Not knowing what is happening day by day, I am not sure what to write about, but in my 53 years of life and 27 years as a priest, this is unprecedented. It is weird and new for us all as Sunday Mass is cancelled, or you are choosing to not attend for good reason, remember that the Church is still at prayer. Abbeys of monks and nuns are carrying on their unabated rhythms of prayers. Raising their hearts and minds to God in the psalms and Holy Mass, the Church’s contemplatives continue their exalted vocation of interceding for the faithful.
Your parish priests, too, will continue to offer Masses on behalf of his people. Even if his church is closed, your priest will be there, standing as mediator between God and his parish. He will also continue, insofar as he is able, to administer the sacraments to the sick and dying. The treasure of cycles of prayer that mark the changing of times and seasons will persist, unwavering until the last days. Christ instituted the Church to stand through the last days, and stand it will. Even though churches may cease holding public Masses, many will remain open. Make visits to the Blessed Sacrament which is always present in the tabernacle, joining the Church in prayer through your private devotion.
Tune in to Mass online, on television, and on the radio. Many tremendous resources exist to join the Church at prayer. National networks like EWTN will make it possible for Catholics to participate in Holy Mass while at home. We will hopefully be livestreaming Sunday Mass and I usually post the audio of my homilies weekly on our web page. Check our parish website for updates.
You should never feel as if you get an ‘extra hour’ if you cannot attend Sunday Mass, but you could still gather “spiritually.” Why not continue to pray the prayers and readings of the Mass at the very time you typically attend? Believers can then be joined, knowing they are still praying together.
Begin by making the Sign of the Cross. Then read the readings aloud with your family these can be found in publications like Magnificat, or at usccb.org. In place of a homily, maybe discuss each of the readings separately and then talk about how they relate to one another. Then offer petitions, saying out loud your prayers for the Church, remembering especially those affected by COVID-19. Conclude by praying the Our Father and making the Sign of the Cross.
The recurring temptation in any serious crisis is to allow the selfish instincts of survival to overtake Christian prudence and charity. The reality is that Christians have always been identified by their love for the sick, not their indifference to suffering! If you are healthy and able, volunteer for those at risk. Seek out people in your local parish who may be in need. As large-scale operations are likely to be put to the test responding to this outbreak, grassroots charity will be more powerful. Far from being simple activism, the love shown in times of crisis mirrors the very love God has for His sons and daughters.
Christians cannot ever be alone. No disease, illness or crisis has the power to separate us from the love of Christ, which alone sustains us. We are a people who will continue to have hope!
The current public health epidemic is part of the cross we will carry this Lent. Under its weight, let us not stumble, nor falter. Embracing the penitential aspects of this particular Lenten season will purify us all, allowing the love of Christ that conquers all things to shine ever victorious.