Posted on 03/07/2020 6:02:24 AM PST by Kaslin
Typically, when you walk into a Catholic Church there is a font for holy water. It's a sacramental, sacred sign meant to remind us of baptism. But one recent weekday, I dipped my hand into a familiar font in a prominent church in our nation's capital before morning Mass, and encountered it empty. Caffeine-less, I was confused. It was only later, when the sign of peace was skipped during Mass that I realized: coronavirus!
What bothers me about this is not the empty holy-water fonts per se. What seems off is that the response of Christians and all religious believers has to look different than that of the secular culture. I daresay the wider world needs us to have a different approach. When people are reading headlines and hearing news stories about closed churches and canceled Masses in Europe, that's not exactly inspiring.
One of my favorite quotes is from Pope Emeritus Benedict, in a letter on hope: "The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life." That seems appropriate. And for goodness' sake, this is the season of Lent, a penitential time in which we remember to take stock of our lives and consider if we've been acting as we should, as God as called us to act. Fine about the handshakes and holy water, but what are we conveying about hope to the world, my fellow religious believers? (To those who do not have faith in God, I apologize for our confused and disappointing example -- now and on many other fronts.)
We Christians should live to love and serve God and others. What does it say if we are just as scared as everyone else of coronavirus? Why are most of us acting as if there's no such thing as redemptive suffering? That's no reason to run to coronavirus-infected communities, unless we are a doctor or nurse or someone else who can help. But, why are we watching news stories about its geographic spread with such pits in our stomachs? Is coronavirus exposing our unbelief?
We never know the day or the hour of our death. We should do our utmost to be the people God calls us to be, because at any moment God could call us home.
Adrienne von Speyr, a Swiss medical doctor and mystic who died in 1967, seems to have our number here: "Lord, because we take your death so lightly that we rarely even think about it, the thought of our own death is also strange and distant. Even when stern messengers forewarn us, we manage to stifle the thought of our death and to go on living as if our earthly existence would never end."
Then she prays: "Let us die as believers whose faith also shines upon the others, who assist at our death, brings them help now, and perhaps later, when their own hour comes, gives them consolation."
I can't help but think it's not an accident we're facing this potential outbreak during Lent. The Latin phrase "Memento Mori" -- remember you will die -- seems to capture the spirit that seems to be missing in the coronavirus frenzy. It may be coronavirus or old age or an accident that gets us, but we will die. In this current scare, can we take spiritual precautions on top of all the rules about sneezing and social distancing? Let us not distance ourselves from the Creator we say we believe in who made us for Himself -- always living in hope!
Yeah, you show the virus you ain’t a-feared!
“Iranians licking religious shrines in defiance of coronavirus spread “
https://nypost.com/2020/03/02/iranians-licking-religious-shrines-in-defiance-of-coronavirus-spread
Would you run to a village infected with Ebola and hug and kiss people there?
When someone has the flu, do you hug and kiss them?
When you go to the bathroom....do you wash your hands afterwards?
Christians are susceptible to germs like everyone else. Why? Because we live in a world impacted by sin. Our bodies are mortal and will eventually succumb to death.
As believers in Christ should we fear death? No. We have a far, far better life awaiting us with our Lord and Savior.
But God has given us a brain and He expects us to use it.
I have to wonder when was the last time this “catholic” went to Mass during lent.
Many churches have opted to remove the holy water during lent as a way to remind the faithful that we are dust without God.
I noticed this last weekend. All it says is that all/most Catholic clergy get their information from the MSM.
It’s not just them, the VA has new visiting guidelines prompted by the coronavirus. They didn’t last year with the deadly flu but they do with this.
God gave you a brain to think with, and an admonition not to “test” Him. In other words, don’t prove your lack of faith by standing in front of an approaching bus. I suspect that you will be told after you cross over that you should have not stepped in front of that bus. It is called judgement.
sfl
Are people here planning to attend mass with a mask on tomorrow?
"Redemptive suffering" is not scriptural. "Redemptive suffering" theology conflates suffering for one's faith and suffering from sickness and disease. They are two entirely different things.
If you believe in "Redemptive suffering", I suggest you find a way to contract as many diseases as you can and cut off a limb or two - so you can "suffer for Christ" (sarc).
The Father gave His Son to suffer and die for our redemption, which includes healing from disease. I suggest you read, Isaiah 53 and Psalms 91 to understand that sickness is not a blessing - it's a curse.
Our parish only removes the holy water during HOLY WEEK.
I am dismayed that our Bishop has suggested that we receive the Precious Body in our hands rather than on our tongue.
Oh ye of little faith! If God wants you, He will take you!
As Jesus said it will rain on the just and the unjust and the coronavirus will infect in similar fashion. Act accordingly.
The Lord did not call us to be stupid. See are to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.
Our church has suspended the Welcome greeting during the church service. The church is elderly, over 60, top heavy. No point in risking illness.
*****
Does it really matter which way Communion is received?
Although, I think in that particular passage the rain was a good thing (for crops), not the “rain on your parade” type. But, yeah, to be purely mercenary - the more people embrace a Darwin Award, the more food for me & mine.
one can help others much better if one stays alive
She is VERY Catholic! The ONLY day there is no Holy Water is Good Friday!
I am dismayed that our Bishop has suggested that we receive the Precious Body in our hands rather than on our tongue.
Oh ye of little faith! If God wants you, He will take you!
You do realize the virus lives in the saliva right? So imagine the accidental touch of an infected parishioner’s tongue with the Priest’s finger and then the Priest touches the next host and this is passed to the next person...
Hey... the next time you are very sick, avoid medical care.
If God wants you, he will take you!
Every day is suffering. I don’t see how it is redemptive.
The author is ignorant of what the Bible teaches. God gave the people rules about cleanliness. If you touch a dead body, clean yourself, Lepers should live outside the village and away from the people, bury your poop outside your camp,etc.
If the priest has it and wiped his nose at the beginning of the service, he will give it to every parishioner.
It’s interesting to me how many Christians will devolve to Christian Scientist under certain circumstances.
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