People may cringe or frown on this, but this is my post and my account. So what is the global concern in today's time? Anyone not familiar with the virus named COVID-19? The impact of this coronavirus pandemic affected not only physically but had penetrated spiritual damage. Now here, I want to concentrate on the spiritual side since it's our soul that is for eternity.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that:
CCC366: The Church teaches that every spiritual soul is created immediately by God - it is not "produced" by the parents - and also that it is IMMORTAL: it does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection.
So although, we are physically on earth thus experiences in most time physical pain let us not neglect our soul.
I said while ago that COVID-19 had inflicted spiritual damage and I will present here my opinion. But first let us look back on this virus first. I'll be brief on this: the virus started in Wuhan, China on late of December 2019, and now March 2020 this has spread across the world. There also many theories of the origin and development of this coronavirus.
In one article it is said that the COVID-19 is intended for the protester in Hong Kong against mainland China. But because of unfavorable effect of the virus during the testing lab which was located in Wuhan, they aborted the project. Now there is one researcher/doctor that was bribed by another country for the exchange of virus sample. The transaction was done in Wuhan market but it was discovered by Chinese government, so there was commotion which cause the vial containing the virus broke. This caused the outbreak of the virus. Another article said that the virus was developed because of eating exotic food - bats. There is also another opinion, that is a biological war.
Many conspiracy theories are surrounding this coronavirus pandemic, we are not sure of the true cause and origin of this but the only thing that is sure is that Satan is laughing at the misery us, the beloved children of God. And there is only one thing that could stop this, GOD. How? By repenting for our sins and begging Him. How to do this? For catholics - Sacrament of Confession, for non-catholic - ask for redemption and pray, pray, pray in your own words to God.
Now the effect of the corona virus is the genocide of soul. Here is why:
Sacrilege in Sacrament
During February people started to be advised/urged to take the Holy Host by the hand due to the risk of spreading the coronavirus. And just last March 15 before the Holy Communion the lady serving the mass announced the instruction of "correct" way of communion by the hand. I was black for few second before it sunk in to me that we are instructed to do sacrilege. This has been mandated since our Bishop made official the communion by the hand during this pandemic time. Now want to know why it is a sacrilege and endanger the soul of the faithful?
The Communion by the Hand has been the practices since the early Christians until the Second Vatican Council. Here is what church fathers and the Word of God says:
LETTER DOMINICAE CENAE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF JOHN PAUL II TO ALL THE BISHOPS OF THE CHURCH ON THE MYSTERY AND WORSHIP OF THE EUCHARIST:
" In some countries the practice of receiving Communion in the hand has been introduced...However, cases of a deplorable lack of respect towards the eucharistic species have been reported, cases which are imputable not only to the individuals guilty of such behavior but also to the pastors of the church who have not been vigilant enough regarding the attitude of the faithful towards the Eucharist."
Holy Bible: 1 Chronicles 15: 2
" No one may carry the ark of God except the Levites, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever."
Book of Truth: September 4th, 2012
Many to go Mass, or receive the wine at other Christian Churches to honour My Gift but they do not understand what this means.
I gave Myself completely in Body, Mind and Soul. When you receive Communion you must consume My Body fully and not just say you honour Me.
For without My Body, My Real Presence, I cannot capture your souls. Don’t you know this?
Why do you reject My genuine Gift in the way it was explained to My Apostles? That The Eucharist is indeed My Body? - Your Jesus
Book of Truth: January 18th, 2012
You insult my Son when you receive the Holy Eucharist in the hand.
- Your beloved Mother, Mother of Salvation
Based from the passage above ask for the Holy Spirit for the discernment as on how to view the consecrated host. Another one is analogy Catholic rites during Mass. During the consecration rite can observe that corporal,a white cloth, is placed in the altar? It is used to collect possible drops of Blood and fragments of Host. Then after the Holy Host is elevated the priest is not to open the point finger and the thumb that is pressed together because there might be fragments of Host that disintegrates hen It was elevated. Instead after saying the prayer they put their hands above the chalice, the chalice then collect the fragments that possibly stuck in between in the point finger and thumb. After the Communion, the priest uses the purificator, a white cloth, to make sure that no droplets of Blood is desecrated. After the celebration those objects used during the consecration and communion are washed in a special basin (which was intended for those objects only) and the water that was used is not tapped to public sewer instead put in special place where no human is stepping on it. Can you see how the rites and tradition handle the Consecrated Species? Then when it comes to distributing it to the faithful, it will be given through the hand only? Is it the same as any other earthy food where hands is used to consume it? Does it even make sense?
Church was closed to the public
All public masses were cancelled. The first one to announce this action is the Vatican, instantly the other diocese followed and closed the church prohibiting the faithful to receive sacraments especially Holy Eucharist and Confession. This is the situation in the parish where I am staying.It started on March 18, 2020.
The faithful especially those who needs spiritual healing are deprived of spiritual hospital. Without confession how can we be in state of grace? What will happen if, God forbid, we die without having confession or Communion?
Remember the Bible says:
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:53-54)
Therefore we must obey Jesus and continue to receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, but then it also said in the Bible:
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:27)
Therefore we also need to seek Confession to make us worthy in receiving participating the Communion. But what happen to the Church? What course of actions they execute? Is depriving of the Sacraments really for the common good?
While pondering in our current situation, the title of my blog struck me... What did Peter do when he was questioned if he knows Jesus'? He feared to be implicated of the same punishment (which by on their time is clearly death) denied Him and run away. And when did this happen - during the Crucifixion of Jesus. Can you see the connection in our time. Because of the fear of being infected of the coronavirus pandemic, Jesus was left in the altar - look at the in the picture above. And guess what time COVID-19 happen - Lenten season, the season when the Catholic observed, remember and celebrate the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus.
But let us pray that just like St. Peter we turn back to God with remorse and bitter tears for our sins and beg Him for help not to offend Him again.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy-rome-churche/rome-catholic-churches-ordered-closed-due-to-coronavirus-unprecedented-in-modern-times-idUSKBN20Z3BU
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-03/covid-19-coronavirus-churches-around-the-world-take-measures.html
https://www.facebook.com/cdndigital/posts/10158524466609589
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