“From the Chapel” is a series of short, daily reflections on life and faith in a time of uncertainty. As people across the world cope with the effects of the coronavirus — including the social isolation necessary to combat its spread — these reflections remind us of the hope that lies at the heart of the Gospel.
I have visited St. Peter’s Square at night, when it has been nearly empty. So the sight of the square during the Holy Father’s extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing today did not shake my soul.
The sight of St. Peter’s Basilica, empty except for the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, did.
The ceremony, which lasted an hour, was incredibly moving, and if you weren’t able to watch it as it occurred, I encourage you to seek out the video on YouTube. In the presence of the icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani (traditionally believed to have been written by St. Luke himself), and a miraculous crucifix that brought an immediate end to the plague of 1522 that had threatened to kill everyone in Rome, the Vicar of Christ on earth urged us all to have faith in the God-made-Man who calmed the seas of Galilee in the midst of a storm, when his disciples feared for their lives.
That same God-made-Man was brought forward then for adoration and benediction of those few of the faithful who were able to be present at St. Peter’s, and the millions around the world who watched on multiple livestreams. In the midst of the uneasy quiet of a world sheltering in place, for a short while we experienced the true calm that always means the presence of God.
After benediction, as the Blessed Sacrament was returned to its place of repose, the cameras lingered on the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, empty of the crowds that one normally finds from the moment it opens every morning to when it closes every night. The sight, as I wrote above, shook my soul — but not out of fear or anxiety.
Instead, it brought home to me the futility of relying on the efforts of man in a time such as this. Only Christ can save us — and he will, if we let him.
Two weeks from today, Christians the world over will commemorate Good Friday. Most, if not all of us, will not be able to participate in the Good Friday liturgy at our parish home. As we did today, we will unite ourselves to the prayers of the Church within our own homes.
How we use the time between now and then will make all of the difference. Buried in the midst of this ongoing disruption of our lives is a great gift — the removal of distractions, an end to the constant running from place to place, the opportunity to be still, to pray, to read Scripture, to meditate on the life and sacrifice of Christ, who died to set us free from sin and rose to bring eternal life to all who believe in him.
God is with us. In the din of the modern world, his voice has too often been drowned out. Shut off the TV, turn off the radio, put down your cellphone. Let Christ calm the storms of your life.
“Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:11)
Scott P. Richert is publisher for OSV.
