Coronavirus | A Godly Experience

We are facing such a dark time. Is it possible to turn this Coronavirus into a Godly experience that unites a world?

I remember where I was when the news broke: mid February, a quiet living room in bustling Barcelona. The newscasters talked incessantly about a virus of some sort that was sweeping through Italy.

Sure I felt somewhat intrigues; but, that was happening 1000 miles away. Needless to say, I wasn’t worried at all. Seemed grossly exaggerated. A killer virus. Really.

So, I went about my usual Euro life: tapas, pitis, compras until it was time to return home. I’ll never forget that flight back to the U.S., there was a lady seated behind me wearing a mask. I thought it was so over the top.

And then it just all unravelled so quickly. Our President was closing all entry back into the U.S. Truthfully, his address on March 11th spooked me. I watched as my friends scurried to get flights back to the U.S. My next trip for the following week was cancelled, indefinitely. This all went down on March 13th. Friday the 13th to be exact.

There was fear, confusion, dissent. The spread of this virus, the contagion, unlike anything we had seen. Thinking back, it felt surreal.. felt surreal because today, it’s part of a new dynamic….

And as most shifted to a “work from home” platform nervously, I, on the other hand, found my happy place. I took a bad situation and turned it into a great opportunity to get even closer to God.

You could say, I had a Godly experience. And these are the 7 steps I took to get there.

Coronavirus Godly Experience

1. Stream Daily Catholic Mass

And, if you’re not Catholic – no excuse! Stream any church service of your choice. I block out specific time daily to do so. Keeps me on task!

Three of my favorite resources:

Bishop Robert Barron: Update: sad to say, he does not stream daily Mass any longer. He does; however, publish a daily journal of sorts. I follow him on all socials. Facebook is my favorite. Click here. Give it a whirl – he is one of the most eloquent speakers!

Father Clint Ressler: A Texan priest at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, I went to school with him! Father Clint is a gentle soul who always puts his congregation first. Read here how he bicycled his way around to visit his parishioners during this pandemic.

Last; but, certainly not least: My beautiful parish, “Holy Trinity Catholic Church“. I was ecstatic when we were able to go head back into Church! I missed it so much. And now, I thirst for daily Mass thanks to COVID-19!

2. Read your Bible

My favorite one right now is the Great Adventure, Catholic Bible.

What I absolutely love about this particular Bible is that it offers a fast-track option to help you focus on the “14 narrative books that tell the story of Scripture from beginning to end”. It’s color coded, has time lines and is super easy to maneuver.

Best news is that you can finish those 14 books in just 3 months!

Of course, you can always read the entire thing. After all, it is the greatest love story of all time!

3. Set a Daily Alarm at 3pm!

Fun fact: 3pm,1500 hours for some, is indeed the hour of His Divine Mercy. Click here if your curiosity is suddenly peaked.

Set your phone alarm to ring each day at 3pm. It’ll remind you daily of our Savior’s death – through His ultimate sacrifice comes our salvation!

My samsung alarm reads for me and all to see: Jesus, I trust in You!

4. Pray the Rosary Daily

It’s so important to pray the Rosary daily. I love reflecting on the mysteries as I take my daily walks. It’s that one time in the day that I can quiet my my mind to reflect on Christ’s life.

I’ve written a bit about this topic and published a few videos as well. Feel free to start with my “Rosary Crash Course“. It might help you understand why the Rosary is so important to me and most Catholics.

I also have a “Fun Facts” section in my blog. The one about the Rosary is truly one of my favorites. Click here and let me know what you think.

However, if you’re at odds with the concept of praying this lovely string of beads, just pray any which way… prayer is the ultimate form of communication with God.

5. Tune in to EWTN

There are so many distractions in life. It’s so important to inundate oneself with Godly content. And my favorite source is the EWTN network.

I’m a huge fan of “The Apologetics“. This 5PM CST show is off the chart! They cover so many relatable topics; I learn something new each time I tune in.

I must admit that I love when non-believers dial in.

6. Watch Something Meaningful

Along the same vein of what I was saying earlier, it’s so important to surround yourself with content, music that glorifies who we are: Christians.

Don’t sell yourself short with entertainment that conflicts with what you believe in. Trust me when I say, we’ve become completely desynthesized. And it’s time to say “no thank you.” If it’s not pleasing to God, it’s not for me or you.

Add “PureFlix” to your streaming preferences. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how many famous Hollywood actors make Christian content.

Of course, you don’t have to delete your other streaming services. I didn’t. PureFlix just adds a special, Godly spin to my day.

7. Sign up for a Godly Workshop

I signed up with the Word on Fire Institute. Headed by Bishop Robert Barron, this is a wonderful place to find inspiring resources.

Moreover, you can take a course and learn something new, exciting about our faith.

My first course was, “The Mass“. Completely blew me away! I discovered aspects of the Holy Mass that I was completely in the dark about. I had written so much about this subject and yet…..

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“You look so happy working from home, Grace”

Well, I am. I’m a sucker for silver linings and fairy tale endings. I’m that girl looking for a way to make Coronavirus a Godly experience for you and me.

Don’t let this coronavirus situation get the best of you. You are not alone. If you need me to pray for you. Click here and you’ll be directed to a form, a very private form. Fill it out and I’ll pray for you.

And if you’re working from home and struggling do check out my post, “Coronavirus | Remote Working and Thriving“. I share 10 tips to help you fight the crazy of being locked up at home.

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Can the Coronavirus be a Godly experience? Leave me a comment below and share your thoughts. I do so love hearing from you.

Stay home, be safe!