History shows a resurgence in church attendance after a crisis for a period before returning to pre crisis rates.
www.christianpost.com
It seems like you are scrambling to support some kind of agenda. As recently as late last year a synod was held responding to the cry from the Amazon for access to the sacraments. People can live for years, decades without the Sacraments and it only increases their desire for it.
Why would you direct such a comment to anyone? Observing the directions of those in the highest echelons of our Church is hardly trivializing!k.vasquez222:
The Holy Sacrament is not a convenience. Trivializing the Mass is no answer to the OP.
I am saving this post for 6 months time and am going to ask for figures then and your opinion on ‘weakest pandemic in history’ but for now what is your measure for a weak vs strong pandemic
If it is indeed more necessary and valuable it is also more precious - as are the lives and health of the priests who are necessary to provide it.
Silly question. If flattening the curve has any effect on eternal life, it’s a good effect, because it shows love of neighbor.
How are you equating the ability to attend Mass with saying one’s soul is not essential? Do you think the generations of Catholics who could rarely attend Mass lost their souls?
On one hand, I would say that the risk of some of these people going to Hell because the permanently turn their back on God, which is a likely outcome, is the most serious of problems. Yet on the other hand, the parable of the sower reminds us that life is always full of thorns and thistles that choke out the faith. People will still choose what their God is. Some may not return to the gym. Most will return to work (that are not working). I do not know that we can see the closing of public Mass as a cause, as much as an indicator.
Interesting. You object that I use the word “trivializing” when the Mass was referred to as a convenience. You did not object to the word “appalling,” a far more emotional word, being applied to a fellow poster. Okay, but the reason I said what I did then was because the post, in my opinion too the objection of the OP too lightly and did in fact trivialize the other viewpoint. I agree with what the bishops have finally done, but I do not think the decision is so black and white, nor do I think those who disagree with them are fanatics. There has been a lot of harsh rhetoric directed at them, and even me for understanding them somewhat. That is why I said what I did. Trivializing this issue is not an answer to the OP, nor are insults, nor is accusing anyone of not caring for life. This stuff is all rather uncharitable, in my opinion.
I think this is one of the best answers to the OP, or others that cannot stand missing Mass. The Mass is not a goal, but a means to the end of our sanctification. If going to Mass itself is an act lacking in charity toward neighbor, then we have made it the end, and not the means.
I think the time table does matter. When this thread started, dioceses across the country were shifting from Mass being closed until Holy Week, to now being closed through April. It will shift again near the end of the month, I have no doubt. I did not think then, nor do I now, that we will have Churches closed just for a few weeks. That is why I would like better solutions (not just for Masses) that last months.