As it stands, Holy Mass will continue open to the public.
For those worried, all are dispensed from Sunday obligation.
In a time of crisis we turn toward God and trust in His Providence.
That said, use “common sense”/applied logic. If you have breathing issues, are sick with anything: stay home.
There is a real concern that folks could be carrying and spreading COVID 19 and not know it. To that end we wash the surfaces with a bleach cleaner and ask you are extra vigilant washing your hands. Avoid touching your face.
We have had historically WORSE flus than COVID 19 but to my knowledge this is the first time Western governments have suggested or even ordered churches closed.
The President has requested that we avoid gathering over 10 people. So we’re stuck with a situation. If we don’t close like the local mainstream diocese we risk being called fools or reckless with the lives of others.
If we close, we risk denying the proper honor due to God, we risk the very salvation of souls if people cannot access the sacraments. We are told by Our Holy Faith to:
Put not your trust in princes: In the children of men, in whom there is no salvation. “
Psalm 145 2-3 DRA
Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. “
Jeremiah 17:5 DRA
And a reminder not to put anything before the honor due to God.
… fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. “
Matthew 10:28
As Catholic Christians we seek to be good citizens, in matters pertaining to the salvation of souls only the Church, not the state, has authority.
Whatever, therefore in things human is of a sacred character, whatever belongs either of its own nature or by reason of the end to which it is referred, to the salvation of souls, or to the worship of God, is subject to the power and judgment of the Church … To wish the Church to be subject to the civil power in the exercise of her duty is a great folly and a sheer injustice. Whenever this is the case, order is disturbed, for things natural are put above things supernatural… “
Pope Leo XIII, Immortale Dei, 1885
So, I will offer public Mass until the County orders me otherwise and I will offer private Mass on the same schedule if we receive a directive. And if we have some novus ordo/mainstream friends come in any number, I’ll request permission to add Masses to reduce the person density.
You do not sin by missing Mass during this crisis because dispensation has been given. However many of you, myself included, find the miraculous power of the Mass to be real and to protect us from sin or to its attachment. To watch a Mass online compared to being present is the difference between looking at a picture of the Cross and actually being at the foot of it. So choose BOLDLY. God knows the heart, situation and your priorities.
For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for My sake, shall find it. “
Matthew 16:25
On a side note the Church (not the state per se) closed Lourdes. The optic of that is the leadership does not believe. They make a pretense of religion but deny its power (cf. 2 Tim 3:5) It sums up the current state of affairs in the era of Francis Bergoglio. This plague comes via globalization and coincident with sell-out of the Church of China and the veneration of Pachamama. Our Lord already has the Victory. Do you?
