to do whatever we are able for those around us who need food or help.  Pray for all those leading all countries and on task forces trying to limit and eventually eradicate the virus.

Pray that we continue to pray and very much, also, praise God for all His goodness and that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  And pray that we each learn and adopt, in Spirit and in truth, true humility and sacrifice in this time period of COVID-19 and in all times. 

God bless His Real Presence in us!