Originally published at crisis magazine
We live in an apocalyptic age, and we should be grateful. I don’t mean “apocalyptic” in the sense of disaster here and catastrophe there and impending end times with attendant death, mayhem, and destruction. No. I mean apocalyptic in its original meaning, which is revelation.
Don’t misunderstand me. There are many bad things occurring and unfolding in society, government, and the Church. However, all these dark clouds are proving to have silver linings. Covid. Joe Biden’s term as president. The pontificate of Pope Francis. And the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. All these terrible happenings reveal valuable knowledge that can help us better prepare for life, labor for the common good, and strive to become saints.
We are now five years past the draconian lockdowns in response to a coronavirus outbreak likely originating in a Chinese laboratory. Many Americans have woken up from the slumber of preconceived notions about health, science, and medicine and reassessed how they live. Concerns about a dystopian trajectory for our society in response to pandemics has contributed to an awakening. Americans are now questioning standard assumptions about public health, science, medicine, vaccines, masking, and lockdowns. A rising opposition to the oppression of a new public health
