Friends, we are living in a time, a moment we most likely never dreamed we would.  This is Elizabeth, your friendly neighborhood bioarchaeologist, passionate cradle Catholic, and human being.  Like you, I’m just trying to live my faith while isolated.

In my field, bioarchaeology, we have studied the effects of nutrition, trauma, occupation, disease and more on human (not dinosaur) populations and individuals.  At one point in my life I wanted to become a doctor or an epidemiologist.  Now I dig holes. I dig holes knowing what the effects of diseases like Tuberculosis, Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy), and Syphilis are on people (populations/individuals/cultures) who didn’t have modern medical treatments available.  I dig holes knowing the Bubonic plague killed 60% of Europe.  I dig holes knowing that historic cemeteries operating in 1918 likely contain an unmarked mass grave due to the H1N1 (Spanish) flu.  I dug holes knowing we were hurtling towards another pandemic and another mass grave, I just thought it would be the flu.

So I waited out the winter, with its snow and frozen ground, barely registering the news out of China, then South Korea and Singapore.  Yes, I loved This Podcast Will Kill You’s episode on Coronavirus (Mm-my Coronaviruses) but remained unconcerned.  Until March 13…

When I tell my children and grandchildren of this Great Lent, the story begins with the Archdiocese exempting all those over 65 from Mass.  By the end of my call telling Grandpa to stay home they announced the cancellation of all public Masses.  Those diseases I mentioned above?  All of them devasted human populations and drastically changed culture.  None of them resulted in the mass closure of churches.  When I closed my eyes to pray that night, I saw my child self, long red hair and cute short sleeved dress sopping wet, my body shivering, standing alone on the steps of a darkened locked church.  I saw myself abandoned.  I’d love to say I picked myself back up right away but, Friend, you deserve the truth. 

I practice my Catholicism through routine.  I chose to attend daily Mass for Lent so I attend through YouTube.  I use the Hallow app (free for 3 months right now) to aid me in prayer on most days and pulled out my book of Christian Prayer to pray the Morning and Evening Hours for those days when prayer is just too difficult.  Notice that none of these prayer forms require me to lead or create my own prayer.  Instead each one follows a rubric or a prayer leader through which God reaches my heart.    

And He still reaches my heart daily through modern technology and the rubrics and prayers passed down through the centuries.  The community He gave me through YAM-NW continues to thrive through daily novenas, weekly studies and stations, and individual check-ins.  Over the last two weeks, my trust has grown because daily He reminds me that I am not orphaned.

Honesty time… I do not practice every prayer form above daily.  Some days I only attend Mass, others only the Liturgy of the Hours.  I do not attend the daily YAM novena every night.  God does not ask me to show or grow in trust by practicing everything daily.  He asks me, and you, to create a routine accounting for my own energy levels and mental state.  He asks for trust in His steadfast love on days when I experience anxiety or burn out just as on my most passionate days.  I am not less Catholic, less trusting, or less loved on those days when my prayer life falters or my mental energy lags.

So Friend, I recommend creating a routine in terms of types of prayer.  Perhaps identify types of prayers that work best for different moods.  For example, on days when I do not feel like prayer at all I chose Morning or Evening prayer, when I need to feel love I chose meditative prayer, and when I need nourishment I chose Lectio Divina.  I hope you join us or another similar community as we study and pray on those days you need encouragement. 

I pray you treat your soul with the same grace He does.  If one day all you can manage is binge watching Tiger King, America’s Next Top Model, or Nailed It! or need to escape into true crime or Marvel, God does not ask more of you.  For those days, I leave you with the prayer routine given to me by a priest during Confession…simply make the sign of the cross when you wake up and as you fall asleep.
 
PS
This is a time of anxiety, discomfort, and isolation for all of us.  Please do not think you must white knuckle any of these feelings in order to be truly Catholic.  Reach out to your insurance company, doctor’s office, or Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health options.  Nearly every mental health professional currently offers some form of online appointment, contact them for rates and pricing. For those in financial difficulties, there are many options available, including wonderful low-cost text apps (one uses Michael Phelps as a spokesperson).  If your struggles are more spiritual, reach out the greater Catholic community (they have been making huge strides to adjust to this time). YAM-NW, the Archdiocese, or your Pastor/Pastoral Associate can help you find the help you need during this time of uncertainty.  Any request will be kept confidential barring harm to yourself or others.  St. Dymphna, Pray for us.