Our parish priest wants everyone to wear face masks at Mass. There is a political push for this -- Coronavirus: Church leaders call for face coverings at services https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53841142 I don't want to wear one and I am not going to wear one so I probably will not get to Mass on Sundays. Therein lies a dilemma.
We have to wear masks at our church in Vermont. Father uses hand sanitizer and puts on his mask to distribute communion. It is a sacrifice that I willingly endure to receive our dear Lord. He suffered so much for me. It's a small price to pay.
You're not alone on this Garabandal. Where I live, the church quickly imposed all the public rules, so right away we had masks, gel, social distancing and no physical contact like handshaking or kissing and even obligatory online registration for Sunday services. And they got rid of the holy water right away. I felt an overwhelming revulsion about going back to church after the confinement period ended and I had to discuss it with several priests and with my spiritual director. To my great grief, the priests told me that there was "no problem" with the measures adopted by the church and that Jesus is perfectly happy with it all. One priest actually told me not to worry because when Jesus isn't happy, He will stop the masses. That was incredibly prophetic, but to my great chagrin, he didn't admit that Jesus was already unhappy by stopping public masses for a few months, perhaps because the priests were able to continue their masses in private. I regretted later on not having told him what is in Luisa's writings about that very subject, but I didn't have the quote in my mind at the time. I know several very pious and spiritual folks who have had tremendous struggles in going back to mass because of all of this and other reasons too. The churches have lost money because of the limits on parishioners on Sunday and they have sent out bulletins requesting that we continue tithing. That has put off a lot of parioshionners who are suffering from the measures too. I also know someone whom I believe is a mystic (but who doesn't admit it) and she has told me that she went back once and never again because there are too many distractions that get in the way of her union. But then in some places, the bishops have relieved the laity from the obligation of attending mass because of the restrictions. Our bishop has dispensed the faithful from the obligation of attending Sunday mass, by making up for it with a weekday mass where rules were less formal. If the bishop dispenses the faithful, I guess technically we don't have to go and can follow a mass from home. I'd love to hear what is going on in other parishes or how others are handling this.
They are "requiring" them here. Hand sanitizer instead of holy water. I hate it but I comply for the sake of the sisters--its a Eucharistic chapel where I go--i don't want to get them in trouble and lose access to the chapel altogether. People report things--just like in communist countries.
sometimes I like masks because I dont need to shave when I can I don't put it over my nose. it is just a piece of cloth although some people look better in masks
So I assume you remove your mask to receive communion in the hand in order to then place it in your mouth?
I now go to a parish in the Phoenix diocese instead of my regular parish in the Tucson diocese because the Phx diocese has mass. Tucson has stilled locked the doors and offer communion in the parking lot for 1 hour on Sunday. The churches in Phx do require masks but you can pull them down over your nose when you sit down and I have seen people take them off. Doesn't bother me but I am sure it bothers some tattle tale people. The pastor offers communion on the tongue but you have to get in his line to do it. Most just make the sacrifice and do it in the hand but the pastor says he will not refuse communion on the tongue. He is a good and holy priest. And yes, if you receive in the hand you take off one side of your mask and place the host in your mouth and re-do you mask. So sad this is happening and for no reason.
Listen it's all a load of balls. It is bordering on complete madness now. And no I will not comply. No I will not wear a useless mask and be humiliated into submission. There is no science behind it whatsoever. There is a dispensation for mass in Ireland but even if there were not I would not go into a Church and be compelled to wear a face nappy. Not a thimble of incense. This is just the beginning. I have the impression that we are being tried like Lot's wife which is a bit too salty for my liking. I would like to see a return to what was left of normality but I dont think we will ever see it again. The pieces are moving...
In addition the mask wearers have me literally in stitches laughing. I have not seen one person use the correct protocol. People are touching their masks none stop they are taking them off without sanitizing before or after and to top it all of they are sticking them in their pockets and then whipping them out when they are needed. If anything they are doing a lot more harm than good both to themselves and others around them
You said it! We had a friend for dinner a few nights ago who is a semi retired MD and he admits they really don't do much. Once you touch them with your fingers both fingers and masks are contaminated.
Exactly!! I have seen people take their masks off to wipe their noses and then handle the cart and food in front of them. And people wearing gloves make me shake my head. Gloves are single use. What is the point of wearing gloves if you are scratching your mask and moving from one item to another, touching multiple surfaces with the same pair of gloves. It is madness. Outside a clinical setting, masks and gloves do absolutely nothing. There is no science behind it. It makes no sense but people are shamed into compliance.
Compliance is the name of the game. We've shown we will cave in out of fear to any repressive mandate. 1984 and Lord of the World moving along at warp speed.
The dilemma will be solved when one is at one’s particular judgment. Our Masses will be there with us. Or not.
It's strange but true that in Trad Churches no one seems to ever wear a mask, whereas in Novus Ordo Churches the use of masks is everywhere. I say its odd because there is no overt ideological reason for this. I mean there is for instance no Trad rule that you must never ever wear a mask but no one ever does. There is a new Government Law that folks here have to wear masks in shops. So very reluctantly I wore one in a supermarket today. Then I spotted a cashier not wearing one so I tore mine of that very instant. Going into two other shops I saw loads of others not wearing masks to my joy. But I saw that I had caved into this law in the first place. I should have been tougher and leaner and not worn a mask in the first place. I cared too much about what other people would think and say. I must harden up and not be such a sheep. As far as staying away from mass because of masks I think it would be a shame to give in by staying away. Chance going without a mask. This will take courage.
Everyone in our Trad parish wears a mask and no one complains about it. It is run by the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter. We also follow social distancing.
It's "required" here but mass remains dispensed so the local church in our town is now seldom full. At the FSSP parish I attend a few towns over (which is smaller but always full) many people wear them and once inside the church take them off and put them on again when leaving the church. We do social distance but once mass is over and everyone spills outside social distancing is a bit of a joke. Nobody says much about it either way. I don't mind wearing a mask if it makes people feel more comfortable in spite of the fact that it makes me a bit light headed at times. With using a cane and having a knee that needs replacement this can be a bit of a challenge and makes my wife nervous. I notice that there are many older people who seem to be worried including in my family. I notice as well that with some people once the ice is broken a bit they then become much more comfortable and let their "guard" down. I think more people are realizing they are not effective other than as a security blanket.
