Plenary Indulgence Granted By The Apostolic Penitentiary

Quoted below in part from press.vatican.ca [1]:

The Plenary Indulgence  is granted to the faithful suffering from Coronavirus, who are subject to quarantine by order of the health authority in hospitals or in their own homes if, with a spirit detached from any sin, they unite spiritually through the media to the celebration of Holy Mass, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, to the pious practice of the Way of the Cross or other forms of devotion, or if at least they will recite the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and a pious invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, offering this trial in a spirit of faith in God and charity towards their brothers and sisters, with the will to fulfil the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the Holy Father's intentions), as soon as possible.  (Emphasis added.)

Health care workers, family members and all those who, following the example of the Good Samaritan, exposing themselves to the risk of contagion, care for the sick of Coronavirus according to the words of the divine Redeemer: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15: 13), will obtain the same gift of the Plenary Indulgence  under the same conditions.

This Apostolic Penitentiary also willingly grants a Plenary Indulgence  under the same conditions on the occasion of the current world epidemic, also to those faithful who offer a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or Eucharistic adoration, or reading the Holy Scriptures for at least half an hour, or the recitation of the Holy Rosary, or the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross, or the recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, to implore from Almighty God the end of the epidemic, relief for those who are afflicted and eternal salvation for those whom the Lord has called to Himself.  (Emphasis added.)

[1] http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/20/200320c.html

How Washing Hands WITH Soap For 20 Seconds Kills The Corona Virus

For those interested in the science behind this, go here:

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/3/11/21173187/coronavirus-covid-19-hand-washing-sanitizer-compared-soap-is-dope

Observations From The COVID-19 World Pandemic

The world is mostly united under the spread of COVID-19 but there are places and groups within communities that do not care.  Why do they not care?

1.  Pride:  I am young and invincible.  I am old and I am not about to change my life-long habits for anybody or anything.

2.  Selfishness:  So long as they remain healthy, they do not pay any attention to those overworked, over-burdened and severely stressed out healthcare workers, some of whom have themselves contracted the virus, nor do they care about being possible carriers of the virus and transmit it to others while they are asymptomatic, until they themselves get sick, start to suffer and need to seek medical attention.

3.  Greed:  Many businesses stay open to cater to who do not care, even as people are packed into a relatively confined area such as bars and gyms but many such businesses are now required to close by local governments.  Some cruise ships are still sailing.

On the flip side, good things are also happening:

1.  Humility:  Many people are realizing that no matter who one is, whether one is a nobody in society, a celebrity, a prince or a prominent and powerful political figure is not immune to contracting the virus.  The indiscriminate viral infection can humble a person regardless standing.

2.  Charity:  Some people in some communities have come together to organize ways to help others who are in need.

3.  Unity:  This is an instance where the world has mostly set aside political differences and has begun to pay attention to the world's physicians, epidemiologists and other medical experts, technicians and staff who speak with one united voice trying desperately to slow the spread of this pandemic.

In conclusion, every citizen of this world has to do what is right to combat the spread of this virus by staying home as much as possible, and by keeping oneself healthy by trying not to stress out in this challenging period, by making small personal sacrifices for the greater good, by keeping a safe distance from others, by washing hands as often as necessary, and by strengthening one's own immune system, by eating properly, resting sufficiently and staying hydrated.

Be well.  Be healthy.  And keep praying.

Thank you for reading.  God bless!!

Prefecture of the Papal Household Announcement

What is the Prefecture of the Papal Household?  Quoted from the Prefecture of the Papal Household [1]:

It is the task of the Prefecture of the Papal Household to coordinate the services of the Antechamber and to organize the official audiences granted by His Holiness to Heads of State, Heads of Government, Governmental Ministers and other dignitaries, as well as to Ambassadors who come to the Vatican to present their Letters of Credence.

The Prefecture takes care of the preparations for all audiences - private, special and general - and visits from those who are formally received by the Holy Father. It is also responsible for arranging Pontifical ceremonies - except liturgical celebrations - as well as the Spiritual Retreat of the Holy Father, the College of Cardinals and the Roman Curia.

In addition, the Prefecture oversees the appropriate arrangements required each time the Holy Father leaves the Apostolic Palace to visit the city of Rome or travel within Italy.

Here is the announcement, quoted in its entirety (original in red) [2]:

The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household announces that, because of the current global public health emergency, all the Liturgical Celebrations of Holy Week will take place without the physical presence of the faithful.

Furthermore, this Prefecture informs that until April 12 the General Audiences and the Angelus presided over by the Holy Father will be available only in live streaming on the official Vatican News website.

Most likely the pope will not be washing anyone's feet on Holy Thursday, April 9, 2020.

[1] http://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/index_en.html
[2] Ibid.

Published By India Post: "Corona Virus – Is God unhappy with Mankind?"

India Post  published an article on March 13, 2020, entitled  Corona Virus – Is God unhappy with Mankind?  Quoted below are the first two paragraph and the beginning of the third [1]:

St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican City in Italy is deserted. The Pope, supreme Pontiff has cancelled all meetings and engagements in Vatican City. The world is cut off with Rome.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned Umrah pilgrims from all over the world. A day earlier, the Kingdom also restricted its citizens and residents from visiting Makkah. Although the Makkah entry restrictions announced are precautionary temporary steps, the Holy Kaaba is a deserted place.

Yes, for the first time in the history of mankind the circling of Kaaba has been stopped....

The rest of it is an interesting read.

[1] https://www.indiapost.com/corona-virus-is-god-unhappy-with-mankind/

Attendees Present At Pope's Mass Said In Person

Vatican News  posted a video on 12 March 2020 that showed, at the very beginning, attendees at Casa Santa Marta, the pope's chapel, while the pope was saying Mass. [1]  It did not show him, or anyone else, distributing Holy Communion, however.

Who were the attendees was not specified, and many seats were left unoccupied.  It therefore can be assumed that it was not a public event, but nonetheless public enough due to the fact that the attendees probably were not living in isolation.  Since Holy Communion was not shown to have been distributed, the pope was able to maintain a relatively safe distance between himself and the attendees, one that presumably was far apart enough to minimize the risk of any viral transmission.

This was a brave and respectable action taken by the pope in an environment full of fear.


[1]  https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-03/pope-rich-man-lazarus-indifference.html

The Pope Reveals How Much He Truly Cares About His Priests And Himself

Quoted from an article entitled  Pope Urges Priests: Bring Eucharist to Sick During Italy Coronavirus Quarantine: "Pope Francis urged priests to bring the Eucharist to the sick and to accompany medical workers, as Italy begins its first day of a nationwide quarantine." [1]

But for his own health and safety, Bergoglio is offering Mass through a livestream [2]:

Pope Francis always offers a 7:00 am Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta where he lives. This week, the Mass is being livestreamed over the internet. The pope said March 9 he is offering the Masses for those affected by the coronavirus.

What Bergoglio was implying could be this: The hell with the rest of you priests.  Go smell like sheep, tend to them and get infected as they are infected but stay away from me.

He also streamed from his papal library, quoted from an article dated 11 March 2020 [3]:

Today, Pope Francis made this observation from his papal library, where he gave a virtual, televised General Audience, as concerns over the Coronavirus has essentially put Italy on lock down.

Notice how far his two aides were sitting away from him in the photograph accompanying the article published by the National Catholic Reporter [4].


[1] https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-urges-priests-bring-eucharist-to-sick-during-italy-coronavirus-quarant
[2] Ibid.
[3] https://zenit.org/articles/what-ends-our-restlessness-satisfies-our-deepest-longing-christ-pope-says-at-1st-virtual-general-audience-in-time-of-coronavirus/
[4] https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-chronicles/christs-gospel-can-satisfy-hunger-thirst-justice-pope-says