102 days in between Masses and...

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102 days.

From back in March until now, it was exactly 102 days in between Masses at my local parish. It was about as I expected. As I frequently say, “expect the worst, and you won’t be disappointed.”

We arrived the mandatory 15 minutes early to avoid being locked out. The church was allowed up to 30 people (technically more, but I won't get into that). Some people were spaced out, gasp, with one pew separating themselves from others. They were promptly told to move to a gap of two pews before Mass could start. That was pretty awkward.

Mass was 55 minutes long. Approximately 26 minutes of that was chatter about COVID-19 and regulations. At the last second, we discovered that for those wishing to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, the priest was to wear gloves (to go along with his mask). They were super cheap hospital gloves that crinkled and touched the side of the mouth (without the priest knowing it). That’ll have to be the last Holy Communion we receive there for quite some time.

Apparently Mass attendance has dropped significantly around the world. Places allowed, say, 30% capacity are scoring far below that number. After this past Sunday, I now know why. It was all so dehumanizing. I’m not overstating it when I say it felt like we were not welcome at all. A nuisance at best. The whole process was more about bowing down to “Science” and “The State.” People left visibly upset. As did we. Our 6-year-old son asked at the end, “Dad, can we just go back to you doing the Mass prayers next week?” I think we will, actually. But we'll look around first. And no, we cannot get to a TLM. The nearest one is 2.5 hours away, at 8am in the morning. Talk is cheap. Getting four little kids up before 5am is not doable.

So there you have it. 102 days. What have we learned? That there are far worse things than a virus. “And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28).

Keep your rosaries close at hand. 

Unused collection envelopes...

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