The covid 19 has impacted our life in a huge manner. May it be shopping, education, working etc. We all know the changes and are adapting to it every day. Similarly covid also had a great impact on our spiritual life. The Church too relaxed the rules and asked the faithful to attend the online version of the mass so that they are not totally disconnected from the Church. With the introduction of the online mass it has given a lot of benefits to us. Attending mass at Church/ chapel on Sunday and days of obligation is the 3rd commandment. Under the pain of mortal sin we all are bound to attend mass. Now because of the kind of disease, the individual Bishop exercised his power and lifted the burden of sin of not attending Sunday or holy day mass. So, accordingly an exception is made. However let’s really check if they are benefitsThe covid 19 has impacted our life in a huge manner. May it be shopping, education, working etc. We all know the changes and are adapting to it every day. Similarly covid also had a great impact on our spiritual life. The Church too relaxed the rules and asked the faithful to attend the online version of the mass so that they are not totally disconnected from the Church. With the introduction of the online mass it has given a lot of benefits to us. Attending mass at Church/ chapel on Sunday and days of obligation is the 3rd commandment. Under the pain of mortal sin we all are bound to attend mass. Now because of the kind of disease, the individual Bishop exercised his power and lifted the burden of sin of not attending Sunday or holy day mass. So, accordingly an exception is made. However let’s really check if they are benefits
1. We can attend mass from home, no need to go to the Church: Yes looking at the covid scenario avoiding crowded places is a social responsibility. However we have to realize that we go shopping, meeting people and do a whole lot of other things following the SOP’s so why not we attend mass at the church once in a while?. The Church has definitely given us a relaxation but that should not make us lazy and habitual in not going to Church. The book of Exodus tells us that God instructed Moses to build a temple. So are churches built to worship God.
2. Selecting a short Mass and attending it at our convenient time: God should be our top priority and hence attending a Mass by sacrificing our valuable time is of utmost importance. We should offer God the best and not what is left over.
3. Participating in Mass on TV or Phones:
a) Mass is the highest form of prayer, being present for the Mass is being at Calvary with Jesus and Mary. Where Jesus and Mary are present the Holy Trinity is present along with the Angels. In short the entire heaven is down on earth. Can such holiness ever be experienced through the world’s most tempting gadgets?
b) We watching everything (A-Z) good or bad on television and God alone knows what we watch on mobile phones in our total privacy. I need not elaborate more. Can we watch holy mass on the same instrument?
c) What atmosphere prevails when we watch the mass at homes? (In bedrooms and sitting rooms)
d) To take matters still further- what we wear or don’t wear when we watch mass.
e) Watching sports and regular serials is not the same as watching mass. We don’t WATCH THE MASS, but we actually PARTICIPATE IN THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS.
The above are purely my views. I am not against online masses but i feel we should not adapt so much as to accept the online masses as the new Church norms.
Neville Fernandes