An American Priest on Coronavirus – His Excitement Is…Well…Infectious!
Comment:
The above short video talk struck me right away as very typical of the modern “don’t criticise… that’s negative” mentality. Positive thinking, blah blah. Well, we can “positive think” 24/7, but it won’t change the worrying reality of military on the streets, permission slips/letters to go out of our homes, people told to contact the police if they see a group on the street, and no cycling allowed… and these are just four things which I’ve noted myself on one “round up” of the global news on TV today about “that virus”. Am I “criticising”? “Being negative”? Or simply “calling a spade a spade”?
One other thought crossed my mind today and was confirmed when I began to read the comments on YouTube underneath the above video, and stopped short at the first one, which reads: “I was lucky to do confession before they cancelled physical masses. Funny enough, now that streaming masses are available, I’m more motivated to do it more frequently, and make it a daily habit. Blessing in disguise?”
Is it possible that, perhaps an unintended consequence of the rush to discourage the worship of God in Catholic churches will be the idea that – well – we don’t actually need to personally attend Mass any more? If your parish live-streams Masses, what’s the big deal?
Comments (50)
“Don’t be critical, pray and be grateful” says the priest in response to the bishops closing the doors of the churches. You really have to admire the ingenuity of Modernist clergy!
I posted this on the Coronavirus thread but it’s worth posting it here as well just to make the point.
https://youtu.be/d8elw5bnCr8
Athanasius
Thank you for that video – I’ve not had time to watch it yet but will do, hopefully tomorrow.
It is virtue signalling [crudity removed].
The truth hurts sometimes and the truth is we are in for a world of pain.
This is probably the beginning of a Divine chastisement for the mountain of sin and 1 billion abortions.
Greg
This is no divine chastisement, not direct chastisement anyway, it’s a planned and orchestrated Communist strategy. If and when God decides to punish this sinful world you can rest assured that the chastisement will have a much higher death toll.
There is a terrible divine chastisement going on right now, has been for decades, which makes Coronavirus look like a walk in the park. It’s the spiritual chastisement of the apostasy from God both in the Church and the world that presently sees a large majority heading happily to Hell in a handcart. No world plague, no matter how high the body count, comes close to spiritual plague and death of the soul.
Reaction to the Coronavirus from all governments is just insanity, a clear sign that they have no trust in God and absolutely no wisdom.
Athanasius,
I don’t think we can dimiss what is going on as not a divine chastisement on the grounds that it’s a planned etc Communist strategy, for two reasons:
1) In the Old Testament the peoples interpreted their wars and invasions etc as being a chastisement from God who permits such evils, as a way of teaching his people that they are going against God’s will. We would need to write off whole episodes in the Old Testament if we said that those parts of scripture were not part of God’s revelation about his justice, vengeance, etc but just planned invasions by this nation or that nation on Israel’s borders. I’ve been reading quite a lot about this subject and it’s really fascinating.
2) Our Lady said that Russia would spread her errors and China and the other countries which followed Russia and became Communist, are all part of Russia’s errors. It’s not just that Russia brought immorality to us, which is what I used to think, but that it (Russia) spread the major error of Communism itself to other nations and all the evils came from that.
I totally agree about the reactions to the virus but surely that “insanity” (as you correctly describe it) comes from the blindness of the turning away from God which you mention. As I’ve read on this blog a million times, spiritual blindness is in itself a punishment from God. When people turn their backs on him, he leaves them to themselves. We see that in the greed of people who are emptying the supermarket shelves without a thought for anyone else.
Lily,
Excellent points. Unless you’ve already got one, consider yourself a candidate for a certificate in A Level Old Testament Theology 😀
Lily,
I agree with your points, esp. since God’s chastisement most frequently, if not almost invariably, involves human agents (St. John Eudes, I believe, spoke of Our Lord saying to someone – I forget who – that He would send “revolutionary agents” to punish mankind for their unrepentant sins).
However, in Athanasius’ defense, he did specify “direct” chastisement, by which I presume he meant such things as natural disasters.
Lily
I don’t dismiss the suffering element of this present crisis as something God has permitted as a chastisement, or at least to remind mankind of its mortality. My point was that if God unleashes a chastisement on the world for its sins, sins like no other generation has ever seen on the global scale of today, then it would be much, much more severe than a Flu virus. I speak of course about direct chastisement, as RCA Victor pointed out. That this present scourge came from a Communist country is perhaps a reminder to the apostatising West what happens when it holds out the hand of friendship to atheistic materialists while snubbing its Creator.
There is a global divine chastisement going on at present, much worse than Coronavirus, or even a nuclear holocaust. It’s a spiritual darkness that has descended upon Churchmen at every level together with a global apostasy from God. The death count in that one, and I speak of immortal souls, is incalculable. And when we consider that the eternal loss of just one soul is a tragedy worse than the annihilation of the human race, we see just how horrendous a chastisement it actually is.
It’s the most tragic of ironies that prelates of the Church stop Masses everywhere in the name of human health while ignoring the spiritual damage they do. When this crisis is over a great majority of people will just view these prelates as faithless. It’s how history will judge them.
I struggled to get even halfway through this video, since Father’s delivery has the annoying quality of a high-speed endlessly rambling Twitter or Facebook post in which one notifies the world what one had for breakfast (there I go being critical again).
However, there was something about the halfway mark which I found useful:
“Our sphere of interest vastly outstrips our sphere of influence.”
At this point in my life, I think I can be most influential by being more penitential – i.e. by doubling down on that which is prescribed in that compact book published by the SSPX known as “Christian Warfare.” And the response to this virus gives me more opportunity to do that.
RCA Victor,
You are obviously right about penance. That’s really all we can do about this virus situation.
Father Z also agrees with you!
https://wdtprs.com/2020/03/podcazt-181-the-latin-of-a-prayer-in-times-of-epidemics-from-the-rituale-romanum-prayercazt/
I’ve seen this priest before. I tried watching a video on whether animals have souls and go to Heaven. Far too chipper for me, and a bit camp from what I remember. Gimmestrength!
RCA Victor
You’re right about using this time to do more penances and say more prayers. “Warfare” is certainly the right word to describe today’s situation.
RCA Victor,
I laughed at your description of Father’s delivery – I know what you mean. I found myself thinking that I’ve seen slower Irish reels 😀
Skip to 0.41 to cut out the lengthy introduction…
Editor
That was very adept for a 4-year old. Here’s my own home video, let me know what you think.
Athanasius,
I’ve never liked to mention it, but you do get some funny looks on Sundays on your way from the car park to the church. Just sayin…
Seriously, your “home video” is… priceless!
Editor
That’s me just out of bed and still in pyjamas. You want to see me go once I waken up!
Athanasius,
I didn’t know you had appeared on “Scotland’s Got Talent”!!
RCA Victor
We havn’t had a “Scotland’s Got Talent” yet, but I’m sure if they introduce it here I’ll win hands down with that routine. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the SNP would offer me big money to choreographically interpret for Nicola Sturgeon at the next Party Conference!
Editor and Lily,
I agree that this priest is certainly likable, but what irked my choleric nature was his lack of dignity. In the first half of his video he sounds like a breathless teeny-bopper, with “like” this and “like” that, etc.
I suppose I have this preconception that priests should be dignified. After all, they have the most exalted vocation on the face of the earth….
Regarding that adorable Irish reel, funny you should mention that, Editor. When I first started Father’s video, he was speaking so rapidly I actually thought the video was playing at the wrong speed.
i can’t help liking that young priest. He is so full of zeal and I kept thinking how he would react if and when he comes to truly understand the real crisis, which isn’t the Coronavirus, but the destruction of the Church in recent years. I imagine he would be full of enthusiasm to put it right!
Lily
I think the young priest in the video was a likeable enough person but he didn’t come across as very priestly, too “with it” in his language and just too noisy for a priest. Comes over more superficial than supernatural. It’s probably they way he was formed in seminary, made worse by being a chaplain to the young in a modern university campus.
What ad like to know is where have all the Global Warmers gone . Have they all taken to the Hills like Pope Francis. Or are they all cooped up in Harold and Sparkles getaway blocked off Walled off Canadian Maniion .
As far as The Evil of this Virus is concerned av no doubt that it was manufactured in a Chinese Laboratory and sent by Agents throughout the World. I wonder if Francis wants to go back to China and have another little Chit Chat with them . What say you Ed . As for a Devine Intervention we as Catholics who have felt the hand of God personally know that he is just doing to the people as in the day Of Noah. God Bless and Stay Safe . At least Our Bishops know how to self isolate.
Lily,
I agree with Athanasius. Father Mike is certainly likeable, and comes across as a very kindly person, but he’s every bit the modern(ist) priest. I’d love to hear him speaking about the “traditional/liberal” divide in the Church – there may be a video out there, I’ve not had time to check, but my guess is that his approach would be, in short, whatever floats your boat… As long as the bishop allows it 😀
I liked the young American priest as well. He was so chirpy!
I do not agree with him, though, about criticism. I think this mentality about being “positive” all the time is shallow thinking, although usually well meant, as in his case. If we are afraid to express criticism, then that puts us in a very difficult position, it means we have to accept “our lot” as decided by bureaucrats. I think he is one of those people who just coasts along, and is happy to be told what to do (I think he even said that at one point) but that’s not a healthy way to be all the time. There is a time to be like that, e.g. if you really have no power over your situation, but when your bishop is telling you not to celebrate Mass, I’m not sure that it’s negative to criticise him for that.
I am aware of the permissive will of God, wherein He permits evil to visit us and try us, as with Job, but is there such a thing as prescriptive will? I’m sure a priest mentioned it where God directly wills something to inflict us. Could the Devil have caused the virus to lead us away with God, as He tormented Job?
Catholic Convert,
St Paul tells us in several places, that the will of God for us is our sanctification. That is God’s prescriptive will. God can never WILL evil, but permits it and, further, He will do whatever it takes (to use the contemporary parlance) to bring us to heel in order to save our souls.
I don’t think it’s particularly helpful to try to analyse everything as we all tend to do these days. We know that, to quote St Thomas More “Nothing can come but what God wills” and that should suffice for us to enable us to keep calm in the midst of crises such as that afflicting both Church and world at this time. As others have pointed out, prayer and penance is the order of the day for
usyou all. 😀But did God not cause or will the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to punish the wicked inhabitants?
Good comment about Job . One of my Lapsed Catholic Neighbors lost his Wife many years ago She died quite young. He stopped going to Mass and said to my sister that God took his Wife far to young. As the saying goes . Walk a Mile in My Shoes Before You Criticise Me and he was left to bring up young children so it’s not for me to pass any judgment on him but he blames God on his loss . I have not as very many on here are the same had to seek out trauma in life but I never lost my Wife young and was left to bring up a family. He is a good neighbor and a good man and only God knows his heart.
As for myself and my family my Brother lost his Wife quite young but his Kids were young men . As the Story of St Augustine goes when he was contemplating the will of God while walking along a beach . A young boy was running into the sea with a Bucket and emptying the water onto the sand . St Augustine said ” What are you doing ” the boy said ” I am emptying the Sea ” St Augustine said ” That’s completely impossible ” the boy said back ” But not as impossible as what you are trying to contemplate on ” .
FOOF
I lost my young sister at age 28 but it never occurred to me for a second to blame God for taking her. In fact, God was our comfort and our strength at that time, particularly because He proivided her with Extreme Unction, a rare gift today.
Our Faith doesn’t take away the human sorrow and emotional loss but God’s presence and grace, not to mention the hope we have in eternal life for our dear departed, moderates our grief immensely.
You should maybe remind your neighbour, tactfully, that Our Lady had to stand at the foot of the Cross and watch her Divine Son die the most horrendous death at age 33. That kind of puts matters in perspective.
I agree that Father Mike Schmidt is likeable, however, I think he’ll be no different from the rest of his brother priests who say the new Mass with lay people helping, and an appointment system for going to Confession. I’m afraid I’m tired of these personality priests.
Couldn’t agree more with you on the Celebrity Priest bit . One of course really stands out and we’re all completely fed up with him and his Anti Catholicism.
God Bless All and Keep Safe . J D
Michaela, Foof,
I agree with you about Father Mike Schmidt being likeable, and, the Celebrity Priest bit.
Father Isaac Mary Relyea from the Fatima Centre says in this video that he has received phone calls and emails to talk about Covid 19 otherwise known as the Corona Virus. What a difference, as he talks of the failure of Consecrating Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the abandonment of the world of God.
Michaela,
I must say I, too, miss the pre-Vatican II days when Mass was offered quietly, forceful preaching, but without regard for projecting their personality/image etc. And I think the whole attitude to Confession is very revealing these days. The idea of making an appointment is a cross between amusing and annoying.
When I was young (what a memory!) we had the regular announcement that there would be Confessions in the church on Saturday mornings after Mass and in the evening from 6pm – 8pm. Like clockwork, the light was on in the confessional a few minutes before 6pm and the priest was there – with or without a row of penitents – which was edifying to see. Nowadays, this fashion of making appointments is bound to deter people from going to avail of the Sacrament. Unfortunately, where I attend Mass the clergy seem to come out only if they see some people waiting in the queue, which means that people who are in the church waiting for him to enter the box, are likewise deterred. A member of the congregation once said to me that he felt it important to have total anonymity so until he sees the light on above the box, he wasn’t moving! I told him to stop robbing banks, but he wouldn’t listen 😀
The good news is that there are churches in most cities, certainly in Glasgow, where I live, where the priests do sit in the confessional for a stretch of time, whether or not there are penitents waiting. There’s the cathedral in Clyde Street where there are Confessions daily, Monday to Saturday, 12noon -12.30 and and St Aloysius in Garnethill, where there are confessions 11.30am – 1pm and 5pm – 5.50pm every day. For years, there were also Confessions on Saturday afternoons in St Aloysius, from 2pm until 4pm but on checking the website, there is no mention of that, so maybe there’s been a time change there.
I agree about “personality priests” although I don’t think “Fr Mike” is consciously one of those. I think he’s genuinely enthusiastic – if only he could be enlightened about the nature of the crisis in the Church, new Mass etc. and thus be genuinely enthusiastic AND right, at the same time 😀
Editor
It might be worth pointing out that Confessions in Glasgow, certainly at St. Mungo’s are now being heard in the sacristy, priest on a chair with penitent kneeling on the floor. They’re not using the confessional box in case they catch the virus. That will definitely put people off going to confession, it put me off. Faithless shepherds, what else can we say about them.
Athanasius,
That’s ridiculous. How can it be any safer to use the sacristy rather than a confessional? As “Father Mike” said – “crazy times!”
Editor
It’s actually safer to use the confessional as it offers a little segregation, and consequent protection, with the grille and curtain. In the sacristy it’s close contact with no screen. Clever, eh?
Athanasius,
My point precisely. Goodness knows what rationale has been employed to justify this latest novelty.
Today’s articles on The American Thinker website feature numerous, very interesting perspectives on this “pandemic” – check it out:
https://www.americanthinker.com/
RCA Victor
Well worth the 5 seconds of viewing!
RCA Victor,
I receive the American Thinker emails – truly enlightening.
Love the video clip!
What would happen if the Pope were to die during the coronavirus outbreak? Obviously a conclave could not be held in Rome due to the lockdown, or anywhere else in Europe or the USA because of travel bans.
CC
They would merely delay the election of a new Pope until the crisis was over.
Since “corona” means “crown,” I’m reminded of Abp. Lefebvre’s analysis of Vatican II: They Have Uncrowned Him. It seems to me that this so-called pandemic, and especially the government-induced panic about it, are indicative of the fact that a faith-less human race – thrown into darkness and confusion by our modernist clergy – is now reaping the “benefits” of what our clergy did at Vatican II. Not only did they uncrown Him, they crowned themselves lords of the universe.
The Catholic Church is supposed to be the light of nations. but the Conciliar Catholic Church has blindfolded herself and has turned to those same nations for their “wisdom.”
I hope the hierarchy gives Our Lord His Crown back, and soon.
What about this priest as a response to the young American priest above?
Athanasius,
Theresa Rose posted that video on March 21st at 9.27pm.
Editor
How dare she! It’s for me to post the scoops!
Actually, I didn’t see it but, as the old adage goes, anything worth doing is worth overdoing. It’s a great video.
https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/24/priest-72-dies-coronavirus-giving-respirator-complete-stranger-12447080/
PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS BRAVE LOVELY PRIEST RIP
Wendy Walker
I suspect this priest doesn’t need our prayers as his selfless act will doubtless merit heaven for him. “Greater love no man has than this”, says Our Lord and Saviour “that a man lay down his life for his friends”. This good priest imitated the example of the Good Shepherd he served and I am certain he will be eternally rewarded for it.
Dear SPUC supporter,
In the last 24 hours, we have seen the Government give permission for DIY abortions at home during the Coronavirus crisis, and then just as quickly rescind it.
Yesterday the Department of Health gave the go-ahead for women to obtain both the pills needed to do their own abortion away from a medical setting. By the evening this new measure had been dropped (on the basis of a claim that it had been published in error).
The abortion lobby is on the warpath. They want to get that new measure back. And they are also lobbying to dispense with the rule for two doctors to certify abortions, and allow just one doctor, nurse or midwife to certify abortion procedures directly.
BPAS is lobbying MPs to make representations today to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to amend the Coronavirus Bill in their favour.
We must act. Please email your MP with this simple message: “Please resist any move by the abortion lobby in Parliament to hijack the emergency Coronavirus Bill.”
We are in a time of national emergency, with the healthcare service already stretched to breaking point trying to preserve life. It is beyond belief that the abortion lobby is exploiting this crisis to make it easier to kill unborn babies and remove any remaining protection from women.
Please email your MP now. We have only hours to resist this.
Best wishes,
Antonia Tully
Director of Campaigns
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Dear All this is so VERY URGENT please do what yo u can and also e -mail MATT HANCOCK and BORIS …..and please share with all pro life people asking them to do the same indebted
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