The lack of Mass for Catholics in the Diocese of Gaylord continues. This is despite the Michigan governor’s exemption of churches from her draconian lockdown declarations. In other parts of the world, priests and bishops have shown how to respond to this virus with innovative ways to provide for the sacrifice of the Mass. In the Diocese of Las Cruces, NM, Bishop Peter Baldacchino showed how to do this when he offered outdoor Masses and liturgical celebrations for the faithful. Parishioners stayed in their cars to respect social distancing guidelines. In other parts of the world, priests have resorted to cleaning their fingers with an alcohol-based solution after each parishioner receives Communion. Closer to home, the Society of St. Pius X provided Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday liturgies in Grand Rapids with parishioners in their cars and without Communion being administered. Mass will be provided there this Sunday at 9 AM (St. Margaret Mary Allendale – see link below for further information regarding SSPX and attendance at Mass there).
The Catholic Catechism states the following: “The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.”
Our chastisement may not be the Coronavirus. Rather, our chastisement is the lack of ability for laity to attend Masses to atone for sin, ask for God’s mercy, and prayers for the end of the epidemic tied to the Sacrifice of the Mass. (Although the Mass is always able to atone for sin, our lack of presence at the Mass is very problematic.) Please continue to pray in reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world. May this liturgical starvation come to an end soon!
Links of interest:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/las-cruces-bishop-first-in-us-to-resume-public-masses-amid-pandemic-54349