On Saturday I posted that the Archdiocese of Baltimore was still having public Masses, albeit in a limited fashion. That was then, this is now. Late yesterday, the Baltimore chancery joined the ranks of the feckless and canceled all their public Masses. In fact, at least one bishop is discouraging the anointing of the sick for corona sufferers. That's right. He advocates the denial of Extreme Unction to the dying, depriving them of sacramental graces that might be necessary to ensure salvation. That is beyond cruel; it is tantamount to a shepherd turning his back on a lamb in mortal distress. I cannot see how this dereliction of duty wouldn't be inherently sinful for a priest, regardless of the impetus for this betrayal.
Other clerics, mindful that they are called to lay down their lives for their sheep, are speaking out. Papal Almonor Konrad Krajewski opened his church and said that "home should always be open to its children". Archbishop Vigano states that closed churches express "the darkening of the faith that has struck the heights of the church" and that "what is at stake is not only public health but the salvation of souls". Phil Lawler wrote a piece, republished by LifeSiteNews, stressing the importance of keeping our Churches open while Masses are being said, for the spiritual sakes of people.
I myself had to go to Mass in Arlington, since both the Archdioeses of Washington and Baltimore decided to deprive their people of Mass. While I'm grateful that the Mass in Arlington even existed, the parish was somewhat liberal. At the beginning, the priest made it a point to opine that the corona virus is not God's judgment. I am not inclined to dismiss that possibility, especially when the president of the Italian Bishops' Conference stated that the virus may indeed be God's chastisement brought about by rebellion. Consider that Italy as a country is one of the hardest-hit countries. It is also where the pachamama abomination happened.
In my opinion, this covid-19 situation in which the world finds itself is indeed a chastisement from the God who has been mocked and scorned by His creastion. The blood of over sixty million babies slaughtered via abortion would alone cry for punishment. Add to that the legalization of homosexual perversion and the widespread disdain of the Christian faith and you have a world that is in need of radical purification. We need to be in prayer and penance before God, while speaking truth to the world around us. In particular, pray that our bishops wisen up. At this time, we need more of the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, not less. In shuttering the Faithful from Mass, I fear that our bishops are actually exacerbating the spiritual malaise that has occasioned the calamity in which we find ourselves.
Both the private parishes that I attend are open for Masses: the Ordinariate and the Society. We’re having several ‘guests.’
ReplyDeleteArlington has now ceased public masses.
ReplyDeleteShould a priest who has covid 19 anoint people in danger of death who do not have the virus? This is the predicament our priests are facing -- not an easy decision. In short order there may be many dying from the disease. The priests who anoint them may then just become disease spreaders, spreading it to those most vulnerable already. I don't know the answer, I only know that this is a challenging predicament and our priests need our prayers.
ReplyDeleteI certainly advise reasonable precautions. If anyone, cleric or lay, is sick, they should stay away from others. What is not reasonable, let alone true to our faith, is the complete deprivation of Mass and other sacraments.
DeleteThe problem is that people are shedding the virus for days or more without knowing they are sick. That appears to be the reason for the steps taken by those you seem to be criticizing.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, the faithful who squeeze into the pews with others at this point may unknowingly be putting the lives of others at risk. They, or those they infect, may add to the numbers straining our hospitals in the next few weeks. This includes priests who fall ill.
The experience of Italy is telling. Healthcare workers there must decide who gets the medical equipment and who is left to die-- it's horrific!
The priests are still offering Masses! We can still be united in prayer with those Masses.
It's a matter of priority. I refer you to Mother Miriam's video in the post dated March 19, 2020.
Delete