From the Wall Street Journal last Nov. 16, a story about how German experts are baffled by how 75 percent of Germans, who tested for coronavirus, contracted the ailment. In Austria, experts also do not know how 77 percent of victims got infected.
In Spain, the health ministry said it was able to determine the origin of only 7 percent of infections in the last week of October, while in France and Italy, only 20 percent was identified as having been contracted directly from acquaintances who had the virus, Wall Street said.
In New York City, Jay Varma, senior adviser for public health in the mayor’s office, said 10 percent of the city’s infections are due to travel (take note, you folk fond of freezing public transport in meaningless checkpoints in Pampanga), five percent from gatherings, and another five percent from institutional settings such as nursing homes.
“The vast majority of the remainder—somewhere probably around 50 percent or more—we don’t have a way to directly attribute their source of infection. And that’s a concern,” Varma said.
For a world that has largely put more faith in science rather than in matters spiritual, only the likes of test tubes should be able to explain sooner or later. But perhaps never.
But many Catholic mystics are saying there’s more to the coronavirus than just microorganism and biology. There’s in its evil, a spiritual dimension in our times where a fierce battle between Heaven and hell is raging and manifesting in our world in various dimensions.
We know this from the Church herself, in her teachings about the sacraments and sacramentals. Most of us know the Sacraments, but not as many are familiar with Sacramentals.
The big point here: Sacramentals can be used with faith as protection against coronavirus.
Let’s see what the website countdowntothekingdom.com says about Sacramentals.
“As members of the Church Militant, we have an incredible arsenal at our disposal; with this arsenal, we can equip ourselves for every battle — large or small — that may come our way. And when we cannot access the ‘big guns’ of the Sacraments themselves, the Sacramentals are perfect to reach for.”
The website cites the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy as teaching that sacramentals are “not magical charms and must be used with faith in God, understanding that His Will alone is the power really at work, and the Sacramentals themselves are not to be unduly attached to, nor are they to be given an intrinsic significance that they, in fact, lack.”
Sacramentals include holy water, salt, and oil, the Brown Scapular (which must be the woolen one, not plastic), crucifixes, the Miraculous Medal, St. Benedict’s medal,
I have always worn the Brown Scapular, St. Benedict’s medal, and the Miraculous Medal. And yes, I have exorcised holy water, blessed salt, and candles at home. (By the way, exorcised holy water is different from mere holy water.)
The website further noted: “We should be sure to make use of these sacramentals whenever the situation calls for doing so; they afford both spiritual and PHYSICAL protection. The Church also grants indulgences — both plenary and partial — for the use of many of these Sacramentals.”
The wearing of the Brown Scapular requires enrollment in the confraternity of the Brown Scapular which can be solemnized by any priest. It used to be that only Carmelite priests could do this. Google can provide anyone with the texts used for such enrollment.
We need not only the Sacraments (may I stress the need for Confession, please) but also Sacramentals in our times when, as we already reel from the coronavirus, revelations from mystics tell us that the times of tribulations have just dawned on us.
Consider the following message of our Blessed Mother to Gisella Cardia on November 14, 2020 (yes, a few days ago):
“...Now is the time of the true battle, and with the weapons of fasting and the Holy Rosary in your hands, fight together with me for the Triumph of My Immaculate Heart. Beloved children, the times that will come will be terrible, but do not fear, because I and my Son will be close to you in the tribulation. Jesus will make the Holy Spirit descend upon you, just as He did with his apostles. Those children of mine who are the ambassadors and prophets of these times will suffer most of all; do not leave them on their own. Love one another as brothers and sisters, be united with love, and pray together with devotion. Now I bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.”
To Edson Glauber last Nov. 14, our Blessed Mother relayed the following message:
“Peace my beloved children, peace! My children, I, your Mother will not desist in fighting for the happiness and salvation of each one of you. Be of God, do God’s will, accept the call of God in your lives. I have come from heaven because I love you and want all my children to take refuge under my protective mantle so that they would be protected against all the calamities and dangers to the soul and body which are about to fall on the whole disobedient and rebellious world that does not listen to God and does not obey Him.
“ My children, return to God. Return to his Merciful Heart that is full of love for you. Do not be insensitive to my motherly call: may your hearts not remain hardened to God’s great and holy love for you, because only his love, grace, and blessing can save you in the hardest and most difficult times. Pray, pray, pray much, and I will help you to do God’s will and to be obedient to it. I love you and bless all of you and your families: in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!”