"Will Covid Kill Your Soul?"

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The article would have more clout if there were only one or two churches in town. In my city, there is a Catholic Church every 5 or 6 miles, and all of them have different protocols and rules for handling Covid, some more lenient than others. There are also multiple mass times available to go, including virtual sign-up times offered in some parishes. These options have made it possible for my very large family to have a pew available nearly every single Sunday.

Lockdown is killing souls more than limited seating.
In Japan, more suicides occurred in one month than the entire yearly deaths caused by covid:
In October alone, suicides among women surged by almost 83 per cent as compared to the same month the previous year. Meanwhile, male suicides rose almost 22 per cent over the same time period.

The reason of the disproportionate rate has been many. Woman constitute a large proportion of part-time workers in the travel and hospitality industry, which has largely bear the brunt of the pandemic. In addendum, they have also been dealing with skyrocketing unpaid care burdens and anxiety about their children has made it worse. Another major reason has been unprecedented domestic violence and sexual abuse by husband, father, brothers and other men of the house.
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This article gives its own reasons for Japan’s spike in suicide caused by Covid. I believe there are others, but it is riveting to think about in understanding male, female, and human psyche in general.
 
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Where I live, we’ve had no public Mass for much of the past 8 months, and no confessions in that time. It’s definitely not good for souls.
 
sealabeag said:
Where I live, we’ve had no public Mass for much of the past 8 months, and no confessions in that time. It’s definitely not good for souls.
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That is devastating. And no confession for 8 months? I cant imagine? In New Mexico, the bishop allowed outdoor mass for families in their cars. It seems like there are possible options for confession. My parish has 12 feet apart line which is outside, and the confessor is inside in one large room by himself, with a plastic shield. up. It’s not like it isn’t doable. So sad the church there has not done more for people there. 😔 🙏
 
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Japan is not a Christian nation - ritual suicide was a big part of their culture and practiced failure is shame. Bad example. Buddhism and Shinto are the main religions Christianity plays a small role.
 
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I don’t understand the point of the article.

Should we in the U.S. demand better of ourselves, so that we ourselves are more appreciative of our opportunities to attend Mass weekly or daily when so many people around the world don’t have that option?

Should we demand that virus restrictions be lifted? (Although the author recognizes that the danger is real)

Should we focus our self-discipline to maintain our strong faith so that it is not weakened when we’re not able to celebrate as we’d like?
 
Japan’s suicide spikes in 2020 speak volumes about how devastating long periods of isolation are to a soul, especially if that soul is isolated from any kind of pathway to or hope of God’s love and grace. Catholics, at least, have the option of online mass and personal devotions and prayer.
Ritual suicide is no longer a cultural phenomenon in contemporary Japanese culture. Although, Buddhism and Shintoism do not have clear teachings against suicide. So this reason may contribute to the fact that suicide is more common in areas where there is not a large portion of Christian believers. On the other hand, we as Christian believers know that a relationship with Jesus Christ and His saving grace is the hope we carry within us, a hope that can surpass all trials on earth. Our faith and love for Jesus gives a reason to take up our cross and follow Him.
 
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BT3241 said:
Japan is not a Christian nation - ritual suicide was a big part of their culture and practiced failure is shame. Bad example. Buddhism and Shinto are the main religions Christianity plays a small role.
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But haven’t even Buddhism and Shintoism fallen by the wayside?

I may be wrong, but I thought I read Japan has become extremely secular.
 
Covid won’t kill my soul.
It might kill my body.

Only sin can kill the soul .
 
Covid along with every other “crisis” and “trial and tribulation” and “problem” is a VERY good thing. So good God allows them to happen. They draw us to him whether we like it or not.
 
The recurring theme in the article, the “soul killing” aspect, is completely under our control. The writer has perhaps observed in herself or fellow Catholics an attitude “so focused on getting a seat in our churches” that we are figuratively “pushing our neighbors out of the way as we walk in.”

This becomes a problem if we let it. The good news is that we don’t have to have that attitude. We can give up our place in the pew to the elderly, the family, the newcomer, or others in great need of the physical presence at Mass.
 
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Yes along these same lines I think many cultures have forgotten, or not ever known, how to “suffer well.” The saint knew though.
 
In my parish you can make a reservation for a seat with Evite but we still have a dispensation in place for Mass attendance. When I was able to attend Mass, the usher didn’t check the reservation because there were still several seats available.
 
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I would hate to be in your bishop’s shoes on Judgement Day
 
I’ve posted this a few times since I came across it recently, but the pandemic could be good or bad for the soul, depending on how you approach it.

St. Cyprian:
And further, beloved brethren, what is it, what a great thing is it, how pertinent, how necessary, that pestilence and plague which seems horrible and deadly, searches out the righteousness of each one, and examines the minds of the human race, to see whether they who are in health tend the sick; whether relations affectionately love their kindred; whether masters pity their languishing servants; whether physicians do not forsake the beseeching patients; whether the fierce suppress their violence; whether the rapacious can quench the ever insatiable ardour of their raging avarice even by the fear of death; whether the haughty bend their neck; whether the wicked soften their boldness; whether, when their dear ones perish, the rich, even then bestow anything, and give, when they are to die without heirs. Even although this mortality conferred nothing else, it has done this benefit to Christians and to God’s servants that we begin gladly to desire martyrdom as we learn not to fear death. These are trainings for us, not deaths: they give the mind the glory of fortitude; by contempt of death they prepare for the crown.
CHURCH FATHERS: Treatise 7 (Cyprian of Carthage)
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