Mass closed during pandemic? What are you doing?

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OraLabora said:
Liturgy of the Hours is the best thing ever in these times. We are still participating in real-time in the public liturgy of the Church. Without it I’m sure I’d be a basket case by now. I’m in self-isolation on account of being diabetic and 61. I’m lucky in that I know Gregorian chant and can chant the hours.
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Yes, like the Mass it is the Liturgy and we can pray it by ourselves.

It is beautiful.
 
actually, that was literally the ONLY snag I’ve had in live streaming so far! What’s really nice is many, many area parishes that never streamed are now doing so.
 
I’ve been feeling drawn to the LOTH much more lately too which seems to come and go for me. Isn’t part of the advantage is somewhere around the globe others are always praying it?
 
So far, I’m very pleasantly surprised the added home devotions are going so good. While nothing can replace the physical Eucharist, seems God is gracing us just as much. Several of the past few days I felt like I just got back from a retreat or something!

I would highly encourage anyone to at least try the live Mass streams, especially if they are local in a parish you know, preferably you’re own. I figure do what I can in order…go to Mass if possible. If not possible, then pray along with a live Mass online or tv…if I can’t make a live time work, pray along with a replay…if none of this works, simply pray it on your own. I realize not everybody owns a paper Roman Missal, but the readings are all over the internet and I think the prayers are somewhere online…but (free) this app has it all:
http://www.ibreviary.org/en/ibreviary/what-is-the-ibreviary.html
 
Pretty much given time zones and the fact that not everyone prays the LOTH at exactly the same time.

Oddly enough, I’m actually finding harder to pray the whole LOTH these days. For some reason I find the confinement tiring, and it makes it tough to get up for Vigils at my usual time (up at 5:15, start praying at 5:30. Today I forgot to set the alarm and slept right through to 6:15, so I started with Lauds at that time. And I’m usually in bed by 8:30 pm, pray Compline in bed and read a bit, and then lights out before 9:30 pm. And I sleep soundly so it’s not lack of sleep. I do get out for exercise (it’s still allowed here) on my bike if the weather is nice, or on my stationary bike in the basement if it’s not.

I don’t know if it’s the strain of anxiety, or the lethargy of inactivity, or the lack of human contact. Basically my wife is the only live human I see at the moment except for rare trips for groceries or to the pharmacy. I miss my Saturday breakfasts with my friends and especially the monks at the monastery where I work on Wednesdays (library) and where I attend Sunday Mass.
 
I keep thinking of the elderly men I saw when I attended Mass at the abbey. It must be so hard for them in these times. You must miss tem a lot.
 
I sure do. I was there every Wednesday to work in the library, and of course for Sunday Mass. I’m going to really miss the Triduum liturgies this year. It will feel weird praying Vespers on Holy Thursday and Good Friday (replaced by Mass and the Good Friday liturgies respectively). I had stopped going to the Easter Vigil a couple of years ago as I’m no longer all that comfortable driving on mountain roads at night, but I’ll also miss the Easter Mass (big secret: I prefer the Easter day Mass to the Vigil, liturgically-speaking).

Moreover from January 13th to February 13th, I spent the entire month living and working with the Abbey, and following the daily prayer schedule of 7 liturgies a day. About 3.5 hours on a non-feast day. I learned a new word: pew-butt 😃 I figured out why so many monks have cushions in their stalls. I was in a cell on the 5th floor of the bell tower and never used the elevator. I lost 10 lbs on that retreat! I worked in the library, at the porters desk, and in my cell translating the texts for their guided tours into English.

For me it’s not much different than an alcoholic quitting cold-turkey…
 
OraLabora said:
Moreover from January 13th to February 13th, I spent the entire month living and working with the Abbey, and following the daily prayer schedule of 7 liturgies a day. About 3.5 hours on a non-feast day. I learned a new word: pew-butt 😃 I figured out why so many monks have cushions in their stalls.
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I attended 5 so I can see where 7 would be a bit hard on the posterior. Is the very elderly, bent over brother still living? I’ve thought about him often.
 
Alas, he died last year at age 90. He had cancer in one eye. His efforts to attend every liturgy until nearly at the very end were heroic.

Our oldest will become 98 on April 8th. He still comes to liturgies in a wheelchair. He is still lucid though frail. I sent all the monks a Christmas card last year and I got a wonderful hand-written thank you note from him that I will cherish forever!
 
I hope to convince hubby to return to the area so I can go back to the abbey. I found it such a wonderful experience and would very much like to repeat.
 
Let me quote from the letter my pastor sent parishioners about the suspension of public Masses in our parish and diocese:

To be without the public celebration of Mass is a hardship for all of us Catholics. We are being called by Jesus at this time to accompany him into the desert, where he fasted and prayed for 40 days and 40 nights. In our Catholic faith, there is a strong tradition of making an act of spiritual communion when we are not able to receive Holy Communion sacramentally. I encourage you to do this frequently during this time, using the Act of Spiritual Communion written by St. Alphonsus Liguori:

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
 
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Father put his private mass on Facebook. I didn’t think it was bothering me too much, not attending mass every day, until I heard that familiar voice and those familiar words. I was a puddle by the end when Father told us not to be afraid.
 
Our diocese is live streaming the Mass and having us watch from the parking lot. Then the priest and EM’s bring the Eucharist outside and administer to us who have lined up 6 feet apart outside the building.
 
Our Monsignor mentioned this option was
being considered today during the live stream Mass. They are still working on the logistics and how it will/if it can be implemented. How did it work for y’all?
 
EWTN broadcasts Sunday Mass at 8AM and Noon. In addition, EWTN televises daily Mass on most weekdays at 8AM, Noon, and 7PM.
You can also view EWTN on youtube.
 
My husband says that priests must say Mass every day, even privately. Is that true? That would be great. If not true and all masses are being cancelled how many I wonder have stopped saying Mass? Thank you :pray:t2:❤️
 
RN69 said:
I go to the Passionists production of The Sunday Mass for my participation in the liturgy on weekends. Yesterday on St. Patrick’s day, I viewed daily Mass through Word on Fire. Bishop Barron just began this due to the corona virus outbreak causing church closings. My son sent a link to the Magnificant (us.magnificant.net.free) as additional worship site. I haven’t explored it yet. My daughter has two young children ages 7&4 and she has gotten creative by doing a children’s church. At Mass it is difficult to keep them attentive so she didn’t think they’d watch on-line without a lot of squirming. They sit down and she does the Mass readings from her Missalette. Both paid attention and afterwards she facilitates a discussion about the readings. She said that she was surprised by what they had retained evident by the questions they asked. Blessings in disguise.
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When I was little (preschool to maybe 12), we cousins often heard: “Children should be seen and not heard,” and “Little pitchers have big ears!” How true! It was an entirely different society then, than it is today, especially when guests were present. If we spoke unnecessarily, we’d be sent to the playroom and miss the delectable company refreshments, so we learned to listen, while pretending to be absorbed in our coloring books. Absolutely, children pick up concepts that we adults erroneously think are beyond their understanding.
 
We weren’t able to make it due to a sick child, but as far as I know 5 Masses with distribution happened yesterday. We watched the livestream and it had no issues.
 
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