Posted on 05/02/2009 11:14:02 PM PDT by Salvation
Q. 1. I have been told that the Catholic Church has made some changes because of Swine Flu. Can you please expand on this matter?
A. 1. Because of the Swine Flu outbreak, some Dioceses in Canada (Edmonton, Alberta & Kingston Ontario), in the United States (Baltimore, Maryland) and in New Zealand have implemented new practices that are related to the celebration of the Holy Mass. These, while being temporarily, are a precaution against the spread of Swine Flu.
Basically, when attending Holy Mass, Catholics are asked to refrain from personal contact with each other. The following list has been compiled to represent some of the precautionary measures that have been adopted by some Dioceses.
1. The Sign of Peace.
Parishioners are no longer allowed to shake hands during the Sign of Peace. Instead, they are being asked to either nod or bow to those on their right and on their left.
This also means no more embracing.
2. The Lord's Prayer.
Parishioners are no longer allowed to hold hands during the Lord's Prayer.
3. Communion from the Cup.
That the practice of allowing people to drink consecrated wine out of a common cup be stopped.
4. Communion on the tongue.
People who normally have the priest place a communion host on their tongues will now receive it in their hands.
5. Expectation of the priests.
The priests are to practise good hygiene while distributing communion hosts.
6. Hand cleaning.
Each Parish should consider making hand-sanitizing liquid available in its Church.
7. The Holy Water at the entrance of the Church.
It is suggested that the containers of holy water typically located at the Church entrances be emptied and disinfected while the flu is spreading.
8. Those who are sick.
"It is not sinful to miss Mass if you are sick and unable to attend; it is an act of charity," says Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien of Baltimore, Maryland, US. Parishes have an obligation to advise parishioners with flu symptoms to stay home. Parishioners who experience flu like symptoms should stay home from Mass, especially in a health-threatening situation.
"I believe these steps are an appropriate response to the current alert level,” stated Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in a letter sent to all the parish priests during the end of April, 2009.
Conclusion
Catholics are asked to pray for all who have been impacted by the Swine Flu, especially our sisters and brothers in Mexico, as well as the many medical professionals providing care and assistance to the sick throughout the world.
Note
Every year, in every country of the world, thousands and thousands of the weak, the sick, the young and the old, die from the regular flu during the flu season. And nobody seems to care. The Catholic Church does not implement any preventive measures that could save lives during such times.
The sick continue to go to Church to infect other parish members. The sick continue to share the cup to infect those who will receive after them. The sick continue to shake hands with those around them, spreading their infection. And the list goes on, all in love and in the Name of Jesus.
Truly, where is charity in these actions? Should it not begin in the Church leadership? It is no wonder that for over 1,000 years, prior to Vatican II, the Church, in its wisdom, had done away with practices that literally kill others... no more touching each other, no more hand shakes, no more embracing, hugging and kissing. And no more sharing of the Cup, an unnecessary action. In the early days of the Church, the Fathers proclaimed that the fullness of Jesus is found in both, the Consecrated Wine and Bread. If by receiving the Body of Christ, you receive the fullness of Him, then, why is it necessary to also receive the Blood, by the sharing of the Cup, in a manner that can kill others?
This is certainly something to reflect upon.
This was mentioned earlier:
Pardon me, but I contend that some of their religious rituals in Mexico are part of their overall health problems. Sharing a cup with everyone in the community, and having someone put their hand in every ones mouth? Does not sound like a sanitary environment. Could be why they have so much hepatitis, typhoid, dysentery, and parasite issues.
238 posted on Thursday, April 30, 2009 2:05:20 PM by AH_LiveRight
There was much speculation here on FR and on other forums (blogs) that the virus must be attacking a specific DNA sequence. Otherwise reasonable folks ignored Occams Razor- oftentimes the simplest answer is so obvious yet we choose to ignore it because of our own disposition to such behavior. Specifically when it comes to faith, tradition, ritual, dogma, or creed. Science and reason is clashing with religion here. With predictable results.
249 posted on Thursday, April 30, 2009 3:37:06 PM by AH_LiveRight
It is also interesting to note that the New York school with the most cases is a Catholic school, where the students had traveled to Mexico.
Looks a lot like the ELCA one you sent.
"What God Ordains Is Always Good" by Samuel Rodigast, 1649-1708
V. 3. What God ordains is always good.
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my Physician sends me.
My God is true; Each morn anew
I'll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.
Occasionally you will see a family unit or couple hold hands during it, but not the congregation as a whole, no.
I know. I just figured it wasn’t worth sitting around worrying about it.
Phew!
>>and having someone put their hand in every ones mouth? Does not sound like a sanitary environment. Could be why they have so much hepatitis, typhoid, dysentery, and parasite issues.<<
What religious ritual is that?
Just keep the pigs out in the yard, and you’ll be fine ;-).
**It pained me also today to have to go back to received Jesus in my hands this morning, **
I prayed about this aand following markomalley’s lead this morning, I went to the other side of the church, crossed my hands over my chest and said to the priest, “You know why.” He blessed me and then talked to me after Mass.
I told him I could not receive the Holy Lord in my hands and chose to obey the Archbishop and him and not ask for special treatment.” (Which he said he would have given it to me on my tongue.) I replied that I did not want to set a bad example and would just have a Communion of Desire.
Then, after the blessing, I went back to my pew, prayed and cried. In fact, I have tears in my eys right now. I LNOW I had a Communion of Desire. It was so moving for me.
Not intending to be offensive here...just curious. Since you publish the Oswald Chambers and Joel Osteen threads each day, I was just wondering if you’re Catholic. Receiving “on the tongue” sounds like you are, since most non-Catholic communion services don’t make a point of that at all.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2243088/posts?page=69#69
Mark, sorry I met to ping you to my reply. You were such an inspiration to me this morning.
I like what you are doing. I turned around, and just said, “Peace be with you.”
Hey, I’ll look for those!
**An EMCH wipes the rim of a cup with a dry cloth. This spreads any germs around that rim.**
If the Extraordinary Minister puts the cloth, unfoled between their forefinger and middle finger, and pulls down a new place to wipe the rim of the cup, germs are not spread. I have even asked people to wait, while I turned the cloth over and started on the back side of it. I also inspect the inside of the cup and sometimes (Usually always) wipe it too, becuase some older people have some backwash. It’s a race sometimes to get to the backwash before it gets to the wine, though! LOL! My purificators are always all used up and usually as wine-stained as the priest’s!
**Life is fatal if you live long enough. No one (other than Enoch and Elijah) get out of here alive.**
And Catholics believe the Blessed Virgin Mary too! Although, technically you are right, because there may have been a period of dormition for her.
LOL! They are so good, I decided to post all that I have!
Another Look at the Orans Issue
THE TEN MOST COMMON LITURGICAL ABUSES And Why They're Wrong
Oops — blaming it on the tears! LOL!
I KNOW I
I apologize Salvation, it was lightman, my bust.
I forgot one step in the giving of the cup. I always turn it a quarter of a turn. It bugs me when EMHC use the same spot to wipe the cup. Maybe I’m extra vigilant, but I used to work with young children!
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