The COVID-19 pandemic is still in progress.
But Catholics here in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, got good news over the weekend.
“Dear Friends in Christ,
“Bishop Kettler has asked us to begin planning for public Masses again. … Then, if all goes well, we can begin having public Masses sometime the week of May 18th….”
(Catholic Parishes of St. Alexius, Our Lady of the Angels, St. Paul’s (May 2020))
I see it as good news, anyway.
We still don’t know how public Mass will be restarted.
And maybe all won’t go well. A lot could happen before next week. A lot has happened in the two months since COVID-19 became an official pandemic.
Changing Routines
On March 11, two months ago today, the World Health Organization promoted COVID-19 from a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” to a pandemic.
As far as we knew, there were only five cases in Minnesota. None of them in my town.
But within a week, the Minnesota governor banned public gatherings. The bishop in our diocese suspended public Masses until April 18. And the priests in our parishes did what the bishop said they should do.
Two months later, 115,781 Minnesotans have been tested for COVID-19 virus. Test results were positive for 11,799. Several folks with positive results work just a few minutes down the road.
591 Minnesotans have died from the disease. So far.
I didn’t, and don’t, like having no public Masses. And I’m not happy that the resumption date has been moved into mid-May.
But I think changing our routines made sense.1
The Eucharist: a Big Deal
On the ‘up’ side, the local parishes have been providing online video Masses.
They’re not a complete substitute for being there. Which is why each includes a prayer of spiritual communion, along the lines of St. Alphonsus Liguori’s. (April 4, 2020)
Video Mass not being a substitute for the real thing may need an explanation. Or maybe not. Either way, I’ll talk about it.
Each Mass is built around the Eucharist, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
That’s when our Lord comes to be with us under the appearance of bread and wine.
He doesn’t, apart from the very rare Eucharistic miracle, appear as actual flesh and blood. But he’s there. Really. Physically.2
And that’s why Mass is a very big deal. It’s also been a public relations problem for two millennia, and that’s another topic. (December 13, 2019; November 20, 2016)
Loving My Neighbors
So, if Mass is that important, how come I’m not denouncing our parish priests, bishop, archbishop and the Pope for making sense during this pandemic?3
Basically, it’s because I’m a Catholic. Which doesn’t mean I think popes never make mistakes. (July 30, 2017)
As a Catholic, I’m obliged to take care of my health, within reason. (Catechism, 2288, 2289, 2301)
I’m also obliged to act as if I love my neighbors. All my neighbors. (Matthew 5:43–44, 22:36–40; Mark 12:28–31; Luke 6:31, 10:25–37; Catechism, 1789)
I figure that includes changing my habits so that I’m less likely to infect them. And not fussing when other folks do the same.
On the other hand, I’m looking forward to public Mass.
And getting back into a weekly Eucharistic Adoration routine.
One of the folks running local Eucharistic Adoration called me this afternoon. Looks like it’ll be some time before that gets back to normal. Make that “resumes.” And that’s yet another topic.
Somewhat-related posts:
- “Holy Week: Staying Home”
(April 4, 2020) - “Pandemic Perspectives”
(March 31, 2020) - “Mass Suspended: COVID-19 and the Common Good”
(March 17, 2020) - “COVID-19: Pandemic”
(March 11, 2020) - “Polka Mass and Adoration”
(December 13, 2019)
1 A mostly-Minnesota view of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Wikipedia
- Minnesota Catholics
- Bishop Kettler’s letter to pastors
Bishop Kettler, Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota (May 9)
- Bishop Kettler’s letter to pastors
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Minnesota Department of Health
- My take
- “Dreary Outside, Self-Isolating Inside” (March 28, 2020)
- “Self-Isolation in the Family” (March 26, 2020)
- “COVID-19: Pandemic” (March 11, 2020)
“EUCHARIST: The ritual, sacramental action of thanksgiving to God which constitutes the principal Christian liturgical celebration of and communion in the paschal mystery of Christ. The liturgical action called the Eucharist is also traditionally known as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is one of the seven sacraments of the Church; the Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation (1322 ff.). The Sunday celebration of the Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life (2177). See Mass.”
“MASS: The Eucharist or principal sacramental celebration of the Church, established by Jesus at the Last Supper, in which the mystery of our salvation through participation in the sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection of Christ is renewed and accomplished. The Mass renews the paschal sacrifice of Christ as the sacrifice offered by the Church. It is called ‘Mass’ (from the Latin missa) because of the ‘mission’ or ‘sending’ with which the liturgical celebration concludes (Latin: ‘Ite, Missa est.‘) (1332; cf. 1088, 1382, 2192). See Eucharist; Paschal Mystery/Sacrifice.”
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, Glossary)
3 Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Bishop Kettler’s letter to pastors
(May 1, 2020) - USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
- Letter of the Holy Father to the faithful for the month of May
Pope Francis (April 25, 2020) - “Covid-19: Pope establishes emergency fund”
Vatican News (April 6, 2020) - Statement Regarding Dispensation from Sunday Mass Obligation
Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda (March 12, 2020) - Note from the Apostolic Penitentiary on the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the current pandemic, 20.03.2020
Mauro Cardinal Piacenza, Major Penitentiary; Krzysztof Nykiel, Regent (March 20, 2020)
