Jesus is Always With Us

Years ago, I was invited by a friend to go to daily Mass. I accepted, and as strange as it was to go to church during the week, I found strength and comfort in it. As time passed, I became more and more hungry for God, and missing Mass caused me a great deal of suffering. I have said many times that I would die without the Eucharist, without Jesus. And I now find myself in the exact situation, and so do many Christians throughout the world. But Jesus hasn’t left us.  

Most churches are closed, but thankfully my church remains open. There are no public Masses, but anyone who desires to be with Jesus can go to the church and sit before the tabernacle. It is an incredible blessing for the people in our area. Jesus is always with us, no matter where we are. Today I was able to participate in the Mass through EWTN from my bedroom. As much as I want to be at Mass in my parish, and receive Jesus physically in the Eucharist, I am overwhelmingly grateful to have the opportunity to share in the Mass through the television. Christ was truly present.

After the Mass today, EWTN aired the Prayer and “Urbi et Orbi” Blessing presided over by Pope Francis for the end of the Coronavirus. It was beautiful and very emotional. I have never seen the Square of Saint Peter’s empty before. It was sobering. The absence of the people showed the severity of the present crisis and how it is affecting the Church and the people of the world. The Pope’s words were honest and beautiful. He spoke the truth about the condition of society in the world today, and at the same time encouraged the faithful. It was exactly what the Church and the world needed at this moment in time.

There was a unity between the Lord and His people that I have not felt before during adoration. The hymns struck at our hearts and led to a period of profound silence. The peace that emanated from our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, pierced through the heaviness of this trial and filled the world with hope. When the Pope walked out on the steps of Saint Peter’s to bless us, the bells were ringing and the rain was pouring. I started to cry as I pleaded with the Lord to wash away the virus and save us from this suffering. The Lord hears all of our prayers, and I know that He will answer them in His time and according to His will. There is no doubt that the churches will be filled again. Let’s pray the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet for an end to this virus and that the pews of our churches will be overflowing with people who have found the Lord anew amid these challenging times.