Quebec Assembly of Bishops Cancels all Sunday Masses

[steph03]

So when the news of mass cancellation in Quebec occurred (I live in Quebec)… I thought ‘no problem’ as I would head to Ontario for mass (I live just across the river). But now the Ottawa Archdiocese has also cancelled all masses in the nearby Ontario churches.

My so!ution is to drive out to my local church, stay in my car and do an extra Rosary.

 

[maryjk]

Isn’t the whole point of cancelling Mass, to have people avoid crowds? How would driving to another diocese be okay?

In fact, couldn’t it be worse. You area has cancelled Mass because of the health of your area. So you take your potential germs to another area?

Thankfully, they have cancelled Masses there as well.

 

[OraLabora]

I was born in Hawkesbury, BTW, so on the same river.

My solution is something I do all the time, chant the Liturgy of the Hours. Perhaps with a bit of extra care. I might try and chant the Propers of the Mass, and of course read the Sunday readings.

 

[steph03]

I totally respect your opinion and your thoughts on this are definitely valid.

My take is if I can physically attend mass, I will. I will take all appropriate measures (purell, sneeze in elbow, isolate myself in the Church in a corner somewhere), no shaking hands, holy water or come in close proximity to anyone (except.for the Eucharist)… I mean they had masses during the black plague… Ultimately it comes down to conscience…

 

[twf]

As I mentioned, Vancouver hasn’t cancelled Masses, but attendance is capped at 250 per… so if you’re not among the first 250 to show up you’ll be turned away. Many parishes would have far bigger crowds than that for multiple Masses on a Sunday so it will be interesting. I’m going to try once in the morning and perhaps once in the evening… but if I can’t get in both times I’ll do LOTH.

 

[OraLabora]

I mean they had masses during the black plague…

True but I think we have to recognize the fact that back then, they didn’t have the scientific knowledge that we do now. The plague was bacterial, and today antibiotics would have dealt with it efficiently. They also had no notion of basic hygiene with respect to germ transmission. So there was no way to sanitize. Mass back then likely acted as a vector for transmission.

Today we know better. We know that COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus for which antibiotics are useless, and whose transmission is facilitated by large groups in close quarters. And we know that it is disproportionately more severe on the elderly and those with underlying conditions. For those who aren’t especially at risk, getting exposed will increase risk for those in our circle of friends and family who are.

So we all have, I think, a moral responsibility to avoid exposure no matter how fit we thing we are.

 

[steph03]

Valid points, but at this time there is no known domestic propagation of covid -19 in Canada, and in my city there is not 1 known case (yet).