I don't know what that means. There's nothing courageous about complying with the wishes of secular authorities at the behest of the Bishops. In the end I opted to receive Communion in the hand but I wrestled with my conscience right up to the moment I received. At the Mass I attend, outward signs of reverence is not discouraged as it is in other churches. There are no altar rails but some young adults kneel to receive Communion on the tongue. Others genuflect before receiving. Oldies like me receive either on the tongue or in the hand. The congregation is a mixed bag and there's no chatter before or after Mass. No attention seekers there. And there's no choir. I don't know whether the air of quiet reverence is due to it being an evening Mass with fewer people attending but I love it and if my receiving in the hand helps keep it going, that's what I will do. As I see it, any offence against our Blessed Lord is on the heads of the Bishops who permit and encourage Communion in the hand.
You touched on it: the secular authorities and the Bishops. It can be seen two ways: that the secular authorities have zero respect for and understanding of the Holy Mass, and they see it in terms of creating a crowd. And then the Bishops bow to that point of view instead of going to any lengths to keep Holy Mass open.
In fairness to the Bishops, I think it possible that they are advising Communion in the hand as a way of keeping Holy Mass open.
A nice thing about the Traditional Latin Mass is that Communion is only/always on the tongue. I attended a Novus Ordo in western Massachusetts this morning and thankfully was still able to receive on the tongue. (I had my new black leather driving gloves on just in case.)
I saw some professor from the Gregorian on BBC news yesterday. He was talking about Italians having to change their way of life and telling the interviewer that they touch elbows and feet now rather than shaking hands. It was all so amusing in a "those of us in the know and with a superior intellect" fashion. I wouldn't be surprised if he, being from the Greg, didn't already know that Mass would no longer be available for the faithful in Italy. Did you ever have the urge to punch someone in the nose through the TV screen? I'll say no more because it's Lent and I want to receive Communion before my next Confession.
Bishop Schneider recently wrote a piece about this. Receiving Holy Communion in the hand is actually the quickest way to spread any virus. The human hand is one of the most germ-ridden parts of your body. You touch the steering wheel of your car, the handle on the door going into church, put your hand in the Holy Water, touch the pew in front of you. None of those things are clean. All of them have been touched by everyone else in the church. As we used to say back in the 80's, Duh!
Interesting. They are doing something similar at the doctor's office where my daughter works. Apparently everything is okay because the virus only kills people over 50, so there is no need for concern. Err...not too sure how anyone over 50 would be comforted reading this. I do hope they are correct about the coronavirus spread leveling off, but right now it doesn't seem like it. All the media hype certainly does nothing to help the situation.
Correction: the sign is saying that if you are under 50 and you catch COVID-19, there is a 99.7% chance you'll come out fine. It says NOTHING about what happens if you're over 50 and catch it. Yes, the media hype is spreading (like a virus?) BUT... they're saying things like "15 people at a biosecurity conference attended by 500 people have tested positive for COVID-19." You have to read four or five paragraphs before you read that everyone who had been at the conference are self quarantining and are displaying no symptoms; of the 15 who tested positive 14 have only mild symptoms, and one person has been hospitalized. This person is over 60 with a history of cigarette smoking and was admitted for difficulty breathing. This is NOT like The Great Pandemic where it was possible you would catch it in the morning and be dead before dinnertime. We honestly don't know the number of cases out there because so many cases are asymptomatic. It's why you might read widely varying numbers on how infectious this disease is. The headlines aren't so much that there are X number of new cases; it's that "Upper Lowermiddleton has reported its first 6 cases of COVID-19, all in a family where one of the members went on holiday to Italy last month. The family is self-quarantining and are asking for peoples prayers that they don't kill each other before they can step outside, and for some help getting food during this time."
To call the Catholic faithful to receive Our Lord on the hand is at best an act of disbelief in Gods Love. To my mind it is a betrayal to the Majesty of God. It is a slander against the healing and protective power of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar This outrage was not instituted during the outbreak of the Spanish flu pandemic So why now? I am so upset, with this affront to God. Divine Mercy of Jesus I trust in you. This act of mistrust in Your Divine Love and Your Divine Mercy Jesus, by the Catholic hierarchy is beyond comprehension and to close churches is madness! Please forgive them. Lord have Mercy. Oh Sacrament Most Holy Oh Sacrament Divine All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. Priest. You have given them bread from heaven, Congregation. Having in itself all delight . Let us pray. O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament left us a memorial of your Passion: grant, we implore you, that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood, as always to be conscious of the fruit of your Redemption. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Precisely, no percentages for those over 5o. The lack of data on that sign is absolutely not reassuring for older individuals. The reality is that if you are older, and infected with this virus the odds are pretty darn high that you will not have a 'mild case', and you may suffer complications. COVID-19 is not your run of the mill seasonal flu if you are old. This virus is highly contagious, and the long incubation period makes it extremely difficult to control.
Sweet sacrament Divine Sweet Sacrament Divine, hid in thine earthly home; lo! round thy lowly shrine, with suppliant hearts we come; Jesus, to thee our voice we raise In songs of love and heartfelt praise sweet Sacrament divine. Sweet Sacrament of peace, dear home of every heart, where restless yearnings cease, and sorrows all depart. there in thine ear, all trustfully, we tell our tale of misery, sweet Sacrament of peace. Sweet Sacrament of rest, ark from the ocean's roar, within thy shelter blest soon may we reach the shore; save us, for still the tempest raves, save, lest we sink beneath the waves: sweet Sacrament of rest. Sweet Sacrament Divine, earth's light and jubilee, in thy far depths doth shine the Godhead's majesty; sweet light, so shine on us, we pray that earthly joys may fade away: sweet Sacrament divine. When we look at the Cross, we know, how much God Loved us! When we look at the tabernacle we know how much God Loves us Now! St Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Thank you Dearest Lord for giving us, your unworthy creatures, the Sublime and August gift of Your Body , Blood, Soul and Divinity, a marvel of Your Love and Mercy. Amen.
I've been mulling over this all day and have decided that I'll continue receiving on the tongue while I can. Could the priests wear a latex glove when giving out Communion or would that be an abuse? Do you think it possible that this virus could result in the Vatican issuing a new document telling Bishops that they have sole authority to decide how Communion should be administered?
