When I prepare to preach my homilies I am often reminded of these lyrics:
"I'm just a soul who's intentions are good, oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood."
This blog post is my opinion, it is not an "official" statement on behalf of Holy Mother Church, my Archdiocese of New Orleans, the Community of Deacons and my parish of St. Jane de Chantal in beautiful Abita Springs. Nope, these will mostly be my opinions, hopefully informed by my faith and my spirituality.
This weekend across the world, including our country, many Catholics are being told there is no Mass, your church is closed. In the Archdiocese of New Orleans this is not the case, however, our Archbishop, Gregory Aymond, has dispensed anyone from Mass obligation based on a number of issues centered around the Coronavirus. Therefore, in my neck of the woods, as of 11:30 in the morning on Saturday, arch 14th, we are scheduled to hold all of our masses at both St. Jane and our mission church named for St. Michael. There will be some changes when you come to Mass, possibly a smaller turnout of worshippers, perhaps no holy water as you enter church(this was called for by the Archbishop in his Friday communication), no communion from the Cup and no physical greeting at the Sign of Peace. In fact, using the option already available to the presider, the calling for an exchange of the sign of peace should just be eliminated.(this is my opinion and not an official mandate from any authority, to the best of my knowledge). Also, please stop holding hands during the Our Father, it is not a part of the liturgy anyway.
If this all is not enough to digest how about, for now, as a people, we just stop shaking hands period? Easier said than done; I get it. Even my employer, a retail bank, has directed us to explain to our clients, all our clients, that for now let's forego the handshake. So even when Mass is over, the clergy after processing out of the church should not be shaking hands. I know, it sound so foreign to the ear to hear this and to the eye reading this but we just should simply stop shaking hands for now.
More opinion here: I hate to hear that churches, masses, funerals and weddings and other magnificent church events are being cancelled in parts of the nation and the world. I cannot imagine for the faithful Catholic to anticipate a month, or more, without the liturgy, the Eucharist and other Sacraments. I like the approach here in New Orleans: masses still a go but a broad dispensation if you are sick, think you might have been exposed, not sure what has happened or not happened, anxious or nervous about all things coronavirus; simply put, if you think, sincerely, you should not go to Mass now, don't go. Of course don't use the prudence and wisdom of our Archbishop just to blow off Mass, do not do this, but don't go if the previous parameters exist.
There are many other things we should be called to right now as a Catholics. Whether or not a Bishop or any other authority publicly proclaims these things all of us as Catholics should be called to and be doing the following:
Praying fervently for relief from the illnesses, anxiety and emotion caused by Coronavirus
Offering prayers of reparation
Adding fasting to our prayer life
Prudently attend Church/Mass
Turn to Adoration and Benediction
If prudent and safe, serve another, reach out to the most impacted groups of people
Re-double your Lenten sacrifices or works of mercy
Prudently attend Stations of the Cross
Repent of our sins and go to confession, again, prudently
Yes these are the things that Catholics can/should do and perhaps you can add other thoughts to this list. And these are among the things we need to hear from authority, particularly our Bishops and Pastors. Remember, just my opinion. Because I'm just a soul whose intentions are good, oh Lord please don't let me be misunderstood.
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