The Antichrist already with us?

Plantitosand plantitas

The lockdowns and stay-home protocols in this pandemic prompted many people to find ways to kill boredom or do something productive. For workers and businessmen who have been displaced, they turned to online selling. Some pursued hobbies like painting and singing.

There are those who chose gardening. Netizens call them ‘plantitos’and ‘plantitas’(from the words ‘plant’and ‘tito/ tita ).

Early in the pandemic, there are people who went into vegetable gardening because going to the market was difficult especially during the most strict quarantine period.

Later as the quarantine level was eased, more people turned to ornamental plants and became plantitos and plantitas. For many, it is a hobby. To some, a means to earn money.

In Pampanga, the surge in the number of home gardeners is evident by the increase in sales of clay pots.

In Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, Mayor Gloria "Ninang" Ronquillo, said there was an increase of about 80 percent in the sales of clay pots from manufacturers and seller s.

An online seller who I talked to said sometimes clay pots run out of stock.

House plants provide many benefits aside from aesthetics. They clean the air, gives-off oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.

For those trapped in their homes by the pandemic, gardening provides a way to ease stress.

Talking to plants is even more relaxing, according to some people. A survey done in the United States revealed that people who talked to their plants were reportedly 3.5 times more likely to say their stress had dropped to a great extent during the pandemic.

And do plants talk back? Yes, according to my radio partner of 20-years, Cecile Yumul.

She has many stories about her chats with plants. Talking also benefits the plants.

A study performed by the Royal Horticultural Society discovered that talking to your plants can help them grow faster.

They also found that plants grow faster to the sound of a female voice than to the sound of a male voice.

Plants in the office can also help ease the stress of workers. A 2019 study published in HortTechnology from the American Society for Horticulture Science suggests that plants can lower stress and anxiety when you're working.

I can attest to this. I am also a plantito. I have six potted plants on my desk. They are a stress reliever.

Students benefit too from house plants. A study at the Royal College of Agriculture in Circensester, England, found that students demonstrate 70% greater effectiveness when they are taught in rooms containing plants.

In the same study, attendance was also higher for lectures given in classrooms with plants.

Plants help in healing too.

A study, conducted at Kansas State University, found that viewing plants during recovery from surgery led to a significant improvement in physiologic responses as evidenced by lower systolic blood pressure, and lower ratings of pain, anxiety, and fatigue as compared to patients without plants in their rooms.

So, what are you waiting for? Be a plantito/ plantita now!

Again, I am shelving the se ries on the Manuscript of Purgatory, this time in favor of the homily of Fr. Ivan Dugandzic’during this year’s 39th Anniversary of the Blessed Mother’s apparitions in Medjugorje. The priest’s message cites the Antichrist as already being with us.

“Dear brothers and sisters, Mary is the Woman from the future. Because she is the only person, who with her life and with her Assumption into Heaven, has achieved the fullness of Salvation. And according to that, we faithful are just walking in faith and hope towards that fullness of salvation, believing that it will be accomplished for us at the end of time. And since Jesus from the Cross left her to be our Mother and our Intercessor, our destiny has been tied to her and her role in the plan of salvation.

“This is the theological background, and this is the grounding foundation of her frequent apparitions, especially in difficult historical circumstances. When the world’s countries are in a mess, and when even the Church does not have a clear vision of the future, God sends the Woman from Eternity, so she can encourage us. She can show us the way of salvation.

“And just like the Angel once gave to her the word of encouragement, “Do not be afraid, Mary;” in the same way, Our Lady encouraged her surprised and terrified children [the Medjugorje visionaries] that she had chosen as her witnesses. Through them to the world, she gave and is giving a clear message of Peace.

“And now, in this moment it is completely obvious that Peace cannot be guaranteed by state officials and mighty politicians of this world. There is conflict between various ideologies and military alliances, and peace conferences are being held in vain. And there are always new peace accords that are being signed. Peace has been endangered more and more, because people do not speak with their pure heart and sincere intentions. That is why it is in danger… .

“So, it happens, that in the desolation of the immorality of this world, from Apparition Hill, the clear stream from Eternity has been released into the desert of the world! Many have recognized and accepted this stream of peace. And that is how Medjugorje gradually with time has become the place of conversion and prayer, the confessional of the whole world. And so, in the meantime, the Church, after a long time and much careful observation and questioning, has recognized and accepted this clear stream of peace.

“A year ago, a reputable

representative from the Vatican, Archbishop Fisichella, right from this pulpit, publicly said that there is no better form of New Evangelization that the Church has longed for, for a long time, than what takes place in Medjugorje. It needs to be rooted and planted in every part of the world.

“This has been confirmed to us indirectly in the words of Our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, in his recently published book. When asked by the journalist how he felt about the spiritual stage of this world today, with great seriousness, after he mentions some concrete moral deviations, he warned that there is more danger in that which is invisible and is being hidden behind the visible moral deviations. And he says literally this: modern society at the moment is in the face of forming an anti-Christian credo; and opposing this credo is punished with social ex-communication. The fear of that mighty power of antichrist is completely natural. And what is necessary is the prayer of the whole Church to resist him.

“Brothers and sisters, all of you who are honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace: We are the witnesses of this drama of mankind. The Antichrist, with the help of his many alliances, truly wishes to create man in his own image. That is why he wishes to wipe off the image of God in man; to kill that gene that man has when he as a creature comes from Creator. He wishes to define human nature anew. And he is declaring that what was once evil, now is something which is completely normal and acceptable. And all those who feel differently, they are forbidden. Then in the name of being politically correct and in the name of social tolerance, people represent and defend these evils, since otherwise they would be declared ‘conservative’and they would be harmful for advancement of society.

“In such a spiritual state of the world, for 39 years, here, right here, the ‘Woman from the Future,’Queen of Peace, has been showing us the way to true peace and the future with God. She is reminding us permanently that this is the path of holiness, the path to God in the everyday realities of our lives. Our Lady of Medjugorje has been gathering the Church that prays. The Church that with the power of the prayer would successfully resist the opposing force of the antichrist, as Benedict said.

“Let us be sincerely grateful that she considers us and calls us her “Dear Children.” And she wants us to be her witnesses and the apostles in that plan of salvation of the world. Devoted to her, let us be, in joy, open to the future that God is preparing for the Church and for the world. Amen!” (End of quote.)

“The latter paragraphs are complemented by what Our Lady Queen of Peace conveyed to Pedro Regis on September 19, 2020 as follows:

“Dear children, return promptly to the One who is your Only Way, Truth and Life. Humanity has turned away from the Creator and is heading towards a great spiritual abyss. Convert and serve the Lord faithfully. Do not live far from the Lord. He expects much from you. Give the best of yourselves in the mission entrusted to you. Seek strength in prayer, in the Eucharist, and be reconciled to the Lord by means of the Sacrament of Confession.

“Days will come when men will embrace false doctrines and the truth will be present in few hearts. Take care of your spiritual life. Turn away from the world and seek the Treasures of Heaven. Go forward with courage. Whatever happens, remain faithful to the true Magisterium of the Church of My Jesus. This is the message that I give you today in the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Thank you for having allowed Me to gather you here once more. I bless you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Be at peace.” (Manuscript of Purgatory to resume in next column.)