Is it prudent to go to Mass during corona outbreak?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kima
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
K

Kima

Guest
Good evening,

I currently live in a country where it´s an increasing amount of corona cases. The population is not very large, and it´s currently about 220 cases of the coronavirus.
In the city where I live, it´s about 10-20 cases.

Is it really prudent/appropriate to go to Sunday Mass these days or should I stay home in order to prevent the virus from spreading to my family and friends.

My diocese has given recommendations as for reception of Holy Communion and with regards to the sign of peace. Although, in my parish, which is pretty huge, there are hundreds of people going to church every Sunday and thus it´s a greater risk of getting the virus.

Is it appropriate to watch Mass online, pray the Divine Office or something instead of going to Mass in church? I´m seriously concerned about getting it and passing it over to family and friends.

Yours in Christ,
 
I would write to your diocese with this question or ask your priest for a dispensation.
 
I have been feeling rather run down the last few days and have a mild cold. Normally, I would go. But following the advice issued by my Bishop I did not. I would say it is prudent to avoid going if feeling at all unwell if living somewhere where there have been cases reasonably nearby. If perfectly well, you should probably go.
 
40.png
Deciding whether or not to attend Mass Moral Theology
With the corona virus, it seems like a lot of people are thinking about this, but it is also an issue that comes up pretty regularly. Because it seems that a person could be spreading the coronavirus for up to 2 weeks before falling ill themselves, it seems like there is a potential for an invisible risk. Does that make a difference? Suppose the person really wants to go, but is concerned about risk? How strict is the Church wrt prevention of illness, say if someone is more vulnerable to illn…
Click to expand...
 
Unless you are too sick to go, you should keep attending the Liturgy to receive the Holy Mystery of The Eucharist. Do not let fear keep you away from God and His Mysteries.
 
I´m not sick, but trying to avoid occasions where it´s more likely to get the coronavirus.
Perhaps, I´ll stick to attending Sunday Mass on Saturdays as there will be less people at my parish. Not ideal, but probably better than nothing…
 
Last edited:
If you aren’t sick, or haven’t directly been exposed, or don’t have the risk factors that would make potential exposure potentially deadly for you (like a decreased immune system), then there is no more harm in going to mass than to a trip to the grocery store or a local restaurant.
 
Well, you sit around people quite near that may be infected, which goes against all recommendations from the government. I don´t want to get it both for my own sake, but also because I don´t want to spread it to my family and friends, which do per se consist of people who would not take the virus as well as most people do.
 
Last edited:
The government has not banned grocery shopping or trips to pubs and restaurants in places like Italy. They’ve simply limited the time when people can go. Why should going to mass be different from that if all of the other things I’ve mentioned are not an issue for you? Why is mass suddenly extremely different from grocery shopping?
 
Well, they say that if you sit near (less than 1-2 meters) from someone who´s infected for more than 15 minutes straight you are likely to be infected. I usually don´t do that outside of school and church, so that´s what´s started to bother me.

However, I do consider fulfilling my Mass obligation by going to Sunday Mass on Saturdays the next following weeks. Perhaps that would be less risky.

I absolutely love Mass, and wouldn´t want to miss it. Although, I´m seriously concerned about getting the corona and thus passing it on to family and friends.
 
Last edited:
This weekend is going to be interesting we have just been told there is a case in my town …
 
There are 10 in mine, and my school has 1300 students and have yet not closed.
 
Last edited:
I feel like shopping carts are more likely to transmit the flu than going to mass. Punching buttons to pay with your debit card seems sketchy. Riding public transit and hanging on the handles seems like a great way to catch something.

Be ready to meet the Lord! He comes like a thief in the night!
 
I wish my workplace would close I am pregnant and don’t need the stress
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top