The emergence of COVID-19 in humanity marks a global milestone in the social, economic, cultural, health, education, labor, family, without considering the status of human beings, race, or religion. In this sense, the universe, for the first time, goes through one of the most forceful situations in history, emptiness, sepulchral silence and desert. This transcendental event impacts the lives of the faithful, for they are deprived of participating in the cults of Christian spirituality, due to the absolute social isolation.
From another edge, this global emergency gave the possibility for the
faithful to be more in communication with God, they should have turned their
homes into sanctuary. Many families
prayerfully overwhelmed themselves to ask for protection so that the virus
would not infect members, to make the economic crisis more bearable, imploring
health for the sick, or simply to give thanks.
The family nucleus is also strengthened, and to take refuge in God. In line
with health authorities in different parts of the world, they have suspended
the celebration of the Eucharist with the presence of the faithful as a
preventive measure. In this context, technology is a great ally, for the prayer
of the Holy Rosary, to follow Mass, via streaming (live streaming), without the
possibility that christians could receive the Body of Christ in COVID-19
times, only to practice spiritual communion. In addition, several pastoral
groups, parishioners, priests and bishops have created groups by
WhatsApp with parishioners to live and share the faith. A new way of living the
Christian faith is adopted.
With the most severe restrictive provision, due to the gradual increase in
cases and confirmation of community circulation of the virus, the Church asked
the faithful to "Stay at Home" and set out to use technology to bring
the message of hope, peace and tranquility to believers.
In this reflection the following categories are considered: Christian
spirituality, faith, and works of charity. In view of the above, the purpose of
reflection is to determine the experience of Christians in COVID-19
times. Thematic development in the face of the global coronavirus hatching,
religion is the comfort that billions of people who face the pandemic rely on
in the first instance.
Christian spirituality
Christian spirituality is one if we consider its substance, holiness, participation in the Trinitarian divine life, as well as the fundamental means to grow in it: prayer, liturgy, self-denial, exercise of virtues all under the empire of charity. Spirituality is a way of living according to a spirit, so Christian spirituality is the art of living in a way commensurate with the Spirit of Jesus Christ. In this sense it advocates being globalized in the human being, it is to bring to all levels of development that accompany the processes of life, that is why the maximum dimension of spirituality is given in the coordinates of love, giving rise to the reunion with the essence of what the human being is.
Permanent sources of spirituality
The word, the listening, the reading, the meditation of the word of God, transforms because it is life and that has the capacity for conversion. The word of God knows how to cross the limits of time to reveal the future early, it is not only an intelligible message addressed to men, it is a dynamic reality, a power that infallibly operates the effects intended by God as a living messenger, therefore, a fact against which man cannot remain passive: the spokesman exercises a ministry with very serious responsibilities; the listener of the word is required to take position, which puts on the line his destiny.
Faith is a condition of possibility for human existence; it is not a
decision or ethical or religious position taken as opposed to reason to be able
to explain phenomena that escape rational explanation, but human existence itself is inescapably
connected to faith as its main condition of possibility, and the means by which
human beings can give answers to the totality of their existence; Faith, as a
condition of possibility of human existence and a platform that enables the
experience of God's self-communication,
is historical as an essential part of the possibility of human existence and
experience.
Christian prayer is a personal, filial and immediate relationship of the Christian with God, in the light of faith, in love of charity, has a Trinitarian structure, primarily the work of the Holy Spirit in the mind and heart of man. It is an action that begins in God, acts the mind and heart of man, and ends in God, in other words, it is a mystery of grace, given by God. That is why every Christian can have prayer, because God wants to give it to him, he wants to enter into close friendship with him, his son, his friend; he becomes personal or community. Moreover, if it is the permanent dialogue with God, therefore, one cannot live Christian spirituality without prayer, it encloses in itself the request, praise and thanksgiving are the fundamental forms of biblical prayer, which do not stand in contrast, but complement each other.
Living the Christian faith
The complete transmission of faith to recent generations has been met with
stones, weeds and both hard and dry ground. The illusion behind many of contemporary tendencies and
inclinations has interrupted the
authentic religious experience. Consumerism suggests that value is found in
accumulated things; individualism requires not to depend on anyone but oneself
and personal needs always take the first place; skepticism presses to trust
only what can be observed and measured, it seeks to destroy the classical and
proven relationship between faith and reason, threatens to reject the
fundamental right to religious freedom and freedom of conscience.
The Christian faith today, in daily life
Faith is as difficult in the twentieth century as in the year 50 BC. It
will always be difficult for man to base his life on goals that go beyond self
itself. Nor are there more heresies than in the past; the Church is as threatened today as it was in other times.
Moreover, men often reject faith because of the distorted image that many
Christians have given of it.
Society limits the exercise of the Catholic faith to places of worship, rather it is called to manifest the kingdom of God not only within the churches, but in the world, building the common good. How is the disappearance or decrease of faith explained? It is partly due to certain social, cultural and political trends, which have been identified under the category of secularism, materialism and individualism.
Charity works
Charity is the form, foundation, root and mother of all other virtues,
practice is an essential and indispensable element of the Christian’s life, it
is more than a mere sensitive affection: charity expresses a firm determination
of the will of the Christian, whether a choice of the will explains, therefore
Christian charity should be seen as a grace. Charity has been identified as a
feeling that led to the exercise of alms with the aim of meeting some need of
society, but without the intervention of the State, it was a virtue proper to
the ecclesiastical.
The Second Vatican Council itself says how to exercise charity, In order
for it to be truly irreproachable and to appear as such, it is necessary to see
in one's neighbour the image of God; to respect with maximum delicacy the
freedom and dignity of the person who receives the aid; without intention of
any self-interest or with the desire to dominate; to suppress the causes, and
not only the effects, of evils; to organize aid in such a way that those who
receive them are progressively freed from external dependence, basing themselves.
Conclusion
Despite today's increasingly imposing secularization, human beings in
difficult situations in life recognize the existence of God, in whom he can
resort to imploring mercy, thus demonstrating his belief in a higher being, it
is also necessary to indepart about feeling, and to think about his beliefs,
considering that he is an integral bio-psycho, social and spiritual being.
On the other hand, religious experience today is the case in many ways, even practicing charity above all in the most deprived communities. It is therefore concluded that during the pandemic the Christian spirituality of Catholic parishioners was greatly strengthened, through the prayer of the Holy Rosary and of the Mass. Faith is a constant that remained despite difficult times. The religious had the opportunity to impart the blessing with the Most Holy as they took to the streets, to help the most deprived communities by supporting the organize solidarity activities, as well as within the family itself. Participate in the face-to-face celebration of the Eucharist as the culmination of the Christian faith, maintaining and respecting the health measures established by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare.
