When you see Italy’s Prime Minister bemoaned the loss of part of his nation, greater than 4,800 deaths, specifically 1,895 deaths in 3 days, you cry with him. All I could do was attend livestreamed masses. Yesterday, March 22, I attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Church – Los Angeles and hearing Pete Avendano’s voice gave me hope that Blessed Mother is with us. 101 of us listened to Fr. Rolando Clarin give a vulnerable, humble, and inspiring homily of “nothing can stop us to show the world our faith as we ask create in me a clean heart, O Lord.” He declared, “Triumphant Together by the Grace of God!”
I switched to catch on my laptop livestreamed mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, officiated by Archbishop Jose Gomez where 842 of us watched. There was a somber mood at this huge cathedral usually with over 2,000 folks, now empty, yet with good acoustics for its organ music.
I managed to switch to Holy Family Catholic Church, Artesia and I was so inspired to see 972 of us watched Fr. John Cordero who eloquently gave a hopeful message for priests to be given the strength to be the Lord’s sheperds. He also cited Maya Angelou’s quote about “the storm will run of water soon, that its gray clouds will not follow us, that this will clear up and we will feel the love and presence of God, so be joyful, exalt for we have the loving God.”
Imagine nearly a thousand livestreaming to this church, add the 842 plugged into the Cathedral and 101 at Immaculate and that’s almost 2,000 plugged in to attend Sunday masses.
My tears got triggered after my 5 year old apo and daughter came by, waving at a 7 foot distance. I just love my family checking up on us.
Today, Monday, March 23, 2020, Fr. Joachim Ablanida preached to 269 of us. He gave some tips of how to deal with this quarantine, much like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz who went someplace and sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow. He advised reading books, including reading the Bible from cover to cover, from Genesis to the Revelation. He described seeing the multiple colored arc of the rainbows, and how Native Americans consider those pathways of souls while others consider them as floating bridges to heaven. Notice that folks are seeing so many rainbows, yet there are no gray clouds, they simply appear in blue skies. Do you now feel God’s presence abounds? Just remove the clay blinders in our eyes and we will all see God’s beauty.
Even the ex-atheists doctors in Italy posted last night’s experience of seeing a 70+ year old Catholic priest minister last rites to the hundreds of bodies, yet with peace and joy in his heart that the doctors asked and implored God’s mercy, seeing his infectious joy. He was not rejoicing at deaths in the thousands, but he embodied Christ’s joyful love to these grief-stricken doctors, now self-proclaimed ex-atheists. What a miracle of conversion!
Happy happy birthday to my dear mentor Fritz Friedman, read his post on his personal beatitudes and you will be inspired. He is a luminous light, shining brightly for 70 years! I love you my dear friend!
There are lots of bright rays of sunshine – catch them, and most of all, the inequities around us are being addressed. Just read through my timeline and you will be uplifted as the least of us are being lifted up: given more wages, hazard pay and sick leave. Thank you to the businesses taking care of their employees during this stressful quarantine period!