Tough question; We are really being deprived of our God given right to practice freewill in choosing whether we as Catholics want to take a "Leap of Faith" in this current atmosphere of sickness and unclarity...
This deprivation can be offered up for reparation for our sins. A temporary fasting of the sacraments can be a means for God to bless us, but only if we can refrain from committing mortal sin.
If I can go to Walmart any time I want in a single day and stand in a line, not necessarily 6 feet apart why can't I go to church for mass, private prayer and sacraments. Never in our salvation history did saving our lives become more important than worshipping God. Women and children went into the wilderness to worship God without knowing what they will do for food. Didn't God provide? The bishops can exempt everyone from the obligation and priests can have different masses for the vulnerable. These are somethings we can do out of caution but never ever shut down church and take solace in livestreams. God is the author of life, not us. Unlike St.Paul we are saying "o death, pls don't sting me".
I can't respond until I find out if you and your wife have COVID-19. Kidding. I wanted to listen first. Short answer: No. It's not good that Catholics are being deprived of the Sacraments. Longer answer: But God works all to our good, and we've been honored to be called to make this sacrifice. We are the ones He chose to do this. I want to be careful about not making demands, because it's honestly coming across as so many toddlers demanding cookies. Dr. Smith humbly admits that she has received Communion unworthily, but most what I'm reading centers on how *I* "deserve" to have access to Communion, or even Confession! Nobody deserves the Sacraments. We only have God's mercy, goodness, generosity in giving them to us. And many do not ever have access. We in the West have so many sacrilegious communicants, many who never go to Confession because we don't think we sin. I have been guilty this. Now in His mercy and goodness, God has given me a chance to make reparation. I'm not owed Reconcilation through the Sacrament, but have I truly appreciated it? Having said that, Dr. Smith is right to point out that the bishops probably don't have the right to forbid the Sacraments to the flock. Thank God my bishop has not shut down Confession, but my own parish priest is at great risk, having been hospitalized with ulcerative colitis in February. And he's up there in age. So he cannot hear Confessions. But another priest 40 minutes away is able to do so, and had already offered daily hours, which he continues. My own priest is doing what he can. This week, he is having Adoration from the bay window of the rectory, with the bishop's permission. We will have to drive up, pause for a prayer, then be on our way so others can spend time with Jesus, but I cried when he announced it on Facebook. Last Rites are difficult to arrange because hospitals won't allow our priests. My family already had trouble last fall when an elderly relative was in ER and not expected to recover. The priest arrived in time, anointed him, and he recovered, but it was close. And the ER staff offered to get the Protestant chaplain. They don't understand. They probably think Catholics are just prejudiced. And the funny not funny thing is that none of the family at the bedside are practicing Catholics. But when it comes to end of life, they want Last Rites.
As a Catechumen, I have been longing for my sacraments for some time. I was going to receive baptism, Eucharist, & confirmation at Vigil. I am disappointed that I have to wait but I fully trust in God's perfect timing. I have noticed during this crisis that many who have turned away from the Church & sacraments are now longing for them. I think this is a beautiful example of how God is going to use this crisis to turn many hearts back to Him. I for one fully support these measures to keep us all safe & healthy. I am willing to wait, especially if it means an increase in desire to attend mass & receive the sacraments. I pray when public mass resumes that churches will have their highest attendance in years.
@Justin Reany I'm not sure. Maybe for my parish it's because we have multiple people coming into the Church and to have just the Catechumen & sponsor & loved one, it would still equal quite a few people cycling in & out & potentially exposing the priests to the virus. Also, limiting to just one loved one is difficult as so many want to share this moment with us. And we'd like to share it with each other after going through this RCIA journey together. Right now, we are praying for Pentecost. What a beautiful time to receive our sacraments. 🙏
Kait S I just wept at your comment because I’ve been praying for you and all the candidates this past Easter vigil who have been working so hard and so faithfully to receive the full initiation into the church and for all the teens who were preparing for conformation. I pray that God gives you a double portion of his blessings and protection.
My pastor is bringing the Blessed Sacrament to homes on Palm Sunday by car (for 12 hours!) and blessing us as we stand by our door. He is amazing and we are so grateful!
In Poland, they've reduced Mass attendance to only 5 people at a time. At daily Mass, there are five people (8AM). In my parish, we have reduced daily Mass to 4 Masses per day (down from 5; don't know why). I haven't missed daily Mass thanks to this. Confessions are held in my parish in the vestibule, one person at a time. There's a confessional in there (here, they are a box for the priest and an open kneeler on either side for the penitents, not built into the walls of the church, so they are movable. They've added another layer of plastic between the priest and the penitent, and the priest cleans it with antibacterial spray after each confession). The priests carry the Blessed Sacrament with them to the confessional to give people communion after confession. The first Mass is at 6AM, so that's when confession starts. It ends at 9AM. Then again between about 5-7PM under the same circumstances, before, during and after the 6PM daily Mass. The chapel is open for adoration between 8:30AM and 5:30PM, with only 5 people being allowed in the (small) adoration chapel. Our priests wash their hands with soap before Mass, and use hand sanitizer before giving communion (they give it in the hand, but if someone wants to kneel and take communion in the mouth, they don't argue about it). They sanitize their hands after giving communion as well. In the hospital, where the priest goes every day because by law the hospitals have to have a Catholic chaplain available (and he's paid for that), the Mass in the hospital chapel is 'attended' by people being out in the hall (it's a tiny chapel) but instead of visiting every bed in the hospital, the priest goes to the people who ask for confession and communion. (It's an oncology hospital within the parish.) The sad thing is... our churches are open - albeit for only 5 worshipers at each Mass - and people aren't going. When we could have 50 people at each Mass, we had about 35. Last Sunday, I went to my former parish to pray for a holy hour and found a Mass about to start. The church has three worship spaces: upstairs church, downstairs church and they were offering Mass in the parish hall. Upstairs, it's 'live' with the priest present; downstairs and in the hall, on closed-circuit TV with a priest coming to give communion. I was in the downstairs church - surprised to find it open - and a Mass started with just me and one other person present. What could I do? I incorporated it into my holy hour. Then the Blessed Sacrament was brought out downstairs for adoration for several hours. I stayed for that and finished my Holy Hour prayers. Then I went to my parish where I assist with a Mass in English for foreigners. I ended up getting Mass and communion twice in the same Sunday, and adoration! Some friends went to another parish for Mass and were first in line to get in. But an elderly couple came for Mass, so they gave up their places to the elderly couple. A priest then came and took the 5 people who had been turned away from attending Mass to another place where he gave them all communion. So it's possible for the churches to be open and priests to give the sacraments. But then Polish priests might be a different breed from American ones...
I'm at a parish in the USA with a Polish immigrant priest. He hasn't done anything like that at all, at least not that I know of. The parish has completely shut down-- I think you can call and ask for confession, maybe anointing of the sick, but that's it. Maybe it has to be a bunch of them together?
Just think of how incredible a priest is that would get to the very sick covid 19 patients and give them the last rites. He would save the souls of so many Catholics and would probably enter Heaven immediately if he died of the Coronavirus. We should all pray that if we got very sick that a saintly priest would come to our bedside and give us the last rites.
Going to church to receive sacraments is vital for Christians. Sin Dominicus Non Possumus... We want our churches open again they are essential business
Tresor: There is enough sanctifying grace in one reception of the Eucharist to propel you to heaven. So while it is difficult not to receive, open yourself up to His grace (which need not be dispensed through the sacraments). Pray ... and continue to be obedient to the lawful civil authorities, as God wants you to be. Also, stay at home as a means to promote of the welfare of your neighbors first (even above your own wants) ... as God has commanded us.
Not yet, AB. That some have gone this far - perhaps just to see - speaks volumes. In fact, a swift banning of all up-front and familiar, touchy-feely, reconciliation is called for, considering the 'science' of the illness's spread. An emergency-gowned-disinfected priest - or an extraordinary minister of the Healing Anointment - is a practical possibility; indeed the spaceman contamination suit might be supplemented with a disposable stole, I guess .. if a stole is used (and a plastic pokey-finger thing could be used, to avoid the risk of cross-contamination via the oil .. no, seriously, I know it sounds daft, but something similar was used back in the plague days).
As a Protestant entering the Catholic Church when this is all over, I’m a little taken aback by how desperate people are about the sacraments. I get it, they are very important, but I feel like we sometimes think it’s our right to devour Jesus like a man pounding his chest on his wedding night and demanding his wife give him his “due”. Sorry but that’s how I feel as someone looking in. Do we even deserve to be so selfish? We should take this time to examine our motives and remember how sweet it will be when we can be in full communion with our Lord again. Until then, let’s try to be like the celibate man who can not wait to lovingly embrace his bride on their wedding night, instead of the person who thinks it’s their right as a Catholic!
I think that's actually a pretty accurate way of looking at it, for some reactions I've seen (going to schismatic groups to recieve communion, etc). That said, it is a pretty hard cross to bear right now. I've had a recent difficult personal struggle on top of the lockdowns, and I really miss the Eucharist especially. A priest friend of ours offered confession, so I'm grateful for that though.
JP2GiannaT Yes, I guess I should clarify that not all sacraments are treated in this way. I was mostly speaking of the eucharist. Confession would be very hard to go without right now. I wonder if a person could arrange to see a priest? Even if they are not offering confession at a set time, most priests are still taking confession by appointment.
Matt, I'm so moved by this very thoughtful conversation. I didn't realize the extent of the impact this pandemic would have on Christians who follow the teaching of the Catholic church when it comes to the reception of the Eucharist. I hope the Catholic church can come to a solution on this.
As a Ukrainian Catholic priest running a Seminary, this question came up among the seminarians at the beginning of the pandemic hitting (before churches were closed!). As we are small enough, we were able to use one spoon per person. I agree with Dr. Smith that we should not use disposable wooden spoons as it is a non-verbal sign of our throw-away culture, something we do not want to be associated with the Holy Mysteries, even in a time of pandemic.
I agree with Abuna Mike, with the caveat that as long as the spoon is wooden then it could be burned and buried after use...our jurisdiction experimented with the use of absinthe to "sanitize" the metal liturgical spoons between Communicants, which was weird to say the least.
If grocery stores can have those labels on the floor to indicate where the next person should stand, then couldn't we place those signs in the pews to achieve the proper social distance?
I really admire the faithful witness here. However, I could not bare to think of pushing to have this sort of thing happen and have my love of Jesus result in the death of my neighbor.
@@baseballguy548 that is not the point I was making. 'Red carpet' treatment does not include giving all authority away...but it does make things much easier for the enemy to strut around.
@@TheOtherSymeon Jesus says otherwise in John Chapter 6, No priest, bishop, cardinal, pope, council or Saint can change His teaching. The Church must understand that they cannot change His words. So Yes, you must receive the body and blood of Our Lord if you want to get to Heaven. This cannot be changed by anyone.
I can’t go to confession in my own archdiocese anymore. The Archbishop isn’t allowing any sacrements unless you’re near death. Thankfully I live on the border of another archdiocese where I can do confession in a parking lot. Some of their churches are even open for Adoration.
Lets reword what you just said - to be clear - so you are telling God that you are disobeying His chosen Apostle for your diocese to go to a neighboring diocese to give Him glory through adoration... Seriously?
@@baseballguy548 Can you show me in my comment where I said I went to Adoration? Even if I did he never said we couldn't go elsewhere and do it so there's no "disobedience".
@@baseballguy548 The bishop has no authority to denied the Sacraments to Our Lord's faithful. It looks like you don't believe in the sacraments are necessary. Eventually peoples will think that the Church will not be necessary.
THANK YOU. For your insight and for your efforts. Dr. Janet Smith you are well spoken about this. I've become so disheartened by how easily our priests seem to be just giving up and giving in. It's absolutely ridiculous. There are ways to do this safely and I want to see our church leaders making an effort.
Terrific talk. Thank you really! We absolutely need to remember "we are IN the world but not OF the world" and too many bishops are giving up our faith because they fear the opinions or judgments of worldly people. And we must not be afraid. Jesus came to "break the power of him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death". This is not the time for fear, not the time for death: this must be the time for Faith and true life. "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."
We donated to the Chosen & watched the 1st season (which is all that’s available yet)-I was nervous about their portrayal of Mary at the wedding feast and I found it to be very Catholic! I also saw some pictures of people on the board of advisors for the series and saw what looked like a Catholic priest. Anyway, I’ve been studying my faith since I came back to the Church 30 years ago and found NOTHING in the chosen contrary to our Catholic teaching.
What a question! On the one hand not having the sacraments, especially this time of the year, is quite difficult. On the other hand, getting the sacraments can multiply the spread of the covid 19 virus and kill many people. Some of us are cradle Catholics, but some have converted, and they have all said the same thing, how they longed to have the sacrements, the Eucharist, Confession etc... Perhaps we should all learn to have this longing again, especially when it is to avoid a major scale pandemic that could kill many. Here's the way I look at it, during Lent, we think about Jesus going into the desert and fasting for 40 days. But what happened to the disciples of Jesus? For 40 days they didn't have Jesus with them. They didn't have the Bread of Life, they didn't have the Verb made flesh; they had nothing during that time. The only thing they had was the memory of what Jesus had taught them. Perhaps we should meditate on that, and instead of demanding to have the sacrements, live this period of time as the disciples of Jesus did when He went into the desert. One last thought, many Catholics live this regularly, Catholics in China, in Syria for example. Maybe we could also see this absence as a way to understand what they go through on a regular basis and associate our suffering to theirs.
I understand and can appreciate the sentiments of this conversation. However, as a faithful Catholic and ER nurse I am going to have to disagree with Dr Janet Smith in many points. I agree that dioceses should do a better job of utilizing live-streams for prayer and encouragement. Opening churches or having drive through confession/mass is a terrible idea from a community health perspective. There is so much unknown about the transmission of the virus. The virus has been found on surfaces up to 17 days after a COVID positive patient was in contact with them. Transmission is so much more than being six feet apart! We need to protect our elderly and high risk priest! I would rather go a period without the sacraments then risk spreading this virus and killing a large majority of our priest - imagine how scarce sacraments would be then. We need to go out into the desert and be with our Lord in the time of this deprivation. We need to remember that this is not the only time that Catholics have been deprived of the sacraments. I have taken care of chronically ill Catholics who don’t get to go to mass because they are bed bound - they understand this longing. Or think of our ancestors - some of whom were Catholic immigrants coming to a predominantly Protestant country in which Catholics were persecuted. Who knows how often they were able to receive the sacraments? Deprivation of the sacraments can be turned into a deep spiritual experience. Again, I appreciate and share this longing for the sacraments, but let us lay aside our desires for the good of our priests and vulnerable populations. let us actually be compliant with quarantine and unite ourselves with the suffering Christ himself who uttered “My God, my God why haven’t you abandoned me?”
God bless you! It's so comforting to see smart, spiritual and well formed people that have the very same concerns or ideas. I have tried so hard to get across these very same ideas to the priests and see that they are at times seem to be blinded and some how they have come to realize that nowadays the most highly valued virtue is called obedience.
Would you go to Mass or confession or receive communion if you knew as a fact that the priest tested positive to coronavirus? The fact that the priest "looks" healthy is not enough. This is prudence. I feel the pain. I am a physician and a catholic who goes to daily Mass. This example is real not made up: On March 13th my pastor announced that he had been tested for coronavirus and was going to self-quarantine until he got the results, because he was close to a public person in the city who had tested positive for coronavirus (this was at the very beginning of the epidemic here). After 5 or 6 days the test came back negative. By then, the city had shut down schools and many other non-essential business and there were no public Masses celebrated anymore. This is a very active Pastor who in a matter of hours found the way to have Mass streamed as well as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and several activities. He held very drive-thru confessions which were a complete success. He was able to do this for two weeks. He look great for these two weeks and now he is ill and tested positive for coronavirus. Can you imagine the situation if during this time he had celebrated Mass and give communion to a number of people?
I would settle for open churches so we can go in and pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament. In my country (Denmark), as far as I know it is only the Cathedral that is open to the public and I live in the opposite end of the country. The Lutheran church is by far the biggest faith community here and that has been closed completely by the state. Yet people can shop for unessential things in bookshops and what not. That to me shows a lack of care for people's spiritual needs. I wish bishops all over the world would be more vocal about this. Everyone I meet could be infected - I could be infected - yet I can ride a bus but I cannot enter a church building.
We need confession. At the very least priests should be giving last rites to the dying and making drive-through confessions available. It’s shameful that so many bishops and priests are abandoning their flock.
Lucia DeLoach I am sorry you feel abandoned. I must admit, though, that I do not understand why you feel that way. This is not an easy situation for priests especially coming into Holy Week. I wish you could open your heart and be receptive of the prayers of our priests for their flocks, and in return you can pray for our priests. Peace.
Why not have priests consecrate hosts and put them in Pyx. The outside could be wiped down so that Catholics could open the pyx and receive the eucharist. I know not every catholic owns a Pyx. But i think it could help make sure people get the eucharist
What I can't get over is bishops who are allowed by the governor of the state to have religious services and keep churches open, both with due precautions, but then shut all the churches in their diocese and disallow sacraments.
Hey Matt! Such a great discussion. Currently in my diocese in Washington State there is no availability of any of the sacraments or anointing of the sick. We have been live streaming Mass and devotions for almost 3 weeks now. We have proposed options to our pastor for simply outdoor adoration ( not even the sacraments I might add) as a “drive in” and we (being my family) were told a strict no because we can watch live stream and it would be a public gathering. Today I had to email my pastor to beg him to allow me to take communion to my family after the Easter Vigil and I honestly do not know if he will allow me to do this. It is so sad and disappointing that I cannot rely on him and our priests to give Jesus to the faithful even in safe situations.
I miss the sacraments and usually go to daily mass and weekly confession plus adoration of the blessed sacrament. However I have a few protestant friends who are very much in love with Christ and they think that they don't need the sacraments. I know the sacraments give us extra graces but still, could we make the sacrifice of going without them for a month or two and not complain? This sacrifice has made me closer to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane!
We don't have a right to the sacraments, but the bishops have a responsibility to provide the sacraments. There are ways to have outdoor/drive-thru confessions, or outdoor/drive-in masses or communion services. With a little intelligent planning and creativity, there are ways to do this safely for both the priests and the parishioners. And as for the Anointing of the Sick, young priests in the low-risk categories, and priests who have themselves recovered from Coronavirus should be manning the hospitals to administer this sacrament to patients, taking all the same precautions as the nursing staff. This is what they sign up for, this is what it means to be in persona christi. This really isn't that hard, and it can all be done within the restrictions put in place by governments, but our faithless bishops don't have the slightest clue. And they really should have been in communication at the table with governments negotiating these minimalist ways to ensure that essential sacraments could still be administered in ways that minimize risk and maximize the safety of all, body and soul.
Bishops should also be making use of general absolution provisions at this time as well. It is precisely for times like these that we have these provisions in the first place.
Billy HW it would be highly irresponsible of a priest to do most of what you suggest! In almost all of your suggestions, maintaining a social distance would be very difficult. In persona christi does not mean that a priest should take risks that could put himself and others in danger when it is not necessary for him to do so.
Matt, the best point that I heard is that the Bishops and priests need to fight. Fight for the best way to make sacraments available. Be courageous and don't base every decision on fear. It's a greater problem today that we think we should all be somehow protected from any chance of suffering in this life. Yes, take all prudent measures, but be courageous and figure out ways to make sacraments accessable. Big shout-out for the Chosen as well. The producer is Evangelical, but also consulted with a Catholic priest and a Messianic Rabbi in developing the show. Dallas Jenkins might be a good interview for you. Download the app and you can watch it all free right now.
Being courageous can look very odd sometimes. For example, nobody (at the time) would have said Christ's crucifixion was courageous, though it was. Similarly, making the hard choice to close down public Masses is a hard choice (which I think they agonized over) but, I think, a courageous one. Just look at how the Bishops are being pilloried here in this forum for making this difficult decision.
@@kdmdlo Agreed, a very difficult choice to shut down masses. I am glad I didn't need to make that decision! It's a no win situation, really. I do personally feel this speaks to me of how spoiled I've been to easily go to the sacraments daily. I keep thinking of all the people world-wide who never have that privilege, through persecution or lack of priests or war or.... We are so blessed.
Brian - I agree - the problem is that for most people in this country - they are under valid civil law to stay home. You can't be courageous or prudent, by definition, in disobeying a valid, moral, and promulgated law. To argue otherwise is to suggest the ends justify the means.. Thoughts?
@@baseballguy548 agreed. Finding creative ways to continue is more of what I meant. The point made in the video of being able to be somewhat safe to get food but not being able to be somewhat safe in finding ways to worship and receive the sacraments is a real valid point to me.
Obey your bishops!!! Trust their authority!!! Authority bestowed upon them by God. Obedience to bishop is what can save us... Disobedience results is schism... There is no place else to go for salvation than the apostolic church 🙏
@@luciadeloach9932 the host and the guest are respectful... Can't say the same about a number of comments here... Some viewers seem to really hate their bishops... Some even the pope... not a good thing... After all the bishops have the authority to set these rules. We receive Eucharist in every mass we attended which is a very recent allowance decided by the bishops, when earlier we had to get permission from the priest on the number of communions we receive. Now the bishops want us to stay at home and receive spiritual communion for our good... Some people make it sound like the bishops are conspiring with the devil to keep us away from church... Anyway... I am sure God is taking care of his church... He is acting through the bishops... So only good things will come through these letters... God bless 🙏
If a Bishop is leading me into perdition he can go alone. “The road to hell is paved with the skulls of erring priests, with bishops as their signposts.” St. John Chrysostom
When 35 families met in the parking lot (closed cars) to do a holy hour the next day the whole parish got an email telling us that we were called to obedience and to not do that again......
I don't know that I fully agree with Dr. Smith yet. I need to take this in. I am in the Diocese of Lansing and I believe Bishop Boyea is doing everything he can with the AG we have in Michigan. Our priest at our parish did a full town Eucharist procession and is doing another. Powerful for the people.
While I'm not a full blown fan of Bishop Boyea, I have to say that he has handled this situation with love, compassion, and a level of spirituality that I have not seen in the majority of bishops. My own Archbishop has done an abysmal job of it, and he leaves many of us feeling left out in the cold. You are very blessed to have Boyea leading you through this crisis in the Church and in the world.
@@AnotherMartha I couldn't agree more. There is always a complaint to be had but the overall job is much better than most. And when I hear his homilies I know he is solid and strong in is faith in Jesus. God bless you!
Priests and Bishops are front line defenders of the faith and the shepards of the flock. They are required by Our Lord to perform the Sacrements especially anointing of the sick and dying and the Sacrement Reconcellation at this time of uncertainty.
I started attending a Byzantine Catholic Churc about a year ago. That was my first experience receiving with a spoon. The way it's distributed is that the faithful lean their head back, open their mouth as wide as possible, and the priest or deacon uses the spoon to drop in The Body and Blood of Christ. I was new to this, and there was no problem with me learning to receive this way. Every Church should be able to do it this way if infection is a worry.
@FightPeople if the priest coughed or has infectious matter on his hands and it got onto the Eucharist while he was touching it... yea... where did you read otherwise ?
@FightPeople I agree 100% , but what people want is a way to continue receiving the Eucharist following government guidelines. Because what we are living is all churches being closed even for worship, and our Easter Mass canceled. I'm giving ideas that would bring the faithful back to receiving the Eucharist.
@FightPeople well in the Catholic Church I don't think that's a teaching... hey I could be wrong, but idk... also I've had the priests fingers accidentally touch my mouth before as he was placing the Eucharist on my tongue
We are essentially all protestants now. This quarantine may go on for months, what will the church look like then? Lukewarm catholics may have grown cold. The devout daily Mass goers will be there , I worry about majority of catholics who are already under catechized and under-evangelized. There are worse things than dying or so I was told, loss of faith, and to die without the sacraments . What message is the Church giving ? We are an non-essential "service" ? History won't be kind to the bishops and current pontiff when this is all done.
We aren't protestants. Have hope. This too shall pass. And don't freak out about the sacraments. By definition they are a sense perceptible sign...a symbol...that effect what they signify. (CCC1084) The Lord doesn't need them to confer sanctifying grace. You can still receive the same grace. They are the ordinary way but not the only way to receive grace. Live in accord with virtue, make an honest confession with true repentance and a firm purpose of amendment...and the grace will be there. He isn't going to hold back grace because you can't get to church.
@@baseballguy548 Basically most Catholics including clergy and you are protestant. You no longer think the sacraments are necessary for are salvation. Well Our Lord says otherwise.
Just to be clear, the Church has not been closed, so it doesn't need to reopen. We have simply stopped worshipping in our buildings for a time to protect the health and wellbeing of our people and our community. The Church does not require a building in order to be the Church. What is required is love, compassion, and the presence of God." - Unknown
I miss the sacraments tremendously, however; Almighty God is outside of space and time and I make a spiritual communion and spiritual confession each day. For now, Christ’s will be done and I will pray for the conversion of the world. Peace.
I know I'll get shouted down in this forum as some kind of heretic but here goes. We as Catholics should respect and be obedient to the authority under which we have been placed (even Christ said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's", i.e., pay your taxes). This includes the civil authorities. Obedience is easy when you agree with the authority; it's hard when you disagree. Moreover, the civil authorities are not making hair-brained requests; go to NYC and see just how serious this is. Also, it's Lent. Pray vigorously and make a spiritual communion with God. But stay home. And, not for nothin', but it's an act of Christian charity (looking out for the best interest of the community) to stay home and, yes, even abstain from the sacraments (most specifically the Eucharist). I don't like this either. But lets all just stop belly-aching and get on with living life joyfully. As a caveat, I would consider extreme unction to be an exception. People who are dangerously close to dying, in my eyes, fall into a different category and should be granted the opportunity to receive this sacrament.
That's exactly correct. I wrote a detailed support of your position in these comments from both a philosophical and theological standpoint. My only caveat would be...and I agree with the professor...is that the priests in the hospital need to use the PPE properly. If they can do that, then I think they should be able to administer the sacraments. However, PPE needs to go to doctors and nurses first.
Again, it's possible to administer the Sacraments and be safe/healthy. Again, if grocery stores, drive through restaurants, and abortion slaughter houses can be seen as "essential services" by the State, then certainly the Sacraments and churches ought to be seen so, too. With just a little bit of creativity, born out of love for souls and a deep appreciation for the benefit given to souls by the Sacraments, church doors can remain open and Sacraments can be administered AND health guidelines can be followed.
@@alanbenander9158 Alan: I'll just make two points. First, this is not a matter for debate. The bishops in your diocese and mine have made a decision. We have a duty to be obedient, even if we disagree (especially if we disagree!). Second, and this is me talking as an applied physicist, I know a good deal about mathematics and over the last few weeks I have looked at infectious disease models (think SIR models, stochastic models, etc.). All of the successful models make excellent predictions (i.e., they're valid) and every one of them clearly indicates that mass isolation (e.g., stay-at-home orders) are effective in snuffing out these problems. This really isn't a question any more; it's a mathematical certainty. The Church's actions - while personally painful for you and me - is necessary and an act of Christian charity. Sure, grocery stores are venues for spreading the virus too; but we have to eat. So wear a mask, order groceries online, don't order take out, etc. I do agree that anointing of the sick should be administered. But everything else can be placed on hold. And if a baby is born - the parents can baptize in this emergency. And think of what a blessing that would be ... to have been called on to baptize your own child!
@@kdmdlo KM, I agree with the substance of what you say (and, similar to yourself, I have my degree in mathematics and have also studied the mathematics related to the virus). There's no doubt that implementing the health guidelines well reduce the number of infections and save lives. My claim was, again, that implementing these guidelines can be done while also, at the same time, allowing for certain religious practices to be done (eg., Drive through Confessions). I also agree 100% that, if a priest is unable, for safety reasons, to baptize a baby, then a family member (preferably the father) should. The Church has always taught that ANYONE, in case of emergency, can baptize a baby. And this is an emergency (I just wish that the dioceses who are not doing baptisms in parishes would inform the lay faithful not only of their right, but of their need/duty, to baptize their babies during this time). Lastly, we do, of course, have a duty to be obedient to all legitimate authorities, rooted in our duty to be obedient to God, from whom all authority comes. There are times, however, in which a persom holding a legitimate position of authority gives an unjust order or makes an unjust law. Many examples can be given of both civil and even ecclesiastical authorities over-steppinng their bounds (in the very Scriptures themselves, we have cases of Old Testament authorities over-steppinng their bounds, and Christ calling them on it; and this has not been confined to the Old Testament Church). In such cases, that authority has gone beyond the legit bounds of his/her authority, and, so, need not be obeyed-- true obedience (obedience to God) would not need to follow that unjust order/law (though, perhaps, one might need to for the sake of *prudence*). So, there are times in which honest, intelligent discernment must take place in which one discerns whether or not one is bound, in TRUE obedience (to God), to follow a command of one holding a position of authority. For example, you yourself brought up the case of giving the Last Rites to a dying person-- I absolutely agree with you here. But, some bishops have given a command to priests to NOT do this. If a priest does not follow that Bishop's directive and gives Last Rites, I would not accuse him of being disobedient (because he's actually being obedient to the more fundamental command of God and the Church, namely, saving a soul in extreme need). This shows that there are times in which one can go against an unjust directive of a legit superior (whether ecclesiastical or civil) and still be practicing the virtue of obedience (one can not always simply say, "I was just following orders.") This also shows that you and I both agree that, as important as it is to stop the spread of the virus, it's even more important to save souls (and, thus, there are SOME situations in which, for the sake of saving a soul in extreme need, we must do whatever is necessary, even if it means not following all the health guidelines). So, in sum... Again, I agree with the substance of your reply. I'd just add two principles as caveats. First, True obedience (to God) does not necessarily ALWAYS mean doing what the one in authority tells us to do. It usually means that, but not always. Second, the soul is more important than the body and, so, there may be times in which we need to do what is best for the soul even at the cost of the body (though we should try to take care of BOTH body and soul, and usually taking care of the one is good for the other, but not always). Both of these principles require, of course, much honest, intellectual discernment to be put into practice in a virtuous manner. Peace, and blessed Triduum to you.
As pro-life people let's be a witness to the importance of protecting life at all stages. Social distancing saves lives and shifts PPE to our medical workers. Ask not what our Church can do for us, but what we can do for our Lord. "www.newadvent.org/cathen/06278a.htm "it was in the Middle Ages, "the Ages of Faith", that Communion was less frequent than at any other period of the Church's history. The Poor Clares, by rule, communicated six times a year; the Dominicanesses, fifteen times; the Third Order of St. Dominic, four times. Even saints received rarely: St. Louis six times a year, St. Elizabeth only three times."
How possible is it really to have Mass in the parking lot? And can people be trusted to maintain social distance? They're not good at it at parks or grocery stores. Families crunched together in a car. I think the spread of the virus needs to be prevented. All the streaming and recordings of Mass are helpful. Current participation via the prayer of spiritual communion is helpful. Let's connect with Jesus and each other through prayer until we can again be together at Mass. Being away from Eucharist for this reason is better than being away due to sin. This should make a difference in the quality of our longing.
My local priest is offering parking lot masses and I am so thankful for it. I understand the reasoning for churches closing, as it's prudent to listen to healthcare officials. But I think it's a tragedy that some people are dying unprovided deaths. :( I have been praying to St. Joseph to comfort the sick and dying. I also want to point out to some that this is not unprecedented. Priests closed churches during the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918 and St. Charles Borromeo himself closed his parishes to the public during a plague outbreak and held outdoor masses
Don't you think that faith built only on sacraments is very very weak? Don't you think God is so loving He will give His grace and mercy to those who are dying without a priest performing the anointing of the sick?
Satan wants to deprive us of the spiritual graces and merits of the banning of Holy Mass, Holy Confession and prayer before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Unless a priest sends you a consecrated Host you can then use it to pray Holy Hours etc. Where there is a holy will, there is a divine way 🙏✝️🇦🇺
This post is the perspective of a professional organizer here. There is activism and there is organizing. This petition is nice, but it is activism. It won't get any practical change. To get a practical change you need to think more like an organizer. That's how social change works. "Open letters" to "All Bishops" is not a specific target and there is no specific ask. You can build momentum off this though if you make the ask more actionable and you encourage people to organize similar efforts in their own local diocese. -- Be honest, if you were a bishop with many competing responsibilities, are you going to watch an hour long youtube video just to clarify what you're reading in the vague petition? Not if you're a responsible bishop. The real life of a bishop means their schedules are packed a year in advance. The current petition only makes general asks to an indefinite amount of targets. Open letters can cause a public stir sometimes, but they don't get change. But if anyone wants to organize in their OWN local diocese you could combine this effort by organizing a LOCAL petition campaign with a very SPECIFIC ask. Combine it with an ASK to many people in your diocese to send in letters to your bishop because THAT will get attention. Once you have a more tangible solution to offer, use whatever connections you have in your network to meet in person with your bishop or with a diocesan representative who reports directly to them. -------------- What she is asking for in the video is reasonable. But that's not what is communicated if one reads the petition by itself. You can't blame other people for misunderstanding. If you're organizing it, you gotta make it clear on the face. ----- Change the language. Simplify it. Don't think like an activist. Think like an organizer. That gets change. Throughout the whole process combine your efforts with prayer. Ask especially for the intercession of St. Catherine of Siena, who herself had experience ministering to plague victims and experience advocating for social change within the Church.
I accept it as the will of God - but that will may include arousing us to repent & to fight for a sacramental life. There's virtue to being a "hermit," if we receive it well.
But when it comes to confession, i mean we want to go but we can't will it still be a mortal sin if you did all You could to go to confession? It feels like there is so much grey area in regards to what is going on. I can feel My scrupulosity rearing it's ugly head 😢
I think you're right. If you have sincere sorrow for your sin for love of God, (perfect contrition) which you kinda need anyway to be forgiven, your sin will not be held against you. God is love and mercy itself; He's not waiting for you to mortally sin and saying "HA, got you! you sinned mortally and now I can send you to hell because your bishop took confession away." haha. God knows your heart, and if you are truly sorry for your sins, make reparation and practice contrary virtue, you will be aight. I'm not sure if imperfect contrition, (sorrow for sin over fear of hell) is valid without the sacrament itself. But either way, we have confession because this ish is so confusing outside of the sacraments... let's hope we get it back soon! Pax, friend
I wish you hadn't dismissed her recommendation to watch The chosen! It has Barbara nicolosi approval if I am not mistaken. It is absolutely incredible. I would love to see an interview with the priest that they worked with when writing the script. They had three biblical scholars on staff to make sure they were culturally and historically accurate-Jewish, Catholic and Evangelical. They said it was like walking into a joke, "a priest, a rabbi, and a minister walk into a bar..."
I didn't dismiss it. I said I thought it was created by Mormons and that everything Mormons do is awesome. I started watching it and turns out I was right. It's awesome.
@@PintsWithAquinas dallas jenkins is an evangelical, but you're right the other creators are mormon. i started finding a bit too much of a problem with some of the script in the second season so havent finished it, but i'm curious how the series will conclude. i suppose the theological differences might not even show, but it seems very interesting (they say a miracle) for an evangelical to make a jesus show with mormons. i've also watched a few of those roundtables but i was really not impressed, so i'm not sure if i really trust all the decisions they will be making. the priest also doesn't seem to get much time to talk on those roundtables so i'm also not convinced they give the catholic outlook any serious thought.
We cannot be deprived of confession. The saints have usually said that a perfect act of contrition is not only difficult but nearly impossible to achieve. I would say this is of even more importance to have than anointing of the sick. Annotating of the sick is important and grace-filled, but not necessary.
@@mmjmb it can yes but confession is the main way of forgiveness of sins. I'm not saying we shouldn't have anointing of the sick. I'm cautioning against fighting for anointing of the sick but then when it comes to confession saying "make a perfect act of contrition" because that's nearly impossible to do. Additionally when one receives anointing of the sick, you ideally would receive confession first. Catechism states that anointing of the sick can impart forgiveness of sins "if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance" (CCC 1532).
@@marcusm359 Not nearly... It is absolutely is impossible, just like any good act...without grace. "Without me you can do nothing." Do you really think the Lord of Mercy, in this time of need, is going to withhold grace and keep a checklist? "Well you couldn't get to confession and couldn't quite muster up the perfect contrition...so...." Mercy is given to the contrite. Don't worry so much about it. Too legalistic.
@@baseballguy548 I do think Our Lord can and will supply the graces needed in a dire situation. However, we should fight for the right of confession and not commit presumption by saying "oh just make a perfect act of contrition." We cannot bank our salvation on something so extraordinary as that.
@@marcusm359 Let me just say that when people get all lathered up about something like this quarantine, which is perfectly reasonable (albeit very difficult), measured, and scientific ... I can't help think that your energy could be better spent elsewhere. Pray, Marcus. Pray. And unite your suffering (of being without the sacraments) to Christ's suffering. It seems no coincidence to me that this is all taking place on the verge of Holy Week. Pax Christi.
The criminals hanging on crosses next to Christ, did not partake in any sacraments. One of them is where today?? Biblical evidence for faith alone salvation in the church age.
Matt you really need to watch The Chosen. I bet you'll cry at the last scene of episode 1. I cry every time I watch it and that's probably at least 25 times. Once you see it you'll understand why I love that scene. Can't wait to hear what you think about it. 😄❤️🙏🎚
@@Jade_902 Yes, especially during a Crisis. This is when we need Our Lord more, not less. Our Priests, Bishops and religious need to be in the for front of this "Crisis" to administer to God's people. And perhaps to bring people closer to Christ.
My husband wrote to the Governor of South Carolina about this and got no response. He also wrote our Senator and he sent us a reference to our Attorney General's response to our Governor's statement about large gatherings. It specifically states that this did not apply to churches/places of worship. That to do so was Unconstitutional and therefore unlawful. His protestant church is now planning their Easter service. They will make it safe but they are holding Easter Services. Now if we can get our Bishops to stop cowering in the upper room we can get on with our Catholic duties of raising our children in the Faith and showing them that some things are even worth the risk of dying for. Although our intention will be to avoid death if possible!
My spiritual life was impacted when the pope worshipped an idol in St. Peter's. I've been expecting something like a plague and been making only spiritual communions since then. And now, we have a plague and no public worship, so only spiritual communions. Most of the church is now where I've been for months...
Joseph Cillo, Jr. First, our Pope did not worship an idol. Second, this is not a plague. Third, ‘only’ spiritual communions shows a lack of understanding of the concept and is demeaning to the many faithful Catholics who are never able to attend Mass, yet participate by watching or listening to Mass, and say the prayer for a spiritual communion. And, btw, who faithfully acknowledge and accept the Penitential Rite as forgiveness for their sins. The same is available to all of us during this unprecedented and unfortunate experience.
shoney 57 Say what you will, I recognized the "abomination that causes desolation standing in the Holy Place" and the pope leading prayers to it. I saw the pope and his prelates lead a procession with the abomination. I saw the pope oversee latria, worshippers bowing down, to the abomination in the Vatican Gardens, I saw him help plant a tree adorned with graven images in the Vatican Gardens. I saw him accept an offering to it on the altar in St. Peter's. You claim these events do not mean that the pope participated in worship of a literal graven image. I disagree. Having seen the abomination, I expected desolation. There have been plagues of locusts in Africa and Asia, and this worldwide pandemic. I call these plagues, you disagree. I stopped receiving communion, because I assessed there was a good chance the pope was an idolator and the sacrifice of the Mass was dedicated to demons, so either I was in mortal sin for thinking such a thing, or the pope was an idolator. And now, nearly the entire Church can no longer receive communion. Interpret these events as you like. I stopped receiving communion for these reasons, and I believe, most everyone is denied communion for the same reasons. I pray every day that the pope will repent of his idolatry, and call the faithful to make reparations for his sins, the sins of the clergy and the sins of all the people. I plead for mercy to the Judge of the living and the dead. If he does not honor my plea, I will go to hell. He will be my judge. This is what this pope has done to me. There is no safe place when the pope worships idols. If you judge that I am going to hell, please pray for me. You cannot convince me that the pope is not an unrepentant idolator. And you cannot convince me that we are not being chastised for his sins, the sins of the clergy, and the sins of the people. So, please don't try. Just pray.
Not me. I got up early, knelt before a make-shift alter we've assembled in our living room, prayed the rosary and then set the laptop on the "alter" and watched a live-stream Mass. Sure, it's a little different than my usual first Friday activities (especially not receiving the Eucharist) but it was great to spend that time with God.
We can't do these devotions unless we are at mass. Our Lady specifically told us that we must receive the Eucharist in order for the devotion to be valid.
Cardinal Tobin actually told our diocese anointing of the sick can be done using a cotton tipped swab. And confession is suspended except in an extreme emergency.
Romans 13 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE) Chapter 13 Obedience to Authority.[a] 1 Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. 2 Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it, 4 for it is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath but also because of conscience. 6 This is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. Love Fulfills the Law.[b] 8 Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, [namely] “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law. Awareness of the End of Time.[c] 11 And do this because you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; 12 the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness [and] put on the armor of light; 13 let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,[d] not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. Footnotes: 13:1-7 Paul must come to grips with the problem raised by a message that declares people free from the law. How are they to relate to Roman authority? The problem was exacerbated by the fact that imperial protocol was interwoven with devotion to various deities. Paul builds on the traditional instruction exhibited in Wis 6:1-3, according to which kings and magistrates rule by consent of God. From this perspective, then, believers who render obedience to the governing authorities are obeying the one who is highest in command. At the same time, it is recognized that Caesar has the responsibility to make just ordinances and to commend uprightness; cf. Wis 6:4-21. That Caesar is not entitled to obedience when such obedience would nullify God’s prior claim to the believers’ moral decision becomes clear in the light of the following verses. 13:8-10 When love directs the Christian’s moral decisions, the interest of law in basic concerns, such as familial relationships, sanctity of life, and security of property, is safeguarded (Rom 13:9). Indeed, says Paul, the same applies to any other commandment (Rom 13:9), whether one in the Mosaic code or one drawn up by local magistrates under imperial authority. Love anticipates the purpose of public legislation, namely, to secure the best interests of the citizenry. Since Caesar’s obligation is to punish the wrongdoer (Rom 13:4), the Christian who acts in love is free from all legitimate indictment. 13:11-14 These verses provide the motivation for the love that is encouraged in Rom 13:8-10. 13:13 Let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day: the behavior described in Rom 1:29-30 is now to be reversed. Secular moralists were fond of making references to people who could not wait for nightfall to do their carousing. Paul says that Christians claim to be people of the new day that will dawn with the return of Christ. Instead of planning for nighttime behavior they should be concentrating on conduct that is consonant with avowed interest in the Lord’s return.
I’d also like to point out that the Lord provides for the faithful Baptism of desire. Why can’t that be construed to the other Sacraments in times when it’s not possible to receive them?
Considering that grace doesn't really come from the sacraments in ANY sense and is pure idolatry and heresy to say so from a biblical standpoint.. they'll be okay.
Behold WhatMannerOfLove 🙃 by your standards that means you should throw your Bible away. It’s a sacramental after all, from a biblical standpoint that bible shouldn’t exist.
What?! Everyone is being deprived of everything. Catholics are not different than any of Gods children. It’s high time they get off there high pony and come to the realization that, belief comes by faith. God has not favorites. It’s the beauty of the cross. For all to come by faith in believing and receive from the mighty creator.
Well no I absolutely agree that this affects everybody, but the Sacraments are a specifically Catholic belief, and maybe some of the Eastern Orthodoxy as well, not sure on that front.
I truly cannot believe so many still hang on to the belief system of Catholicism... believing they are the “one” true church and that the things they are being “deprived” of actually hold authority or favor or importance in the eyes of God. Listen, God love you, you do not have to continue in these works to make him live you more. He cannot love you more, or hear you more, or guaranteeing you a more secure eternity.... God loves you before you believed, he sent Jesus to die for you wanting you to come to him.... not by works but faith alone. Works, (loving your brother and helping those in need and spreading the gospel the true gospel:) come after you come to understand how much he loves you.... not how much he love your because you faithfully fulfill the sacraments... cmon people.
The church came before the bible. So pls spare us your wisdom of why sacraments are not important. Pls read the early church Fathers. You can find lots of quotes here. www.churchfathers.org/
Turtle where is Mary’s perpetual virginity at? Or that Jesus didn’t have brothers or sisters? Or when the pope, because there was many at one time, did Jesus come back and say, “this is the pope to follow” that is me on earth. Or purgatory.. where is that... in the actual cannon. I didn’t contradict myself. Your arguments come away from scripture, I am sola scripture. Not what one mans says from a pulpit, whom crowds elevated to the status of “holy” father. “Call no man father” www.gotquestions.org/father-Matthew-23-9.html You should read this and get your answers about a subject from some other source than the people that have a monopoly on the subject.
What do you think? Is it good that Catholics are being deprived the sacraments right now? Let me know below! I'll pin my favorite answer.
Tough question; We are really being deprived of our God given right to practice freewill in choosing whether we as Catholics want to take a "Leap of Faith" in this current atmosphere of sickness and unclarity...
This deprivation can be offered up for reparation for our sins. A temporary fasting of the sacraments can be a means for God to bless us, but only if we can refrain from committing mortal sin.
If I can go to Walmart any time I want in a single day and stand in a line, not necessarily 6 feet apart why can't I go to church for mass, private prayer and sacraments. Never in our salvation history did saving our lives become more important than worshipping God. Women and children went into the wilderness to worship God without knowing what they will do for food. Didn't God provide? The bishops can exempt everyone from the obligation and priests can have different masses for the vulnerable. These are somethings we can do out of caution but never ever shut down church and take solace in livestreams. God is the author of life, not us. Unlike St.Paul we are saying "o death, pls don't sting me".
I can't respond until I find out if you and your wife have COVID-19.
Kidding. I wanted to listen first.
Short answer: No. It's not good that Catholics are being deprived of the Sacraments.
Longer answer: But God works all to our good, and we've been honored to be called to make this sacrifice. We are the ones He chose to do this.
I want to be careful about not making demands, because it's honestly coming across as so many toddlers demanding cookies. Dr. Smith humbly admits that she has received Communion unworthily, but most what I'm reading centers on how *I* "deserve" to have access to Communion, or even Confession! Nobody deserves the Sacraments. We only have God's mercy, goodness, generosity in giving them to us. And many do not ever have access. We in the West have so many sacrilegious communicants, many who never go to Confession because we don't think we sin. I have been guilty this. Now in His mercy and goodness, God has given me a chance to make reparation. I'm not owed Reconcilation through the Sacrament, but have I truly appreciated it?
Having said that, Dr. Smith is right to point out that the bishops probably don't have the right to forbid the Sacraments to the flock. Thank God my bishop has not shut down Confession, but my own parish priest is at great risk, having been hospitalized with ulcerative colitis in February. And he's up there in age. So he cannot hear Confessions. But another priest 40 minutes away is able to do so, and had already offered daily hours, which he continues. My own priest is doing what he can. This week, he is having Adoration from the bay window of the rectory, with the bishop's permission. We will have to drive up, pause for a prayer, then be on our way so others can spend time with Jesus, but I cried when he announced it on Facebook. Last Rites are difficult to arrange because hospitals won't allow our priests. My family already had trouble last fall when an elderly relative was in ER and not expected to recover. The priest arrived in time, anointed him, and he recovered, but it was close. And the ER staff offered to get the Protestant chaplain. They don't understand. They probably think Catholics are just prejudiced. And the funny not funny thing is that none of the family at the bedside are practicing Catholics. But when it comes to end of life, they want Last Rites.
It's communistic to close the churches, period.
As a Catechumen, I have been longing for my sacraments for some time. I was going to receive baptism, Eucharist, & confirmation at Vigil. I am disappointed that I have to wait but I fully trust in God's perfect timing. I have noticed during this crisis that many who have turned away from the Church & sacraments are now longing for them. I think this is a beautiful example of how God is going to use this crisis to turn many hearts back to Him. I for one fully support these measures to keep us all safe & healthy. I am willing to wait, especially if it means an increase in desire to attend mass & receive the sacraments. I pray when public mass resumes that churches will have their highest attendance in years.
@Justin Reany I'm not sure. Maybe for my parish it's because we have multiple people coming into the Church and to have just the Catechumen & sponsor & loved one, it would still equal quite a few people cycling in & out & potentially exposing the priests to the virus. Also, limiting to just one loved one is difficult as so many want to share this moment with us. And we'd like to share it with each other after going through this RCIA journey together. Right now, we are praying for Pentecost. What a beautiful time to receive our sacraments. 🙏
Kait S I just wept at your comment because I’ve been praying for you and all the candidates this past Easter vigil who have been working so hard and so faithfully to receive the full initiation into the church and for all the teens who were preparing for conformation. I pray that God gives you a double portion of his blessings and protection.
My pastor is bringing the Blessed Sacrament to homes on Palm Sunday by car (for 12 hours!) and blessing us as we stand by our door. He is amazing and we are so grateful!
I just went to confession yesterday... we were outside in the fresh air and it was wonderful
In Poland, they've reduced Mass attendance to only 5 people at a time. At daily Mass, there are five people (8AM). In my parish, we have reduced daily Mass to 4 Masses per day (down from 5; don't know why). I haven't missed daily Mass thanks to this. Confessions are held in my parish in the vestibule, one person at a time. There's a confessional in there (here, they are a box for the priest and an open kneeler on either side for the penitents, not built into the walls of the church, so they are movable. They've added another layer of plastic between the priest and the penitent, and the priest cleans it with antibacterial spray after each confession). The priests carry the Blessed Sacrament with them to the confessional to give people communion after confession.
The first Mass is at 6AM, so that's when confession starts. It ends at 9AM. Then again between about 5-7PM under the same circumstances, before, during and after the 6PM daily Mass.
The chapel is open for adoration between 8:30AM and 5:30PM, with only 5 people being allowed in the (small) adoration chapel.
Our priests wash their hands with soap before Mass, and use hand sanitizer before giving communion (they give it in the hand, but if someone wants to kneel and take communion in the mouth, they don't argue about it). They sanitize their hands after giving communion as well.
In the hospital, where the priest goes every day because by law the hospitals have to have a Catholic chaplain available (and he's paid for that), the Mass in the hospital chapel is 'attended' by people being out in the hall (it's a tiny chapel) but instead of visiting every bed in the hospital, the priest goes to the people who ask for confession and communion. (It's an oncology hospital within the parish.)
The sad thing is... our churches are open - albeit for only 5 worshipers at each Mass - and people aren't going. When we could have 50 people at each Mass, we had about 35. Last Sunday, I went to my former parish to pray for a holy hour and found a Mass about to start. The church has three worship spaces: upstairs church, downstairs church and they were offering Mass in the parish hall. Upstairs, it's 'live' with the priest present; downstairs and in the hall, on closed-circuit TV with a priest coming to give communion. I was in the downstairs church - surprised to find it open - and a Mass started with just me and one other person present. What could I do? I incorporated it into my holy hour. Then the Blessed Sacrament was brought out downstairs for adoration for several hours. I stayed for that and finished my Holy Hour prayers.
Then I went to my parish where I assist with a Mass in English for foreigners. I ended up getting Mass and communion twice in the same Sunday, and adoration!
Some friends went to another parish for Mass and were first in line to get in. But an elderly couple came for Mass, so they gave up their places to the elderly couple. A priest then came and took the 5 people who had been turned away from attending Mass to another place where he gave them all communion.
So it's possible for the churches to be open and priests to give the sacraments. But then Polish priests might be a different breed from American ones...
God bless your priests and your country. After reading this comment, yes, I do believe Polish priests may be a different breed.
I'm at a parish in the USA with a Polish immigrant priest. He hasn't done anything like that at all, at least not that I know of. The parish has completely shut down-- I think you can call and ask for confession, maybe anointing of the sick, but that's it.
Maybe it has to be a bunch of them together?
JP2GiannaT in the US I believe it isn’t up to the priest. They are to follow what their Bishop says.
Just think of how incredible a priest is that would get to the very sick covid 19 patients and give them the last rites. He would save the souls of so many Catholics and would probably enter Heaven immediately if he died of the Coronavirus. We should all pray that if we got very sick that a saintly priest would come to our bedside and give us the last rites.
What an excellent guest, please have her on more often!!
Going to church to receive sacraments is vital for Christians. Sin Dominicus Non Possumus... We want our churches open again they are essential business
Tresor: There is enough sanctifying grace in one reception of the Eucharist to propel you to heaven. So while it is difficult not to receive, open yourself up to His grace (which need not be dispensed through the sacraments). Pray ... and continue to be obedient to the lawful civil authorities, as God wants you to be. Also, stay at home as a means to promote of the welfare of your neighbors first (even above your own wants) ... as God has commanded us.
@@kdmdlo Not if you commit mortal sins afterwards. If you are in a state of mortal sin and you die you will not get to Heaven.
Most dioceses have not "banned" the anointing of the sick or confession. Just call your priest up and make an appointment. It isn't hard.
Not yet, AB. That some have gone this far - perhaps just to see - speaks volumes. In fact, a swift banning of all up-front and familiar, touchy-feely, reconciliation is called for, considering the 'science' of the illness's spread. An emergency-gowned-disinfected priest - or an extraordinary minister of the Healing Anointment - is a practical possibility; indeed the spaceman contamination suit might be supplemented with a disposable stole, I guess .. if a stole is used (and a plastic pokey-finger thing could be used, to avoid the risk of cross-contamination via the oil .. no, seriously, I know it sounds daft, but something similar was used back in the plague days).
My diocese has banned confession. Diocese of Lafayette-IN
Diocese of Las Vegas has banned it and unfortunately that’s where I am. This is actually a fairly widespread problem...
All sacraments have been banned in all 3 dioceses I live in/near.
My diocese has banned Confessions unless you’re dying of something other than Coronavirus
Amen, amen, amen. Finally an open conversation about the sacraments.
As a Protestant entering the Catholic Church when this is all over, I’m a little taken aback by how desperate people are about the sacraments. I get it, they are very important, but I feel like we sometimes think it’s our right to devour Jesus like a man pounding his chest on his wedding night and demanding his wife give him his “due”. Sorry but that’s how I feel as someone looking in. Do we even deserve to be so selfish? We should take this time to examine our motives and remember how sweet it will be when we can be in full communion with our Lord again. Until then, let’s try to be like the celibate man who can not wait to lovingly embrace his bride on their wedding night, instead of the person who thinks it’s their right as a Catholic!
I think that's actually a pretty accurate way of looking at it, for some reactions I've seen (going to schismatic groups to recieve communion, etc).
That said, it is a pretty hard cross to bear right now. I've had a recent difficult personal struggle on top of the lockdowns, and I really miss the Eucharist especially. A priest friend of ours offered confession, so I'm grateful for that though.
JP2GiannaT Yes, I guess I should clarify that not all sacraments are treated in this way. I was mostly speaking of the eucharist. Confession would be very hard to go without right now. I wonder if a person could arrange to see a priest? Even if they are not offering confession at a set time, most priests are still taking confession by appointment.
HAYAO LEONE wow, you’re the sick one. And to speak to a woman like that? You’re truly evil!
Matt, I'm so moved by this very thoughtful conversation. I didn't realize the extent of the impact this pandemic would have on Christians who follow the teaching of the Catholic church when it comes to the reception of the Eucharist. I hope the Catholic church can come to a solution on this.
As a Ukrainian Catholic priest running a Seminary, this question came up among the seminarians at the beginning of the pandemic hitting (before churches were closed!). As we are small enough, we were able to use one spoon per person. I agree with Dr. Smith that we should not use disposable wooden spoons as it is a non-verbal sign of our throw-away culture, something we do not want to be associated with the Holy Mysteries, even in a time of pandemic.
I agree with Abuna Mike, with the caveat that as long as the spoon is wooden then it could be burned and buried after use...our jurisdiction experimented with the use of absinthe to "sanitize" the metal liturgical spoons between Communicants, which was weird to say the least.
@Prasanth Thomas That's Father Michael's Twitter handle. We are both UGCC (Ukrainian Catholic).
If grocery stores can have those labels on the floor to indicate where the next person should stand, then couldn't we place those signs in the pews to achieve the proper social distance?
Dr Janet Smith is awesome. she attends my church!
I really admire the faithful witness here. However, I could not bare to think of pushing to have this sort of thing happen and have my love of Jesus result in the death of my neighbor.
How do we give the enemy the red carpet treatment? Deprive Catholics of the Sacraments.
How? You can't just throw that out there. Sanctifying grace is NOT dependent on sacraments.
@@baseballguy548 that is not the point I was making. 'Red carpet' treatment does not include giving all authority away...but it does make things much easier for the enemy to strut around.
@@baseballguy548 Actually it is. If you don't Eat His Flesh and Drink His Blood you will not be in Heaven.
@@johnpglackin345 Reception of the Holy Eucharist is not necessary for salvation, check your Summa, Aquinas and Augustine both attest to it
@@TheOtherSymeon Jesus says otherwise in John Chapter 6, No priest, bishop, cardinal, pope, council or Saint can change His teaching. The Church must understand that they cannot change His words. So Yes, you must receive the body and blood of Our Lord if you want to get to Heaven. This cannot be changed by anyone.
I can’t go to confession in my own archdiocese anymore. The Archbishop isn’t allowing any sacrements unless you’re near death. Thankfully I live on the border of another archdiocese where I can do confession in a parking lot. Some of their churches are even open for Adoration.
Lets reword what you just said - to be clear - so you are telling God that you are disobeying His chosen Apostle for your diocese to go to a neighboring diocese to give Him glory through adoration...
Seriously?
@@baseballguy548 Can you show me in my comment where I said I went to Adoration? Even if I did he never said we couldn't go elsewhere and do it so there's no "disobedience".
@@baseballguy548 The bishop has no authority to denied the Sacraments to Our Lord's faithful. It looks like you don't believe in the sacraments are necessary. Eventually peoples will think that the Church will not be necessary.
THANK YOU. For your insight and for your efforts. Dr. Janet Smith you are well spoken about this. I've become so disheartened by how easily our priests seem to be just giving up and giving in. It's absolutely ridiculous. There are ways to do this safely and I want to see our church leaders making an effort.
Terrific talk. Thank you really! We absolutely need to remember "we are IN the world but not OF the world" and too many bishops are giving up our faith because they fear the opinions or judgments of worldly people. And we must not be afraid. Jesus came to "break the power of him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death". This is not the time for fear, not the time for death: this must be the time for Faith and true life. "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."
So did it take them ~47 minutes to decide that the right answer is no?
We donated to the Chosen & watched the 1st season (which is all that’s available yet)-I was nervous about their portrayal of Mary at the wedding feast and I found it to be very Catholic! I also saw some pictures of people on the board of advisors for the series and saw what looked like a Catholic priest. Anyway, I’ve been studying my faith since I came back to the Church 30 years ago and found NOTHING in the chosen contrary to our Catholic teaching.
What a question! On the one hand not having the sacraments, especially this time of the year, is quite difficult. On the other hand, getting the sacraments can multiply the spread of the covid 19 virus and kill many people. Some of us are cradle Catholics, but some have converted, and they have all said the same thing, how they longed to have the sacrements, the Eucharist, Confession etc... Perhaps we should all learn to have this longing again, especially when it is to avoid a major scale pandemic that could kill many.
Here's the way I look at it, during Lent, we think about Jesus going into the desert and fasting for 40 days. But what happened to the disciples of Jesus? For 40 days they didn't have Jesus with them. They didn't have the Bread of Life, they didn't have the Verb made flesh; they had nothing during that time. The only thing they had was the memory of what Jesus had taught them. Perhaps we should meditate on that, and instead of demanding to have the sacrements, live this period of time as the disciples of Jesus did when He went into the desert.
One last thought, many Catholics live this regularly, Catholics in China, in Syria for example. Maybe we could also see this absence as a way to understand what they go through on a regular basis and associate our suffering to theirs.
Nice reflection - Thank you!
I understand and can appreciate the sentiments of this conversation. However, as a faithful Catholic and ER nurse I am going to have to disagree with Dr Janet Smith in many points. I agree that dioceses should do a better job of utilizing live-streams for prayer and encouragement. Opening churches or having drive through confession/mass is a terrible idea from a community health perspective. There is so much unknown about the transmission of the virus. The virus has been found on surfaces up to 17 days after a COVID positive patient was in contact with them. Transmission is so much more than being six feet apart! We need to protect our elderly and high risk priest! I would rather go a period without the sacraments then risk spreading this virus and killing a large majority of our priest - imagine how scarce sacraments would be then. We need to go out into the desert and be with our Lord in the time of this deprivation. We need to remember that this is not the only time that Catholics have been deprived of the sacraments. I have taken care of chronically ill Catholics who don’t get to go to mass because they are bed bound - they understand this longing. Or think of our ancestors - some of whom were Catholic immigrants coming to a predominantly Protestant country in which Catholics were persecuted. Who knows how often they were able to receive the sacraments? Deprivation of the sacraments can be turned into a deep spiritual experience. Again, I appreciate and share this longing for the sacraments, but let us lay aside our desires for the good of our priests and vulnerable populations. let us actually be compliant with quarantine and unite ourselves with the suffering Christ himself who uttered “My God, my God why haven’t you abandoned me?”
God bless you! It's so comforting to see smart, spiritual and well formed people that have the very same concerns or ideas. I have tried so hard to get across these very same ideas to the priests and see that they are at times seem to be blinded and some how they have come to realize that nowadays the most highly valued virtue is called obedience.
What a beautiful lady and great interview!!!
Would you go to Mass or confession or receive communion if you knew as a fact that the priest tested positive to coronavirus? The fact that the priest "looks" healthy is not enough. This is prudence. I feel the pain. I am a physician and a catholic who goes to daily Mass. This example is real not made up: On March 13th my pastor announced that he had been tested for coronavirus and was going to self-quarantine until he got the results, because he was close to a public person in the city who had tested positive for coronavirus (this was at the very beginning of the epidemic here). After 5 or 6 days the test came back negative. By then, the city had shut down schools and many other non-essential business and there were no public Masses celebrated anymore. This is a very active Pastor who in a matter of hours found the way to have Mass streamed as well as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and several activities. He held very drive-thru confessions which were a complete success. He was able to do this for two weeks. He look great for these two weeks and now he is ill and tested positive for coronavirus. Can you imagine the situation if during this time he had celebrated Mass and give communion to a number of people?
I would settle for open churches so we can go in and pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament. In my country (Denmark), as far as I know it is only the Cathedral that is open to the public and I live in the opposite end of the country. The Lutheran church is by far the biggest faith community here and that has been closed completely by the state. Yet people can shop for unessential things in bookshops and what not. That to me shows a lack of care for people's spiritual needs. I wish bishops all over the world would be more vocal about this. Everyone I meet could be infected - I could be infected - yet I can ride a bus but I cannot enter a church building.
We need confession. At the very least priests should be giving last rites to the dying and making drive-through confessions available. It’s shameful that so many bishops and priests are abandoning their flock.
Lucia DeLoach I am sorry you feel abandoned. I must admit, though, that I do not understand why you feel that way. This is not an easy situation for priests especially coming into Holy Week. I wish you could open your heart and be receptive of the prayers of our priests for their flocks, and in return you can pray for our priests.
Peace.
@@songbirds3712 Is their vocation to care Our Lords' sheep. You must be present at the time of Confession and to receive the Eucharist.
Why not have priests consecrate hosts and put them in Pyx. The outside could be wiped down so that Catholics could open the pyx and receive the eucharist. I know not every catholic owns a Pyx. But i think it could help make sure people get the eucharist
What I can't get over is bishops who are allowed by the governor of the state to have religious services and keep churches open, both with due precautions, but then shut all the churches in their diocese and disallow sacraments.
Wow!!! You’ve recovered?? Praise God!!! How is your bride Cameron? Your kids? Praying for everyone suffering from the corona virus!
Hey Matt! Such a great discussion. Currently in my diocese in Washington State there is no availability of any of the sacraments or anointing of the sick. We have been live streaming Mass and devotions for almost 3 weeks now. We have proposed options to our pastor for simply outdoor adoration ( not even the sacraments I might add) as a “drive in” and we (being my family) were told a strict no because we can watch live stream and it would be a public gathering. Today I had to email my pastor to beg him to allow me to take communion to my family after the Easter Vigil and I honestly do not know if he will allow me to do this. It is so sad and disappointing that I cannot rely on him and our priests to give Jesus to the faithful even in safe situations.
I miss the sacraments and usually go to daily mass and weekly confession plus adoration of the blessed sacrament. However I have a few protestant friends who are very much in love with Christ and they think that they don't need the sacraments. I know the sacraments give us extra graces but still, could we make the sacrifice of going without them for a month or two and not complain? This sacrifice has made me closer to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane!
We don't have a right to the sacraments, but the bishops have a responsibility to provide the sacraments.
There are ways to have outdoor/drive-thru confessions, or outdoor/drive-in masses or communion services. With a little intelligent planning and creativity, there are ways to do this safely for both the priests and the parishioners.
And as for the Anointing of the Sick, young priests in the low-risk categories, and priests who have themselves recovered from Coronavirus should be manning the hospitals to administer this sacrament to patients, taking all the same precautions as the nursing staff. This is what they sign up for, this is what it means to be in persona christi.
This really isn't that hard, and it can all be done within the restrictions put in place by governments, but our faithless bishops don't have the slightest clue. And they really should have been in communication at the table with governments negotiating these minimalist ways to ensure that essential sacraments could still be administered in ways that minimize risk and maximize the safety of all, body and soul.
Bishops should also be making use of general absolution provisions at this time as well. It is precisely for times like these that we have these provisions in the first place.
Billy HW it would be highly irresponsible of a priest to do most of what you suggest! In almost all of your suggestions, maintaining a social distance would be very difficult. In persona christi does not mean that a priest should take risks that could put himself and others in danger when it is not necessary for him to do so.
@@billyhw5492 But you have to be present.
@@songbirds3712 No it would not be irresponsible to be priests.
@@songbirds3712 You've heard of the saints, right?
Love this amazing woman!😊
Matt, the best point that I heard is that the Bishops and priests need to fight. Fight for the best way to make sacraments available. Be courageous and don't base every decision on fear. It's a greater problem today that we think we should all be somehow protected from any chance of suffering in this life. Yes, take all prudent measures, but be courageous and figure out ways to make sacraments accessable.
Big shout-out for the Chosen as well. The producer is Evangelical, but also consulted with a Catholic priest and a Messianic Rabbi in developing the show. Dallas Jenkins might be a good interview for you. Download the app and you can watch it all free right now.
Being courageous can look very odd sometimes. For example, nobody (at the time) would have said Christ's crucifixion was courageous, though it was. Similarly, making the hard choice to close down public Masses is a hard choice (which I think they agonized over) but, I think, a courageous one. Just look at how the Bishops are being pilloried here in this forum for making this difficult decision.
@@kdmdlo Agreed, a very difficult choice to shut down masses. I am glad I didn't need to make that decision! It's a no win situation, really. I do personally feel this speaks to me of how spoiled I've been to easily go to the sacraments daily. I keep thinking of all the people world-wide who never have that privilege, through persecution or lack of priests or war or.... We are so blessed.
Brian - I agree - the problem is that for most people in this country - they are under valid civil law to stay home. You can't be courageous or prudent, by definition, in disobeying a valid, moral, and promulgated law. To argue otherwise is to suggest the ends justify the means..
Thoughts?
@@baseballguy548 agreed. Finding creative ways to continue is more of what I meant. The point made in the video of being able to be somewhat safe to get food but not being able to be somewhat safe in finding ways to worship and receive the sacraments is a real valid point to me.
@@kdmdlo I don't think they agonized over this decision.
Obey your bishops!!! Trust their authority!!! Authority bestowed upon them by God. Obedience to bishop is what can save us... Disobedience results is schism... There is no place else to go for salvation than the apostolic church 🙏
No one is talking about disobedience. They’re respectfully asking bishops try take sacramebts available safely if possible
@@luciadeloach9932 the host and the guest are respectful... Can't say the same about a number of comments here... Some viewers seem to really hate their bishops... Some even the pope... not a good thing... After all the bishops have the authority to set these rules. We receive Eucharist in every mass we attended which is a very recent allowance decided by the bishops, when earlier we had to get permission from the priest on the number of communions we receive. Now the bishops want us to stay at home and receive spiritual communion for our good... Some people make it sound like the bishops are conspiring with the devil to keep us away from church... Anyway... I am sure God is taking care of his church... He is acting through the bishops... So only good things will come through these letters... God bless 🙏
If a Bishop is leading me into perdition he can go alone. “The road to hell is paved with the skulls of erring priests, with bishops as their signposts.”
St. John Chrysostom
Most of these bishops have no faith. Otherwise that would have the Churches open so people can receive the sacraments.
@@michaelaratnam6517 If they are heretics than you don't follow their spiritual advice or solutions.
When 35 families met in the parking lot (closed cars) to do a holy hour the next day the whole parish got an email telling us that we were called to obedience and to not do that again......
I don't know that I fully agree with Dr. Smith yet. I need to take this in. I am in the Diocese of Lansing and I believe Bishop Boyea is doing everything he can with the AG we have in Michigan. Our priest at our parish did a full town Eucharist procession and is doing another. Powerful for the people.
While I'm not a full blown fan of Bishop Boyea, I have to say that he has handled this situation with love, compassion, and a level of spirituality that I have not seen in the majority of bishops. My own Archbishop has done an abysmal job of it, and he leaves many of us feeling left out in the cold. You are very blessed to have Boyea leading you through this crisis in the Church and in the world.
@@AnotherMartha I couldn't agree more. There is always a complaint to be had but the overall job is much better than most. And when I hear his homilies I know he is solid and strong in is faith in Jesus. God bless you!
Thank you Matt and Prof Smith. Greetings from Melbourne, Australia.
Priests and Bishops are front line defenders of the faith and the shepards of the flock. They are required by Our Lord to perform the Sacrements especially anointing of the sick and dying and the Sacrement Reconcellation at this time of uncertainty.
It’s punishment for our actions & actions of previous generations.
I started attending a Byzantine Catholic Churc about a year ago. That was my first experience receiving with a spoon. The way it's distributed is that the faithful lean their head back, open their mouth as wide as possible, and the priest or deacon uses the spoon to drop in The Body and Blood of Christ. I was new to this, and there was no problem with me learning to receive this way. Every Church should be able to do it this way if infection is a worry.
I agree with how Byzantines receive Eucharist and the purity / life-givingness recognized by the Orthodox
FightPeople this is absolutely untrue!
@FightPeople if the priest coughed or has infectious matter on his hands and it got onto the Eucharist while he was touching it... yea... where did you read otherwise ?
@FightPeople I agree 100% , but what people want is a way to continue receiving the Eucharist following government guidelines.
Because what we are living is all churches being closed even for worship, and our Easter Mass canceled.
I'm giving ideas that would bring the faithful back to receiving the Eucharist.
@FightPeople well in the Catholic Church I don't think that's a teaching... hey I could be wrong, but idk... also I've had the priests fingers accidentally touch my mouth before as he was placing the Eucharist on my tongue
We are essentially all protestants now. This quarantine may go on for months, what will the church look like then? Lukewarm catholics may have grown cold. The devout daily Mass goers will be there , I worry about majority of catholics who are already under catechized and under-evangelized. There are worse things than dying or so I was told, loss of faith, and to die without the sacraments . What message is the Church giving ? We are an non-essential "service" ? History won't be kind to the bishops and current pontiff when this is all done.
We aren't protestants. Have hope. This too shall pass. And don't freak out about the sacraments. By definition they are a sense perceptible sign...a symbol...that effect what they signify. (CCC1084) The Lord doesn't need them to confer sanctifying grace. You can still receive the same grace. They are the ordinary way but not the only way to receive grace. Live in accord with virtue, make an honest confession with true repentance and a firm purpose of amendment...and the grace will be there. He isn't going to hold back grace because you can't get to church.
@@baseballguy548 Basically most Catholics including clergy and you are protestant. You no longer think the sacraments are necessary for are salvation. Well Our Lord says otherwise.
Just to be clear, the Church has not been closed, so it doesn't need to reopen. We have simply stopped worshipping in our buildings for a time to protect the health and wellbeing of our people and our community. The Church does not require a building in order to be the Church. What is required is love, compassion, and the presence of God."
- Unknown
I miss the sacraments tremendously, however; Almighty God is outside of space and time and I make a spiritual communion and spiritual confession each day. For now, Christ’s will be done and I will pray for the conversion of the world. Peace.
I know I'll get shouted down in this forum as some kind of heretic but here goes. We as Catholics should respect and be obedient to the authority under which we have been placed (even Christ said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's", i.e., pay your taxes). This includes the civil authorities. Obedience is easy when you agree with the authority; it's hard when you disagree. Moreover, the civil authorities are not making hair-brained requests; go to NYC and see just how serious this is. Also, it's Lent. Pray vigorously and make a spiritual communion with God. But stay home. And, not for nothin', but it's an act of Christian charity (looking out for the best interest of the community) to stay home and, yes, even abstain from the sacraments (most specifically the Eucharist). I don't like this either. But lets all just stop belly-aching and get on with living life joyfully.
As a caveat, I would consider extreme unction to be an exception. People who are dangerously close to dying, in my eyes, fall into a different category and should be granted the opportunity to receive this sacrament.
That's exactly correct. I wrote a detailed support of your position in these comments from both a philosophical and theological standpoint. My only caveat would be...and I agree with the professor...is that the priests in the hospital need to use the PPE properly. If they can do that, then I think they should be able to administer the sacraments. However, PPE needs to go to doctors and nurses first.
The Shut Down is unlawful.
Again, it's possible to administer the Sacraments and be safe/healthy. Again, if grocery stores, drive through restaurants, and abortion slaughter houses can be seen as "essential services" by the State, then certainly the Sacraments and churches ought to be seen so, too. With just a little bit of creativity, born out of love for souls and a deep appreciation for the benefit given to souls by the Sacraments, church doors can remain open and Sacraments can be administered AND health guidelines can be followed.
@@alanbenander9158 Alan: I'll just make two points. First, this is not a matter for debate. The bishops in your diocese and mine have made a decision. We have a duty to be obedient, even if we disagree (especially if we disagree!). Second, and this is me talking as an applied physicist, I know a good deal about mathematics and over the last few weeks I have looked at infectious disease models (think SIR models, stochastic models, etc.). All of the successful models make excellent predictions (i.e., they're valid) and every one of them clearly indicates that mass isolation (e.g., stay-at-home orders) are effective in snuffing out these problems. This really isn't a question any more; it's a mathematical certainty. The Church's actions - while personally painful for you and me - is necessary and an act of Christian charity. Sure, grocery stores are venues for spreading the virus too; but we have to eat. So wear a mask, order groceries online, don't order take out, etc.
I do agree that anointing of the sick should be administered. But everything else can be placed on hold. And if a baby is born - the parents can baptize in this emergency. And think of what a blessing that would be ... to have been called on to baptize your own child!
@@kdmdlo KM, I agree with the substance of what you say (and, similar to yourself, I have my degree in mathematics and have also studied the mathematics related to the virus). There's no doubt that implementing the health guidelines well reduce the number of infections and save lives. My claim was, again, that implementing these guidelines can be done while also, at the same time, allowing for certain religious practices to be done (eg., Drive through Confessions).
I also agree 100% that, if a priest is unable, for safety reasons, to baptize a baby, then a family member (preferably the father) should. The Church has always taught that ANYONE, in case of emergency, can baptize a baby. And this is an emergency (I just wish that the dioceses who are not doing baptisms in parishes would inform the lay faithful not only of their right, but of their need/duty, to baptize their babies during this time).
Lastly, we do, of course, have a duty to be obedient to all legitimate authorities, rooted in our duty to be obedient to God, from whom all authority comes. There are times, however, in which a persom holding a legitimate position of authority gives an unjust order or makes an unjust law. Many examples can be given of both civil and even ecclesiastical authorities over-steppinng their bounds (in the very Scriptures themselves, we have cases of Old Testament authorities over-steppinng their bounds, and Christ calling them on it; and this has not been confined to the Old Testament Church). In such cases, that authority has gone beyond the legit bounds of his/her authority, and, so, need not be obeyed-- true obedience (obedience to God) would not need to follow that unjust order/law (though, perhaps, one might need to for the sake of *prudence*). So, there are times in which honest, intelligent discernment must take place in which one discerns whether or not one is bound, in TRUE obedience (to God), to follow a command of one holding a position of authority. For example, you yourself brought up the case of giving the Last Rites to a dying person-- I absolutely agree with you here. But, some bishops have given a command to priests to NOT do this. If a priest does not follow that Bishop's directive and gives Last Rites, I would not accuse him of being disobedient (because he's actually being obedient to the more fundamental command of God and the Church, namely, saving a soul in extreme need). This shows that there are times in which one can go against an unjust directive of a legit superior (whether ecclesiastical or civil) and still be practicing the virtue of obedience (one can not always simply say, "I was just following orders.")
This also shows that you and I both agree that, as important as it is to stop the spread of the virus, it's even more important to save souls (and, thus, there are SOME situations in which, for the sake of saving a soul in extreme need, we must do whatever is necessary, even if it means not following all the health guidelines).
So, in sum... Again, I agree with the substance of your reply. I'd just add two principles as caveats.
First, True obedience (to God) does not necessarily ALWAYS mean doing what the one in authority tells us to do. It usually means that, but not always. Second, the soul is more important than the body and, so, there may be times in which we need to do what is best for the soul even at the cost of the body (though we should try to take care of BOTH body and soul, and usually taking care of the one is good for the other, but not always). Both of these principles require, of course, much honest, intellectual discernment to be put into practice in a virtuous manner.
Peace, and blessed Triduum to you.
Was in OZ for WYD. Yes, they say G' Day and I heard "No Worries" A LOT
As pro-life people let's be a witness to the importance of protecting life at all stages. Social distancing saves lives and shifts PPE to our medical workers. Ask not what our Church can do for us, but what we can do for our Lord. "www.newadvent.org/cathen/06278a.htm "it was in the Middle Ages, "the Ages of Faith", that Communion was less frequent than at any other period of the Church's history. The Poor Clares, by rule, communicated six times a year; the Dominicanesses, fifteen times; the Third Order of St. Dominic, four times. Even saints received rarely: St. Louis six times a year, St. Elizabeth only three times."
How possible is it really to have Mass in the parking lot? And can people be trusted to maintain social distance? They're not good at it at parks or grocery stores. Families crunched together in a car. I think the spread of the virus needs to be prevented. All the streaming and recordings of Mass are helpful. Current participation via the prayer of spiritual communion is helpful. Let's connect with Jesus and each other through prayer until we can again be together at Mass. Being away from Eucharist for this reason is better than being away due to sin. This should make a difference in the quality of our longing.
My local priest is offering parking lot masses and I am so thankful for it. I understand the reasoning for churches closing, as it's prudent to listen to healthcare officials. But I think it's a tragedy that some people are dying unprovided deaths. :( I have been praying to St. Joseph to comfort the sick and dying. I also want to point out to some that this is not unprecedented. Priests closed churches during the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918 and St. Charles Borromeo himself closed his parishes to the public during a plague outbreak and held outdoor masses
Don't you think that faith built only on sacraments is very very weak? Don't you think God is so loving He will give His grace and mercy to those who are dying without a priest performing the anointing of the sick?
❤ Kari Beckman!
I second that!!
Thank you. From Adelaide, Australia.
Satan wants to deprive us of the spiritual graces and merits of the banning of Holy Mass, Holy Confession and prayer before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Unless a priest sends you a consecrated Host you can then use it to pray Holy Hours etc. Where there is a holy will, there is a divine way 🙏✝️🇦🇺
This post is the perspective of a professional organizer here.
There is activism and there is organizing. This petition is nice, but it is activism. It won't get any practical change. To get a practical change you need to think more like an organizer. That's how social change works.
"Open letters" to "All Bishops" is not a specific target and there is no specific ask.
You can build momentum off this though if you make the ask more actionable and you encourage people to organize similar efforts in their own local diocese.
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Be honest, if you were a bishop with many competing responsibilities, are you going to watch an hour long youtube video just to clarify what you're reading in the vague petition? Not if you're a responsible bishop. The real life of a bishop means their schedules are packed a year in advance.
The current petition only makes general asks to an indefinite amount of targets. Open letters can cause a public stir sometimes, but they don't get change.
But if anyone wants to organize in their OWN local diocese you could combine this effort by organizing a LOCAL petition campaign with a very SPECIFIC ask.
Combine it with an ASK to many people in your diocese to send in letters to your bishop because THAT will get attention.
Once you have a more tangible solution to offer, use whatever connections you have in your network to meet in person with your bishop or with a diocesan representative who reports directly to them.
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What she is asking for in the video is reasonable. But that's not what is communicated if one reads the petition by itself. You can't blame other people for misunderstanding.
If you're organizing it, you gotta make it clear on the face.
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Change the language. Simplify it. Don't think like an activist. Think like an organizer. That gets change. Throughout the whole process combine your efforts with prayer.
Ask especially for the intercession of St. Catherine of Siena, who herself had experience ministering to plague victims and experience advocating for social change within the Church.
Yes
Love God is the first commandment the Bishops should know 🤔 ..they are doing it wrong!
Rebecca Phillips how does closing the churches translate to the Bishops not loving God?
@@songbirds3712 Because most of them don't believe in God. Otherwise they would not close the Churches. They have no faith in God.
I accept it as the will of God - but that will may include arousing us to repent & to fight for a sacramental life. There's virtue to being a "hermit," if we receive it well.
Antonius Rusticus ..Nail. Head. You hit it! 👌🏻👍🏻
@@BindingTheYoke thank you very much!
Oh my gosh, she's hilarious! So enjoyable. I want to be her best friend.
But when it comes to confession, i mean we want to go but we can't will it still be a mortal sin if you did all You could to go to confession? It feels like there is so much grey area in regards to what is going on. I can feel My scrupulosity rearing it's ugly head 😢
I think you're right. If you have sincere sorrow for your sin for love of God, (perfect contrition) which you kinda need anyway to be forgiven, your sin will not be held against you. God is love and mercy itself; He's not waiting for you to mortally sin and saying "HA, got you! you sinned mortally and now I can send you to hell because your bishop took confession away." haha. God knows your heart, and if you are truly sorry for your sins, make reparation and practice contrary virtue, you will be aight.
I'm not sure if imperfect contrition, (sorrow for sin over fear of hell) is valid without the sacrament itself. But either way, we have confession because this ish is so confusing outside of the sacraments... let's hope we get it back soon!
Pax, friend
If you have mortal sin on your soul and a priest does not absolve you of this sin, the chances are that you will not be in Heaven.
Matt! Of all the things in this video that I can't stress enough, is watch 'The Chosen'. It's amazing.
I just ordered it!! Can't wait to watch it!
I wish you hadn't dismissed her recommendation to watch The chosen! It has Barbara nicolosi approval if I am not mistaken. It is absolutely incredible. I would love to see an interview with the priest that they worked with when writing the script. They had three biblical scholars on staff to make sure they were culturally and historically accurate-Jewish, Catholic and Evangelical.
They said it was like walking into a joke, "a priest, a rabbi, and a minister walk into a bar..."
I didn't dismiss it. I said I thought it was created by Mormons and that everything Mormons do is awesome. I started watching it and turns out I was right. It's awesome.
@@PintsWithAquinas dallas jenkins is an evangelical, but you're right the other creators are mormon. i started finding a bit too much of a problem with some of the script in the second season so havent finished it, but i'm curious how the series will conclude. i suppose the theological differences might not even show, but it seems very interesting (they say a miracle) for an evangelical to make a jesus show with mormons.
i've also watched a few of those roundtables but i was really not impressed, so i'm not sure if i really trust all the decisions they will be making. the priest also doesn't seem to get much time to talk on those roundtables so i'm also not convinced they give the catholic outlook any serious thought.
We cannot be deprived of confession. The saints have usually said that a perfect act of contrition is not only difficult but nearly impossible to achieve. I would say this is of even more importance to have than anointing of the sick. Annotating of the sick is important and grace-filled, but not necessary.
Marcus Mills - Doesn’t Anointing of the Sick also include forgiveness of sins? How is that less necessary than Reconciliation?
@@mmjmb it can yes but confession is the main way of forgiveness of sins. I'm not saying we shouldn't have anointing of the sick. I'm cautioning against fighting for anointing of the sick but then when it comes to confession saying "make a perfect act of contrition" because that's nearly impossible to do. Additionally when one receives anointing of the sick, you ideally would receive confession first. Catechism states that anointing of the sick can impart forgiveness of sins "if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance" (CCC 1532).
@@marcusm359 Not nearly... It is absolutely is impossible, just like any good act...without grace. "Without me you can do nothing."
Do you really think the Lord of Mercy, in this time of need, is going to withhold grace and keep a checklist? "Well you couldn't get to confession and couldn't quite muster up the perfect contrition...so...." Mercy is given to the contrite. Don't worry so much about it. Too legalistic.
@@baseballguy548 I do think Our Lord can and will supply the graces needed in a dire situation. However, we should fight for the right of confession and not commit presumption by saying "oh just make a perfect act of contrition." We cannot bank our salvation on something so extraordinary as that.
@@marcusm359 Let me just say that when people get all lathered up about something like this quarantine, which is perfectly reasonable (albeit very difficult), measured, and scientific ... I can't help think that your energy could be better spent elsewhere. Pray, Marcus. Pray. And unite your suffering (of being without the sacraments) to Christ's suffering. It seems no coincidence to me that this is all taking place on the verge of Holy Week. Pax Christi.
The criminals hanging on crosses next to Christ, did not partake in any sacraments. One of them is where today?? Biblical evidence for faith alone salvation in the church age.
MATT, do you had the BCG vaccine? out of pure curiosity I ask this.
Matt you really need to watch The Chosen. I bet you'll cry at the last scene of episode 1. I cry every time I watch it and that's probably at least 25 times. Once you see it you'll understand why I love that scene. Can't wait to hear what you think about it. 😄❤️🙏🎚
I've seen that show! The woman at the well scene is what gets me...
@@JP2GiannaT Yes that scene was awesome too!!
I didn’t know Charles Coulombe had a twin sister!
No Catholics should not be deprived of the sacrament. Including receiving the Eucharist in a public Mass.
@@Jade_902 Yes, especially during a Crisis. This is when we need Our Lord more, not less. Our Priests, Bishops and religious need to be in the for front of this "Crisis" to administer to God's people. And perhaps to bring people closer to Christ.
My husband wrote to the Governor of South Carolina about this and got no response. He also wrote our Senator and he sent us a reference to our Attorney General's response to our Governor's statement about large gatherings. It specifically states that this did not apply to churches/places of worship. That to do so was Unconstitutional and therefore unlawful. His protestant church is now planning their Easter service. They will make it safe but they are holding Easter Services.
Now if we can get our Bishops to stop cowering in the upper room we can get on with our Catholic duties of raising our children in the Faith and showing them that some things are even worth the risk of dying for. Although our intention will be to avoid death if possible!
My spiritual life was impacted when the pope worshipped an idol in St. Peter's. I've been expecting something like a plague and been making only spiritual communions since then. And now, we have a plague and no public worship, so only spiritual communions. Most of the church is now where I've been for months...
Joseph Cillo, Jr. First, our Pope did not worship an idol. Second, this is not a plague. Third, ‘only’ spiritual communions shows a lack of understanding of the concept and is demeaning to the many faithful Catholics who are never able to attend Mass, yet participate by watching or listening to Mass, and say the prayer for a spiritual communion. And, btw, who faithfully acknowledge and accept the Penitential Rite as forgiveness for their sins. The same is available to all of us during this unprecedented and unfortunate experience.
shoney 57
Say what you will, I recognized the "abomination that causes desolation standing in the Holy Place" and the pope leading prayers to it. I saw the pope and his prelates lead a procession with the abomination. I saw the pope oversee latria, worshippers bowing down, to the abomination in the Vatican Gardens, I saw him help plant a tree adorned with graven images in the Vatican Gardens. I saw him accept an offering to it on the altar in St. Peter's. You claim these events do not mean that the pope participated in worship of a literal graven image. I disagree.
Having seen the abomination, I expected desolation. There have been plagues of locusts in Africa and Asia, and this worldwide pandemic. I call these plagues, you disagree. I stopped receiving communion, because I assessed there was a good chance the pope was an idolator and the sacrifice of the Mass was dedicated to demons, so either I was in mortal sin for thinking such a thing, or the pope was an idolator. And now, nearly the entire Church can no longer receive communion.
Interpret these events as you like. I stopped receiving communion for these reasons, and I believe, most everyone is denied communion for the same reasons. I pray every day that the pope will repent of his idolatry, and call the faithful to make reparations for his sins, the sins of the clergy and the sins of all the people. I plead for mercy to the Judge of the living and the dead. If he does not honor my plea, I will go to hell. He will be my judge. This is what this pope has done to me. There is no safe place when the pope worships idols.
If you judge that I am going to hell, please pray for me. You cannot convince me that the pope is not an unrepentant idolator. And you cannot convince me that we are not being chastised for his sins, the sins of the clergy, and the sins of the people. So, please don't try. Just pray.
@@songbirds3712 He allowed idol worship on Church grounds. And he let the idols in various Catholic Churches. So yes he worship idols.
Who else thinks beard looks good on Matt?
Eugen Golubic 🖐🏻 riigghht looking like a dapper buccaneer 😂😏👌🏻
Who will be “missing” their first Friday and first Saturday devotions this week?
Not me. I got up early, knelt before a make-shift alter we've assembled in our living room, prayed the rosary and then set the laptop on the "alter" and watched a live-stream Mass. Sure, it's a little different than my usual first Friday activities (especially not receiving the Eucharist) but it was great to spend that time with God.
I will be, Baoser. :(
We can't do these devotions unless we are at mass. Our Lady specifically told us that we must receive the Eucharist in order for the devotion to be valid.
@@kdmdlo You still have to receive the Eucharist. Our Lady was quite clear on this.
Cardinal Tobin actually told our diocese anointing of the sick can be done using a cotton tipped swab. And confession is suspended except in an extreme emergency.
St.Damien of Molokai pray for our church leaders that their faith may increase.
NO!
Romans 13 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Chapter 13
Obedience to Authority.[a] 1 Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. 2 Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it, 4 for it is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath but also because of conscience. 6 This is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Love Fulfills the Law.[b] 8 Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, [namely] “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.
Awareness of the End of Time.[c] 11 And do this because you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; 12 the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness [and] put on the armor of light; 13 let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,[d] not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
Footnotes:
13:1-7 Paul must come to grips with the problem raised by a message that declares people free from the law. How are they to relate to Roman authority? The problem was exacerbated by the fact that imperial protocol was interwoven with devotion to various deities. Paul builds on the traditional instruction exhibited in Wis 6:1-3, according to which kings and magistrates rule by consent of God. From this perspective, then, believers who render obedience to the governing authorities are obeying the one who is highest in command. At the same time, it is recognized that Caesar has the responsibility to make just ordinances and to commend uprightness; cf. Wis 6:4-21. That Caesar is not entitled to obedience when such obedience would nullify God’s prior claim to the believers’ moral decision becomes clear in the light of the following verses.
13:8-10 When love directs the Christian’s moral decisions, the interest of law in basic concerns, such as familial relationships, sanctity of life, and security of property, is safeguarded (Rom 13:9). Indeed, says Paul, the same applies to any other commandment (Rom 13:9), whether one in the Mosaic code or one drawn up by local magistrates under imperial authority. Love anticipates the purpose of public legislation, namely, to secure the best interests of the citizenry. Since Caesar’s obligation is to punish the wrongdoer (Rom 13:4), the Christian who acts in love is free from all legitimate indictment.
13:11-14 These verses provide the motivation for the love that is encouraged in Rom 13:8-10.
13:13 Let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day: the behavior described in Rom 1:29-30 is now to be reversed. Secular moralists were fond of making references to people who could not wait for nightfall to do their carousing. Paul says that Christians claim to be people of the new day that will dawn with the return of Christ. Instead of planning for nighttime behavior they should be concentrating on conduct that is consonant with avowed interest in the Lord’s return.
I’d also like to point out that the Lord provides for the faithful Baptism of desire. Why can’t that be construed to the other Sacraments in times when it’s not possible to receive them?
This topic needs a full PWA episode.
@@ryanskol83 Because in the United States we have many healthy priests and bishop have can give us the sacraments.
Considering that grace doesn't really come from the sacraments in ANY sense and is pure idolatry and heresy to say so from a biblical standpoint.. they'll be okay.
Behold WhatMannerOfLove 🙃 by your standards that means you should throw your Bible away. It’s a sacramental after all, from a biblical standpoint that bible shouldn’t exist.
What?! Everyone is being deprived of everything. Catholics are not different than any of Gods children. It’s high time they get off there high pony and come to the realization that, belief comes by faith. God has not favorites. It’s the beauty of the cross. For all to come by faith in believing and receive from the mighty creator.
Well no I absolutely agree that this affects everybody, but the Sacraments are a specifically Catholic belief, and maybe some of the Eastern Orthodoxy as well, not sure on that front.
I truly cannot believe so many still hang on to the belief system of Catholicism... believing they are the “one” true church and that the things they are being “deprived” of actually hold authority or favor or importance in the eyes of God.
Listen, God love you, you do not have to continue in these works to make him live you more. He cannot love you more, or hear you more, or guaranteeing you a more secure eternity.... God loves you before you believed, he sent Jesus to die for you wanting you to come to him.... not by works but faith alone. Works, (loving your brother and helping those in need and spreading the gospel the true gospel:) come after you come to understand how much he loves you.... not how much he love your because you faithfully fulfill the sacraments... cmon people.
The church came before the bible. So pls spare us your wisdom of why sacraments are not important. Pls read the early church Fathers. You can find lots of quotes here.
www.churchfathers.org/
Turtle where is Mary’s perpetual virginity at? Or that Jesus didn’t have brothers or sisters? Or when the pope, because there was many at one time, did Jesus come back and say, “this is the pope to follow” that is me on earth. Or purgatory.. where is that... in the actual cannon.
I didn’t contradict myself. Your arguments come away from scripture, I am sola scripture. Not what one mans says from a pulpit, whom crowds elevated to the status of “holy” father.
“Call no man father”
www.gotquestions.org/father-Matthew-23-9.html
You should read this and get your answers about a subject from some other source than the people that have a monopoly on the subject.
“Where is Mary’s perpetual virginity at?”
www.catholic.com/tract/mary-ever-virgin