Fear Does Not Have the Final Say

If we were to give into the feeling of fear and panic sweeping our country and world right now, nobody would blame us. It is undeniable that during this time of pandemic, we all know someone who has been or currently is afraid (and perhaps that person is you). Maybe we aren’t afraid of the virus itself, but we find ourselves afraid for the health of our loved ones, or afraid of this new normal we seem to be establishing and the long-term effects it may have, or for the innocence of our children.

When Mary is told that she is to be the Mother of the Son of the Most High, she is “greatly troubled”. Just like Mary, our hearts may currently carry the heavy burden of feeling “greatly troubled”. The angel Gabriel’s message to Mary to not be afraid is a message that couldn’t be any more relevant to our current experience. After first hearing the news that she will conceive and bear Jesus, Mary is in a state of questioning, wondering “how can this be?” How many times has our world echoed this very question since the start of Covid-19, asking ourselves, “how can this be?”. To her questioning, Gabriel responds with comfort for our greatly troubled hearts and says, “ [...] the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” My friends, these are such consoling words for us. The same power of the Most High that overshadowed Mary is here in our midst to overshadow us; this is cause for great rejoicing! There is still good news to be found in 2020 (phew).

As with you and I, if Mary had chosen to fall into the temptation of fear and anxiety, not a soul would have judged her for it. But fear does not have the final say. God’s unfailing providence and plan for us has the final say - only if we are brave enough to say yes to His will.

- Rachel Nott - St. Bridget School Teacher - Middle School History, Geography, Social Studies

Meek Does Not Mean Weak

Based on today's readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121320.cfm

What these readings suggest to me is that no matter how lowly, or undeserving we may feel ourselves to be, God cares for each and every one of us. In turn, we rejoice in God’s goodness, and test everything, retaining only what is good.

- Celeste McKenzie

Ask Father: Vaccines

Dear Father: What is the Church’s position on using drugs and vaccines derived from voluntary aborted fetus?

Dear friend in Christ,

If a vaccine is available that was not derived from abortion, the Catholic must choose that. If one is not available, the Church essentially leaves it up to the individual’s conscience.

(A quick note about conscience: following my conscience does not mean “doing what I want to do”; it means carefully considering and praying about an issue before making an informed moral decision.)

The National Catholic Bioethics Center states “one is morally free to use a vaccine, despite its historical association with abortion, if there is a proportionately serious reason for doing so. In practice, the risks to personal and public health could permit its use. This is especially important for parents, who have a moral obligation to protect the life and health of their children and those around them.”

The following articles also offer helpful information on this issue:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6699053/

http://www.academyforlife.va/content/pav/en/the-academy/activity-academy/note-vaccini.html

https://www.ncbcenter.org/resources-and-statements-cms/faq-on-the-use-of-vaccines?rq=2005