Who really cares for us?

Under pressure, the true and deep commitments of the heart are exposed. When facing hardships, we reveal what is really important for us.

In these weeks of the coronavirus emergency, the message that Roman Catholicism is giving is a disarming detachment from the basic principles of the biblical faith. This should come as no surprise. What is happening belongs to the core of Roman Catholic beliefs and practices, as they are taught in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and as they are lived out in Roman Catholic parishes. However, given the favour with which even some Evangelicals view the self-styled ‘renewal’ of Roman Catholicism and the action of Pope Francis, it is worth mentioning the spiritual regression we are witnessing in the midst of the pandemic crisis that is severely hitting Italy.

Invoking Mary and the saints

After the outbreak of the coronavirus, at the peak of it, there has been a flourishing of public dedications of Italy to Mary’s protection (Pope Francis) and of Rome to the Madonna Salus Populi Romani, an icon of Mary that the Pope is deeply committed to. The Archbishop of Milan dedicated the city to La Madonnina, the statue of the Virgin on the top of Milan’s Duomo. In Venice the local bishop, Patriarch Moraglia, dedicated his city to Our Lady of Health. In Naples the Archbishop, Cardinal Sepe, dedicated his city to the care of San Gennaro, the protector and patron saint of Naples. During the lockdown, in a deserted Rome, the Pope walked the empty streets to the church of Saint Marcello to pray for the end of the pandemic. He did so in front of the ‘miraculous crucifix’ that is kept there in memory of past miracles that supposedly happened through it.

Examples can easily be multiplied. Throughout the country, with these actions of devotion to Mary and the saints, Roman Catholicism has shown what pillars remain stable and reliable when everything else trembles: the maternal care of Madonna and the intercession of the saints. The explicit message that was communicated is that Mary and the saints are always ‘near’ to those who suffer, always at hand and ready to intervene. The climax of this explosion of Marian devotions culminated in a nationally-broadcasted rosary (i.e. a Marian prayer) led by the Pope himself, where the deeply unbiblical commitments of Roman Catholicism were again on display.

Who is near?

Roman Catholicism teaches that in time of need Mary and the saints are near, certainly nearer than God, because they are human like us and they can understand us better. Yes, Mary was an extraordinary woman and now she is in the presence of God like any other child of God. However, she depended on God as we do. And she cannot help us, but God can. Yes, many of the ‘saints’ were outstanding Christians whose example we are called to imitate. But they cannot help: they are dead! Only God is eternally alive and powerful. The Father is always ready to receive our prayers (1 Peter 3:12). The Lord Jesus is the only mediator who intercedes for us (Heb. 7:25), knowing exactly what we are going through. The Holy Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Rom.8:26). In trusting in the intercession of Mary and the saints, Roman Catholicism undermines the reality of the Trinitarian God of the Bible and replaces Him with other figures. Since its remedy is based on a flawed theology, fear will not go away.

Making our fear secondary

In order to deal with fear without succumbing to it, we need to fear God and God alone. Our theology determines who and what we fear. If we believe in God the Father, Creator, Provider and Saviour of the world, we will not ultimately trust science or religion, but the covenant God of the Bible who keeps His promises and works out His purposes for His glory and our good (Rom. 8:28). If we believe in God, the Triune God of the Bible, we will fear Him and all other fears will become secondary.