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Showing posts from March, 2020

CBC: How Deadly is COVID-19

+ JMJ A priest stands by one of the coffins stored at the church of San Giuseppe in Seriate, near the hard-hit city of Bergamo in the Lombardy region of Italy on Thursday. (Piero Cruciatti/AFP/Getty Images) There's a lot of focus on the numbers as people try to rationalise for and against measures that restrict their 'freedom'. So let's add a little clarity. First the fatality rate is a result of sampling a population. If the sample only includes those symptomatic, then the statistic reflects the fatality of those in that cohort. In other words, it is a sample of the 15 and 5 percenters that are really sick.  No one knows COVID-19's actual fatality rate because of the skewed data. What they do know is that if a person falls in the 20% level, it is bad. While that may sound like a small percentage (hey 80% was a 'B' in school eh?) it still represents a huge portion of a population.  The population of Canad

How Dangerous is COVID-19?

+ JMJ A little context is very helpful. At this point estimates of the fatality rate for covid are varying. Here's some comparisons tha t McKinsey published early March . So is it bad. Yep.   Is it going to be like the 1918 influenza - nope. If there's one key stat that I like to quote it is:  80, 15, 5 For COVID-19, data to date suggest that 80% of infections are mild or asymptomatic, 15% are severe infection, requiring oxygen and 5% are critical infections, requiring ventilation. These fractions of severe and critical infection would be higher than what is observed for influenza infection. Source: WHO My conclusion: Yes, many people are going to die from this disease and that will be a tragedy.  However, the longer lasting effects will come from the economic impacts. P^3

Corona Virus: SSPX Guidelines

+ JMJ Something that modern Catholics have forgotten or never been taught is that while Catholics need the Mass, the Mass doesn't need Catholics. In other words, while the Modern Mass is a spectator sport that needs an audience (relax I'm having a little fun), the Traditional Mass is oriented towards God. A congregation is not required. I know this will seem foreign to some of my modern Catholic readers. The thought that a priest should not seek to say Mass without a congregation is a post-Vatican II idea. A false idea. The SSPX priests will continue to say daily Mass and we will still receive graces from these acts via the Communion of Saints. ... but that doesn't mean you can just watch sports re-runs on Sunday. While we've been dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, we still must keep Sunday Holy. Below you'll find some guidance from the SSPX on how to achieve that goal P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.ca: Guidelines SSPX District of Cana

SSPX: Prayers for Times of Pestilence

+ JMJ While I've been busy with a variety of duties (something that will last for another year ...), I have been closely tracking the Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak since December. It is definitely a pestilence and we need to pray for protection from God's wrath. P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.ca:  Prayers for Times of Pestilence Also - a plenary indulgence has been declared - see link Prayers for Times of Pestilence March 28, 2020 Source: District of Canada Protection against the epidemic by the Miraculous Medal While in 1832 the first Miraculous Medals were being produced, Paris was hit by a terrible cholera epidemic that claimed more than 20,000 lives. In June, the Daughters of Charity started to distribute the first 2,000 medals, especially to infected people who filled the hospitals. The healings increased, also the special protection against the disease and the healing in emoti

Coronavirus Guidelines​ for the SSPX in Canada

+ JMJ Just a quick note on the Coranavirus (Covid-19) that is spreading across the world as all viruses do - by word of mouth! While the panic may be a little extreme,the danger to the elderly is not. This virus is particularly dangerous as for those older than 50 years. So be charitable and don't spread the plague (ie virus), the person you kill could be your grandmother. P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.ca Coronavirus Guidelines​  for masses and activities  in churches and chapels in the District of Canada  of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X. People who have been in contact with an infected person or who have been in a risk area (currently China, including Hong Kong, South Korea, Iran, Northern Italy, France and Singapore) within the last 14 days must refrain from participating in Masses and other events, and are therefore exempt from Sunday Mass.  Preventive measures:  Wash hands thoroughly with soap before and after participating