By Modesto P. Sa-onoy
Some people are suggesting that the Catholic Church stop saying Masses to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. The rationale of this proposal is that the Mass, especially on Sundays and Saturdays are packed with the faithful who encounter others, receive communion, touch sacred images and pews and dip their fingers on holy water.
Although the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has issued guidelines in the face of this health problem, the bishops did not include the suspension of the celebration of the Mass.
The Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, suggested to those who could not attend the Mass because they have flu-like symptoms “to stay home and seek medical attention. It is an act of charity that we can offer to the people”. He urged special care for the weak and vulnerable, remembering the words of Jesus: “I was sick, and you took care of me.”
He added that those who could not personally attend the Mass “can sanctify the Lord’s Day by praying in their homes and reading the Scriptures,” and advised them to follow Masses streamed live from different stations, if they have video streaming facilities.
But those who can, should attend Sunday Mass.
In Rome churches were closed for visits but Masses will go on. In Poland Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, head of the Polish bishop’s conference said there “should be increase in the number of Catholic Masses on Sundays so that not too many churchgoers gather at once.”
In Poland one third of its population attend Mass. Increasing the number of Masses would spread out the faithful and thus reduce physical contact.
“Just as hospitals treat illnesses of the body, the church is there to heal illnesses of the soul. That’s why it’s unimaginable that we should not pray in our churches,” Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki said.
“With regards to the demands of the Chief Sanitation Inspector for there not to be mass gatherings of people, we ask for the enlargement – if possible – of the number of Sunday Masses in churches, so the appropriate number of churchgoers can participate in a Mass at a given moment.”
In the worst-affected country Italy, bishops took the unprecedented step of ordering that Masses may not be held during the week in churches in northern areas. Sunday Masses, however, continue. Indeed, Sunday is the Lord’s Day and every Catholic has a duty to attend Mass because, to repeat the Archbishop’s words, it is unimaginable that we should not pray in our churches. In fact, the more that people should pray for heavenly deliverance.
However, Archbishop Gądecki noted that “in these circumstances, the elderly and sick have no obligation to attend Mass”. In the Philippines the sick and the elderly who could no longer physically attend the Mass rely on broadcasted Masses.
The Polish prelate asked for prayers for those who have died as a result of coronavirus, adding: “Let us pray for the health of the sick and for the physicians, medical personnel and all services that work to stop the spread of the virus,” and “for the epidemic to end.”
Archbishop Gądecki encouraged, “in accordance with the tradition of the Church”, praying the Trisagion, from the Adoration of the Cross during the Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday. In the Philippines the CBCP has released an oratio imperata or mandated prayer in relation to the Covid-19 to be said after every Mass. Churches around the world have also issued precautionary guidelines for Masses.
The Mass is the highest form of Catholic worship and prayer and if we have to “storm” heaven for deliverance from this deadly virus, the Mass is the best approach. Medical scientists have failed to produce an antidote or a cure. We must look to heaven what we cannot find on earth.
Is nature, tampered and abuse by man fighting back? Only God in His omnipotence can lead our scientists to be able to find a cure. This is the essence of the oratio imperata, the humility to admit our limitations and therefore we should not play god. Take God out of the equation and what do we get?
The previous pandemics had “worn themselves out”, I believe by God’s hands, before the cure was found. When will covid-19 wear out? Only God knows and so we must pray.
