Hand Sanitizing during Mass

[Cat]

I’ve been wondering for years why church-goers, especially girls and women, don’t go back to wearing gloves to church.

I remember as a little girl in the Baptist church how thrilled I was to wear those pretty white gloves!

Men also have the option of wearing gloves. Leather gloves look very dressy.

So many people in this section are concerned about dressing up for Mass. Gloves would be appropriate when well-dressed, IMO.

I assume that those who wear gloves would either receive Holy Communion on the tongue, or remove the gloves before making a “hand-throne” for the Lord?

Gloves would really cut down on the infection rate, not only from the Sign of Peace, but also from the handshaking that happens out in the lobby or parking lot.

And no more sanitizing before Sign!

 

[onetimeposter]

I was at Mass about 6 weeks ago. The priest was hacking and coughing a horrible phlegmey cough and kept coughing into his right hand.

Guess what, he touched about 500 hosts after that…yikes. Was very gross. I wish he had used hand gel prior to touching all the hosts.

True story.

 

[rpp]

I was at Mass about 6 weeks ago. The priest was hacking and coughing a horrible phlegmey cough and kept coughing into his right hand.

Guess what, he touched about 500 hosts after that…yikes. Was very gross. I wish he had used hand gel prior to touching all the hosts.

True story.

THAT is worth a polite comment to the priest. He probably had not given it any thought and would almost certainly welcome a politely worded heads-up.

 

[onetimeposter]

THAT is worth a polite comment to the priest. He probably had not given it any thought and would almost certainly welcome a politely worded heads-up.

He’s a bit of a different chap…but good advice all the same.

 

[SoulRebel777]

Well you ladies I tried to help you out but you seem to want to remain paranoid. Im going to offer you all a prayer to break free from the bonadge of complusive disorders and fear .

God bless

 

[onetimeposter]

Well you ladies I tried to help you out but you seem to want to remain paranoid. Im going to offer you all a prayer to break free from the bonadge of complusive disorders and fear .

God bless

Your like a skipped record.

 

[Phemie]

THAT is worth a polite comment to the priest. He probably had not given it any thought and would almost certainly welcome a politely worded heads-up.

We had one who picked his nose, his scabs, his dandruff, his ears,etc. Several of us would just keep our eyes closed during Mass. He’d been talked to by the bishop on more than one occasion but it had no lasting effect – probably because he didn’t even realize he was doing it. It didn’t lessen the gross out factor though.

 

[onetimeposter]

We had one who picked his nose, his scabs, his dandruff, his ears,etc. Several of us would just keep our eyes closed during Mass. He’d been talked to by the bishop on more than one occasion but it had no lasting effect – probably because he didn’t even realize he was doing it. It didn’t lessen the gross out factor though.

 

[rpp]

Let us remain charitable on this thread.

 

[rpp]

We had one who picked his nose, his scabs, his dandruff, his ears,etc. Several of us would just keep our eyes closed during Mass. He’d been talked to by the bishop on more than one occasion but it had no lasting effect – probably because he didn’t even realize he was doing it. It didn’t lessen the gross out factor though.

I am with onetime above!



Pick his nose?! During Mass?! :bigyikes:

Also, let us all remain charitable on this thread.

 

[SwizzleStick]

We had one who picked his nose, his scabs, his dandruff, his ears,etc. Several of us would just keep our eyes closed during Mass. He’d been talked to by the bishop on more than one occasion but it had no lasting effect – probably because he didn’t even realize he was doing it. It didn’t lessen the gross out factor though.

Witnessing such, especially more than once, might motivate me to try to have a private conversation with the priest to try to help him recognize and stop the behaviors. But, I really do not know how I would do it in a calm, charitable manner because the very idea of receiving the Eucharist from someone who I witnessed doing any/all of those things would make it difficult to keep a kind, neutral expression when discussing it.

 

[ruslan]

Well you ladies I tried to help you out but you seem to want to remain paranoid. Im going to offer you all a prayer to break free from the bonadge of complusive disorders and fear .

God bless

Well, thank you. That’s nice of you - but, I don’t need your help.

:harp: :heaven:

 

[ElizabethPH]

I’ve been wondering for years why church-goers, especially girls and women, don’t go back to wearing gloves to church.

I remember as a little girl in the Baptist church how thrilled I was to wear those pretty white gloves!

Men also have the option of wearing gloves. Leather gloves look very dressy.

So many people in this section are concerned about dressing up for Mass. Gloves would be appropriate when well-dressed, IMO.

I assume that those who wear gloves would either receive Holy Communion on the tongue, or remove the gloves before making a “hand-throne” for the Lord?

Gloves would really cut down on the infection rate, not only from the Sign of Peace, but also from the handshaking that happens out in the lobby or parking lot.

And no more sanitizing before Sign!

I’m old enough to remember wearing gloves & hats. One could still wear them although they would look rather odd now days…sort of like those who cover. But you could get away with it in the winter time. I always wear gloves in the winter, I could just keep them on through Mass.

 

[SacredHeartFan]

I know this has been stated before but they might have medical reasons. After reading some of these post I am going to start bringing sanitizer with me to mass.

 

[Salonika]

Well you ladies I tried to help you out but you seem to want to remain paranoid. Im going to offer you all a prayer to break free from the bonadge of complusive disorders and fear .

God bless

Suggest instead that you pray for those (males and females) whose lives are blighted and limited by compulsive disorders and excessive fears. As is clear from this thread supporting sanitising during Mass (and similar situations) doesn’t mean people are compulsive but is usually a sensible precaution for them and those around therm. Also healthy fear can stop us doing stupid things or taking unnecessary risks.

 

[quiet52]

:

Originally Posted by Phemie
We had one who picked his nose, his scabs, his dandruff, his ears,etc. Several of us would just keep our eyes closed during Mass. He’d been talked to by the bishop on more than one occasion but it had no lasting effect – probably because he didn’t even realize he was doing it. It didn’t lessen the gross out factor though.

This priest seems resistant to change, but as an ACT OF CHARITY to the congregation, perhaps a few of the parishioners can anonymously send bottles of hand sanitizer to him on a weekly basis. Maybe it’ll help him “get” the message.

I’ve used sanitizers during Mass myself. After touching elevator buttons, doorknobs, my car, and shaken hands, I want my hands to be at least somewhat sanitary before receiving the Eucharist. After all, we wash our hands before other meals. I appreciate that the EMHCs sanitize their hands before serving – this in itself is an act of responsible charity. I’ve been upset when hearing priests criticize the practice.

 

[surfinpure]

I’ve been known to use my hand sanitizer after the sign of peace on numerous occasions. The reason is simple: I have two small children and one on the way, and I can’t afford for any of us to get sick. It’s pretty likely in a church as large as ours that somebody there has a virus. I know nobody would intentionally pass germs at Mass, but hand-to-hand contact is one of the surest ways of doing it. I mean no disrespect to anyone, but I have to look out for the health of my kiddos.

 

[SacredHeartFan]

Does the priest not wash his hands before the L.O.E?

 

[Phemie]

If you’re speaking of the Lavabo after the prayer over the gifts, that’s a symbolic gesture not a true ‘washing’. It’s certainly does little to get rid of germs, particularly when there’s no altar server and Fr. barely dips his fingers in the bowl of water.

 

[a_priori]

When I was Orthodox everyone received Communion from the same spoon. That would probably freak out many Catholics.

I really don’t like slimy handshakes either. I think we should bump closed fists like we do at work when the sales guys (men and women) break records. It’s cooler and more hygienic.