So much more to pray for

Unexpectedly but providentially, I was able to attend the May 13 livestream Mass for our Lady of Fatima held at the Sanctuary at Fatima constructed near the area of Cova da Iria, Portugal, where the three children (Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta) witnessed the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary (later known as Our Lady of Fatima).

During the Mass, the English commentator shared informative highlights and certain parallelisms in the life of Jacinta (one of the Fatima children) and those presently affected by COVID-19.

First, many of Jacinta’s Marto family, Francisco included, died during the Spanish Flu pandemic n 1918. Jacinta herself died of the Spanish flu in 1920, exactly 100 years before the present coronavirus pandemic.

Like many present COVID-19 victims, “Jacinta died alone in the Estefania Hospital in Lisbon, far from her relatives and friends, due to complications arising from the Spanish Flu pandemic, which swept around the world between January 1918 and December 1920.” Also, like many present COVID-19 victims, Jacinta was not given the Viaticum (the Eucharist given to a person near or in danger of death).

The Spanish Flu infected about 500 million and resulted in about 50 to 100 million deaths. Our present coronavirus pandemic is just as deadly, with the infected and deaths still increasing.

The commentator enjoined the faithful to pray, within this present pandemic, to Jacinta and Francisco, beatified in 2000 by St. John Paul who referred to these two children as “two candles which God lit to illumine humanity in its dark and anxious hours.” They were canonized as saints by Pope Francis on the Feast of Fatima, May 13, 2017.

The present pandemic kept the millions of devotees away from this year’s May 13 celebration for our Lady of Fatima at the Sanctuary at Fatima in Portugal but several representatives were allowed to carry national flags, our Philippine flag included.

During the 1917 apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima to the three children, Mama Mary requested for daily rosary for the conversion of sinners, for reparation of sins, for world peace, and the end of war.

Until now, however, we all still need to offer the same prayers during our daily rosary hour especially for the protection of all against the present pandemic and the threat of conflict and war, with Chinese aggression and military presence in our region.

Additionally, let us together lift prayers for our people who do not only need protection from the present virus but from other simultaneous disasters like typhoons and fires.

The first to visit this year, Typhoon Ambo has destroyed homes, crops, and communities in Samar and other areas of Bicol and Luzon. One congested barangay in Metro Manila, already burdened by quarantine guidelines, was also hit by fire and threatened with the forecasted strong rains of Typhoon Ambo!

Will these afflicted by triple emergency whammies (the virus, typhoon, and fire) be amply protected and supported? Is our national and local disaster management system able to effectively cope with simultaneous emergencies and disasters like those experienced at present in Samar and other parts of Luzon?

Unfortunately, no.

We have witnessed the dismal disaster management record and performance in the past. We are at present witnessing the failure of the present government system in supporting our people during this pandemic.

Regardless of the type of emergency and disaster, the perennial queues of the unaided continue, the faces of pain, hunger, despair striking especially among the elderly and the sick, assistance lacking, late, and disorganized during and after the disaster and crises!

So much more to pray for, so many people to pray for.