Covid fears are in full swing at the moment. I go around to many places such as grocery stores, department stores, and more. I also frequently go to Church to attend Mass. One thing I can say without hesitation is that the level of precaution used at the Church is significantly higher than anywhere else. It's as if churches are being targeted and singled out.
First of all, I don't know what the limit is on the number of people in places like Walmart, but it definitely seems very high. I would say there are easily well over 100 people in the store at any given time. I have not seen any lines either in a very long time. Contrast this with churches where there is often only a handful of people. Limits on people are very strictly enforced in churches, but it doesn't seem to be the case elsewhere.
Once you enter a church, you notice how strictly rules are enforced. Pews have barriers restricting huge amounts of sitting space and ensuring people are at least 2 meters or 6 feet apart. There are multiple ushers making sure no one does anything wrong. You cannot enter if you are not wearing a mask. Again, compare this to shopping centers. People never seem concerned about staying 6 feet apart and it isn't enforced. All areas of a store are accessible, nothing is blocked off. But again, it's much stricter for churches.
Next, when anyone enters a church, they are obliged to give their name, phone number, and answer the covid questions. Each person must answer no to all questions. In the case of shopping places, no one has to give their name, no one has to answer questions. Another example of a double-standard.
Once you finally get to sit down, you have to sit through not one but two Covid announcements at church. These are not generic 30-second "please stay 6 feet away"-type announcements. No, they go into every imaginable detail. It is centered around the reception of holy communion.
From memory, they make the following points:
- During this time of covid-19 we must follow the guidelines in order to ensure the safe and respectful reception of Holy Communion
- One general attestation of "Amen" when the priest presents the Eucharist.
- Put on mask before approaching.
- Sanitize your hands before receiving communion
- Bow to the Host
- Receive the host but do not consume the host immediately. Instead, wait until you step aside, then you may consume the host.
- Even though you are wearing a mask, do not say Amen upon receiving the Eucharist. You must remain silent.
- Go back to your pew.
- Make sure you are always 6 feet apart from everyone else.
- If you cannot receive the Eucharist in your hand, you can receive a blessing.
There may be more instructions but that is what I remember at the moment. This is the second announcement which is done during Mass. The other precedes Mass but does not contain as much detail. During communion, the priest or bishop sanitizes his hands and wears a mask. At the end of Mass, the presider recites a prayer by Pope Francis for the protection of the Blessed Virgin during the Covid pandemic.
It just seems Covid has become such an overriding concern in the church. And yet, during these 10 or 15 directives, never once is the idea of unworthy reception of communion ever mentioned or even brought up.
We're at least lucky, churches are allowed to remain open. In some places, while all kinds of other establishments, including liquor stores, acupuncture facilities, bicycle repair shops, hardware stores, etc. remain open as Justice Gorsuch pointed out.
I'm not opposed to a brief message about maintaining distance from one another and receiving communion safely, but to make it such a central part of the Mass I think is overdoing it. We are far too concerned about the temporal and not enough about the eternal. There has to be a balance.
Let me know your thoughts on this subject, would love to hear from you.
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