I second Cronos advice.
Do not under-rate the spiritual side to this.
The cancelling of Mass is a really, really bad sign in my opinion.
On a certain level, that this follows the Vatican-Chinese accord and Italy is now getting to experience something of what Chinese Catholics do, and not many Catholics are willing to back Cardinal Zen against the Pope publicly makes what is happening in Italy and spreading through the first world just.
This was the last week with public Sunday Mass in our isolated town of 1200. The final Mass closed with a penitential procession from the Polish parish to the Irish parish and back, with about 10% of the town participating. Sunday Mass will be streamed and then broadcast over the local radio station next week, and the pastor is hoping (expecting) a big uptick in weekday Mass attendance—which already is at 5-12%
Everyone can benefit from a come-to-Jesus moment, and I think that this is one, especially for the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. That more Cardinals and Francis are starting to differ publicly is a good sign, but I don’t expect this thing to let up until we have a new Pope.
Sorry for all you non-Catholics to be stuck on earth with a highly flawed Church that is in some ways approaching nadir that needs to be ploughed through.
The governments in different countries banned ANY gatherings of > certain number of people —> Czechia said 100, the UK 250, Poland 50.
But in various countries they have kept different options — smaller masses etc.
note that in India they are doing it to temples, mosques, gurudwaras etc. - even in Iran and Saudia they are stopping it.
and for Christian countries - the same precautions are being done by the denominations
I made my peace with God a long time ago through Jesus Christ.
While some non-Catholics certainly need your sympathy, I am good to go whatever the outcome.
And I certainly concur with your assessment of the spiritual side of this.
I read the book, The Harbinger many years ago and I know that Jonathan Cahn has taken a lot of heat over the years, but he preaches a straight up gospel message of repentance and turning to Christ.
That aside, the premise of the book is that 9/11 was a harbinger, a warning, that God was removing His hand of protection from this country for its sin and turning from Him. After reading that, I’ve started to see other events in a different light. Things like mass shootings, and other natural disasters.
And also this situation we find ourselves in now.
The point Cahn was making is that as God removes His divine hand of protection, it allows crises such as these things to get our attention and focus on Him .
There seems to be some quirk of human nature that ignores God when things are humming along smoothly, but when something bad happens, we seek Him out, instead of seeking Him out when things are good, just for the sake of Himself.
Anyhow, I am praying that God would use this event to result in a mass revival, a mass turning to Him and people coming into, or back into right relationship with Him.