New Delhi, March 25, 2020: The nationwide lockdown is a God given opportunity to wage a spiritual war against coronavirus and other evils in the world, says a leading Catholic charismatic retreat preacher.
“We should accept the orders of our rulers with hope. Nothing happens in the world without God’s knowledge,” says Father Daniel Poovannathil, director of Mount Carmel Ministries, in a video message released after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day national lockdown starting from the midnight of March 25.
Father Poovannathil, a Syro-Malankara priest based in the Kerala state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, notes that the lockdown began on the feast of Annunciation that commemorates the Blessed Virgin accepting Angel Gabriel’s invitation to become God’s mother.
“It is God’s plan for us to wage a 21-day spiritual war with the help of the Blessed Mother,” he says. He cited the example of Old Testament Prophet Daniel who undertook a 21-day prayer, fast and penance to know God’s plan regarding the end of the Babylon captivity of Jewish people.
Father Poovannathil says Catholics accept the lockdown, remain inside their homes and follow Daniel example in spending time in prayer, fasting and penance for their sins as well as others’ failures. He also wants them to meditate on the Bible passages where Christ teaches about good living.
“Avoid wasting time playing fun games and watching movies. Watch news only for limited time,” he says.
In another video, the priest notes the anguish and frustration Catholics experience after the closure of churches.
“For millions of Catholics attending Mass and receiving the Holy Communion is more important than getting food,” says the priest.
According to him, the lockdown has made Catholics appreciate spiritual gifts such as Mass, confession and blessings that they had taken for granted. These have become out of reach for them during the Lenten season when Catholics take spiritual matters seriously. “We have to ask forgiveness for attending services lightly,” Father Poovannathil says.
India’s all three rites – Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara – have shut their churches under government orders to contain the spread of Coronavirus pandemic. While some churches said they would remain closed until March 31, others put the opening date to April 4.
However, they are now forced to remain closed until April 14, when the 21-day lockdown ends.
Meanwhile the three ritual Churches have asked their priests to offer daily Mass alone or with the sacristan in churches and pray for their people and God’s intervention to end the pandemic.
Father Poovannathil, who travels all over the world to preach retreats, says one cannot imagine the situation when no Mass is offered on any of the more than 400,000 altars in the world. Holy Eucharist will continue to be offered until the last priest in the world dies, he comforts his followers.
The world had 414,582 Catholic priests in 2017 when the last count was taken, according to Annuario Pontificio, a volume containing information about Vatican offices, as well as every diocese and religious order in the world.
According to Father Poovannathil, suspension of Mass with people’s participation is only a temporary arrangement and expressed the hope the pandemic attack would soon and the world would become normal again.