The Best Vaccine
For the Soul
After so much expectation, the world has finally welcomed the development of vaccines to provide immunity protection against the Covid-19 virus. The manufacture and distribution of the vaccines have been ongoing.
The full effects of the different vaccines developed by various laboratories in different countries are still to be seen and studied. Some issues are the safety of the different brands and the morality of the use of aborted fetus cell lines and tissues in their development, testing and manufacture. While most churchmen have justified taking such vaccines and have taken them themselves, some of them have contrary views. Others, including some medical professionals here and abroad, have warned against making taking the vaccine mandatory. Then there is the cost consideration in making vaccines available to poor countries.
Fr. Nicanor Robles Austriaco, a Filipino-American scientist, microbiologist, professor and priest of the Dominican order, has spent the last 20 years using yeast cells to study the molecular basis of cancer.
In an interview with Aleteia, Fr. Austriaco said that he is "trying to develop a yeast vaccine delivery system for COVID-19 that would be cheaper and easier to implement than the standard vaccines currently available." The vaccine is aimed to be made available to the poor at no cost. The first stage of vaccine development is expected to take many months.
At the end of the interview, Fr. Austriaco was asked: "Finally, what do you consider to be the best vaccine for the soul, in the face of depression, sadness, and hopelessness?" (n the midst of the pandemic)
His ready answer: "A personal and intimate friendship with Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world!"
We all need protection from this coronavirus. But even more than a vaccine for our physical bodies, we also need a vaccine for the soul, which is precious. Fr. Austriaco has identified this vaccine. Correctly.
It is effective. And it does not cost anything, except our desiring it and working at it, with God's grace.
Two vaccines: One aims to extend our temporary earthly life. The other gives us eternal life! #
They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” (Mark 7:37)
