Feeling Abandoned not by God but by the Bishops and Priests

[Ann1]

I do not think anyone else encouraged this feeling, I am old enough to see things for myself. I know some very fine priests and in some cases it breaks their heart they can’t do confessions, have prayer available or outdoor Masses. They have to be obedient to the Bishops and some Bishops will not allow it. I do not like feeling this way. That is why I asked in the post what is helping people. One person said spiritual reading and they posted the name of the books. Another sent a link. I appreciate all constructive replies.

 

[Irishmom2]

I am not trying to blame or to scapegoat any of the priests.

Have you read the title of your thread?

I see that you have been away. Or at least have not posted in a while. If you use the search feature, you may find the kind of answers you are searching for, as there have been a multitude of threads concerning church closures.

You seem to have implied that people did not have a Christian attitude toward you, but all I have seen is people standing behind their Bishops and their doing what the law allows. Covid affects all people, not just Catholics and we are no more entitled to not follow the laws of the land than anyone else.

 

[TheLittleLady]

And some parishes/priests/staff simply do not have the technical knowledge to go online.

For me, this even more enforces the Real Presence. He is there if there is only a priest with no one watching or with the Pope in front of a football stadium, Christ is present.

 

[TK421]

@Ann1

The idea of holding public Masses no matter what in every circumstance just reminds me of the old “Throw yourself off this cliff and God will surely protect you” line from the devil. We’re not suppose to try to force a miracle from God to keep us safe. We’re stewards and God isn’t a genie in a bottle or a magician to do tricks at our bidding.

But yeah, I’ve felt disappointment in the clergy before, or more frequently, disappointment in myself. This is because of our tendency to put trust in creatures instead of in God. We shouldn’t be surprised when people sin.

Also, as laity, we should think of how we can better help and serve our clergy and not make criticism the main focus, even if something happens and the criticism is legit.

If this is something that’s bothering you a lot I would make sure to tell God about it regularly during prayer time and ask him to resolve it.

Peace.

 

[skelly]

Our priest was very sick for well over a month for most of the lockdown…with Covid -19 corona virus. He’s slowly getting his strength back now. Streamed mass online last weekend. Please pray for him and all priests. Could visibly tell the toll it took on him.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Our priest was very sick for well over a month for most of the lockdown…with Covid -19 corona virus. He’s slowly getting his strength back now. Streamed mass online last weekend. Please pray for him and all priests. Could visibly tell the toll it took on him.

I’m glad your priest survived.
I used to frequently go to the 6 pm daily Mass of a particular priest when I was staying in another state where I spend time.
Won’t be going to his Mass any more, he died in late April of the virus.

The priest I mention who died was also 81 years old and still saying the daily Mass on many weekdays like he had been doing at that parish for 8 years up until the shutdown in his diocese in March; I presume he still said the daily Mass until he got sick, though the public wasn’t allowed to attend. I don’t think there was any question about whether he believed in the Real Presence.

 

[JC_Nixon]

Yes, we feel totally abandoned by our Pastor! Despite the availability of social media, we have had NO spiritual nourishment whatsoever from our Parish! No live stream of Mass, we are directed to watch it from the Diocese Cathedral. No messages, no interactions. Nothing. Other local parishes offer at minimum weekly video updates from their Pastors, words or encouragement, at minimum, live stream of Sunday Mass and some live stream daily Mass. Ours does nothing. It shouldn’t matter that ‘other parishes are offering encouragement’ they are NOT my parish! We have turned to EWTN for live daily Mass and Sunday Mass. In many ways that is a blessing. We have rediscovered the beauty of a Mass reverently prayed with such attention to detail and care. The homilies are outstanding! We likely will continue to watch the daily Mass once things open up again and only attend Mass at our Parish on Holy Days and Sundays.

 

[Ann1]

Thank you for your honest response. These are strange days. It is hard when you are totally disconnected. Glad you have enjoyed EWTN. God Bless.

 

[CilladeRoma]

Some of these replies are very sad.
I know many priests and one of my very best friends is a priest.
He is struggling with not having his parish family. He celebrates Mass, but he says it feels strange. The last time he said a Mass alone was when he was practicing in seminary.
We are lucky that someone is donating their time and talent to help us record Sunday Mass so that we can put the video on our website. It is not a live-steam, but it is better than nothing.
However, were it not for the kindness of a few, we would not even have this. None of our 3 priests have the equipment or expertise to pull off live-stream, and we don’t have the money to buy it.
Which brings up another point. My parish is fortunate, and we have not seen a huge drop in collections. Some parishes around me have lost 50% or more of their income.
Maybe, instead of complaining about and critcizing our priests, we should pray for them and offer our time, talent, and treasure to help them and our parishes.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I have not read the rest of the responses; forgive me, but I’ve had a multitude of discussions between this site and other social media venues on this topic. I try not to weigh in much because it strains my charity. So my apologies, OP, if I’m venting a bit, and I certainly don’t mean to be hostile to you.

I definitely do not feel abandoned. I have seen so many priests, bishops, religious communities, and others going above and beyond, out of their way, stretching their comfort zones and pushing their normal limitations to provide a semblance of normalcy to people during this time. It’s not normal, but we’re all doing the best we can, I’d like to believe.

I believe we keep faith by being grateful and caring for one another, by not making a situation like this about myself but about someone less fortunate (maybe that’s you? and for that reason, I truly am trying to be gentle in my words).

Take heart! This won’t be forever. It’s a minor inconvenience in the long run. But I beg and plead with the world - consider those who may be endangered if we aren’t overly zealous with caution. Consider the blessings in disguise we may have; don’t miss the silver linings just because of the gray clouds. Even the sunny day with its green grass needs a little rain now and then.

 

[Ann1]

I do not feel insulted by your post. I feel you made it honestly and with charity. Maybe I worded my OP wrong I don’t know because many feel apparently I am wrong. I know there are a lot of priests doing the best they can under very bad circumstances. I wasn’t referring to them and God forgive me if I have insulted any priest or religious. That wasn’t my intention. I try to pray for all of them even if one has hurt me. and I also know many fine ones. We are family though in Christ and even family can feel sometimes hurt and abandoned. and sometimes they have been. If that is wrong of me then I guess I will have to answer to God for it. I was only trying to find what would make things better.for some of us that feel this way and was looking for ideas. Maybe I am in the wrong place or the wrong church I don’t know. God Bless and thank you
[/quote]

 

[Glennon_P]

Ann1,

This has been very tough on all of us.

I miss going to Mass. I miss seeing the priests at my parish for the weekday early morning Mass - I had no idea until this happened how much I depended on that to get my workday started. Even though, to be honest, sometimes I would be so preoccupied during Mass with worries about the day I wouldn’t rememeber much of Mass. Now I don’t have that and I can what a huge void that is in my life.

I miss seeing other parishioners. They’re my neighbors and friends and companions on my spiritual journey. It ripped my heart out to not be together with them during the Holy Week liturgies.

I miss seeing the end-of-the-school year excitement in our parish elementary and high schools. I miss seeing the excitement (and a little trepidation) for the graduates.

This weekend, I will miss hearing our pastor take a moment or two at Mass to thank the mothers in the crowd.

I miss May Crowning.

There are so many things that I miss right now about my parish and its people.

I know our priests miss their parishioners every bit as much - maybe more - than we miss them. I can guarantee you that there weren’t any classes at the seminary about pastoral care of your parish during a pandemic. They’re in the dark about how to proceed just as much as we are.

There is certainly a huge void in all our lives. In my mind, it’s very much like a Lenten penance that only serves to whet our appetites for whatever it is we gave up. Remember how delicious that first bite of chocolate was when Lent was over? How much more sweet will that first Mass back in church be!

When I teach RCIA, I always get the class just before Ash Wednesday and I talk about Lent. One thing I say is that there is very much a “corporal” feeling about Lent - that is, you’re not in this alone. There are, give or take, a billion or so Catholics on the same journey as you during Lent. There’s comfort and strength in that. It’s a magnificent reminder of the unviersality - the Catholicity - of our Faith.

The same way for us all now…our brothers and sisters all around the world are in the same predicament as we are. You’re not in this alone.

Hang in there. This too shall pass.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Maybe I worded my OP wrong I don’t know

Where you went “wrong” was suggesting that the priests and bishops don’t believe in the Real Presence because they didn’t keep the churches open. There are a lot of factors going into the bishops’ decision for each area, but lack of belief in the importance of the Real Presence isn’t what’s driving it. Archbishop Perez who left his churches open for prayer doesn’t somehow believe more in the Real Presence than Cardinal Dolan who closed everything. As for individual priests, many of them would like to leave churches open or have public Mass, but they need to obey their bishop and they also have to make sure that their parishioners stay well, and of course we want our priests to also stay well.

Expressing sadness over not being able to go to church is one thing. We can all relate to that. But what you said about the bishops and priests wasn’t right.

 

[LilyM]

And some parishes/priests/staff simply do not have the technical knowledge to go online.

For me, this even more enforces the Real Presence. He is there if there is only a priest with no one watching or with the Pope in front of a football stadium, Christ is present.

Exactly. Liveatreaming Mass (or even using social media) requires time, equipment and some technical.skill. Any one of which may be in short supply.

Many parishes are reliant on lay volunteers to manage websites, social media or other technical matters. Theae people.(or indeed the priest) may currently be ill, or caring for children or family members.

Maybe get in touch with your parish and see if they could use assistance in this regard? And help if you can, or if you can’t, see if you can find someone with the skills they need? Be part of the solution if you can rather than just complaining.

 

[StudentMI]

If you are feeling abandoned, I recommend reading and meditating on the Cross.

 

[srobi]

no. i have not felt abandoned and am so sorry that some of you feel that way. the first on-line Mass, as i sat in front of my computer saying
‘oh this is not going to be the same’…however when it was over it
brought me closer to understanding the Mystical Body. i actually felt that joy that comes every so often after receiving our Lord at communion. Our Lord is everywhere and wants to be with us but
it is up to us to invite Him, want Him, love Him.
i don’t think this is a time to blame our priests… they do
the best they can and the are only human and this is a most unusual time for all of us. and a time to pray for our priests and
everybody else.

 

[po18guy]

I offer this solely for perspective - judging no one. They are thoughts put to keyboard, partially filtered, so some charity will be appreciated.

1. The faith is not falling apart - although a few of us may be.
2. Why? What do we believe and why do we believe it?
3. I get Corona, I’m dead. I am far from alone. Basically, anyone with grey hair is in deadly serious trouble if they are infected.
4. What is the hierarchy supposed to do? Knowingly subject parishioners to a deadly illness for which there is no treatment? No vaccine? No medical “cure” - only treatment of symptoms?
5. Are they supposed to mobilize a “private prayer police” to ensure that things go according to plan with parishes unlocked?
6. We can always - always - walk, bike or drive to the parish and park in the lot next to the building. You know that Christ is right on the other side of that wall, and He knows you are there. Sit in peace and comfort and pray.
7. God tests our faith. Are we passing the test or is our faith fragile or impatient? Are we powered and sustained by faith or manipulated by emotion?
8. Korea teaches us the strength of faith. From a short history of Andrew Kim Taegon, Korean priest and martyr:

Christianity came to Korea during the Japanese invasion in 1592 when some Koreans were baptized, probably by Christian Japanese soldiers. Evangelization was difficult because Korea refused all contact with the outside world except for taking taxes to Beijing annually. On one of these occasions, around 1777, Christian literature obtained from Jesuits in China led educated Korean Christians to study. A home Church began. When a Chinese priest managed to enter secretly a dozen years later, he found 4,000 Catholics, none of whom had ever seen a priest. Seven years later there were 10,000 Catholics. Religious freedom came to Korea in 1883.

We can learn so much from those amazingly faithful Koreans who went 12 YEARS without Priest or Sacrament. 3 months and some of us are ready to throw in the towel.

Faith! Hope! Love!

True love waits.

 

[LilyM]

I offer this solely for perspective - judging no one. They are thoughts put to keyboard, partially filtered, so some charity will be appreciated.

1. The faith is not falling apart - although a few of us may be.
2. Why? What do we believe and why do we believe it?
3. I get Corona, I’m dead. I am far from alone. Basically, anyone with grey hair is in deadly serious trouble if they are infected.
4. What is the hierarchy supposed to do? Knowingly subject parishioners to a deadly illness for which there is no treatment? No vaccine? No medical “cure” - only treatment of symptoms?
5. Are they supposed to mobilize a “private prayer police” to ensure that things go according to plan with parishes unlocked?
6. We can always - always - walk, bike or drive to the parish and park in the lot next to the building. You know that Christ is right on the other side of that wall, and He knows you are there. Sit in peace and comfort and pray.
7. God tests our faith. Are we passing the test or is our faith fragile or impatient? Are we powered and sustained by faith or manipulated by emotion?
8. Korea teaches us the strength of faith. From a short history of Andrew Kim Taegon, Korean priest and martyr:

Christianity came to Korea during the Japanese invasion in 1592 when some Koreans were baptized, probably by Christian Japanese soldiers. Evangelization was difficult because Korea refused all contact with the outside world except for taking taxes to Beijing annually. On one of these occasions, around 1777, Christian literature obtained from Jesuits in China led educated Korean Christians to study. A home Church began. When a Chinese priest managed to enter secretly a dozen years later, he found 4,000 Catholics, none of whom had ever seen a priest. Seven years later there were 10,000 Catholics. Religious freedom came to Korea in 1883.

Exactly! Many Catholics have gone lengthy periods of time without seeing a priest - in wartime, times of persecution or because they have lived in remote areas. And without the benefits of easy modern communications zipping around the world.

 

[felsguy]

There is an anti authority movement in the culture.

I singled out this sentence from your post (and I hope t doesn’t hijack the thrust of this thread) but I find it to be such a straight forward and excellent comment on much of what is going on in general these days. And as one who came of age in the 1960s I am struck by the fact that this movement today is stemming from the exact opposite end of the political spectrum that it did back then. I seem to recall an adage that goes something along the lines of “I am afraid to be liberal in my youth for fear of becoming conservative in my old age.”

 

[commenter]

commenter:

There is an anti authority movement in the culture.

this movement today is stemming from the exact opposite end of the political spectrum that it did back then.

Those who leave the boat (magisterium) going off to the Right are not inherently different from those who went off to the Left, except they are better dressed. But all are equally off the boat.