What are your thoughts on the wording of a sign I saw at mass?

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Magdalene

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I saw a sign at mass today that had a picture of a mask and it said “Masks save lives, wear a mask for Christ’s sake”

If they have a sign about masks that’s fine with me, but the “for Christ’s sake” part seems like a poor choice of words… Maybe I’m just over thinking it, but I’ve always heard that phrasing used more in an angry way, like taking the lord’s name in vain. So much so that it’s hard to read it without hearing it that way. It almost seems like they’re trying to make a joke about it, which isn’t exactly what I want to see in the sanctuary before mass.

This isn’t my normal parish, so I don’t know anybody there to ask what they think. I wanted to get some opinions from other people. Am I the only person uncomfortable with it? Have you seen signs with this wording at your parish? Would you be bothered if you did?
 
It is a poor choice of words. I’m sure their intention was to motivate people to wear a mask in consideration for others, but I take issue with the way it’s phrased.
 
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I think it’s borderline offensive, though I also think it was meant to make people think about what the words “for Christ’s sake” really mean, and maybe next time they won’t use that phrase in vain.

I would not hang it in a parish because I know it would upset at least some people.

If this isn’t your regular parish, maybe best to just let them do what they do at their own parish. For all you know the priest personally approved it.
 
The moral is: Don’t put the most breezily funny person in the parish in charge of the public address sign(s).

Slightly better sign:

Worship resumes:

Sunday Masks: 9, 11 am
Social Diskance please!

😜 < Popeye decal
(y’know, fer th’ kids!)
 
ThomasMT said:
I know that I wouldn’t attend at that parish.
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Dismissing an entire parish community over a questionable sign seems pretty extreme. Perhaps the intention was to redeem a phrase that most people encounter only in its sacrilegious context.
 
im too fed up with the masks to think anything but feeling annoyed. To say its Christs sake to wear a mask is to imply that people allowed to smoke should also be told to quit for Christs sake or if they drink too much or eat too much or do anything that is health risky. This nonsense can go on and on forever and meantime people are dying of other reasons .
 
Guest1 said:
Just an idea: You could call the parish and voice your opinion kindly.
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Even though it’s somewhat offensive, personally, I wouldn’t say anything. But that’s just my personality.
 
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If it were my own parish I would say something, but since it isn’t I don’t plan to.

I do appreciate hearing other people’s thoughts on it, I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds it inappropriate.
 
It has more to do with dismissing the leadership of said community. Unfortunately we are living in times when absurdity is exercised so liberally that my patience for it is running on fumes. Besides, it is often the case that it’s the little things that say the most.
 
The first thing I thought of is that we are the body of Christ, as in 1 Corinthians, so we wear a mask to protect each other. I know the secular use of “for Christ’s sake” also expresses exasperation, but I thought of the body of Christ. Anyway, it made me think.
 
It’s questionable. Maybe not meant profanely, but whoever wrote that certainly must have known it would be taken that way. He or she should have thought better.
 
I would say it is blasphemy. Taking the Holy name of Our Lord in vain. IMHO.
 
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Shocking, irksome, trite. I would have advised against it.
 
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The real problem is the lack of truth about the masks. The coronavirus may be slowed by a mask but not stopped. The holes in the mask let air filled with virus in and out. Were it not so, you couldn’t breathe wearing a mask.

It’s useful to ask yourself, if you knew the person standing one metre away from you had Covid, would you feel protected by his wearing the mask? I would not.
 
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Is some protection still better than no protection? This isn’t an “all or nothing” situation. Taking every reasonable measure to hopefully protect others is a noble gesture. No- don’t go around thinking the mask makes casual or careless contact safe; but it reduces risk.
 
Bet he or she DID think better and decided it was a good chance to make people think both about what they are really saying when they use that term casually and responsibility for other at the same time.
 
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