If by “new normal” we mean a life-changing event has occurred, and we are constantly adapting to the latest information, then I think we have fully settled in to a “new normal.” This is not a static normal, but a state of constant adjustment. When I hear the phrase, “in these uncertain times,” I long for certainty.
The last several months have been an unusual and spiritually trying time for the people of God. Until recently, most of the lay faithful were unable to attend Mass in person. Priests and bishops, whose very lives are dedicated to the spiritual care of the faithful, have been separated from their people. During this time of isolation, we have been reminded frequently to make acts of spiritual communion. By an act of spiritual communion, those who cannot receive Our Lord sacramentally express their desire to be united with him, ask him to be present within them through his Holy Spirit, and beg for the grace that would normally come from receiving the Eucharist when actual reception is impossible.
People love the idea of angels — especially at Christmas time. We create statues of angels, we decorate with paper angels, and we make them look as beautiful or elusive as we like. We may invoke their help and expect their protection at times of danger. But what do we really know about angels, and are we really “assigned” an angel at the time of our birth? Are guardian angels only for Catholics? How do we explain angels to children, and why do children seem to like angels so much? And how is it that just when we need a nudge or some inspiration, our angel always seems to come through?
COVID-19 has become part of our lives in just a few short months, and the changes, and in some cases, trauma, we have experienced are significant. For many, sickness and death have been the cause of real pain and suffering. So how are families and children of all ages coping with the major life upheavals going on? Many adults are dealing with loss of income, community and emotional support, or lack of alone time since everyone is constantly together. Children and teens, with less experience and capacity for understanding the events of our world, may be struggling in different ways. Losing the routine of attending school, being in clubs, playing with friends and visiting relatives can be unsettling, confusing, and for some — devastating. Anxiety is abundant and real and a significant part of what the people in this world are currently experiencing.
Not many weeks ago, the church celebrated the Ascension of Our Lord. This event might strike us as a sort of postscript to Our Lord’s earthly life: Hasn’t he accomplished our salvation through the cross and resurrection? In this article, let’s consider three ways the Ascension is significant, and let’s refer to these three ways as the salvific, the ecclesial and the eschatological significances.
In our Catholic tradition, we express in many ways our belief in the dignity of the human person, the sacredness of the body, the resurrection of the dead, and the importance of remembering the dead. Among the most powerful expressions are the care we give in preparing the body of a deceased person for burial, the prayers we raise up during the act of burial, and the continued respect and prayers we offer for the deceased.
The first weekend of quarantine, my husband and I decided we were not going to attend Mass. Things weren’t publicly suspended yet in our diocese, but I’d just returned home from Missouri and was self-isolating for fear I’d been exposed to COVID-19 while traveling. We watched Mass using the CatholicTV app and made a spiritual Communion.
According to paragraph 1778 of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” conscience is “a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed.” To understand better this definition, it is useful first of all to point out what conscience is not. It is not an emotion or feeling, even a “gut feeling,” as is often said. Rather, conscience is an action of the intellect, a judgment of reason.
The recent events caused by the coronavirus have challenged and deepened my relationship with Christ. During this time of distancing, I find myself wondering what it means to be known intimately, by myself, by others and by God. What does it mean to be known? Psalm 139 reveals the way the Lord knows us: “Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar” (Ps 139:1-2). The Psalmist reveals that God knows every aspect of who I am. He probes me; he does not just look at me but studies my every thought and action. When a couple begins a relationship, there is an insatiable desire to know every detail about each other. Justin Bieber says in his song “10,000 Hours,” “When you close your eyes, tell me, what are you dreamin’? Everything, I wanna know it all … ”
Challenges to the Catholic faith are common in every age. The 21st century testifies to skepticism on the veracity of the sacred Scriptures. This is the subject of the inerrancy of the Bible. Admittedly, this is a detailed and complex topic. A brief article, making limited use of Scripture, tradition and the magisterium (the church’s teaching authority), can only cover some highlights.
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