May the Love of Christ Go Viral

Posted on by charliej373

Christ heals

By Charlie Johnston

“And so we go on, into the storm, through the storm”

-close of Winston Churchill’s radio address after the fall of Singapore

Some of my friends have taken me to task for not taking the Wuhan Virus more seriously. More have thanked me for not succumbing to the panic. I had a doctor friend tell me he is not terribly concerned about it, but he isn’t telling his patients that. I asked why and he replied that, if it does beat the odds and turns into a genuine pandemic and he had been dismissive of it, he will be regarded as callously indifferent. There is no upside in that. On the other hand, if it continues to be far less dangerous than an ordinary flu, he will merely be seen as prudently cautious – and there is no downside in that.

I know it is reported that it is a strain that humans have not previously encountered (though we routinely encounter coronaviruses). That sounds scary, until you find out that strains humans have never previously encountered pop up pretty regularly. The flu is a mutating virus, which is why we are never quite rid of it. I have seen no evidence, as yet. that the infection rate is substantially greater than the common cold. Even the most generous mortality rates say it is MUCH less dangerous than MERS, Ebola, or Sars. More sober reports have it in line with the mortality rates of a normal flu. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why this one has been the cause of such raw panic. My best guess is that it actually was originally a Chinese-developed bioweapon that was (to them) disappointingly weak – and they simultaneously tried to cover it up and over-reacted when it got loose, causing the rest of the world to panic and the idiot media to see an opportunity to make this into “Trump’s Katrina.”

I certainly have had people whose judgment I value give me detailed reasons why they believe this to be particularly dangerous. On the other hand, after my panic over the Hong Kong flu when I was 13, I have been careful to read the literature, research and raw data on each potential pandemic (including the fears over Y2K two decades ago). The details I get from my trusted associates seem like variants on all the sincere details on why the previous pandemics were likely to be the big one. My guess on this one is that, in the end, it will turn out to be the weakest of all the potential pandemics touted in my lifetime.

While the physical consequences of the Wuhan Virus seem, so far, to be rather subdued, the economic consequences have been enormous. As I write this, the stock market is going through another huge tumble – after several weeks of the same. Many of our foreign supply chains are drying up, which means we will have to manufacture more here and find new foreign sources for our needs – and perhaps rethink the wisdom of being heavily dependent on any single foreign source for vital supplies. While that is creating a lot of short-term pain, I think the end result will be like pruning a fruit tree, paving the way for dramatic new and increased growth.

I have a dirty, little secret concerning the coronavirus. I am not vested at all in being proved right about it. The secret is that, at bottom, I really don’t care whether it turns into one of the very rare real pandemics or whether it passes on like so much smoke in a windstorm. I have been saying for some time that we have huge challenges ahead of us in the temporal realm – things that reflect the much larger disorders that have erupted in the spiritual realm. If it is to become a great pandemic, then it becomes an opening shot in the challenges I have been insisting all along we must face. If it passes away as just another iteration of the flu, we still have huge challenges ahead of us, many much bigger than what we are in a panic over right now. I just am not focused on what will be the catalyst for the larger crises; my focus is on how we must act when it inevitably comes.

Actually, I am kind of glad there has been such a panic. It is a gift from God, I think – allowing us a sort of dress rehearsal to develop a real assessment of how prepared we are to go forth and proclaim His Kingdom. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, some of our surviving ships made a series of naval sorties out to strategic islands in the western Pacific Ocean. All discovered that they were woefully ill-prepared for actual combat, even with the proper tools at hand. It was their minds and hearts that were not yet quite right. Thankfully, American hubris typically does not morph into impotent sulking after failure, but is transformed into American resolve to do whatever it takes to become competent. This little scare has revealed a lot of daylight between our profession of who we are as Christians and what we actually are. Time to do a little assessment.

I have never thought that the Storm that has been gathering around us could be avoided – and have never suggested that things written here would be helpful in stopping the Storm. Rather, I sought to encourage people in the habits of mind and action that would mitigate the worst effects of the crisis and help us all soldier through to a renewal of the values and virtues that sustain and nurture healthy families and societies. I have been gratified that many have girded their loins and resolved to confront whatever crosses might come their way in order to gain a bountiful harvest for the Lord. I am a little disappointed that in this dress rehearsal, so many committed Christians have panicked like Peter before the cock crowed, at the mere hint that there might actually be a real cross involved. Spoiler alert: before all is said and done, there will be. But Peter ultimately used his panicked failure as a launching pad for his later steely resolve and fidelity, even unto death. So, I have high hopes despite some disappointment.

The foundational rule by which we approach the world here is expressed simply in the maxim, Acknowledge God, Take the Next Right Step, and Be a Sign of Hope to Those Around You. Let us use this to assess how we have approached the Wujan Virus.

To Acknowledge God is to recognize that He is the Author of History and the Master of all storms. Our hope is in Him – and not ourselves. We know that when we truly serve Him and His people, all things that happen to us, whether they seem good or ill from a temporal perspective, He uses for our good. Thus, we can approach all trials with a serene confidence that God will draw great fruit from them, both for our good and for that of others, when we hold fast to our confidence in Him. This does not mean that we will not suffer and, perhaps, even physically die. Many of the early Apostles, including Sts. Peter and Paul, were killed for their faith. All men die. But HOW they live and die determine whether they are just meaningless fodder for the murderous appetites of barbaric hordes or whether they become (ahem) viral carriers of the hope that is in Christ. We do not know whether the centurion at the foot of the Cross knew anything about how Jesus lived. But he was witness to how the Master died – and that was sufficient for him to exclaim, in stunned wonder, that “surely this was the Son of God.” If your life were to be suddenly forfeit, would your behavior cause any of those who were witness to it confess that, “surely this was a friend of God!”? Does the way you live reveal to those around you the imprint of the living Christ in you and bear effective witness to Him? These are things that must concern us. God has a place in heaven prepared for you. Do not worry so much about those things that can only kill the body. Rather, zealously protect your place in heaven. You do that by living steadfast resolve in the service of God by living stalwartly in the service of His people. Your one goal is to bring Him a bountiful harvest. That is how we acknowledge God.

Recognizing that God does not interfere with our free will, we are called to be His hands and feet on earth. That leads us to endeavor to Take the Next Right Step. This is complicated because of our frailty. Our limited capacity to reason rightly causes us often, with the best intentions, to take the wrong step. Even so, we are called to take the initiative anyway, trusting to God to correct our many errors. Because of original sin, we are weak and will often stumble along our way. It has been well said that the most authentic mark of a Christian is not that he does not fall, but how relentless he is in getting up and starting anew. Thus, even knowing that we will often fail – both with good intentions and of our own fault, God demands that we press forward anyway, to use all our mind, heart and spirit to do the most right thing we can think of in each situation. I think the most important quality to develop is that of acknowledging it candidly and immediately when we see we have been wrong, abandoning the wrong step we took, and getting back on our path under God with humility. If we do that, always acknowledging Him, He will use those periods of error to give us deep guidance and draw great fruit even from those errors. Ah, but how we must prune ourselves! We love to justify our errors and tell ourselves it was no error at all. How many times have you called your own cowardice, prudence? And how many times have you called your malicious willfulness, courage? With each self-justification, we wound a piece of our soul, while the opportunistic demons egg and cheer us on – to our own destruction. Yet we must make each decision with confidence, abandon each error with humility, all while knowing we cannot quit the field, even when we are not certain what the most right thing actually is. No burying our talent in a field for us.

When I am not certain what the best and truest path is in a situation, I pray in this manner: “Lord, you know I love you. I am not certain what is the most right step here, but I am going to take this action, praying that if it is the wrong step, You will show me and help me to correct course to what is pleasing to You.” Then I act with confidence, knowing that even with uncertainty, no one answers the call of the uncertain trumpet. I leave it to God to correct me, and to my own reliance on Him to fully renounce error as soon as I understand it to be so. Surprisingly, perhaps, I credit the credibility so many attribute to me because I act boldly – and then renounce any error with equally bold candor. Most of my fellows know that I cannot be pressured into changing my course, but will change course quickly if one shows me truly that I have erred.

Take counsel. I have the good fortune to have more than a few people around me who both honor me AND are gutsy enough to correct me candidly when they think I have acted wrongly. I am fortunate, too, that both the Priests and the Bishops who have directed me have taken their task seriously. If I think they are wrong, I will argue with them – and have, at times, persuaded them to rethink a directive. In the end, though, I always obey the lawful authority that is set over me when it is lawfully exercised. My first spiritual director worried briefly that I was too quick to obey. I told him that I knew very well that, in Christianity, obedience is not a matter of the subjection of the lesser to the greater: if it were so, how would it have been possible for Jesus to have been obedient to His parents after the temple? Rather, in the faith, obedience is a means of opening channels of grace. The director has the responsibility to take his duty seriously and give carefully considered direction while the pilgrim under his direction is called to obey his lawful direction. If error on either side is made, nothing is lost in God’s economy. We can revisit the subject later, with even greater confidence and affection for each other because of our honest effort to live our respective duties well. Always, before visiting one in authority over me, I pray intensely that our visit be an encounter with the living Christ for both of us. Thankfully, that has almost always been the case. During a conversation once, one of my director Priests told me, with amusement, that he was never quite sure who was directing who when we met, but that ours were among the most fruitful visits he had with anyone. It was a great compliment to us both – and reflected the deep affection and regard we had come to hold each other in BECAUSE of our commitment to God, our duty to each other, and our open-heartedness. Take counsel and cherish it, praying that it become an encounter with the living Christ for all involved.

Many completely invert how we are called to relate to our fellows. We are called to be rigorous with ourselves and charitable to others, not vice versa. We are to act with prudence, charity and rigor, understanding at each moment that our judgment in all things save revealed truth may be erroneous – never changing course out of fear or anger, nor failing to change course out of pride when error is revealed.

We are called to act to build each other up, to comfort those who are fearful, to boldly proclaim the Kingdom with power, conviction and clarity that inspires those around us to new hope and new resolve. This is how we become a Sign of Hope to those around us. You cannot convince people that the Lord loves them with your face contorted in rage. You cannot convince people that the Lord is Master of the Storm while panicking, yourself, or tearfully cowering in fear. I speak not just of the extraordinary measures of going forth to strangers, but of the effect you have on your own circle of family and friends. Have you added to their panic or have you been a bridge over troubled waters for those around you, a safe haven for them?

To be either a doomsayer (“we’re all gonna die”) or a Pollyanna, ignoring prudent precaution, is to forfeit credibility and, thus, the ability to comfort those around you. Do you lash out in anger at what you consider the mistakes of others while neglecting your own duty before God? Do you recall others to their duty before God as you also live yours faithfully?

I have been disappointed to hear some outraged at reasonable precautions that some Bishops and Priests have temporarily adopted, such as restricting communion to the hand, allowing it only under the species of the bread, and removing holy water. I, personally, do not agree with these steps, but they are not unreasonable – and may even comfort the more timid among the flock. So long as they are temporary until the panic passes, I accept the decision of those charged with making such decisions as a disciplinary matter. I know that, until 1890, people only received Communion at all a handful of times a year. That was when the Decree Quaemadmodum was issued by the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars for all religious institutions. In 1905 Pope Pius X promulgated it for the laity with his decree, Sacra Tridentina. Before that, at most Masses, the laity participated in worship and spiritual desire, but not actually in reception of the Eucharist. While lay members of the early Church usually received as often as the Mass was said, by the middle of the first millennium, reception by any but the Priests was rare, so rare that the Fourth Lateran Council had to decree that the faithful receive at least once a year. So it remained until 1905. It sometimes amuses me that those who think all things traditional are superior never seem to clamor for the return of this restriction of Eucharistic communion. But most traditionalists are only hearkening back to what they remember from their own childhood or heard from their parents, without reference to or much knowledge of the actual 2,000-year history of the Church. Thanks be to God that, two years prior to his formal proclamation, Pope Pius X prayed publicly that frequent, even daily reception, would be encouraged by the clergy and adopted by the laity. He would be astonished, though, to know that some would object strenuously to minor restrictions during times of panic or emergency. On this matter, if you want to appeal to the tradition of the Church, at least a millennium and a half refute you.

On the other hand, I am absolutely horrified that the Italian Bishops Conference (NOT the Vatican) has eliminated all Masses and public religious observances until after the panic (or crisis) is past – and this during Lent, no less, when our resolve and trust should be increased. Times of crisis are when the Church must act most boldly to minister to the flock entrusted to her by Christ – and whether it is a mere panic or a real emergency, either constitutes a crisis in confidence. That is when the Church must step into the breach. My stars, I tremble at the very thought of standing before Christ as a cleric and telling Him that when danger reared its ugly head I protected my sinecure and my own hide. How can you imagine Him saying anything other than, “Depart from Me – I never knew you.” To suspend the Mass altogether is a betrayal of Christ and an abandonment of His people. May God have mercy on the souls of those poor simpering cowards who betray their sacred vow to Him.

Early last week, I was chatting with a Priest in some authority. Though he is heartened by how many conversions he is personally seeing, he is disheartened by the indifference and cowardice of so many in the clergy. He observed that, during the plague years of the middle ages, it was largely the Catholic clergy and religious who ministered to and cared for the sick and dying as public officials were paralyzed by panic and fear. “I don’t think that is going to be the case this time unless a lot of my brother Priests turn back to God,” he added.

After His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was disappointed to find the Apostles fast asleep. “Could you not watch one hour with me?” He asked them. Yet His initial irritation seemed to turn to affectionate confidence that, when their time came, the disciples would rise to the occasion. I do not think we Christians have responded well as servants of Our Lord as this potential pandemic has unfolded. But if we adopt an examination of conscience based on the dictum to acknowledge God, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope, I am confident that we, too, will rise to the occasion as the storm around us rises to greater fury. Christ is the light of the world – and He has entrusted that light to those of us who will deny ourselves and bring it to a battered, bleeding world on His behalf.

When you are tempted to fear, to panic, to unwonted anger remember that Jesus is there beside you, asking placidly, “Do you love me more than these?” The answer you give by your actions determines whether you are fit for the Master’s service.

Contrary to modern popular imagination, serious Christianity is NOT for wimps.

 

 

 

 

 

202 thoughts on “May the Love of Christ Go Viral”

  1. Yasssss! Here is yet another great good God has brought forth from the current concerns about the coronavirus: a splendid review and elucidation of living the blessed core message to acknowledge God, take the next right step and be a sign of hope to those around us. Amen. Amen. And since it is liturgically fitting to skip the a_l_l_i_, I say it again: AMEN. Bravo, Charlie! Brilliant piece.

    Liked by 12 people

  2. Hi Charlie, thanks for the rallying cry “serious Christianity is not for wimps”! For those of us that are shepherds of families and our communities we sometimes need a push out the door. Men can be such wimps even when we catch a cold. Somehow a microscopic virus is scarier than chasing bad guys down dark alleys. God Bless all in these challenging times. Jim C.

    Liked by 10 people

    1. Ha! You speak true. In his younger days, my Dad was one of the most courageous men I knew. But boy, was he whiny when he got the flu! And what was REALLY bad was how much he whined when Mom got the flu.

      Liked by 8 people

  3. At my age of 79, it really doesn’t matter all that much to me either. At my age, the mortality rate is a little less than 15%. So, If I get it, there is a reasonable chance I will ‘croak’.

    However, I need to add that the doctor who told you about this virus as not having a danger level above ordinary flu – may not be aware that it’s been known for some time that the first wave of the Corona Virus is usually relatively benign – just like the first wave of the Spanish flu Corona Virus was in 1917.

    But the 2nd wave was much much worse. The first wave of the Spanish Flu in 1917 only killed under 1,000 people. The mutated 2nd wave in 1918 [which began about 6 months later] killed 50 million people.

    I have 3 MD’s and 1 highly specialized RN in my immediate family. None of them even know about the 2nd wave to come – perhaps as early as late August, September, or October. They haven’t been told about it through ‘official channels’ — and of course it isn’t real till official channels tell them. 🙂

    Be that as it may, most people will assume it was all a false scare … till the 2nd wave which I’ve been told will begin later this year.

    That is when, in my educated guess, that the real ‘Come to Jesus’ sessions will [hopefully] begin to hit people’s hearts.

    In the mean time, it should be pray, pray, pray for my own conversion, and that of the whole world.

    All my love in Christ

    Desmond

    Liked by 18 people

    2. Desmond you are amazing I just love you so much as a sister in Christ… what an enrichment it’s been to me to have gotten to know you even though only through cyberspace I feel I know your soul! Thanks for the heads up…let us all keep sojourning on being little soldiers for Christ and becoming better each day with the grace of God!!!

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  4. In my opinion, those of us that receive are Lord on the tongue, feel that restricting communion to only on the hand is a direct attack on us, instead of restricting to communion to spiritual communion for everyone. A priest distributing communion on the tongue will very RARELy touch a tongue, while it much harder to avoid touching the hands of a communicant, the hands are also more likely contaminated. See responses from Bishop Sample, Father Zuhlsdorf, and Bishop Schneider.
    If you are going to restrict communion, do it for everyone, don’t allow communion in a way that historically was seen as disrespectful.

    Liked by 4 people

      1. As a matter of fact, a number of “our ancestors” had the approvel of their Bishops and Rome to take the Eucharist home with them – to communicate themselves during the week as they felt the need. Especially, it was a proviso in case the Romans or their minions in the Provinces broke into a Christian home during the night. Then the Christians inside would flee to the place where the Eucharist was reserved, and receive His body and blood, soul an Divinity, to strengthen themselves for their coming martyrdom.

        Liked by 4 people

    3. I meant to write “ooops!!” Not poops but it flew away before I could stop it!!! I wanted to say…”ooops! Should I not receive on the tongue 👅 for I have been!!! Ooop!!!

      Liked by 3 people

          1. It’s a hoot time good time to laugh Beckita 😂😂😂 I think it’s all the coconut 🥥 onion rings coconut coffee and coconut broccoli 🥦 🍩🥦🥥🤣

            Liked by 3 people

        4. Sort of cool my best church buddy Char who I’m pretty sure is a living Saint…well I ordered two purple scapulars and have her one for her family and she blessed me back with $, holy medal AND A BIG PACKAGE OF TOILET PAPER😂😂😂 God is good

          Liked by 2 people

      2. I was sitting here in a quandry. I frankly didn’t know what to say. I had just voted for ‘say nothing, run and hide’, when I saw your explanation. [You may have heard the sigh of relief all the way to your house.]

        Liked by 6 people

  5. As always, I appreciate your perspective, Charlie. Your measured responses bring me to a calm place. Onward Christian soldier!

    Liked by 9 people

  6. As for Italy, Charlie, before March 9th it may have been a decision of the bishops, but after March 9th, Italian Government has forbidden every religious celebration including funerals (including Islamic ceremonies).
    We are in lockdown, I do not say martial law, but the orange zone has been extended to the entire Country.
    We can go out only for going to work, but if you are stopped you must prove you are going to work; only to buy food, but with limitations, to go to the pharmacy or to go to assist sick members of family.
    You can go for a walk, only if you are alone and do not form groups.
    At the same time, ESM treaty will be signed by Italy on March 13th. The signature will put our bank system in grave danger. It seems a chess move by the European Union to enslave Italy and to destroy our economy in a moment when the people cannot even protest in any form. According to this treaty, Italy will committ to give to the European Union 150 billion Euros, to save the banking system in cases of crisis, but per the treaty itself, State members whose debt and economic parameters are like those of Italy, cannot accede to the funds, lest we restructure our debt. So we are giving billion euros to the EU to save whose banks? German banks like Deutsche Bank? And in a moment when we need money for the sanitary system. We have a Government of traitors.
    Some group I follow re QAnon states that this lockdown is a move by the white hats to remove cabal; I say either that or most likely the best test on the field for the establishment of the new world order.
    In the mean time there have been contemporary riots in almost 30 Italian prisons with rebellions, escapes and fires. The episodes are so timely that they are very likely concerted, coordinated. By whom? Organised criminality? Hidden powers that want to add to the chaos and panic?
    In Palermo, Sicily, military tanks have been seen in the center of the city, I have seen the video. same thing in another southern town, some say a military exercise, other say a strength demonstration during the prison riots.
    And in Europe are gathering 37 thousands soldiers (20.000 American) with tanks and military equipment for a drill called Defender Europe. They will operate till June, in Germany and other countries. They say there has not been such a movement of soldiers in Europe in the last 25 years.
    Again, some say it’s a move to destroy the cabal, others say it’s a strenght demonstration against Germany and UE, considering that the commercial surplus produced by German ordoliberism equals that of China. Perhaps it is a simple military drill.
    Please pray for my Country, because since the end of WWII there has never been a moment so delicate.
    Where I live everything is calm, it is a sunny day, my son went out in the garden to play a little, because we cannot go out and there is no school and no sport training. We have plenty to eat for the moment, especially chocolate, so we’ll do our best to cope. God bless you all.
    Lilia

    Liked by 15 people

    1. I have followed what is happening in Italy recently, Lilia, and I have great sympathy for you. I think you folks are being badly mistreated – and something other than the Wuhan Virus is driving this. That said, there was a time when Bishops more carefully guarded and defended the things of God. I maintain it is a betrayal of their office. I know they announced it before the gov’t rules kicked in – but I suspect the gov’t informed them in advance and made some threats to ensure compliance. Maybe we can open up the catacombs where, for the first three centuries, Christians went to worship their God in defiance of Rome’s threat to execute them.

      Liked by 8 people

      1. Charlie, things have been going on so rapidly that I myself did not track precisely how things evolved. First only two little red zones were established and everything was stopped, that is was in lock down, churches included; then followed two entire regions, Lombardia and Veneto and in the end the entire Country. Government decrees succeeded one another very rapidly.
        I too would have appreciated more courage and invitation to prayer by the bishops and the priests. Italy is full of Churches, Chapels, Sanctuaries built as ex voto by people after the end of plagues. There is for example the church of Madonna della Salute in Venice, but you may count dozens of them spread all over Italy. Many have recently observed that in time of plagues churches did not close, in fact people was invited to beg God, the Virgin Mary and the Saints for delivery. In Milan in the Fifteenth century a Church was built in the middle of a large sanitary structure known as Lazzaretto, where people affected with plague were taken to be cured. The Church was in the middle and the sick could see it from their straw beds.
        I have observed that many priests do not believe in miracles anymore. The theology they have been taught states that God operates inside the natural laws, so they invite you only to take your cross and pray for a mundane, temporal solution to your misery, with the help of God, but a God that is in a certain way made impotent by his own laws, not omnipotent. I know this because it has been said to me by many priests with regard to my autoimmune health condition. How many miracles would happen if the shepherds believed in the omnipotence of God and invited their congregations to believe it as well! Priests during these days of panic, fear and suffering would go along the streets with the Blessed Sacrament in procession, alone, on their own, like one Milan priest did some days ago (this priest: https://lanuovabq.it/it/la-processione-di-padre-giambattista-novello-san-carlo).
        But they are only a few. Probably we deserve this, because also we faithful have grown cold.
        Well, thank you Charlie and again God bless everyone.

        Liked by 4 people

        1. I found this article.https://lanuovabq.it/it/a-te-un-altare-a-noi-la-salute-rivive-il-patto-del-voto
          After all the virus has indeed favored the re-discovery of the ancient popular faith and of making votes to the saints. The article reports how three different parish priests in three different parishes have made solemn public votes to three saints in exchange for the health of their parishioners.
          In particular, don Gino made a vote to the patron Saint Bartholomew, begged him to protect his parish and Italy and promised to erect an altar to him and to devote a special day of prayer and feast dedicated to him every year.
          Another parish priest made a vote to Saint Fortunate.
          And finally in three parishes near Padua, the only priest asked St. Michael the Archangel to protect the faithfuls and promised to build three statues of Saint Michael Archangel in the three parish churches and to institute an annual triduum dedicated to St. Michael.

          Liked by 6 people

    3. Lilia so sorry to hear of all of this!

      Desmond did you see this quote from Lilia..,”In the mean time there have been contemporary riots in almost 30 Italian prisons with rebellions, escapes and fires. “

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Yes, I did. Sounds like what they call in Alaska ‘The mukluk telegraph’* is in operation in the Italian prison system. [*The Mukluk Telegraph is, the spread of information and gossip by word of mouth in rural Alaska. When I was a boy, it was still a common expression up in the ‘North Country’ of Both Alaska & Northern Canada. The police in both territories could not figure out how word of things spread so rapidly. Before the telegraph or telephone were up there, often, someone they were trying to find and arrest would hear he was being sought by the police days before the US Marshals or the Mounties arrived in some remote village where the fugitive lived. No one has ever been able to figure it out. I suspect something similar is working in the Italian prisons.

        Liked by 3 people

    5. Dear Lilia ~

      I greatly appreciate your reports from Italy. God bless you and your family.

      In early February, the bishops of Oregon (my state), Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska made their ad limina visit to Rome, with a retreat in Siena. So far, I haven’t heard of any illness among these bishops.

      In my little parish in a nearby town, we are taking typical precautions to prevent transmission of the virus.

      Stay poised, friends, simply to acknowledge God, take next right steps, and be a sign of hope to those around you. (I love this standard operating procedure from Charlie.)

      God bless and keep you all ~
      Sister Bear

      Liked by 4 people

  7. I agree, Charlie. This is not the come-to-Jesus moment but, like most tidal waves, there are warning ripples. I am glad that the Lord Jesus has given us an early Spring this year and, when the weather gets even warmer, people may come to appreciate the cycles of weather and true climate change and I hope it kills off the contagion completely.

    I also have the same intuition that this was a man-made virus, unleashed to freeze out the Hong Kong protests. China’s government does not suffer such blatant insurrection without an overblown response such as this. Perhaps, in the Grand Scheme of Unintended Consequences, the underground Church has survived and Catholics have hunkered down and made their reassessments how to proceed. I have not forgotten the Suffering Church Militant in China. May the Lord Jesus be their Strength and their Rock of safety.

    For those who are Q-followers like me, the President recently retweeted a meme that showed him playing a violin with the caption, “…Nothing can stop what is coming,” which is Q-code indicating that the perpetrators of the Hoax Russia-gate and the Hoax Impeachment will be brought to justice. May the Lord Jesus grant us to see that those who started this soft COUP against our elected government be brought to true justice. If even one-third of what I have heard is true concerning Epstein, Hillary and Bill Clinton and Barack Obama is true, human justice is long overdue. As Q often quotes, “they cannot escape God.”

    Peace and all blessings to all who remain here. May our little flock grow in the grace of Christ Jesus.

    Liked by 11 people

  8. Charlie or Beckita, thinking about ham radio and possibly buying one for emergency use. I remember a past post. Can you put up the link for reference?

    Liked by 4 people

  9. I am ashamed to say I was panicking as well. Yesterday I became anxious because my daughter’s best friend just came back from a cruise to Mexico. I grabbed my bible and it opened on psalm 120.God is the keeper of his servants. “My helps comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth”. Then I thought how silly I was for panicking and not putting my trust only in Him. I will take my precautions, I have bought some food in case we need to stay in. But God is watching over his children always. His will be done.

    Liked by 12 people

  10. What an amazing and on point reflection, Charlie. Thank you. I have been very displeased that the precious blood has been withheld each year due to the flu and again now more widespread due to the coronovirus. But your words convicted me, it’s not my place to make that decision, I need to leave that up to the priests and bishops who have the responsibility to make that decision.

    I’ve been pretty sure this outbreak is not “it” but rather a foretaste and just a part of what is coming down the pike. And it’s been a useful one, kind of like a trial run or practice of how to respond in times of heightened crisis when people start reacting as they have (hoarding things in panic buying). Reasonable preps are prudent and needed, hoarding and panic buying is not prudent.
    But I’m sure God will make use of that too as those who stocked up now have full pantries and may have learned what they do and do not need in a real emergency.

    I’ve learned I can do better and be steadier when things really ramp up. Mea culpa, but back at it! 🙂

    Liked by 10 people

    1. The precious blood being consumed by only the priest has never bothered me… some days I’m well…most days I’m not and slightly fevered so I never ever ever risk others good health to my sickliness… never an option for me..

      Liked by 2 people

  12. It’s all about prudence! I don’t know what is at the root of the fear—politics? Desire for high ratings for news shows? It’s a mystery. My daughter’s children have been diagnosed with the flu and I have been around them so I’ll probably get it–sigh! Oh well. I’ll offer it up!

    Liked by 10 people

  13. “But most traditionalists are only hearkening back to what they remember from their own childhood or heard from their parents, without reference to or much knowledge of the actual 2,000-year history of the Church.”

    Most? That is not my experience, or that of the many families I know who have embraced tradition (after much study of the history and tradition of the Church). I think you generalize too broadly here to try and make your point.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It is a presumption – in part because, for example, I have never heard a single traditionalist call for a return to only consuming the Eucharist two or three times a year – as was the practice for laymen for about, 1,500 years in Church history. I very obviously sympathize in many ways with traditionalists – and have often been deeply offended by the way establishment authority in the Church has treated them. Yet I also have been offended lately that a more and more vocal segment of traditionalists is getting more and more triumphalist, as if the source of all of our problems is that we do not restrict things to the Latin Mass. Frankly, it reminds me of a silly fellow who, at 75 years old, is convinced that if he can just get back into his old Army uniform, he will be ready to join the Special Forces again. I know that form affects substance, but it is NOT the same as substance – a fact that I think God will remind some of the more triumphalist soon enough. That said, I continue to value the beauty of the Latin Mass and the right of each person to worship at the licit Mass of his choice.

      Liked by 9 people

      1. Charlie, Amen. You observed the once common practice of “… only consuming the Eucharist two or three times a year – as was the common practice for laymen for about, 1,500 years in Church History.” That was still the common practices for a heavy majority of the lay Catholics when in the 1940’s & 1950’s when I was a boy and then a teenager.

        Younger Catholics today tend to think historians are making it up – or perhaps only speaking of a practice in the Middle Ages – when they speak of that common practice. I lived it as an altar boy. My father taught us to receive whenever we were in the state of grace and had obeyed the fast rules. [People in good health then could only take water – no food – between midnight and when they received communion.]

        As an altar boy, I walked up and down the communion rail holding the paten under the chins of the communicants. I got a clear view of the fact that only a rather surprising minority of the people received at Sunday Mass. But the vast majority of those old enough for first communion received on Christmas and Easter Sundays.

        I asked my father why so few received communion each Sunday? – but mom and dad did – and after first communion I did.

        He told me it was from a misguided sense of unworthiness to receive the body and blood of Christ. They thought they weren’t “holy enough” to receive every Sunday. This was the case even with a number of parishioners I also saw at Confession on most Saturday afternoons [which was the common time to go to Confession in those days].

        Today, we have the opposite problem [as any traditionally minded parish priest can tell us]. Now virtually everyone goes to Communion each Sunday. But less than 5% of them frequent Confession outside of Holy Week [when they are preparing to receive on Easter Sunday].

        As Bishop Sheen and Pope Pius XII used to say, “The world has lost its sense of sin.” That unfortunately applies to many Catholics as well.

        What we need once more is the common understanding that both Confession and Reception of Communion should be frequent.

        All my love in Christ

        Desmond

        Liked by 4 people

        1. I well remember the era of which you write, Dez. And so it was in 1958 when I made my first communion. However, since I attended Catholic grade school (continued on with Catholic high school and Catholic undergraduate studies and degree) the school day began with 8am Mass – every day. I was one of a few, among the 500+ school kids – and sometimes the only one – who packed a brown bag with a cold hard boiled egg, a cold piece of toast and an orange so I could break the fast (kept from the night before) after Mass as I sat alone, or with a few, in the lunch room. This wasn’t nurtured at home for we were a struggling family in many serious ways; I just knew I needed the spiritual sustenance and yearned for union with Christ. The good Servite Sisters ensured that we were provided the opportunity for weekly confession, every Friday afternoon.

          After taking two years of piano lessons, I was set before the electronic organ in 5th grade by Sr. Mary Beata to accompany the singing at Mass. Not ready… tears flowing the first time… but was determined to make it work. And I improved. One delight was to provide the G7 and then C chord which prompted the ranks from Kindergarten through 8th grade to genuflect on the G7 and rise on the C. And, yes, it was kinda’ fun to sometimes keep ’em wondering how long that G7 would be held. Another delight was breaking in a new pipe organ in 7th grade. I never did study beyond those first two years of music lessons but playing piano and organ was a wonderful therapy all its own for me as, each time, I entered the zone of being mesmerized with music, leaving all cares behind and just entering into the melody before me.

          Amen to frequent confession and communion. May the sense of sin be rekindled where need be. May we all remember it is Divine Mercy Himself Who awaits us. This reminds me of my friend from Chicago who returned to the faith at the beginning of this year, having been raised Catholic but without much catechesis. She had journeyed into the goodness and beauty of the evangelical world and when she was ready to make her first confession she was at the Encounter Conference with the crowd. Another friend asked a priest just before Mass to tend to our mutual friend’s need for confession. The penitent was nearly overwhelmed with fear when she looked up and saw the priest approaching her. Unbeknownst to him, he transformed to an open vision of Jesus Divine Mercy and the woman was totally at peace as she unburdened herself in His Love. It was afterward that her new circle of Catholic friends told her about our Catholic teaching that the priest acts in persona Christi.

          Maranatha!

          Liked by 2 people

          1. Hi Beckie, For many centuries the “I’m not worthy to receive often” mentality had plagued the Church.

            It took Pope St. Piux X’s 1906 granting of a Plenary Indulgence for Catholics in the habit of receiving Communion 5 times a week — to begin to break loose from those “I’m not worthy to receive often” thoughts/beliefs. But positive response was grindingly slow and gradual. As you and I both experienced, up until fifty years ago – there was no general response to Piux X’s admonitions on the frequent reception of the Eucharist.

            The rigorist counter practice had been common in the Middle Ages, began to lose ground during the Renaissance. But it got a new lease on life with the rise of the Jansenist Heresy in the 17th century. Again, it wasn’t till the Pontificate of Piux X, when between 1905 and 1907, when he issued decree after decree encouraging ‘daily communion’, and issued a plenary indulgence for those who received 5 times a week or more that any serious positive movement occurred in this regard.

            Now what is needed is for the faithful to once again return to frequent CONFESSION AND COMMUNION.

            Liked by 2 people

  14. As for this which you posted in an earlier post: LInda:
    LINDA
    March 5, 2020 at 1:55 pm
    Most dangerous are those temptations which are so contrary to our calling that we are permanently dismissed from the Lord’s service. It is not that we necessarily lose our salvation, but that we lose our mission because we are found unfit for the Master’s service.

    Charlie, I’ve been pondering what this means for days… can you expand on this quote?

    As no one explained Linda, I would say it would be serious actions which would cause a person to be unfit for service in the ministry to which God has called them. Examples would be a priest or bishop abusing minors so they would lose all trust and lose their ability to serve. Married folks who are seriously unfaithful and lose the trust of their wives and children. Several examples but some serious acts cause a person to lose all ability to serve. As a social worker now retired, if I had been sexually inappropriate with clients I would have lost all trust and could no longer serve God in that service.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Bob, there was some expansion of thought on the quote in the comments which ensued. Hope the following passage from Charlie’s comment helps:

      St. Peter did not follow the path he thought he was supposed to, nor did St. Matthew…or probably any of the other disciples. Our God is a God of surprises – and what we think is the way we should go (even when perfectly licit and even noble) is not what God intends for us. What I speak of has more to do with your basic intent – failing to live the next right step to the best of your ability in the circumstances around you. Remember, as the Lord says, it is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out.

      Liked by 4 people

  15. Charlie,

    I do not think communion in the hand is any better. The biggest problem with communion on the tongue is that in many cases the person receives standing and so the priest is not at a good angle to place it on the tongue, especially if the priest is shorter than the recipient. The other issue is that in all too many diocese, the size of the communion host is actually smaller than it was 40 years ago, making it more difficult to place on the tongue.. In fact, when I received (on the tongue!) this last first Friday at a Roman church, I was surprised that the host was sized the way they were years ago.

    But, the other things is do we believe in transubstantiation or not? I receive on the tongue every Sunday (so long as I am in state of grace), and receive the body and blood of our lord via a spoon. truthfully, the circumstances there are better for transmission of viruses and bacteria. But, take the position of the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops:

    2 March, 2020

    Feast of St. Leo the Great, Pope of Rome and St. Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople

    TO: THE BELOVED CLERGY AND FAITHFUL OF OUR HOLY UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

    RE: THE ONSET OF A NEW VIRUS STRAIN CALLED CORONAVIRUS OR COVID-19

    Dear Brothers and Sister in our Lord,

    CHRIST IS AMONGST US! HE IS AND ALWAYS SHALL BE!

    The words of this traditional greeting and response between Orthodox Christians are a powerful proclamation of our firm belief that the Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity remains with us at all times and in all places, in particular having received His Most Holy Body and Blood in the Eucharist on a regular basis. We can be assured of this regardless of anything we face during this earthly pilgrimage, whether it is something that brings us overwhelming joy or something that poses a threat to us, like the deadly virus spreading throughout the world as we type these words.

    One faithful member of our Church contacted us recently and the first words out of her mouth were: “Here we go again!” She was not making light of the real threat that the coronavirus is. Rather, she is stating a fact that mankind has been faced with horrific plagues and communicable diseases throughout its existence. She enumerated the likes of the Black plague, the Bubonic plague, the West Nile virus, the BIRD flu, the Ebola virus and the Swine flu among other instances and she expressed her sincere hope that people will not look at this new threat of the coronavirus with a “no big deal” attitude. We join her in that hope and we urge all of our clergy and faithful to diligently take all measures in their personal and communal lives to protect themselves and others from the spread of this deadly virus.

    AS YOUR HIERARCHS, WE DO NOT PRETEND TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO INSTRUCT YOU REGARDING THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS YOU ALL SHOULD TAKE IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD TO PROTECT YOURSELVES AND YOUR FAMILIES, ALONG WITH THE HUMAN COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. FOR SUCH INSTRUCTIONS WE URGE YOU TO GO TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL – http://www.cdc.gov SO THAT YOU CAN EDUCATE YOURSELVES THE STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE IN YOUR DAILY LIVES. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE IN DOING THIS.

    With regard to Liturgical Worship in our Churches, we pray that you do not excuse yourselves based on fear from the absolutely necessary common worship – together as the sons and daughters of Christ – to pray along with the Mother of God for His protection during this crisis and to be prepared as parish families in Christ to reach out to the particular agencies in your local area that are providing care and necessities for those who are afflicted with this virus. We believe that our common prayer, in particular during this Great Lenten season, will offer a profound witness to God about our faith in His Power to eradicate this threat to mankind.

    * * * * * *

    We feel an urgent need to comment most specifically on the Holy Eucharist – receiving the Holy Body and Blood of Christ our Lord – in Holy Communion. We must during times like the present, never doubt in the power of the Chalice, dear brothers and sisters. It contains true LIFE and true LOVE by which no harm could ever enter our lives. When the common spoon of communion is dipped into the Chalice following the communion of one individual, it is cleansed by the Blood of our Lord beyond our broadest comprehension of what “cleansing” is in human terms. Throughout all the history of our more than two millennium Church, we can recall no thread of witness or even a shadow of one, indicating that any disease has ever been spread through the Chalice containing the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord. Perhaps the most convincing fact here is that if the Chalice did, indeed, spread disease, we would certainly be praying regularly for the repose of the souls of tens of thousands or more deacons and priests who, throughout the past 2000 years have consumed the full Chalices following communion of the faithful during hundreds of thousands of Divine Liturgies throughout our history. This is our faith, dearly beloved, and if we lose that faith, we are in grave danger far beyond the physical danger of a virus.

    We have confidence that just as the previous viruses and other threats to mankind have finally been defeated, we will witness the same today. Let us be exemplary examples of faith and action to one another – not only throughout the duration of the present threat – but throughout our lives. We can work miracles by that faith and in the resulting joy, draw others in to Christ’s Vineyard. You all are in our prayers daily and we ask for yours for ourselves. St. James states clearly: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing Psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH WILL SAVE THE SICK, AND THE LORD WILL RAISE HIM UP.” (James 5:13-15)

    CHRIST IS, INDEED AMONGST US! HE IS AND ALWAYS SHALL BE!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. This causes a take pause moment for me, James. Certainly, Christ is truly present. Equally true: Jesus Christ is present under the appearances of bread and wine, the very bread and wine produced in a way made possible via the goodness of God’s own natural order. Surely, nothing evil comes from God so, of course, He wouldn’t transmit the flu to anyone. At the same time, it is certainly possible, in the natural order, for germs to be placed on the elements of a host or in wine.

      With all respect for the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops, I can’t imagine there’s absolute proof for this: Throughout all the history of our more than two millennium Church, we can recall no thread of witness or even a shadow of one, indicating that any disease has ever been spread through the Chalice containing the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord. Just because it’s never been recorded doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

      I fully agree with points made that an almost insane panic has beset many thereby provoking great fear, yet, it seems this statement is taking things to the nth degree in the opposite direction.

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Beckita,

        The Orthodox bishops made the same claim when HIV appeared in the 1980s. But if you step over to Father Allan McDonald’s website “Southern Orders,” there has been a long standing discussion on germs and communion between Father Allan and Father Michael Kavenaugh. Generally, I agree with Father Allan on liturgical matters. But in the matter of communion, I agree with Father Mike, a trained scientist, who states we have nothing to fear from communion from a health standpoint.

        Ultimately. I think the question is whether communion is Christ or it is not. Christ will protect his sheep and He never feeds us from the serpent, but the Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation. Communion will only be deleterious for me if I am not in a state of grace. It is no longer bread and wine, but our Lord and only has the appearance of bread and wine and therefore no germs will harm me when I receive our Lord.

        Liked by 3 people

        1. I think you overstate the case, James. We receive the true body and blood in the form of bread and wine – and so while we always receive the spiritual fortification from that, we might still be subject to the ordinary consequences from the form. Like Jesus when He walked the earth, it is not an either/or situation – the ordinary form of the consecrated Host is a reality that co-exists with the spiritual reality that it is the True Body and Blood of Our Lord. I actually happen to think you are right, but I am uncomfortable with you presenting our mutual opinion in a way that makes it sound as if it is formal Church teaching, when it simply is not. The form retains all its natural properties while being supernaturally and invisibly transformed.

          On my pilgrimage, I never feared drinking creek and river water (often needed it) and I never used any sort of purification devices or pills. I said a particular prayer before eating or drinking (“Come Lord Jesus, purify this food. Let it lead me to strength, to apostolate, and to take the next right step at all times, in all places, and in all situations. Amen”) One fellow who had challenged me on my disinterest in temporal purification techniques, asked me if that meant I thought that if he poured poison into my water in front of me, it would not harm me. “No,” I told him, “that would be presumption and I would not drink it. On the other hand, if you put poison in it earlier and I was unaware of it, then I do NOT believe it would harm me when I drank it.”

          Liked by 6 people

          1. Charlie, I responded without realizing you had also replied to James and you, as ever, more precisely say what I was trying to convey: “…we might still be subject to the ordinary consequences from the form.” and “The form retains all its natural properties while being supernaturally and invisibly transformed.”

            And the prayer you prayed before eating or drinking brings to mind what I’m already praying in regards to the virus. May it pass over us, our families and friends and ALL peoples. And if it should come to any one of us, I pray it is a brief course of illness with minimal effect on our bodies. Not a frantic cry, but a petition offered with gentle, trusting love.

            Of course, from the Babylon Bee, we have word that: God To Flood Earth With Hand Sanitizer

            Liked by 3 people

        2. Interesting, James, about the discussion between the priests. Thank you for mentioning them. I understand transubstantiation and I see what you’re reiterating from the Bishops. Restating their stance as you have has softened my original thought that this is going too far in the opposite direction. These are not easy decisions to make. Christ certainly could prevent the germs from being transmitted, yet, we have no definitive teaching – at least none of which I’m aware – which states what the Bishops convey. Seeking to be true here as I ponder that Jesus was like us in all things but sin and unintentionally transmitting a virus is not sinful so I pause, again, thinking that if there was a possibility to more readily spread the virus through use of the chalice, why not, for a season, refrain from receiving under both species and receive only the host which contains the fullness of Christ’s Body and Blood? God bless, James.

          Liked by 3 people

          1. Beckie, you ae correct. There is no teaching of the Church that disease cannot be passed on through either the host or the chalice. And try to prove a negative is impossible – as is recognized by all who know their logic. In order to ‘show’ that something is a ‘teaching’ one must demonstrate the flip side positive. i.e., In order for those Eastern Orthodox Bishops to to have a credible case – they would have to show the Church has taught this idea. But they cannot, because the Magisterium has never that I have seen taught that. [BTW, pointing out that some early Christian writer thought so and so – does not constitute the truth of so-and-so or such-and-such.

            Liked by 3 people

          2. Beckita, as a Roman you certainly have the option of avoiding the chalice, but as a Byzantine I do not. God will protect me when I receive Him.

            Liked by 3 people

  16. True to form Charlie makes me whip my head around with the quote, “Actually, I am kind of glad there has been such a panic.” Reminding me always that God does want us to forever look for Him in the negative events of the day. I also love the part offering us points of self reflection on how we are doing in the storm. I pray I may proclaim the kingdom with my body! Thanks for the article and keeping truth in the forefront of our minds.

    Liked by 7 people

  17. So you’re saying we shouldn’t buy 1,000 rolls of toilet paper and hide under our beds? This does seem like a warning of what to do in a serious crisis that may be in the near future. God bless all here.

    Liked by 5 people

    3. Not a bad idea! I’m certainly taking this seriously, but it’s okay to have a laugh here and there. Reflecting on the situation has made me realize how much God has blessed me and my family in recent years. Following the guidance of public health officials involves only small changes to my lifestyle. It’s much harder on the psyche of “movers and shakers” and older and physically vulnerable people.

      Liked by 4 people

  20. “Then I act with confidence, knowing that even with uncertainty, no one answers the call of the uncertain strumpet.” That is true.

    I have a question that perhaps can be answered

    Is consuming a desecrated consecrated host better for your soul than a spiritual communion? The Host was desecrated through no fault of you and you receive it with reverence.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I just read a headline in the NY Times that the nursing home industry is urging no more visits in the wake of the virus. Makes me sad to think that they our seniors would be even more alone than some of them already are. One of my mother’s close friends was just diagnosed with brain cancer and doesn’t have much longer to live. I hope that she will be able to have her family by her side as she gets closer to heaven. Praying for our vulnerable seniors and all affected. St. Peregrin, St. Raphael, Mother Mary, intercede for the healing of all our sick ones.

    Liked by 7 people

    1. What a wonderful prayer, Juls! The satan desperately tries to isolate us in order to foment despair. Let us take our cues on the matter from St. Mother Teresa and from St. Damien – and live solidarity with those vulnerable and isolated.

      Liked by 5 people

      1. Hmmm…St. Damien, I have never heard of him. I will have to check him out. The only Damien I know of is from the movie, ‘The Omen.’ When I was in 6th grade my best friend’s mother took us to see it and to this day every time I hear that name I get the heebie-jeebies. That movie scarred me for life. I will look him up. Always want to know more about our saints in heaven praying for us. I call on them every time I cantor at church to give my vocals a boost and make up for what I lack in leading our congregation at mass. ~juls

        Liked by 3 people

      2. A reply to my reply…I forgot about Cosmas and Damian who are called upon in the Canon of the Mass. But I think you were referring to St. Damien who lived with the Leper colony in Hawaii. The saints always inspire me to know that anything is possible for those who love God.

        Liked by 4 people

    2. SJ, my 95 year old mother is in the local independent living place near me in Florida. That facility now checks everyone’s temp when they visit and asks everyone if they have been somewhere where Covid is common, are you coughing, etc. It keeps everyone aware of the situation and to take care, but I doubt it will do anything to reduce the actual risk significantly. The fact is that if the virus gets into such a facility, it can cause serious havoc, so I am patient with these new checks. If they were to close the facility to visitors, I would have an absolute fit. That is just so wrong. I would pull my mother out instantly and keep her out until they came to their senses, and raise holy heck in the meantime.

      Most people in this facility are happy. The ones who are not are generally the ones who have no children or loved ones who visit. I see my mother every day. The contact and love from family I’m sure counterbalances a lot of the risk from a virus.

      Liked by 7 people

      1. That’s beautiful Steve. You are such a light. I hope that when my 78yr old mother gets to that point that I can be as devoted. She has been thinking of moving to an assisted living center near the nursing home she wants to be at if the time should come. I hope and pray that your mother is and stays healthy as she can during these unusual times. God bless you and her. ~juls

        Liked by 5 people

  22. For the first half; I aggree Charlie. The secondary effects of the coronavirus seem more disrupting (disruption of trade & shortage of supplies).

    Could this be a extention of China’s trade war? By creating a supply shortage of Made in China products, the enemy hopes to create a summer of unrest & pannic as the world has todo without some goods?

    It is curious why China would shut down for a virus comparable to the flu? They don’t shut down for the multiple strains of the flu…

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I wish could say I calm & cool all the time, the possibility of a supply shortage when there’s 2 feet of snow outside is a bit distressing. Approx 5-6 months of the year has snow in it for those of us living in Canada, it’s hard to not worry about survival durring the winter months. I guess we’re going to have to learn how to preserve & pickle foods, a skill lost to the newer generations.

      Liked by 4 people

  23. This was probably your best piece yet Charlie..I’m gonna print this out Wowsie Wowser wowsie!!!

    I’m gonna handwrite this little prayer out at the end of my little voice here and sticky note next to “Lord, lead me on a plain path….”

    I’ll be reading re-reading posting and reposting this one for sure!!!

    Thank you, Charlie! You put sooo much heartfelt energy, thought, prayer and vigor into this piece just for us and for those whom we come into contact with!!!

    Just brilliant with the brilliancy of the grace of God!!!

    I had sort of a cool day…Mass first with Fr Francis… Then I cleaned for this wonderful “just retired” cancer dr. He’s Muslim from India so I often tell him about my priest Fr Francis from India… but we had the most wonderful laugh… he said…”I’ve worked so hard all these years so now I can travel and now they tell me I’m not allowed to travel!!!”

    We must have laughed together for like a minute and a half🤣🤣🤣 what a beautiful soul Dr Sidiqui is.., truly I saw Christ in him. Joy, serenity and acceptance of life situations. Also great humility. We had a nice day together 🤗♥️🥥

    Charlie I told Fr Francis and Dr Sidiqui both about eating coconut 🥥 during this time and Fr Francis said it is a great staple in his country and also here at Norwalk st Mary’s… he said the women from India put it in their hair and that is why their hair is so full and so black. He said he should have done it as well like his brother priest Fr Chris for Fr Chris has full head of hair and Fr Francis not so much.., we also had a good laugh!!!

    “Lord, you know I love you. I am not certain what is the most right step here, but I am going to take this action, praying that if it is the wrong step, You will show me and help me to correct course to what is pleasing to You.” CJ

    Liked by 5 people

  24. Btw I just keep telling people to eat lots of coconut 🥥 get in a state of grace and keep in a state of grace… they still look at me like I’m a weirdo 😂

    Liked by 3 people

      1. Amen to that Beckita I think they thought the apostles were pretty whacked out too so we might be in pretty good company 😂 hopeful over here 🙏

        Btw if y’all could say a little prayer for me & others next few days… speaking of Charlie’s beginning quote:

        “And so we go on, into the storm, through the storm”
        -close of Winston Churchill’s radio address after the fall of Singapore

        ….well… for next few days I’m helping a friend by cleaning his/her home and the “his” in his/her was in Singapore last week delivering something for RolesRoyce???

        I saw him before he left and expressed my concerns with coronavirus but he was fearless. I’m not only worried for myself (who have very bad lungs) but also for mike and for the man who actually went to Singapore who retired (partly) due to very aggressive cancer.., yikes!!!

        Gods will be done! 🙏 but thank you for a little prayer..,

        Off now up up and away 🦸‍♀️to BOLDLY PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!!🤴🏻👸🏻(the emojis are Jesus and His Queen Mother, Our Mother, Mary!)

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Oh yeah need to add that to my preps! 😂. But I thought it might also be metaphoric for abiding in God as sustenance since coconuts have both meat and milk….

      Liked by 5 people

      2. Irish7, you are right! We used to harvest coconuts when we lived in the Caribbean. Husband would whack them open with a machete, then we’d drink the milk and give some of the meat to the dogs. We were all very healthy back then. 🙂

        Liked by 3 people

      2. Hehehehe Stevebc & No better place to be😛🤪🥳🤓🤣🐵🙈🙉🙊🐒 just LOVE my fellow monkeys, squirrels and coconuts!!! 🥥 How grateful I am to have y’all in our cyberspace community 🐿🌞🌎

        Liked by 4 people

  25. I have quoted Bishop Sheen before since his statement is so accurate for this time:
    “God will not allow unrighteousness to become eternal. Revolution, disintegration, chaos, must be reminders that our thinking has been wrong, our dreams have been unholy. Moral truth is vindicated by the ruin that follows when it has been repudiated. The chaos of our times is the strongest negative argument that could ever be advanced for Christianity …”
    Some of my children were complaining about the local church restricting communion to in the hand. This led to a flurry of texts and links debating the pros and cons of it. I ended the debate by stating that these kinds of events sometimes lead us into an official proclamation by the Church. I said that either way, the Church has the authority to do this being given “all power and authority” to “loose or bind”. If by this crisis we define the Real Presence (not that it wasn’t defined before) it may start a movement to bring this devotion back to its rightful place in the Church again.
    Freemasonry is not the only ones who do not let a good crisis go to waste!

    Liked by 6 people

  26. Hello all,

    I don’t think the corona virus is the “big one” of the century. From what I have read, many people with the virus have only cold-like symptoms. Influenza symptoms seems so much worse – where you are lying in bed with every muscle aching, delirious from fever and you are sure you are dying. Right?

    The big problem I see with the virus is the panic. I told my daughter this evening that we have to stock up on my granddaughter’s formula. I said that I’m not worried about the virus killing us, but that people are going to clear off the shelves when it arrives here. Our little miracle, Serenity Joan, can only tolerate ready-to-use formula which is already prone to being out-of-stock. Luckily, I have a good supply of food in storage so no worries about feeding the big people (at least for a period of time).

    God bless!

    Liked by 5 people

  27. Charlie!!!

    I just read this piece in its entirety to Michael!!

    He really really liked your (ahem) and I produced it perfectly for him twice.., thank you very much😁. he said, “Really??? I’ve never heard that done before! Really cool!”

    Then he finished with…”Charlie can write! Wow!” TNRS ASOH

    ALWAYS A HAPPY DAY IN OUR HOUSEHOLD TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD VIA CHARLIE🤗

    He liked it Charlie! I could tell he was heartened 🤗

    Liked by 2 people

  28. The locusts in Revelation that appear with the fifth trumpet have little crowns.
    It’s only chapter nine and they are only given five months to torment those with the mark of the beast.
    So-it gets worse before it gets better.
    Even if this isn’t the playing out of the Revelation we shouldn’t expect the pattern to be different.
    They are all calls to repentance and seem to be characterized by a retrenchment against the good by those who don’t listen or are unpersuaded.

    Liked by 2 people

  29. These are all very interesting comments to read. Charlie I keep checking your posts because they are full of insight and great perspective. I have commented in the past but not very often. I am a 65yo RN who has worked in hospitals all of my adult life just for background. I know we are all wary and dismissive of the media these days and for good reason. But yesterday at work an obstetrician was chatting at the desk with a bunch of us nurses. She is a calm person and not given to over-reacting. She said her husband is a physician specialized in infectious disease and he runs a large clinic in Minneapolis for tuberculosis. She said that it has been 100 years since the human race has been exposed to a brand new virus, which is what this is. The last time it happened 50 million people died from the spanish flu as others have said. As the news articles state, the vulnerable ones right now are the elderly and immunocompromised. It will come to a point when we will all have been exposed and they will get it from their friends and family. The Minnesota Dept of Health has already told her husband that his clinic is going to be the triage center because it has a lot of rooms and they are negative flow rooms which is important to prevent contamination. It is sobering to think of losing elderly family and friends over the next 3-4 months. I think it is possible that we will not have enough ICU beds available to handle the extra patients. I also wonder if closing the churches in Italy right now will save some lives of the elderly and was more for them than the priests being afraid. These are just thoughts. I am not afraid but my heart is heavy because I can see that it is too late to change what is going to transpire over the next few months according to this doctor. A week ago I was laughing about the sell-out of toilet paper and hand sanitizer with fellow nurses, one of which was a nurse about to go on a cruise with her family. I wish I was still laughing. It feels like the storm we have been in for awhile just got worse.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Either the storm – or fear of it – will get worse before it gets better. When the Ebola scare was coming, a research doctor I knew told me this could wipe out 40% of the world’s population – that it was completely different from any virus the world had EVER seen before. So I have heard all of this before – and from health professionals. It is why I remain skeptical.

      But the bottom line is that it will or it won’t – and whichever way it lands, we definitively have some very sorrowful days ahead of us, whether it is from this or from something else. There is much to be sorrowful about – for ultimately many will suffer because we would not bear sound doctrine and live in truth. One of the most poignant lines from the Gospels is from Luke 13:34 – “…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not.” Jesus was deeply sorrowful at all the people who would suffer despite His best efforts. There is a price for massive disorder – and that price is often paid by people who did not bring the disorder about.

      I appreciate you giving the take your friend has on this, Donna. I take it as a given that sorrows must now come – and my focus remains on how we can act to help recall people to the safety that is in Christ and His order. It is sobering to see it coming in real time, but there it is. May God bless and keep you.

      Liked by 6 people

    2. Donna, thank you for our service. If the quarantine goes further, you may be the only human kindness your patients see for a while. Hopefully all the quarantines will slow the illness down so our medical supply chain and ICU beds can assist the truly needy. Looking at Italy, it appears that the rate of infection overwhelmed the system and medical staff pretty quickly. One of my daughters just started her first clinical RN training at a long-term ICU facility near Boston and commented on just how vulnerable these patients are to any new illness.

      Liked by 2 people

  30. I was reading this earlier today and trying to weigh honestly if Charlie’s exhortation applied to me in any way. I wasn’t sure because I have not felt fearful, but have earnestly taken steps to protect my family. Well I got my answer sooner than I would have liked. I have been quietly preparing (think research and homeopathic tinctures and modest supplies and the like) and using extreme caution out and about. I do have some immune compromised kids so I’m generally vigilant, but had taken it to a new level. Also my husbands company was one of the first in the area to make everyone work from home (this was a huge win in my mind) and our small part time Christian school of course closed early in the game, but I likely would have pulled the kids anyway bc we can just as easily do the work at home. At this point there were four cases in my state. To my great satisfaction, all of my family members were home full time in our rural setting with no exposure to the outside world and me in COMPLETE CONTROL of this crisis. Yep. There it is. So sneaky and insidious. My house of cards fell hard and quickly when my husband’s corporation contacted us tonight to notify him that several members of his division had had close exposure last week to a confirmed case. One of those so exposed and placed under quarantine happens to be my husband’s boss. And my husband spent the day today at said boss’s home in a small group of 3 (because working from home restrictions) to do some planning. So just FOUR cases in the entire state and despite my complete lock down of my family, we are somehow exposed and monitoring. Ok. Sharp left turn. Tonight I’m (re)focusing and (re)routing my energy on prayer and God’s plan and control over the situation. It takes me awhile, but I do get there.

    Liked by 7 people

  31. The Wuhan Pandemic remains what it is, nothing more than a mere spark coming out from a fuse that has already been lit long ago by a somewhat unseen source attached to a very complex explosive that will eventually go ablaze designed to take the world with it. So be it. We will have the groundskeepers fill the moats around our humble little Château with fire rather than water, lest either the infection or the insanity reach the gate. After which we will enjoy a chilled glass of deliciously cold iced tea with our pastries as the rulers of this present age bring about famine, pestilence, & war to this overly fearful world. We wonder, should they wear gloves & masks as they drain the water & light the fire or be quarantined before returning inside? Perhaps one of the first laws to be enacted in the Kingdom of France & Navarre should be to ban the television set, but only after the politicians, media moguls, & the other reprobates are placed before our newly restored guillotine that our predecessors captured from the revolutionaries.

    Liked by 3 people

  32. Perhaps our POTUS might follow Abraham Lincoln’s example of declaring a national day of prayer and fasting.
    3/30/1863:
    “And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

    And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

    It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

    Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

    All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.
    In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.”
    (remainder)-http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/fast.htm

    Liked by 8 people

  34. Finally read the second half…

    Good insights, sheesh, I stumble, fumble, error, and fall short more often than I like… Being a Christian definitely isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s hard not to loose one’s cool when faced with the Godless & the immoral without being permissive or indifferent.

    Liked by 4 people

  35. I think everyone should give the panicky people a little break. Here’s why:

    First, humans do know what is coming – we do have some idea of the future in our present-day life. This is scientifically proven. It’s possible that the panicky people are over-reacting to the *current* situation but picking up on what is coming. Charlie talks regularly of a storm. What if the panicky people are reacting outwardly to the Covid but actually to the coming Storm?

    Second, in my investigations I have come to believe that Covid-19 is indeed a bioweapon and there are at least 2 and possibly 4 (or more by now) variants that affect different ethnic groups differently. The variant(s) that got loose in Wuhan infect people by attaching to ACE2 targets in the lungs, and Asian-DNA people have 5 times as many ACE2 targets in their lungs as non-Asian-DNA people. Males have more targets than females. The videos of people falling down on the streets of Wuhan show mostly if not only Asian-DNA males. The virus also went almost immediately to Iran, only that one (or two?) was a different variant that appears to be less specific. That variant went from Iran to Italy very shortly thereafter. The damage in Iran is intense. I gather a good portion of the leadership is sick and a number of their elites have died already, and internal unrest is rising.

    For all I know, the variant that has come to the US is the Asian-DNA variant that would not be particularly a problem here among most of our population. Anyway, it’s very important to keep in mind that any bioweapon would be produced in several different variants and with the ability to mutate unusually rapidly, and that we all need to realize that different countries and different populations will have very different experiences if different variants are loose. It seems that the Chinese targeted specific ethnicities when developing their variants. If you or I get one that isn’t targeted at our DNA type, we would probably have a mild case. You can’t decide that the Covid-19 virus is a nothing burger based on what you see *directly* around you.

    Finally, keep in mind that the hardest hit countries will rapidly find their medical and reporting systems overwhelmed. Chinese authorities sent over 40,000 healthcare workers into Hubei – do you think that was because it killed only a couple thousand people? So far, the most hard hit areas are China and Iran which are known to suppress information. It’s relatively easy for them to suppress what’s really going on and lots of incentives to do that. So what happens here in the USA is not likely to be much similar to what’s happening in Iran or China. And China knows that once the truth comes out, they will be a pariah nation – lots of incentive to fake their numbers and try to shift the blame to the US, which is exactly what they are doing.

    Desmond is right, this will either peter out or come in waves. Are panicky people aware of the wave 2 that is barreling down on us, or is it not barreling down on us but rather they are seeing other, larger problems about to hit us like tsunamis? A few months from now you might find you wish you panicked and bought a lot of toilet paper back when these others were panicking and you were shaking your head over their silliness! 🙂

    Liked by 10 people

    1. Eloquent and erudite as usual, Steve. I thought your first point was particularly – and almost eerily telling. People have been saying to me for some months now that they can feel something in the air. What if, indeed, the panic right now is displaced anxiety over what most feel but cannot yet define. This is the best explanation I have seen yet as to why there is a panic that seems disproportionate to the actual data I have seen thus far.

      And you tell them at that nursing home they better take good care of her and let you in. I know there are a couple of lobsters in the sound with our names on them yet!

      Liked by 7 people

      1. More than a couple, Charlie! 🙂

        All I can say about the eerie feeling is that I think we should take it as a strong hint that everyone should stock up on toilet paper after all. I’m not sure we’ll be able to obtain enough miraculous TP at the height of the Storm when the poo hits the fan. 😀

        Liked by 2 people

        1. I made a big run to Costco about 2 weeks ago and my husband was not happy with the bill! Yes, I did buy toilet paper. Stocking up on 4 weeks’ worth of food and necessities is prudent and not what I would consider panicky. When people are buying HUGE quantities of one item, then I think it’s a little funny. A guy behind me in line had about five giant bags of romaine lettuce and I really wondered what he was up to. Maybe it was for a restaurant, but it did seem funny to imagine him eating huge quantities of caesar salad during the Apocalypse. One must question the morality of the hoarding mentality. Resources may be scarce and there needs to be enough for everyone. As Charlie has said, we should be prepared and willing to share with others.

          Liked by 1 person

      1. So I looked it up on the website of the Italian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

        First, there is the message of March 5 where, as a reaction to a Government request, the Conference “asks” that “in the risk zones” no masses are celebrated “during the week” until April 3.

        https://www.chiesacattolica.it/coronavirus-la-posizione-della-cei/

        Then there is its statement of March 8, in which the Conference “abides” the Italian Government decree which prohibits any public gathering, explicitly including “religious ceremonies”. So it is not the Conference issuing the decree, but the civil Government, and the Conference limits itself to abide its authority.

        https://www.chiesacattolica.it/decreto-coronavirus-la-posizione-della-cei/

        You can use translate.google.com to understand the texts, just copy and paste the URLs.

        Like

    2. Diocese of Seattle,WA has cancelled all masses including Sunday until further notice.

      https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/seattle-archdiocese-suspends-public-masses-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-23011

      Today’s 3/12/20 First mass reading
      Jeremiah 17:5-10

      5 Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the LORD.

      *******
      I think this Psalm sums things up…

      Psalms 91:1-16

      1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,

      2 will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

      3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;

      4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

      5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

      6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

      7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.

      8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

      9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your habitation,
      10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.

      11 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.

      12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
      13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
      14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
      15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him.
      16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

      Trust in God.

      Have faith.

      Jesus, I trust in you.

      Liked by 2 people

        1. Here’s another good one:

          Our Lady of the House

          O sweet and gentle Lady, Immaculate Mother of God,
          we choose thee this day as the Mistress and Lady of this house.
          Guard it, dear Mother from pestilence, fire, lightning and tempest,
          from schisms and heresies, and from the malice of enemies.
          Protect its inmates, sweet Mother, watch over their going out
          and their coming in and preserve them from sudden death.
          Keep from us all sin and harm and pray to God for us that we may
          live in His service and depart this life in His grace.
          Amen.

          Liked by 2 people

  37. I wore the Purple scapular (from Marie-Julie Jeheney scapular of benediction and protection) yesterday while out and about all day long along with my brown scapular & I must admit I felt an extra calm🤔

    Liked by 3 people

  38. JESUS=GOOD NEWS 😉

    https://stream.org/doj-defends-catholic-school-sued-for-letting-employee-go-after-same-sex-wedding/

    https://www.crisismagazine.com/2020/towards-a-catholic-politics

    https://stream.org/up-against-spiritual-deception/

    https://cnsnews.com/blog/melanie-arter/priest-coronavirus-shook-hands-hundreds-worshippers-officials-say

    https://cnsnews.com/commentary/charlie-daniels/charlie-daniels-schumers-whirlwind-threat-sign-apostate-nation

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/03/federal-court-rules-school-district-was-right-in-firing-high-school-coach-for-silently-praying-on-50-yard-line-after-football-games/

    https://www.foxnews.com/media/dr-ozs-coronavirus-survival-guide

    Click to access tips.pdf

    https://amgreatness.com/2020/03/08/california-is-a-cruel-medieval-state/

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/03/09/makes-sense-dnc-control-agents-created-biden-coalition-with-promises-of-administration-positions/comment-page-1/#comment-7918080

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/03/11/mini-tuesday-takeaways-the-dnc-club-has-bernie-surrounded-now-comes-the-terms-for-exit/

    https://jonathanturley.org/2020/03/10/trinity-college-professor-doubles-down-on-whiteness-is-terrorism-position/

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 4 people

  40. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” 2Chr 7:14

    Liked by 5 people

  41. I don’t like to say to someone that a particular piece is their best work ever.

    As much as I’m blown away by Monet’s “Water Lillies,” or Homer’s “The Gulf Stream,” each was prolific in their craft. Maybe the reason the water lillies or boats on the water studies resonate so much is because those works best encapsulated what those artists had to say. I see that in play with “Water Lillies,” and can’t help but marvel that there, in a small pond, Monet became enthralled himself with the grand sweep of life. And bursting at the seams with a just a wee slice of grace filled understanding, he couldn’t help but share it with us –– and with such remarkable clarity!

    I particularly like this small line: “We are called to be rigorous with ourselves and charitable to others, not vice-versa.” Years hence during some retrospective, I want to imagine some deep discussion involving that line. That’s a little stand alone masterpiece right there, though it would be really important to have a much broader understanding of the entire body of work. For example, what did he mean by “charitable” (charity)? I’m fairly certain you weren’t simply talking about being nice, what with the way you’ve always charitably acknowledged the uniqueness of each soul and the virtually countless dispositions.

    Was Jesus “nice” as far as the world’s way of understanding it (most especially the present world)? Clearly, no. But He was Charity Himself nevertheless. I truly think that if we can “go on, into the storm, through the storm” and never lose sight of Charity, we’ve got this thing licked.

    No, won’t say that this is your best column ever, but will note that the stunning clarity sweeps me up.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. “We are called to be rigorous with ourselves and charitable to others, not vice-versa.”(CJ).
      I remember reading how the saints, when reaching the higher forms of holiness, considered themselves the greatest of sinners.
      Now, to a layman, this seems a prudish thought brought about by a false humility. Truth is, the closer a saint draws towards God, the brighter the light shines on their wretchedness and fallen nature for: “to whom much is given, much is expected.”
      They recognised, by this lofted position, that they are even more responsible for their sins than a lesser soul who is ignorant of these mysteries. Having the gift of insight and knowledge above other men they recognised the pitiable state we all are in, this being no less acknowledged within themselves. Dispite the gifts of grace and holiness they have a true terror of the comparitable Gulf between them and God, like a man with a powerful telescope viewing the stars and recognising how infinitesimal he is in the universe. The love they gain by this closeness ignites a furvor in them to please Our Lord and a dread to displease Him. This enacts an abandonment of self will in a hope to please Him (dispite this wretchedness) by the fervent recourse to His grace and Will.
      Jesus was hard on the Pharacies and Scribes because they knew better. He was gentle with “tax collectors and harlots” because they didn’t. He treated each person differently in order to convert them. Some needed love and gentleness, others fire and brimstone. The Great Physician knows each man’s cure.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I think it has less to do with what people know, or think they know, and more to do with whether they’re disposed to Christ. All are sinners. Consider Ss. Paul and Mary of Magdalene and whether or not He was gentle with them.

        Seems that reaching the higher forms of holiness could also be described as attaining an increasing clarity with regard to the love and mercy of the Savior. Really, no matter the history of the sinner, it truly leaves one thankfully breathless.

        No thoughts on the matter of “clarity” in the works of the impressionist Monet?

        Liked by 2 people

        2. Charisms form a unique line between us and God. Monet channeled his view of beauty in this way and those of us open to his charismatic “language” respond to it.

          Liked by 1 person

  43. Feeling so grateful to Charlie’s yes and all here for preparing us for so many years..the look on the faces of. Our. Beautiful fellows is that of fear confusion and dismayed frustration… amen to think of just beginning to understand now in the midst of this storm.. thank you God for waking us all up! What a Divine Mercy 🤗

    Liked by 2 people

  44. I’ve not posted for a long time here, and am not up to speed on comments in the last few months, but these quarantines sure sound like something I heard about, oh, circa 2016 right here on this blog under its former name. I’m also hearing about elections cancelled, marshal law, a worldwide crisis, and maybe its four years late but its all very interesting.

    Should we hope for a late 2020 rescue….or should we fear any rescue is merely the antichrist bringing his “solution” to human problems so that we fall down and worship him. Serious inquiry here. Respect for all.

    Liked by 3 people

  45. Well, call me crazy but I don’t think this Wuhan virus is a gift from God. I think it is a gift most likely from Satan via the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. God does bring good out of bad stuff.

    The reaction to this spreading virus is quite interesting … it depends on your point of view. Here is a pretty good analysis of the two basic approaches to this virus: The Growthers vs Base Raters

    https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-03-03/how-fast-will-the-new-coronavirus-spread-two-sides-of-the-debate

    Growthers

    “The term growthers refers to the notion of exponential growth, and indeed the number of Covid-19 cases appears (by some accounts) to be following an exponential pattern. Some scientists have estimated that the number of cases doubles about every seven days. If you play that logic out, it is easy enough to see how people might be complacent at first, then in a few months there is a public health crisis.

    The growther approach seems most common among people trained in mathematics, finance, and those who work in technology. Finance is centered on the idea of exponentially compounding returns, where small initial gains turn into something quite large. So financial professionals understand the growther perspective.”

    Base Raters

    “The base-raters, when assessing the likelihood of a particular scenario, start by asking how often it has happened before. That is, they estimate its base-rate likelihood. And history shows that major pandemics have lately been rare. The SARS and Ebola outbreaks largely petered out, HIV-AIDS was of a very different nature, and the 1957 and 1968 flu epidemics are now distant memories.

    Base-raters acknowledge the exponential growth curves for the number of Covid-19 cases, but still think that the very bad scenarios are not so likely — even if they cannot exactly say why. They view the world as hard to model, and think that parameters do not remain stable for very long. They are less convinced by analytical and mathematical arguments, and more persuaded by what they have seen in their own experience. They tend to be pragmatic and rooted in the moment.”

    We got a lot of Base Raters here at ASOH. Me? Growther. How will we know who wins this argument? Time. How much time? Not a hell of a lot of time at all.

    How quickly does this particular coronavirus spread? Well, some say it doubles every 7 days. Maybe or maybe not. Maybe it is slower than that estimate. As my old boss used to say : Let’s just for fun assume this estimate is somewhere in the ballpark what does that mean in the U.S? What does exponential growth look like Something like this:

    Confirmed Confirmed Mortality
    Cases Deaths Rate

    March 11 1,000 29 2.9%

    March 18 2,000 58 2.9%

    March 25 4,000 116 2.9%

    April 1 8,000 232 2.9%

    April 8 16,000 464 2.9%

    April 15 32,000 928 2.9%

    April 22 64,000 1,856 2.9%

    April 29 128,000 3,612 2.9%

    May 6 256,000 7, 224 2.9%

    May 13 512,000 14,448 2.9%

    May 20 1.024.000 28,896 2.9%

    There are those that are saying the Mortality Rate is going to be ONLY 1%. Ok, if the spread keeps doubling and we hit that 1 million cases in the U.S. by May 20 then we would be looking at a MERE 10,000 deaths ….. by May 20 …. that’s about 6 weeks from now. Shrug it off.

    Worksheets are worksheets. Reality never quite matches the estimates. Estimates are fun sometimes. But reality can bite. Hard.

    So how do we stop this sucker? God loves those who help themselves.

    https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-cancel-everything/607675/

    The Three Facts

    Fact One

    “The first fact is that, at least in the initial stages, documented cases of COVID-19 seem to increase in exponential fashion. On the 23rd of January, China’s Hubei province, which contains the city of Wuhan, had 444 confirmed COVID-19 cases. A week later, by the 30th of January, it had 4,903 cases. Another week later, by the 6th of February, it had 22,112.

    Fact Two

    “The second fact is that this disease is deadlier than the flu, to which the honestly ill-informed and the wantonly irresponsible insist on comparing it. Early guesstimates, made before data were widely available, suggested that the fatality rate for the coronavirus might wind up being about 1 percent. If that guess proves true, the coronavirus is 10 times as deadly as the flu.

    But there is reason to fear that the fatality rate could be much higher. According to the World Health Organization, the current case fatality rate—a common measure of what portion of confirmed patients die from a particular disease—stands at 3.4 percent. This figure could be an overstatement, because mild cases of the disease are less likely to be diagnosed. Or it could be an understatement, because many patients have already been diagnosed with the virus but have not yet recovered (and may still die).”

    Fact Three

    “The third fact is that so far only one measure has been effective against the coronavirus: extreme social distancing.

    Before China canceled all public gatherings, asked most citizens to self-quarantine, and sealed off the most heavily affected region, the virus was spreading in exponential fashion. Once the government imposed social distancing, the number of new cases leveled off; now, at least according to official statistics, every day brings more news of existing patients who are healed than of patients who are newly infected.

    A few other countries have taken energetic steps to increase social distancing before the epidemic reached devastating proportions. In Singapore, for example, the government quickly canceled public events and installed medical stations to measure the body temperature of passersby while private companies handed out free hand sanitizer. As a result, the number of cases has grown much more slowly than in nearby countries.”

    Implications

    “These three facts imply a simple conclusion. The coronavirus could spread with frightening rapidity, overburdening our health-care system and claiming lives, until we adopt serious forms of social distancing.

    This suggests that anyone in a position of power or authority, instead of downplaying the dangers of the coronavirus, should ask people to stay away from public places, cancel big gatherings, and restrict most forms of nonessential travel.”

    Problem we have here is simple: Do we hair trigger the medieval Chinese plan now —- I mean Right Now Today — or do we wait for “developments”? What are the risks and benefits of each approach.

    Growther Case

    Risk
    If we hit it hard today and it ain’t nothing but the usual seasonal flu we will be seen as henny penny the sky is fallin’ panickers. Such fuss about nothing at all. Gonna look awfully foolish and stupid and too panicky to be allowed to run the Government.

    Benefits
    We will have done everything humanly possible in the simple medieval sense to mitigate and possibly reverse the trend of this thing. Gonna look prudent if it works and at least we can say we tried.

    Base Rater Case

    Risk
    If we wait until 6 weeks from now then it is possible that we will have one hell of mess on our hands. Gonna look like we were asleep at the switch. Gonna have a lot of ‘splainin to do. Title of first book on the pandemic: “Covid 19: While Trump and the Christians Slept”

    Benefits
    If it all blows over as Base Raters posit then all Base Raters will be seen as remaining calm and rational while all bout them lost their heads. Will have saved the country a lot of unnecessary fear and expense. Growther politicians will have a lot of ‘splainin to do.

    What was that thread we had around here a few weeks ago? Oh, yeah. Faits vos Jeux! Faits vos Jeux!

    What does a wrong bet on Covid 19 payoff?

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Oooo…I like this, Ed. Of course, I think you overstate the scientific nature of the Growthers’ perspective vis a vis the Base Raters. That makes sense because you take the Growther position. However, permit me to explain the error you Growther’s make in your assessment.

      Folks, take down a curtain rod. Hold it up by putting one finger at each end. Then slowly slide your right finger all the way to the left. You will discover you cannot move your finger all the way to the left. It is impossible – because when you get a certain distance, the rod will slide to the right over your left finger, seeking to re-establish equilibrium. This is called a feedback loop. Actions cause a reaction, trying to establish equilibrium. And this feedback loop is just in a very simple, mechanical effort.

      In a static system, nothing is changed by the action of another part of the system. But almost all systems are actually dynamic – each part is affected and changes with each action of any other part. Biological systems are intensely dynamic. The flu virus is constantly mutating, seeking to try to respond to the constant adaptations of immune systems. So even as it is happening, everything is constantly evolving. The virus attacks, immune systems adapt to the attacks, the virus adapts to the immune adaptations, and the immune systems adapt to the new virus tactics. This is why simple engineering mathematical models never work in such situations – they do not at all take account of the evolving and constantly shifting feedback loops.

      This may become a pandemic. It may not. But a mathematical model cannot chart its course accurately because of those feedback loops. In most cases, after an initial rash of infections, the immune systems prevail with their adaptations. In some rare cases, a virus has enough adaptations or hits at a particularly weak part of the collective immune system to become a sort of Spanish Flu – a genuine pandemic. The way it plays out is more like the action of two well-matched armies engaged in a siege and defense thereof. Normally, with well-matched oponents, the advantage is with the defenders. But in some cases, the attacker finds some previously unexploited critical weakness and overwhelms the defense.

      Given all that, I have not yet heard anyone make what I think is the best case for why the odds of this becoming a pandemic are greater than normal: we are so focused in over-sanitizing everything in normal times that our collective immune systems have been somewhat crippled. Regardless, this will play out in dynamic fashion, not following any simple linear mathematical model. But I DO appreciate you bringing to bear a genuinely logical approach to assessing the risk involved here, even if I doubt your conclusion. You asked all the right questions in your approach.

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Charlie the World Health Organization just today upgraded Covid 19 to pandemic status.

        https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen

        “Speaking at the COVID-19 media briefing, the WHO Director-General said:

        “WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction.

        We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.

        Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death.

        Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by this virus. It doesn’t change what WHO is doing, and it doesn’t change what countries should do.

        We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus.

        And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled, at the same time.”

        It’s about those last two sentences.

        This is something that the world has never seen before. This appears to be a strange new virus that attacks the immune system especially the T4 cells that are the front line shock troops of our immune systems. It weakens us to the point that opportunistic infections can’t be resisted. WHO calls it a pneumonia. Pneumonia is called the old man’s friend. It takes you out in your sleep. Your immune system can’t kick the pneumonia out of your lungs. You drown.

        China is now reporting that 16% of all those infected are serious needing hospital treatment. Yikes.

        Personally, I’d go hard at this one.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. The WHO has declared 8 pandemics since 1900, two of which were serious – the Spanish Flu and HIV/AIDS. I don’t know why it is important to you that a coronavirus has never caused a pandemic before; that could be said of most of the viruses that became labeled pandemics by the WHO. As far as it being something the world had never seen before, the same was true of Ebola, the Hong Kong Flu, and Mers. (I don’t include Sars because it was not, actually, declared a pandemic). There are a host of viruses that were never declared pandemics that the world had never seen before. So I’m not sure how that affects anything except to sound scary.

          Look, take precautions, be prepared, I am perfectly happy with that. The level of panic here is absurd, though – and you have given me no arguments I did not hear about the previous four potential pandemics that I paid attention to while they were happening. (I didn’t pay attention to the data on the Hong Kong flu; I just panicked – and vowed I would not do so again.)

          I have been very happy with the way the administration has handled this – quarantining travelers from affected areas and then acting rationally (even though at every step of the way the media has accused him of either over-reacting or under-reacting, depending on which charge seems the most likely to damage him at any given moment rather than what is most accurate).

          I will grant you that, had I been around as the Spanish Flu developed, in the early stages I probably would have thought it was overblown and would have been dead wrong. But I would have been dead right on taking the same attitude on the seven since then which were reputed to have the potential to wipe out much of the earth’s population. But the larger issue still is that I don’t care whether I am right or wrong: we have much to face in the near future – and I am convinced what we ultimately DO have to face is much tougher than even the most panicked fears about this virus. My ultimate aim is not to accurately pick the instrument of our purification, but get people into the habits of mind and action to confront that purification and draw more souls to safety.

          Liked by 5 people

  46. I just realised something, the areas hardest hit in Canada by the coronavirus (Ontario & BC) are the areas that sided with Liberalism and it’s “culture of death” policies to elect a immoral Trudeau Liberal government.

    This also makes me pause & ponder as what brought the virus to the Vatican’s doorstep…

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I realized something else about Italy. Did not our naughty Pope taunt our conservative & orthodox bishops saying only God can judge him? Congratulations Pope Francis, God took you at your word, and brought the coronovirus right to your doorstep to express somthing to you…

      Like

      1. In response to Washington State Governor’s prohibition of gatherings of over 250 people, Archbishop Paul has issued a decree canceling all masses until further notice. It just keeps coming. May God save our immortal souls. jas

        Liked by 2 people

  48. It is good to be prepared and stay home so Covid 19 won’t get out of hand in the U.S.; People in Dallas are being told to work from home as we now have a few cases. Our government will find out if it is being used as a bioweapon by China.

    Liked by 2 people

  49. JESUS =GOOD NEWS 😉

    https://www.crisismagazine.com/2020/francis-vs-the-deep-church

    https://stream.org/the-coronavirus-from-prophecy-to-conspiracy-theory-to-pragmatism/

    https://stream.org/all-people-of-faith-must-pray-for-a-swift-end-to-the-coronavirus/

    https://www.catholicleague.org/satan-enters-abortion-politics/

    https://www.catholicleague.org/another-anti-catholic-virus-joke/

    https://voyagecomics.com/2020/03/09/what-did-the-irish-monks-on-skellig-michael-do-all-day-and-how-did-they-survive/

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/03/12/prescient-trump-3/
    &, sadly, a huge number of Catholic Clergy both High & Low will join the Anti-Trump Resistance composed of Globalists, godless Socialists, Abortionists and The Rainbow Freakshow …. along with near 50% of “Catholic” voters ;-(

    https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2020/03/democrats_respond_to_trumps_oval_address_with_vicious_partisan_rancor.html

    https://stream.org/democrats-have-to-hide-biden-till-convention-get-bernie-out/

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/disorder-in-the-courts-federal-judge-blasts-justice-roberts

    Unhinged Left On-Parade daily:
    https://www.newsbusters.org/

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 3 people

  50. San San–

    So here is the direction from our Bishop to parishes and individuals with respect to Covid 19:

    https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/press-releases/2020/updated-diocese-of-arlington-response-to-concerns-of-the-coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR1BwzUqihVuLNL0oRRRyatPJzozE3k9CZcLhzGdZJXHKN9X9WpPWPFfE2M

    Note this observation by the Diocese. In italics yet. You got a point San San. Touche!

    “* Public health experts assisting the Diocese have advised that receiving Communion on the tongue does not pose a greater risk of spreading illness than receiving Communion on the hand. “

    Liked by 2 people

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Published by charliej373

Charlie Johnston is a former newspaper editor, radio talk show host and political consultant. From Feb. 11, 2011 to Aug. 21, 2012, he walked 3,200 miles across the country, sleeping in the woods, meeting people and praying as he went. He writes on cultural, global and political issues from an orthodox Catholic perspective. He emphasizes that we find God most surely through the ordinary, doing the little things we should with faith and fidelity. His constant refrain is that, to live real joy, we must acknowledge God, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope to those around us. He lives in the Archdiocese of Denver in the United States.