by the Rev. Deacon Nick Donnelly
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| Christ healing the bleeding woman(Catacombs of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, Rome) |
Recourse to the sacraments is essential to the supernatural
lives of Catholics. This is even more true during life’s crises, such as many face due to
the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic. This is why Archbishop Vigano is right when he describes the closure of churches in
Northern Italy, and the suspension of public Mass and confession as, ‘a real unprecedented tragedy.’ For
weeks now many Catholics living in China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and
Northern Italy have been unable to receive the Blessed Sacrament or the
sacramental absolution of their sins. Not since the Protestant Reformation
across Europe or the Communist persecution of the Church in Russia, Mexico and
China, have so many Catholics been banned from the public celebration of the
sacraments. Though this time churches have been closed to protect the physical
wellbeing of Catholics, the drastic impact on the sacramental lives of the
faithful cannot be exaggerated.
It is a frightening prospect to face the possibility of
being denied the sacraments if instructed to self-isolate due to exposure to
the COVID-19 coronavirus or being quarantined in hospital with life-threatening
complications. It is highly unlikely that secular medical professionals will
appreciate the stress suffered by Catholics unable to receive the pastoral care
of our priests, especially the anxiety caused by the possibility of not being
able to receive Extreme Unction at the hour of death.
However, we can do much to reduce our own anxiety and
stress if we find ourselves in such a situation by following two traditional
devotional practices — the Act of Perfect Contrition and Spiritual Communion. As
Bishop Schneider observed in his recent Rorate
Caeli essay on the coronavirus:
“In times of persecution, many
Catholics were unable to receive Holy Communion in a sacramental way for long
periods of time, but they made a Spiritual Communion with much spiritual
benefit.”
Cardinal Johann Baptist Franzelin (1816-1885), the renowned
Dogmatic theologian and Papal Theologian during the First Vatican Council, once
admitted, “If
I were able to traverse the countryside preaching the divine word, my favourite
sermon topic would be perfect contrition.”
Now is the time to recover the wisdom and practice of these
traditional devotions. Under certain conditions, they will enable us to receive
the forgiveness of our sins, and the marvellous benefit of Eucharistic graces
if — for
example due to self-isolation at home or
quarantine in hospital — we are denied the sacraments and the pastoral care of our
clergy.
Trust that God wills to save all men
