W
whatistrue
Guest
Can’t speak for anywhere else but in my state, wearing a mask or cloth face covering is mandatory for indoor public places (e.g. stores, train stations, etc.) under an order from the Governor.
- Status
P
phil19034
Guest
Yes, some states have different rules. The Federal Govt is leaving it up to the statesphil19034:
Can’t speak for anywhere else but in my state, wearing a mask or cloth face covering is mandatory for indoor public places (e.g. stores, train stations, etc.) under an order from the Governor.
A
Anesti33
Guest
Some people at my parish wear masks, some don’t. We are advised out of charity to take precautions, but our bishop and pastor hasn’t really placed requirements on the faithful as to what form those precautions take.
I wear a mask because I ride the bus, but over half of the transit riders I see do not wear a mask anyway. I personally realize that my own mask is hardly doing anything useful, because I have a full beard and I’ve purchased cheap paper surgical masks.
Our precautions and changes to the Mass are mostly around the distribution of Holy Communion, which does involve the ministers wearing masks, and credence tables are set up so that the minister can use the ablution cup and then sanitize his hands. This is done in the case of any skin-to-skin contact. Communion on the tongue and in the hand is permitted.
Father was using the Kyrie tropes instead of the Confiteor, but he’s gone back to the latter as of last Sunday. We are still livestreaming to Facebook, which is new. There’s no other substantial change to our beautiful liturgy, except Father gives a mention to today’s circumstances in the homily or announcements, and as always, exhorts us to maintain a Christian joy and peace, from our devotion to the Holy Eucharist, that we bring to others we meet.
I wear a mask because I ride the bus, but over half of the transit riders I see do not wear a mask anyway. I personally realize that my own mask is hardly doing anything useful, because I have a full beard and I’ve purchased cheap paper surgical masks.
Our precautions and changes to the Mass are mostly around the distribution of Holy Communion, which does involve the ministers wearing masks, and credence tables are set up so that the minister can use the ablution cup and then sanitize his hands. This is done in the case of any skin-to-skin contact. Communion on the tongue and in the hand is permitted.
Father was using the Kyrie tropes instead of the Confiteor, but he’s gone back to the latter as of last Sunday. We are still livestreaming to Facebook, which is new. There’s no other substantial change to our beautiful liturgy, except Father gives a mention to today’s circumstances in the homily or announcements, and as always, exhorts us to maintain a Christian joy and peace, from our devotion to the Holy Eucharist, that we bring to others we meet.
Last edited:
A
Anne1964
Guest
Wearing masks in my state is recommended but not mandatory. Parishes in my diocese vary in what they require. Some require everyone to wear a mask and some don’t. Some only distribute Communion in the hand while others distribute Communion on the tongue. Many parishes have closed the restrooms.
In my parish virtually no one wears a mask, most of us receive Communion on the tongue, and the restrooms are open. All hymnals have been removed but we are given a handout for the hymns. We have to sign up online to attend Mass as we are limited to 50% capacity. Father has added a third Mass on Sunday to accommodate more people.
In my parish virtually no one wears a mask, most of us receive Communion on the tongue, and the restrooms are open. All hymnals have been removed but we are given a handout for the hymns. We have to sign up online to attend Mass as we are limited to 50% capacity. Father has added a third Mass on Sunday to accommodate more people.
E
Elf01
Guest
Could churches mandate wearing masks to be allowed attend Mass?
Well, masks are not mandatory here because our health experts have concluded they are not a necessity except in places where social distancing is impossible, given we’re well over the peak and have very few new cases - 4 people catching the virus in the same workplace made the national news yesterday.
The Swiss are a notoriously disciplined people when needed (at the beginning of the epidemic the government only had to ask nicely “please stay home” and everybody did), but good luck trying to mandate something the experts have deemed superfluous
The Swiss are a notoriously disciplined people when needed (at the beginning of the epidemic the government only had to ask nicely “please stay home” and everybody did), but good luck trying to mandate something the experts have deemed superfluous
P
Pitcairn17
Guest
That’s the case here in my Massachusetts diocese. Massachusetts alone has a COVID death total 10 times that of all Japan. Masks are to be put on before even entering the church, and kept on throughout Mass except for a few seconds at Communion (in the hand only). Massachusetts requires masks in all public places. No hymnals or missalettes, no choir, no gifts procession, brief homilies. In the 2 weeks since churches have been opened, attendance at our parish has been maybe 1/3 of normal. The dispensation regarding Mass attendance remains in place. No altar servers. Clergy wear rubber gloves at Communion.OddBird:
Could churches mandate wearing masks to be allowed attend Mass?
J
Jen7
Guest
I grew up with a priest who was trained by someone whose priesthood was spent in hiding (I’m not sure what country). Our priest had been taught to say 20 minute Masses (15 mins on weekdays because he left out the prayers of the faithful, which is optional in weekdays anyway). They were EXTREMELY reverent Masses. He spoke fast but clearly. He gave a solid, orthodox 2-sentence sermon. You always came away from the sermon with something to ponder. Nothing essential was omitted , ever. We didn’t sing, That is the Mass I wish all priests would learn now. There is no need to cut out the Gloria or Creed.
Was this the Traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo (“Ordinary Form” or OF)?HomeschoolDad:
I grew up with a priest who was trained by someone whose priesthood was spent in hiding (I’m not sure what country). Our priest had been taught to say 20 minute Masses (15 mins on weekdays because he left out the prayers of the faithful, which is optional in weekdays anyway). They were EXTREMELY reverent Masses. He spoke fast but clearly. He gave a solid, orthodox 2-sentence sermon. You always came away from the sermon with something to ponder. Nothing essential was omitted , ever. We didn’t sing, That is the Mass I wish all priests would learn now. There is no need to cut out the Gloria or Creed.
As a side thought, all of this would be very counter-intuitive to Protestants. We know, as Catholics, that our primary purpose in being at Mass is not to be inspired, to be taught, to hear good music, or to be given a profound, well-delivered sermon. All of these things are nice, but none of them are essential. We go for the sacrament, and we go for the sacrifice. At its very core, it is a ritual that the priest performs, and we merely “assist” him — “back in the day”, you would hear it referred to as “assisting at Mass”, a phrase I still use. (I have wondered if it is derived from the French “assister à”, meaning “to attend”. I don’t know.) You can go to Mass not the least bit elevated in mind, heart, or soul, and you can get not one smidgen of inspiration or joy from it, yet if you have assisted at it with the proper dispositions, and if fasting and in the state of grace you have chosen to receive Holy Communion, your joining in the Holy Sacrifice has been entirely sanctifying and praiseworthy.
- Status