How have 18 priests been killed by the Coronavirus in Italy? Does this expectation to care for sick make sense?

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So I read this article today about the Catholic priests who are dying in Italy. There have been 18 priests who have died in Italy so far from the Coronavirus. This makes me very sad and confused. Many have died caring for the sick from the Corona virus. On one hand I admire their courage…quite a lot., but I’ve got to question whether these elderly priests should just stay home. From everything I’ve read on this awful Corona virus, it affects older men the worst. To put this in perspective, there are about 50K priests in Italy for a population for about 60 million…about 0.083%. There have 4,032 deaths in Italy from the Corona virus in Italy. This means that a Catholic priest is about 5 to 6 times more likely to die of the Corona Virus in Italy than the average citizen.

Does the expectation that an elderly Catholic priest tend to the sick make sense? I deeply admire the courage of these priests…, but we are are called to be wise.

I put this in social justice. I think it belongs here rather than news…



http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/sc1.html
 
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Tending the sick? Or tending to souls? Isn’t that their job? Much like a fireman going into a burning building. I guess perspective depends on how serious you take the sacraments.
 
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yankeesouth said:
Tending the sick? Or tending to souls? Isn’t that their job? Much like a fireman going into a burning building. I guess perspective depends on how serious you take the sacraments.
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It’s one thing to give the last rites, it’s another thing to tend to the sick. I understand risking one’s life to give last rites. I struggle with risking one’s life to visit the sick when there is a qualified medical professional who is younger and more able to resist the Corona Madness…
 
St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan and Cardinal, didn’t spare himself during the plague of 1576/1577.
 
I hate to fire out this question but don’t you think there was much less knowledge about disease back then? And how would/should that make a difference? Then and now?
 
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I didn’t see anywhere in the article that they were providing medical assistance. A bishop called it pastoral zeal which sounds to me providing spiritual help (sacraments, etc.).
 
Of course there is more scientific knowledge about disease and its transmission now than back then. My point was, that St Charles didn’t just hole up, but went and cared for his flock. Jesus went amongst the sick and healed. A priests’ vocation is to tend to the sick in addition to offering Mass etc.

There has been a decree published where priests can go to hospitals where the sick are confined with the virus and offer general absolution Note from the Apostolic Penitentiary on the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the current pandemic, 20.03.2020
" Should there arise a sudden need to impart sacramental absolution to several faithful together, the priest is obliged to warn the diocesan bishop as far as possible or, if he cannot, to inform him as soon as possible (cf. Ordo Paenitentiae , n. 32).

In the present pandemic emergency, it is therefore up to the diocesan bishop to indicate to priests and penitents the prudent attentions to be adopted in the individual celebration of sacramental reconciliation, such as the celebration in a ventilated place outside the confessional, the adoption of a suitable distance, the use of protective masks, without prejudice to absolute attention to the safeguarding of the sacramental seal and the necessary discretion.

Furthermore, it is always up to the diocesan bishop to determine, in the territory of his own ecclesiastical circumscription and with regard to the level of pandemic contagion, the cases of grave necessity in which it is lawful to impart collective absolution: for example, at the entrance to hospital wards, where the infected faithful in danger of death are hospitalised, using as far as possible and with the appropriate precautions the means of amplifying the voice so that absolution may be heard.

Consideration should be given to the need and advisability of setting up, where necessary, in agreement with the health authorities, groups of “extraordinary hospital chaplains”, also on a voluntary basis and in compliance with the norms of protection from contagion, to guarantee the necessary spiritual assistance to the sick and dying."

As the above says - prudence and all precautions should be taken.
 
I think even in Italy (which already has a much older population) the priests are probably well-above the average age, and they’re all male ofc, so it’s a double higher risk.

Caring for the sick isn’t a work of mercy limited to the priesthood so other people can participate as well.
 
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Donkey said:
I hate to fire out this question but don’t you think there was much less knowledge about disease back then? And how would/should that make a difference? Then and now?
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Eh, people have understood since antiquity that plagues are contagious. They didn’t understand how it worked but they could put one and one together.
 
I hope they at least tried to protect themselves. Otherwise, how many people did they themselves infect?
 
Like what was mentioned earlier, Italy has the second largest population of elderly (which makes me want to switch to the Mediterranean diet; red wine and olives lol) and only 3 priests were under the age of 70 who passed and half of those who passed were over 80 years old.

ZP
 
Passing away in service to another is no doubt the highest way to pass; however, the difficult question is about the need for the sacrifice. Mercy not Sacrifice…Matthew 9, right?! I’d think that the goal is to balance the need to sacrifice.
 
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CRV said:
St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan and Cardinal, didn’t spare himself during the plague of 1576/1577.
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I don’t know St Charles Borromeo as well as I should; he is patron saint of a priest from my childhood. I did not know he ministered during the plague. Thank you.

St Charles Borromeo, pray for us.

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CRV said:
My point was, that St Charles didn’t just hole up, but went and cared for his flock. Jesus went amongst the sick and healed. A priests’ vocation is to tend to the sick in addition to offering Mass etc.
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A priest at my parish a few years ago, used to break out in a cold sweat whenever he had to go on a call to the very sick, and the dying. Very often those he ministered to, would make significant recovery; it freaked him out, to witness the power of the sacrament. He always asked not to be given much notice before he must go, as he suffered greatly with anxious anticipation.
 
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This is against the false sacrifices of hypocritical Jews at the time and now, not the true sacrifice of the saints who are justified with God. We are not to hold back, but to sacrifice all in the service of the salvation of souls and the manifestation of God’s will. A priest who dies like this, or in any other sacrifice of himself and his wellbeing , even just temporal needs fulfills his vocation and imitates Christ with perfection. These men may now all be saved, and if so, there is no better thing for them. We aren’t meant to fear for our bodies or needs, but only use them as long as God will is to have them for the ends I mentioned before. Life in this fallen world isn’t worth withholding charity.
Our weakness, and it was he who carried the weight of it, our miseries, and it was he who bore them. A leper, so we thought of him, a man God had smitten and brought low; and all the while it was for our sins he was wounded, it was guilt of ours crushed him down; on him the punishment fell that brought us peace, by his bruises we were healed.
Knox Bible
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jack63 said:
Passing away in service to another is no doubt the highest way to pass; however, the difficult question is about the need for the sacrifice. Mercy not Sacrifice…Matthew 9, right?! I’d think that the goal is to balance the need to sacrifice.
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The count is now 28 Priests dead and likely 30 because 2 died of pneumonia before being tested. But these Priests are elderly and not being sent out to care for the sick. The big problem is the communal living arrangements for elderly Priests. Enormous care has to be taken in nursing homes and communal living sites.

There’s a monastery in Germany where all the Priest and half the Seminarians have tested positive.
 
And yet, ICU in Italy is full of young people with covid19
 
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