During an interview he gave to La Stampa, Pope Francis said that the only way we will survive this pandemic is if we stick together. He also reminds us to turn to the Source of all healing through prayer. From Vatican News In the interview with “La Stampa”, published on Friday, Pope Francis speaks of the sorrow and pain that “everyone” is experiencing due to the coronavirus. The only way to survive this situation, he says, is by sticking together.... Read more
We’ve had the Hong Kong flu. We’ve had the Australian flu. It’s accurate, and in keeping with naming tradition to call the Corona virus the Wuhan virus. It’s not inherently racist. If that name bothers you, call it something else. The virus doesn’t care. Just don’t let this triviality of a non-issue divert you from the main concerns. The Chinese premier is playing a denial game. He ignored the virus early days too. He arrested doctors who tried to report it,... Read more
Which is lawful on the Sabbath, to do good or to do evil? To save a life of to kill? Jesus Christ. Sometimes, being pro life means not spreading a virus. I wrote yesterday about the sense of loss I feel because my archbishop has ended public celebrations of the mass through Easter. What I didn’t say — what I SHOULD have said — is that I fully support him in this action. Let me say that again: I fully... Read more
It’s been almost a week since I’ve seen my mother. Her nursing home is in lockup due to the Coronavirus, and I’m doing stay-at-home. Mama fell out of bed in the nursing home a couple of weeks ago and gashed her head. I got a middle-of-the-night call. Since she’s in hospice, I had to ok sending her to the ER. When I got to the hospital, they were giving her locals to numb the spot before they put in stitches.... Read more
We spend our entire lives pretending that death will never come to us. We bury friends and loved ones. We stand at their graves and cry. But in our hearts, we don’t believe that our loved ones will ever do the same thing beside our graves. We can’t imagine a world without us. What will it be like when our families come back to the house and we aren’t there? What will the world be when we are gone from... Read more
Heavenly Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in atonement for my sins and those of the whole world. The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is suspending public celebration of the mass through Easter. The Diocese of Arkansas did the same thing several days ago. Other dioceses all over the world are doing the same. I feel as if a light has gone out. Correction. ... Read more
I had an interesting conversation yesterday with a manager in a local business. He described how terrified some of his employees are of the Coronavirus and the things he was having to do to keep them calm and coming to work. I know that this will mark me as one of the goofiest people around, but it honestly had not occurred to me to be afraid of either the virus or the threat of economic meltdown which we are facing.... Read more
For centuries, people thought that the prophecy that the Jews would return to Israel was metaphorical. They couldn’t conceive that such a thing would actually happen. Now, we know that it was, in fact, meant. Israel was born in blood and suffering. But it was meant. This is the Christian interpretation of the prophecies coming true. The Messiah has come. He came 2000 years ago and died of our sins then rose from the dead. He is the promise and... Read more
Following Jesus means … following Jesus. Following Jesus. It is not about how holy we are. It is about how holy He is. It is not about how much we despise the sinners around us. It is about how much we love them and try to bring them to the One who can save them. It is about the fact that we are sinners. Us. Ourselves. We are hopeless sinners. Who are doomed to hell. Except for the Cross. Read more
Is it possible to put the entire globe in quarantine? What happens when we try? That is a very real question that we are answering right now, in real time. There is no treatment, and, as of now, no vaccine for the Coronavirus. The only way to stop its spread is to break the intersections of human to human contact that spreads it. These are called “disease vectors,” which does sound a lot more spiffy than human to human contact.... Read more
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