Coronavirus and 7.5 Rules of Charity
Matthew Bellisario O.P. 2020
As the Coronavirus panic sets in throughout the US and most of Western civilization we must realize that we are in uncharted waters. Since the dawn of the modern era, the West has yet to suffer a serious pandemic such as the Black Plague. The 1918 flu pandemic was the last time we faced any serious threat of this type. Regardless of the seriousness of the virus itself, we are seeing serious economic consequences from this and more importantly serious spiritual consequences. As I write this, the public celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been suspended throughout the US and much of Western Europe. This will go on until at least Easter or even after. Thus, although Masses will be celebrated in private, there will be less Sacramental grace for those who are disposed to receive it at Mass. Despite what many are saying, this is a significant spiritual deprivation.
I want to express a few thoughts on the situation in which we all find ourselves. These are my own opinions and I do not pretend to know the extent of the lethality of the virus itself, nor will I address the many conspiracy theories surrounding this mess. The one thing I will say is that thus far, the numbers do not equate to the reaction we are seeing. Yet, for our own sake, let's meditate on reality and what is within our power to do during this Corona madness. These are my 7.5 rules or charitable suggestions that everyone can do during this Coronavirus crisis that will help us do what is most important, and that is growing in virtue and charity.
1. Take advantage of Confession if you can: If you are not in the state of grace you are risking your soul! As the Sacraments disappear we must be sure that while we can, to go to the Sacrament of Confession. As I pointed out in my last post before all of these public Masses were canceled, this is no time to clown around with the Sacraments. While public Masses are canceled there are still churches that are open for prayer and confession. Time may be running out to receive the Sacrament of Confession. If you can go!
2. Stay in a state of grace: If there is anything I can stress, it is that you do not commit a mortal sin. For those who struggle with addiction, this is the time to make a serious turn to God to overcome habitual sin. The Latin term, 'memento mori' should be on our minds and hearts. “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19) It is a fact, we will die and we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ whether it be tomorrow from the Coronavirus or from something else. The truth is, we have no idea when God is going to call us to our own judgment. We all know this, yet it is in times such as these during food shortages and the threat of a pandemic that this reality becomes very clear.
3. Spend more time in prayer, reading, and meditation: If you are homebound because of this, why not take the time to read and pray more? Whether you realize it or not, none of this is happening by chance. God has a plan for you and how you choose to react to it is yours. If you are stuck at home, make use of the time to do the most constructive thing you can, which is prayer, study, and meditation. Why not say a Rosary or meditate on a passage of Sacred Scripture? When God calls us He will ask us to give an account of how we spent our time. Turn off the TV and pray.
4. Don't hoard, practice charity!: Keep the good of your neighbor in mind. Get the food and supplies you need for a week and leave some for others who also need to eat. Everyone is in this together. Being a hoarder and stacking up food in our carts while leaving others with no food is not charitable, and in times like this God is going to judge us severely on our charity or lack thereof. The truck and the food will keep coming and if everyone will take what they need, there will be enough for everyone. This is a time where we can build up virtue rather than being overcome by selfish vice. Please don't be a hoarder and practice a little charity.
5. Practice fasting: After I went on my no-carb diet about six months ago and reversed my diabetes I also began to do intermittent fasting. Through this, God revealed to me a couple of things. For one, I realized that I did not need nearly as much food as I thought. I usually now eat only one meal and maybe a small snack each day. I usually only eat between 12PM and 6PM and I have only water or coffee outside of those hours. I also realized that this has helped in controlling my impulsive actions. Having the discipline of this intermittent fasting has helped me to keep on my prayer schedule rather than being impulsively pulled away by other distractions. Use this time to fast and see if you can cut down on how much you eat. Offer it up to God and then notice how much farther your food supply will go!
6. Turn off the news for a while: Sometimes we need to just take a media-cation and turn off the news. I know that this is a huge challenge in this time of the Coronavirus madness. But will it kill you to limit or turn off the news for 24 or 48 hours? Probably not. As people become glued to the news media they are becoming emotional stress cases. As I picked up a couple things today at the local grocery stores I could hear a family talking about how they heard someone cough and they thought they were in danger in the grocery line. Turning off the news can be a good way of decompressing from the situation.
7. Sick? Stay at home or away from others!: Have some consideration for your fellow man. Don't put your fellow man at unnecessary risk because of your own stubbornness. Use common sense, if you are sick don't risk others' lives, take some time off of work. If you have been around people who are sick at least keep yourself somewhat isolated from others. The point is, use common sense and think of others and how they may be affected by your actions. It's not all about you.
7.5 God is in control-Consecrate yourselves: For those who truly believe, we know that all of this is not a coincidence. There is a reason all of this is happening and we can only speculate as to why. Is this a chastisement? In my eyes, I believe it is a certainty. As to the extent of it, I can only speculate. It is no secret that the Church is in one of the worst doctrinal and moral crises in history. Heresy is rampant and immorality is endemic. As a whole, we have not heeded the warnings of Our Lady at Fatima, Akita and her other warnings. We have not practiced penance, prayer, and fasting and we have certainly not stopped sinning!
Yes, God is in control, but those who think that God won't let them get sick and suffer or even die from this are in for a surprise. Think of all of the Saints who suffered and died from acute illness. Keep this in mind. I see many traditional Catholics who foolishly think that God won't let them get sick. On the other hand, we need not live in fear either. Entrust yourself and your family to God and spend as much time in prayer as you can. Fast and do some penance for the sins we have all committed which all have negative consequences both spiritually and materially. Every morning and every evening consecrate yourself to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Most Chaste Heart of Saint Joseph!
Matthew Bellisario O.P. 2020
As the Coronavirus panic sets in throughout the US and most of Western civilization we must realize that we are in uncharted waters. Since the dawn of the modern era, the West has yet to suffer a serious pandemic such as the Black Plague. The 1918 flu pandemic was the last time we faced any serious threat of this type. Regardless of the seriousness of the virus itself, we are seeing serious economic consequences from this and more importantly serious spiritual consequences. As I write this, the public celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been suspended throughout the US and much of Western Europe. This will go on until at least Easter or even after. Thus, although Masses will be celebrated in private, there will be less Sacramental grace for those who are disposed to receive it at Mass. Despite what many are saying, this is a significant spiritual deprivation.
I want to express a few thoughts on the situation in which we all find ourselves. These are my own opinions and I do not pretend to know the extent of the lethality of the virus itself, nor will I address the many conspiracy theories surrounding this mess. The one thing I will say is that thus far, the numbers do not equate to the reaction we are seeing. Yet, for our own sake, let's meditate on reality and what is within our power to do during this Corona madness. These are my 7.5 rules or charitable suggestions that everyone can do during this Coronavirus crisis that will help us do what is most important, and that is growing in virtue and charity.
1. Take advantage of Confession if you can: If you are not in the state of grace you are risking your soul! As the Sacraments disappear we must be sure that while we can, to go to the Sacrament of Confession. As I pointed out in my last post before all of these public Masses were canceled, this is no time to clown around with the Sacraments. While public Masses are canceled there are still churches that are open for prayer and confession. Time may be running out to receive the Sacrament of Confession. If you can go!
2. Stay in a state of grace: If there is anything I can stress, it is that you do not commit a mortal sin. For those who struggle with addiction, this is the time to make a serious turn to God to overcome habitual sin. The Latin term, 'memento mori' should be on our minds and hearts. “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19) It is a fact, we will die and we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ whether it be tomorrow from the Coronavirus or from something else. The truth is, we have no idea when God is going to call us to our own judgment. We all know this, yet it is in times such as these during food shortages and the threat of a pandemic that this reality becomes very clear.
3. Spend more time in prayer, reading, and meditation: If you are homebound because of this, why not take the time to read and pray more? Whether you realize it or not, none of this is happening by chance. God has a plan for you and how you choose to react to it is yours. If you are stuck at home, make use of the time to do the most constructive thing you can, which is prayer, study, and meditation. Why not say a Rosary or meditate on a passage of Sacred Scripture? When God calls us He will ask us to give an account of how we spent our time. Turn off the TV and pray.
4. Don't hoard, practice charity!: Keep the good of your neighbor in mind. Get the food and supplies you need for a week and leave some for others who also need to eat. Everyone is in this together. Being a hoarder and stacking up food in our carts while leaving others with no food is not charitable, and in times like this God is going to judge us severely on our charity or lack thereof. The truck and the food will keep coming and if everyone will take what they need, there will be enough for everyone. This is a time where we can build up virtue rather than being overcome by selfish vice. Please don't be a hoarder and practice a little charity.
5. Practice fasting: After I went on my no-carb diet about six months ago and reversed my diabetes I also began to do intermittent fasting. Through this, God revealed to me a couple of things. For one, I realized that I did not need nearly as much food as I thought. I usually now eat only one meal and maybe a small snack each day. I usually only eat between 12PM and 6PM and I have only water or coffee outside of those hours. I also realized that this has helped in controlling my impulsive actions. Having the discipline of this intermittent fasting has helped me to keep on my prayer schedule rather than being impulsively pulled away by other distractions. Use this time to fast and see if you can cut down on how much you eat. Offer it up to God and then notice how much farther your food supply will go!
6. Turn off the news for a while: Sometimes we need to just take a media-cation and turn off the news. I know that this is a huge challenge in this time of the Coronavirus madness. But will it kill you to limit or turn off the news for 24 or 48 hours? Probably not. As people become glued to the news media they are becoming emotional stress cases. As I picked up a couple things today at the local grocery stores I could hear a family talking about how they heard someone cough and they thought they were in danger in the grocery line. Turning off the news can be a good way of decompressing from the situation.
7. Sick? Stay at home or away from others!: Have some consideration for your fellow man. Don't put your fellow man at unnecessary risk because of your own stubbornness. Use common sense, if you are sick don't risk others' lives, take some time off of work. If you have been around people who are sick at least keep yourself somewhat isolated from others. The point is, use common sense and think of others and how they may be affected by your actions. It's not all about you.
7.5 God is in control-Consecrate yourselves: For those who truly believe, we know that all of this is not a coincidence. There is a reason all of this is happening and we can only speculate as to why. Is this a chastisement? In my eyes, I believe it is a certainty. As to the extent of it, I can only speculate. It is no secret that the Church is in one of the worst doctrinal and moral crises in history. Heresy is rampant and immorality is endemic. As a whole, we have not heeded the warnings of Our Lady at Fatima, Akita and her other warnings. We have not practiced penance, prayer, and fasting and we have certainly not stopped sinning!
Yes, God is in control, but those who think that God won't let them get sick and suffer or even die from this are in for a surprise. Think of all of the Saints who suffered and died from acute illness. Keep this in mind. I see many traditional Catholics who foolishly think that God won't let them get sick. On the other hand, we need not live in fear either. Entrust yourself and your family to God and spend as much time in prayer as you can. Fast and do some penance for the sins we have all committed which all have negative consequences both spiritually and materially. Every morning and every evening consecrate yourself to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Most Chaste Heart of Saint Joseph!
Comments
Post a Comment