So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord save me.” Matthew 14:29-30
Fear is a beast. It can make people act in ways they never would. So for the Christian, it is imperative to not be distracted by the storms and keep your eyes on Christ in order to maintain your interior peace. Keeping your eyes on Christ keeps you from drowning.
It’s hard right now to maintain this peace with the constant flow of media in our faces. If you are watching endless news and counting Corona virus deaths, then you are watching the storm instead of Jesus. It’s okay to maintain a sense of what is happening, but eating from the tree the knowledge of good and evil will leave you in a state of panic and fear. Now is the time to fill up on the Word of God. God is in control. He is the giver and taker of life. In that you can Trust, and have no fear. Just get yourself right with Him. Turn off the noise that distracts you and raises panic.
I read an article the other day by Sonja Corbitt called Redemption Happens in the Dark. It was probably the best thing I have read to date about this storm we are in. In it she outlines how God has worked in the dark using Scripture. It is a thing of beauty. If you have been keeping up with the daily readings, they are speaking to us for these times we live in right now. God is calling you back to Him. God is calling you to repentance.
I don’t know about you, but hunkering down in my home with my family has shown me all of the idols I have in my life. These are idols that need to be purged, from slothful comfort, to vanity, to pride, one by one the Lord is showing them to me and knocking me over, bringing me to my knees, humbling me. And I am grateful for it. Yes, I said I am grateful for it. I want anything that keeps me from Him removed from my life. Lord purify me. Purify my family. Make us who you want us to be because I trust that it is greater than anything we could imagine. Even a virus can be used to work all things for the good of those who love Jesus.
The church is walking a Passion. I do have to say the greatest ache in my life was having the Eucharist removed. The Sacraments taken away from us in this hour of immense need. But as a friend of mine used to say, “these things must come.” We have, as a church, been violating our covenant with God which brings curse. From molestation, to cover up, to liturgical abuse, to abuse of the Eucharist, to bowing down to idols, and laying in bed with communist governments, God is fully aware of our sin. He is making it transparent and he is dealing with it Himself. Servant of God Louisa Piccarreta said over 100 years ago the following;
Deserted churches, and without ministers. Continuing in my usual state, my always lovable Jesus made Himself seen so very afflicted, and I said to Him: ‘My Love, why are You so afflicted?’ And He: “Ah! my daughter (Luisa), when I allow that churches remain deserted, ministers dispersed, Masses reduced, it means that the Sacrifices are offenses for Me, that the prayers are insults, the adorations irreverences, the confessions amusements, and without Fruit. Therefore, no longer finding My Glory, but offenses, nor any Good for them – making no use of them, I take them away. But this tearing ministers away from the Sanctuary means also that things have reached the ugliest point, and that the variety of scourges will multiply. How hard man is – how hard!” Volume 12 February 12, 1918
This has all been predicted and should give us great pause. It is a chastisement. It is a cleansing. But not because God is mean and unloving, because He is the opposite of that and He sees how the choices we have made have brought destruction. He wants to bring us life abundantly. For you personally he wants to pour gifts over you and He will use many means to purify your soul so that you can receive these gifts to the fullest. Trust in that.
When Mass was cancelled it felt as though Jesus was falling the first time, and I suspect we will see a rapid succession of our Passion as a church. This is not meant to scare you. It is meant to strengthen you. Remember what happened after the Cross? Resurrection. God knows we are weak and he can lift us up and do the impossible. We must hand everything to him. Our fear, our jobs, our health, all of it. Examine your conscience and if you still can get to confession. If not, make a heartfelt Act of Contrition with the resolve to get to confession whenever you can. Do not look to your own false expectations of what God should be doing and instead just Trust Him. Trust that He loves you more than you can fathom.
Let go of hatred and rage, even that directed towards our authority. We must forgive everything as Jesus did, trust that he takes care of the sin, and we must fight Satan with all that we have. Do not give into the poison arrows of fear he is flinging at you. Renounce and rebuke it. Use your Sacramentals, your holy water, blessed salt and holy oil. And pray. Pray every single day. In this time of the absence of Sacraments, Prayer is the most powerful remedy at your disposal.
Prayer of Command
In His name and by the power of His Cross and Blood, I ask Jesus to bind any evil spirits, forces and powers of the earth, air, fire, or water, of the netherworld and the satanic forces of nature. By the power of the Holy Spirit and by His authority, I ask Jesus Christ to break any curses, hexes, or spells and to send them back where they came from, if it be His holy Will. I beseech thee Lord Jesus to protect us by pouring Thy Precious Blood on us and our families, which Thou hast shed for us and I ask Thee to command that any departing spirits leave quietly, without disturbance, and go straight to Thy Cross to dispose of as Thou sees fit. I ask Thee to bind any demonic interaction , interplay or communications. I place (Name a person, place or thing) under the protection of the Blood of Jesus Christ which he shed for us. Amen. – Deliverance Prayers for Use by the Liaty
I leave you with a beautiful Mass from yesterday March 22, 2020 by Father Mike Schmitz. His homily begins at the fourteen minute mark.
Veil of Veronica 
Excellent ! Thank-you for describing so well what is going on. The church is walking a Passion, for sure. And God, as a loving Father, is bringing discipline.
I have a close friend, whom I affectionately call ‘Veronica,’ because of her devotion to our Lord’s Holy Face.
Your post reminds me of the words of a hymn :
‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glory and grace. 🤗
I think everyone, if they can, in the absence of the Sacraments, should have a picture of His Holy Face in their homes. I know for me, just gazing upon it makes me feel His peace.
Yes, me too ! I prayed the Prayer of Command, and will copy it to pray every day.
Our little chapel, St. Joseph’s, is the most easterly Catholic church in North America.
Thus far, it remains open, during the day, for prayer and reflection.
Masses are cancelled, as everywhere else. I can walk to this tiny chapel, and visit the blessed Sacrament.
Thanks for sharing the Prayer of Command. 🤗
My church is also open for adoration and confession. God willing it stays that way. People have been super respectful about keeping distance.
Praise God. How beautiful to see people being super respectful to each other. I love to sit before the blessed Sacrament in adoration. Yes, God willing, we can continue to adore our Lord in our churches. 🤗
The “Sacred Heart”picture is one to ponder and gaze upon!!!
Yes I have that one on the wall behind my home altar along with the Divine Mercy and the Immaculate Heart
Yes, Susan, I completely agree! Trust God, He’s got this 🙂
HEBREWS 12;2 – “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on who our faith depends from beginning to end.” – Reference: Good News Bible GNT
Thank-you for your comment. Let us stay focused on our Lord. That is one of my favourite verses. 🤗
Thank you for your thoughts, Susan.
I woke up this morning thinking… Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal helped France in 1832 with a cholera outbreak, let us call upon her and all of our Saints and angels to fill our hearts and homes during this time.
To Jesus, through Mary.
Amen Brea. Stay safe and cherish those little ones.
Where did you get that beautiful picture of the Holy Face?
I think I got it here; https://www.zazzle.com/face_of_jesus_shroud_of_turin_image_poster-228772860187365234?rf=238840279726397180&tc=EAIaIQobChMI1KKm9NW16AIVD56fCh3yJQYvEAQYAyABEgLPGPD_BwE&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=us_shopping&utm_term=z228772860187365234&ca_chid=2001810&ca_source=gaw&ca_ace=&ca_nw=g&ca_dev=m&ca_pl=&ca_pos=&ca_cid=382210327135&ca_agid=82099083750&ca_caid=6501140348&ca_adid=382210327135&ca_kwt=&ca_mt=&ca_fid=&ca_tid=pla-305370744896&ca_lp=9013116&ca_li=&ca_devm=&ca_plt=&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1KKm9NW16AIVD56fCh3yJQYvEAQYAyABEgLPGPD_BwE
“FEAR”- WISDOM OF SOLOMON 17:12-13 “Fear is nothing but the failure to use the help reason gives. When you lack the confidence to rely on reason, you give in to the fears caused by ignorance.” – ROMANS 9:16 – “So then, everything depends, not on what we humans want or do, but only on God’s mercy.” –
I have the feeling that the Church is in the Garden praying. This real suffering has not even started. We are beginning to know who we are and what God is asking from us. We need to say thy will be done.
I think where we are is both Global and personal. Some people are just now awakening and entering the garden.
I wish to receive your new posts via email.
I believe there’s a subscribe tab to the bottom right on the computer. God Bless you and stay safe.
FYI: The “Miracle Prayer” is on the inter-net! – 1 CORINTHIANS 16:22 -Greetings from Paul: “Whoever does not love the Lord — a curse on him! Marana-tha — Our Lord, come!
Thank you!
You’re welcome. God Bless you and stay safe.
What a powerful and anointed writing this is! Thank you. May the Lord watch over and protect you and your loved ones.
Jesus, we trust in You
St. Faustina, please pray for us
Thank you and God Bless you. May the Lord watch over you.
Pray the chaplet of the holy face. St. Athanasius said that demons despise the verse, “Arise o lord, and let thy enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thy face.” He said it always forces them to run.
Amen
I say this verse from Scripture all the time! I trust that St. Athanasius was correct!
Dear Lord, and Mother Mary’s mantle, protect us all!
Nice, and if you have time to amend this, point out that Father Chad reminds us in the introduction to that powerful book that we should pray the Seven Sorrows devotion so the Blessed Mother can help us with the specificity of our prayer intentions.
I think you just did!
Perfect! So beautiful and calming. Thank you!
ST. ALPHONSUS LIGOURI “It is true that the Mass will cease on earth at the time of the Antichrist: the Sacrifice of the Mass is to be suspended…according to the prophecy of Daniel 12:11.”
ST. HIPPOLYTUS (3rd century) “And the churches too will wail with a mighty lamentation, because neither oblation nor incense is attended to, nor a service acceptable to God; but the sanctuaries of the churches will become like a garden-watcher’s hut, and the Holy Body and Blood of Christ will not be shown in those days. The public service of God shall be extinguished.”
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES “The revolt and separation must come…the Sacrifice shall cease and…the Son of Man shall hardly find faith on earth…All these passages are understood of the affliction which Antichrist shall cause in the Church…But the Church… shall not fail, and shall be fed and preserved amidst the deserts and solitudes to which She shall retire, as the Scripture says, (Apoc. Ch. 12).
BLESSED ANNE CATHERINE EMMERICH(19th century) “The Church is completely isolated and as if completely deserted. It seems that everyone is running away.”
BOOK: HOLY EUCHARIST “St. Alphonsus “The Son of God, Eternal Priest, will always continue to offer Himself to God, the Father, in Heaven as an Eternal Sacrifice.”
“In Daniel 11:31, we read that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will cease. This prophecy does not just pertain to the Jewish sacrifice, for Christ reiterated the prophecy in Matthew 24:15. That the Sacrifice would be suspended, as Christ Himself was suspended.
“The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered,
each one to his home, and you will leave me alone.”
John 16:32
“See, days are coming… when I will send a famine upon the land: not a hunger for bread, or a thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the Lord.” (Amos 8:11)
countdowntothekingdom.com
countdowntothekingdom.com
I dont think this applies to our situation yet. The Mass has not been abolished. The priests are still offering the Mass at this time, we are just not present. The Word is still being preached, online. We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. When stressed or confronted with trial, it is easy to discern improperly. We want to make sense of things and know what God is doing. These prophecies mentioned indicate a time when the Mass is truly forbidden, by the AntiChrist who is in command of the world at the time. That has not happened yet. What we are experiencing is a permissive judgment of God in order to open our hearts and eyes, to restore holiness to the Sacrifice, to the priesthood, to the laity. God answers prayers based on desire, this trial may create a desire for us to take stock, repent, and come back to Him in a way that is pleasing to Him, not us. Much of the Catholic Church is secularized, and most certainly displeasing to God. Many of us know and see this. Pray that this trial have its effect, the effect GOD desires.
I agree.
I just sent you an email to the gmail account on your profile. ☺
I received it. I would love to hear what you have to say.