I don't think it would be too difficult to hold one's breath for the few seconds (less) that it takes for the priest to place the host on one's tongue. My sister and I decided a good tactic might be to wait until very last in line to go up to receive communion (on the tongue), to minimise the possibility of passing on our germs to anyone else, and so we couldn't be accused of same. We tried this today and the priest didn't hesitate to place the host on our tongues. However, my sister told me afterwards that when she opened her mouth to receive the priest said "you're very bold". He said nothing to me, but I was told afterwards that he shook his head while giving me communion. I was last in line. No contact was made with my tongue or mouth. The crazy thing is, they still passed around the collection pouches, which nobody hesitated to pass from hand to hand the whole way through the church. And then they all received communion from those same (unwashed) hands. Madness.
I think that I'll switch to receiving in the hand. There's no way of assessing whether people have held their breath while receiving. We must do everything we can to not give the powers that be an excuse to close churches.
We only had communion under one kind today. The holy water had a lid closed over it. No one shook hands at the sign of peace and we were asked to receive in the hand. I struggled for the first half of Mass. I had decided I just wouldn't receive at all in that case. Then I thought - well what's the point in even being here, I may as well go home. I worked very hard at calming myself down. I asked Mary to help me do the right thing. I knew I needed that Eucharist for its strength and grace. So I joined the line, and received in my hand. I had to swallow some pride. But I'm glad I did.
Yes, it’s crazy about passing the baskets. and then receiving Communion from the same unwashed hands. I’m not sure about the Covid virus being transmitted by breathing. The way I understand it is that the droplets from coughing land on a surface and then we touch the surface. That could conceivably be the backs of the pews where we put our hands. Or anywhere. If I am wrong about the breathing transmission, please let me know. Today Father said it was recommended that we receive in the hand, but I saw at least two people ahead of me receiving on the tongue, so I did so. People, we breathe when we are alive. Those receiving in the hand are breathing, as well. It’s a dreadful quandary. I pray that I will always be able to receive on the tongue.
REMEMBER LOURDES! At the end of each day, as a sign of faith, every volunteer drinks a cup of the bath water that all these people, some covered in sores, have been bathing in. In over 100 years, there have been no cases reported where someone contracted an illness from this bathwater. REMEMBER THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA! Jesus had the servants fill up some nearby water jars that were there "for ceremonial uses": Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. John 2:6-7 Now, to modern ears, "ceremonial washings" doesn't sound like much, but let's be clear: these were the jars that held the water that was used to wash the feet of guests. They weren't jars that were used to store drinking water. In fact, to be blunt, it's safe to say that after the wedding had been going on with guests coming and going, the insides of those jars would have been filthy. In fact, the jars were probably sitting there waiting for a lull in the actions so the servants could properly clean them. Instead, Jesus orders the jars to be filled, AND THEN HAS SOMEONE TAKE A CUP OF THAT FILTHY WATER FOR THE HEADWAITER TO DRINK! Clearly, the headwaiter had not been told where this cup had come from -- he drinks it, then declares it to be the best wine of the party! It sounds to me like this priest is very spirit-filled and trusts in Jesus. I think Jesus and His Mother will protect this priest unless and until it will serve the greater glory of G_D that the priest should become ill, if only to demonstrate G_D's greatness in healing him. (I love the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana for a couple of reasons. First, it shows how Jesus was obedient to His Mother, and demonstrates Her role as Gebirah in the Davidic Kingdom to come. As the Queen Mother, Jesus (as King) can refuse nothing She asks of Him, if it is within His power to grant. So Jesus provided more wine for people to use to celebrate this sacrament of Marriage. Not only that, but it wasn't some Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill wine (a cheap wine favored among my colleagues in High School -- something like $1.99/liter, back in the day). No, this was more like 600 liters of VIÑA VIK MILLAHUE 2013 -- over 800 bottles at $126.00/bottle. Second, when Mary tells Jesus "They have no wine", Jesus first replies "[And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” " Mary then gives Jesus THAT look, that every good Jewish mother's son knows. She turned to the servants, said "Do whatever He tells you", and walked off. Jesus sighed, went "OY!", and then proceeded to turn the water into wine. This story demonstrates two things. First, when G_D blesses you, it will not be just some cheap sprinkling of niceness. No, you will be blessed with the best that can be given to you at that time, just what you need, just when you need it. Second (and this is even more important): Not even G_D can stand up to the will of a Jewish Mother. Remember: Mary loves you and wants the best for you. But it's never a good idea to p*ss off a Jewish woman.)
I agree that it is likely inevitable and probably has been the endgame. All the more reason why we shouldn't hand them any excuses. The longer we can delay the inevitable, the better it is for all of us - and them if they but knew it.
For the past decade, EVERY church I've been to has hand sanitizer on the same table where the EMs pass by on their way to the altar. EVERY EM has to use some before approaching the altar, so there's no worry about "unwashed hands".
Not in my church And certainly not the people receiving I’m just praying hard about this whole quandary.
Fr. John Zuhlsdorf recently answered a question about this. Read his reply here: ASK FATHER: Can a bishop order Holy Water removed from churches? Wherein Fr. Z URGENTLY rants. ACTION ITEM FOR BISHOPS AND PRIESTS!! In short, yes, a bishop, in time of contagion, can restrict access to Holy Water fonts and stoops. HOWEVER, the bishop and the priests should make every attempt possible to enable access to Holy Water for the duration. IOW, provide a cask (don't know if that's the right word) of holy water that parishioners can use to fill up their own containers and take home. See if you can't encourage your priest to offer blessings and exorcisms of salt and water using the old formula to provide maximum protection.
We are the laity -- the sheep that Jesus wants fed, and who depend on the bishops to be faithful shepherds, shepherds who will lead us by demonstrating faith.
I'm not buying this. I do not think we will infect the priest by receiving the Host on the tongue. Good grief.
The bishop here in Tucson told us not to receive on the tongue starting this Sunday, at least he also said not to hold hands at the Our Father or shake hands at the sign of peace.
I'm torn. I always received on the tongue out of reverence but prior to becoming Catholic I appreciated that the church wasn't anti science. From a personal standpoint I'm sure it's God's will if I do or don't get infected with the virus, but i also don't want to risk infecting other people through breath or spittle.
