The (Right) Time to Open the Churches for Public Celebrations?

I titled this article with a question because I do not have the answer. Allow me to share with you what I am thinking about this matter. So, what I am writing here is a reflection of my thought processes.

Before we continue, I would like to make clear one crucial point, from the Church’s point of view, in a Diocese, it is the Bishop alone who can decide matters such as this. If he wants to have masses publicly celebrated, then he can do so. Of course, decisions are not made according to the Bishop’s whims or fancy, but after consultation and discernment.

Since we are also living in a society governed by laws, the Bishop is not exempted from the State Laws; thus, it is not commonplace for any member of the episcopacy to go against State laws unless it is against “faith and morals.”

With these elements in place, please allow me to share with you what I am thinking about regarding the “right time to open the churches for public celebrations.”

What is the compelling reason to open the churches for public celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic?

If the Catholic Church leadership would insist that the churches should be open for public celebration, what is the reason that it is so important that we will place the “health” of the faithful at risks since the danger of the pandemic is not yet over?

Is it for the salvation of souls?

However, the bishops have already sacramentally dispensed the Sunday obligations during this pandemic. It means that the faithful will not incur sin by missing their duty to go to Mass on Sundays as commanded by Church precepts.

Is it because the people are hungry for the Eucharist?

Well, maybe the people are indeed hungry to receive the Body of the Lord in communion. And this hunger will only be fulfilled by their reception of the Body of the Lord.

However, not being able to receive the sacrament regularly is not a cause for damnation. This is an obvious fact when there are no available priests or there are circumstances beyond human control or during man-made disaster and wars among many other situations.

Rather what is true is the opposite, to receive the Body of Christ frequently and regularly but unworthily is a cause for sin.

I am not saying that the faithful should not receive communion, but I think this time should be the moment for all of us to realize the value of this sacrament in our lives. It is like losing something to know its worth when before we just take it for granted.

Take note, by the grace of God; this pandemic is not going to be forever. Time will come when we again will receive with gratitude and a deeper understanding of the Body of the Lord in communion. Patience is a virtue.

Is it because we longed to celebrate the Mass as a community?

Maybe the compelling reason is that we are a people of celebration, that the Masses streamed over the internet and cable TV is not enough to satisfy the longing of our hearts.

It was said that the Mass is an event, not a spectacle. What is the difference between the two?

In a spectacle, you are just there to see without participating like watching a basketball game or a concert, you are present, but you do not participate.

In an event, you are part of what is unfolding in time and space. You cannot just be a mere spectator, you are a participant.

However, is it not true that the Holy Father also streamed his Masses online and on TV? Furthermore, even if it is just a broadcast, there is still value in it. This is the reason why we advised the elderly and the sick who cannot attend Sunday Masses to watch it on TV or online.

If you imply otherwise, are you saying that what our elderly and sick faithful are watching is merely a second-rate “show?”

Is it because there are no cases of infection in the town?

If we are talking about the safety of the people, then there is no problem because there are no reported cases of infection in the locality. Why deprive the people of the Mass when there is only phantom danger?

I think this is like playing Russian roulette.

For those readers who are in Negros Occidental, remember the case of a driver who did not know that he has the virus. He finished his 14-day quarantine with flying colors. It was only when his employers got tested and were positive that he underwent testing, which also turned out as positive. He was asymptomatic except for diarrhea, which was resolved by taking over the counter medicines.

The problem is not those who are symptomatic; rather, it is those who are asymptomatic who pose a danger because they are not aware that they can infect other people. Mass testing is the key here.

There are still many returning workers from abroad, cruise ships, cargo ships, and those from other provinces who may pose a problem when they have false-negative results.

Recall about those seafarers who tested negative in Manila, so they were able to go home to Bacolod, only to have positive results of infection when they arrived. Are we willing to play Russian roulette with the health of our people?

Is it because those who do not want to open the churches for public celebrations have little faith in God?

With this, I can only echo Peter, who said: “Lord, increase our faith.” For those who are heroic in their faith, grant that your tribes increase a thousand-fold.

On the other hand, I would like to ask that those who claimed that God would protect those who believe in him, are you implying that those who died due to COVID-19 does not have faith in God and that God did not protect them?

I would, rather, argue that those who are insisting along this line of thoughts are guilty of “tempting the Lord.” Remember, when Jesus was tempted in the desert where he was asked to jump from the parapet of the Temple because God will send his angels to protect Jesus.

I think those who insist that there should be public masses because they have faith in God are forcing the hands of God, testing God.

Is it not that the public celebration of Masses is also an essential good?

Some are attempting to flip the government’s policies that allowed groceries and pharmacies to operate. Thus, they wanted to group with the essential goods the public celebration of the Mass. They argued that the people are in need not only of bread (rice) and medicines but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.

Without sounding “irreligious,” practically there was no one who died because he or she did not attend the Mass, well at least physically if not spiritually.

Yet, on the other hand, I would like to remind those who advocate this view that “lock-downs” and quarantines cannot stop the Word of God. I think that this is the reason why we always believe in the availability of the Word of God.

God made himself available to all of us. He did not confine himself in a certain locality; rather, he promised that he is present when “two or three” are gathered in his name. This numerical requisite, should not be taken literally, can be fulfilled by those who are in their homes.

On the other hand, groceries and medicines are not readily available to all. How about having food delivered to one’s house? Good for those who are financially capable of having these services, but how about those who can only afford the necessities of life? There are minimum purchases to be made so that goods can be delivered to your house which made the poor unable to avail such comfort as house delivery.

Can we deliver the Mass to the houses? Maybe, there are those who might want to do this.

However, as a whole there is no need because Jesus himself will go to wherever “two or three are gathered” in his name to have the Word of God alive. Jesus will bring himself to the homes without charge or minimum purchase.

The question remains: What is the compelling reason to celebrate the Mass publicly at the risk of exposing the faithful to the SARS-COV 2 virus?

Did I miss something important in my thought process?

What is the compelling reason to have public celebrations of mass in the churches? (As of the time when I published this article, May 14, 2020)

The answer is: I still do not know.

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