There’s something that the Church desperately needs you to do for it . . .
STAY HOME!!!
Having a contagious disease is a valid excuse for missing Mass.
Indeed, there seems to be something of a moral obligation not to infect other people so that they will suffer as you have been.
If you insist on showing up then be considerate of others by sitting at the front instead of the back so you won’t be coughing germs all over the people in front of you. (Preferably sit off to one side so you won’t be coughing directly at the priest.)
Also, when you do cough, remember your mother’s instructions and cover your mouth.
And kindly content yourselves with receiving the fullness of our Lord’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity under the appearances of bread.
All this applies to sick kids, too. If your kids are sick, leave ’em at home. If you don’t have anyone to leave ’em with, stay with ’em. The care of children is also a valid reason to miss Mass.
Thanks much!
(Sorry. Needed to get that out of my system.)
Thanks Jimmy. I have the flu and was unsure whether I was going to attend Mass this evening. Of course I wouldn’t have dreamed of taking the precious blood while sick. With your encouragement, I’ll stay home.
I’ll just make my daily prayers, including that my 9 month pregnant wife Wendy (due this Friday) and 17 month son Gregory don’t catch this bug from me, from home.
Very informative.
Jimmy-
My Dad handed on to me a work ethic which held that you just DON’T miss work on account of illness unless you are actually unable to stand or walk (sorta like the Spongebob “suds” episode). I think it’s natural for some of us to carry this over to the Mass. It’s good to have assurance (again) of the humaneness, charity and good sense of church teaching on this point.
I’m being told that the new rule is to cough (or sneeze) into your shoulder, not into your hand.
I hear ya, Jimmy!
Thanks, Jimmy — it makes good common sense that the obligation to attend should be balanced with due concern for one’s own health, and ensuring that you aren’t a danger to those in your parish. People aren ‘t always aware of this and so beat themselves over the head for staying home when sick (myself included).
Brad Naas wrote:
“I’m being told that the new rule is to cough (or sneeze) into your shoulder, not into your hand.”
Ah, yes – or at least a tissue. Nobody wants to shake a hand into which one has recently coughed. (I won’t get into hand-holding, since I avoid that as much as I can in Mass.)
One should also note that the person who is coughing in Mass may not actually have a contagious disease.
Dear Mr. Akin,
On a lighter note…I would hesitate to suggest coughing into one’s hand at Mass…those germs are just going to find another way of spreading to our brethren when we offer one another the ‘sign of the peace’ 🙂
God Bless.
Jimmy,
How could anyone catch a cold or the flu from the blood of Christ.
I have never had any fear of getting sick from the Precious Blood of Jesus.
God Bless,
Linda
Dear Linda,
You need not fear getting sick from the Precious Blood of Jesus but you could get sick from the germs that were put in there (or on the rim of the cup) by those who were sick.
God bless,
ferdie
To JIMMY,
What do people who are ill, and believe in receiving Holy Communion on the tongue from the Priest, do?
To JIMMY,
What do people who are ill, and believe in receiving Holy Communion on the tongue from the Priest, do?
I am sick but I went to Mass tonight because I’d never been to a Holy Thursday Mass before (being a new Catholic) and I am glad I went. I prayed no one would get sick from me…then again, I’m not coughing or sneezing.
Besides, if I stayed away from Mass everytime I’ve been sick this year I would have missed it a LOT…that’s what I get from working at a daycare center…
And I also tend to agree with Linda. I have yet to hear of someone getting sick from taking the chalice. I mean honestly, it’s not that great a stretch to believe He is protecting the very chalice that holds His Most Precious Blood, is it? If we BELIEVE, that is. (Just like the Eucharist is always His Body and Blood, but only makes a difference in our lives if we believe.)
Concerning coughing: I teach my family to cough inside their shirt, blouse, sweatshirt etc. Coughing into a kleenex may prevent the germs from spraying into the air but, germs are still going on the hands which people fail to wash and are touching everything.
Wouldn’t the alcohol kill the germs?
To Nicole and Linda (regarding receiving the Precious Blood from the chalice when sick),
Consider that this is an issue still being discussed, and nowhere do we have a verbal or written promise from Our Lord that He will not allow germs to live on the chalice rim. It may be reasonable to think He would prevent this, but that does not give us any assurance. It is at least POSSIBLE that He would allow nature to take its course and germs to survive on the rim of the chalice.
Therefore, out of courtesy to your brothers and sisters in Christ, please PLEASE PLEASE do not receive from the chalice when you are sick. As Jimmy noted, we still receive the whole Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ when we receive the host alone.
Just the fact that people are questioning the propriety of this makes me wince at the thought of my loved ones receiving from the chalice again.
What if in Our Lord’s unfathomable wisdom He decided not to prevent germs from remaining on the chalice as you thought, and after you die you find out that you gave a bad cold to a frail old beloved grandmother at church who ended up dying from pneumonia. Okay, that’s a long shot, but it is an illustration that you do not have the right to risk the health of others based on your own unsubstantiated reasoning. You do not know for sure what God decided on this issue, so play it safe.
Thanks for listening to my rant.
🙂
Consider also that there are other issues where people try to figure out “what God would do” and fail, because we just can’t always figure out what God would do!
The only one I can think of is a more extreme and totally different example, but I’ll give it anyway. Why would God allow spontaneous miscarriages? Why so many? It’s not much of a stretch to think that God would at least allow every human conceived to make it to birth (and therefore have a chance to be baptized which is the normal way God gave us to ender heaven) unless someone else in their own free will took the baby’s life or something external happened to harm their health in-utero. However, He does allow spontaneous miscarriages. The world is fallen, and God allows bad things to happen. Why? I don’t know. But God is God and I just can’t understand everything He does.
1) Of course you can get sick from the Precious Blood because it retains all the physical properties of wine. While the alcohol is mildly antiseptic, the amount that touches the rim from sip to sip won’t do very much.
2) I looked up the subject of excusing oneself from Mass due to illness in various manuals of moral theology, and I posted my finds here: http://old-oligarch.blogspot.com/2005_04_01_old-oligarch_archive.html#111199076025151003.
Thank you, Jimmy, for raising this important subject. Concrete teaching on it is hard to find, but, like many other things does exist in the tradition.
Considering how inconsiderate some can be regarding reception of the Precious Blood, I make it a point to only receive it myself when very few, if any, have received before me, and if none of them have showed any obvious signs of illness. If a sneezing, coughing parishoner receives from the chalice, I do not.
One should also note that the person who is coughing in Mass may not actually have a contagious disease.
Very true. I have chronic allergy & noncontagious sinus problems.
How could anyone catch a cold or the flu from the blood of Christ.
The only things transubstantiated are bread and wine. If there were germs in or on the bread and wine, or their containers, the germs would not be changed at the consecreation.
(Furthermore, even if the substance of the germs did change, the accidents would remain. The blood of Christ still intoxicates, after all.)
And, as ferdie pointed out, germs may also be left on the containers during the distribution of Communion.
What do you do when you’re at a Mass where the priest himself is coughing and spluttering all over the place? Not receive? Receive anyway and pray that somehow a miracle will happen and you won’t get sick? Sometimes it’s kind of a big deal to me to not expose myself to illnesses, but I hate to go to Mass and then not receive Our Lord just because of the priest…
The bottom line is that while it may be a pity to miss receiving Communion, it is not a sin. Reckless disregard for the health of others IS a sin, so please keep your distance from the priest when you’re sick.
Priests should have a similar charity, of course, but this means you may have to settle for a communion service from the Deacon on occasion, vocations being what they are in this country.
PVO
I can’t believe I am saying this, as one who has always applauded your work, but while you make a good point, I totally disagree with you. As someone who has gone to Mass while extremely ill, and was healed the same day from receiving the Eucharist, I can’t believe you would tell someone to stay home from Mass if they can get themselves there. If you’re so paranoid about the transmission of germs from sharing the Chalice of Christ’s Precious Blood, you truly underestimate the power of Christ. Besides, I know of no instances of people getting diseases from the Chalice. While of course there is proper etiquette to be followed to avoid spreading germs (cover one’s mouth, preferably coughing into the middle of the arm which does not come into contact with other hands or things), telling someone to stay home like this is so uncharitable. If you don’ t like it, MOVE TO ANOTHER PART OF THE CHURCH!!!!!!
Amen, Tim Hayes! Go to Mass with a communicable disease! So what if there are elderly people and children who might be very susceptible. @#$%& them!
Some wickedly soft people here!
Communion under both species is often seen as a sort of necesity in today’s modern Mass…
BUT as Catholics we need to remember that the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity is wholly present in even the smallest speck of substance – under the appearance of the “host” or “wine”.
There is no NEED to recieve under both specieis although many modern Catholics are of the thinking that it is an incomplete communion without both. Even the smallest amount of either species is complete.
It is of no different and no more or less “valid or whole” if a Catholic eats a communion “wafer” the size of an old LP or takes the tiniest drop of “wine” from the chalice.
(As a matter of fact the Byzantine Catholics give the smallest droplet of wine to infants when they recieve baptism, confirmation and first communion…)
I don’t have a problem, per se, with the reception of communion under both forms… I just am leary of people thinking they did not “get it all” as they grow used to the practice. Even, in some circumstances, when Catholics are unable to partake in a form, their communion is complete.
Remember, in the western church, a whole ARMY of (non-clerical) saints before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council only ever recieved what merely appeared to be the “host”. It is complete no matter the accident of species or the size thereof.
As a mother of several children, I’ve come to the conclusion that prevention is the best route.
Yes, you can try to limit your contact by not going to Mass, but what about going to the doctor and then afterward to the pharmacy? There will be unavoidable contact. Also, in my case, I will be exposed to the germs by taking care of the sick ones, or vice versa. Isolation is pretty well impossible. Also, many times people don’t even know they are ill at the beginning stages, but they are still contagious. So, are we to stay home the whole winter out of fear that we might give someone else a germ? Fine with me, but then someone would have to bring us food and the preist could come visit us every Sunday!
So, my rule of thumb is that I don’t go or the others don’t go, if they or I are feeling miserable. Fevers are contagious 24 hours after the last high temperature, so I try to keep the little ones home from Mass in such a case.
But if I can take them with me to the drugstore or to the grocery store, then I figure I can take them to Sunday Mass which is more important.
Flu is not that dangerous, as people make it out to be. It can be bad if one is already sick with something else.
There are many things which strengthen the immune system which few doctors know anything about. Use them.
Wash your hands. Don’t touch your nose, ears, or mouth until the hands can be disinfected.
The vaccine is pretty useless, since the researchers try to predict a year in advance what the virus’ outer coat is going to mutate to. My own children haven’t had the flu vaccine in 14 years. Unfortunately, when they were taking it, it had all the mercury in it. I attribute their reading disabilities to the mercury overload and/or vaccinations.
By the way, vaccines fail and do not impart full, lifetime immunity.
So, are we to stay home the whole winter out of fear that we might give someone else a germ?
Okay, put it this way:
At Mass, I observed someone coughing all throughout, and, by the sounds of the cough, phlegm was clearly being dislodged from their throats.
Put it this way:
Say, there was someone who was coughing incessantly during the course of the Mass and you just happened to end up behind them at the Communion line;
You’re right behind them and that person is just about to receive the Blood of Christ, when, suddenly, they coughed (and the sound of the cough giving a clear indication that they had just released phlegm) prior to their taking up the chalice, would you actually proceed to take up the blood of Christ in the chalice just after the person had actually coughed, released the phlegm and took up the chalice just before you?
Look even bioethics implies that we should recieve Holy Communion in both species but in the old way. Diping
Some Day:
What the Catechism of the Catholic Church says on this matter is that we’re not receiving more of Jesus or a more complete reception of the Eucharist if we receive under both species.
In fact, if you receive either species, you receive the whole Jesus.
You’re not getting more of Jesus if you take two sips of the precious blood than if you only took one sip. You don’t want to just go, “Okay, let me have some more! Let me have some more!” No, in fact, you receive the whole Jesus under both species.
By the way, biblically speaking, this is very sound.
In 1 Cor 11:27, St. Paul says, “Whoever eats the bread or drink the Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of profaning the Body and the Blood of the Lord.” Notice that if you do it to either one, you profane both which indicates to us even biblically that our Lord is entirely present under both species.
So, ontologically speaking, sacramentally speaking, to receive either species you receive the whole Jesus.
However, what the Catechism teaches is that it is a more complete symbol – not that you get more grace or anything like that – but it’s a more complete symbol to receive both species.
So, we’re talking merely and purely a symbolic value alone.
There is no existential difference between receiving one or receiving both.
Or we could revert to the usage in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and receive both species with a spoon.
By the way, the most ancient liturgy, that of St. James of Jerusalem calls for intinction. the Divine Liturgy of St. James, the *brother of the Lord, is used in some Eastern Churches on St. James’ Feast day. It is logically done in Jerusalem on that day by the Eastern Churches (in communion with Rome and not) and must be an awesome Liturgy (I’ve never been 🙁 )
*brother of the Lord in the Eastern and Western concept, as either a cousin of Jesus or one of St. Joseph’s children from his first marriage.
or one of St. Joseph’s children from his first marriage.
Dr. Eric:
Please provide documentation on this.
I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Esau,
The more ancient, and the version that the East uses, theory about St. Joseph is that he was an elderly widower who had children from a previous marriage before his betrothal to the Holy Theotokos.
ttp://www.pacifier.com/~rosarweb/ll54n4.htm
http://www.cybercatholics.com/philip-bellini/was-st-joseph-previously-married
Most of our “traditions” about the Holy Family and other things are based on the apocryphal Gospels like the Protoevangelium of James.
Dr. Eric:
Please be cautious with the word “apocryphal”.
Protestants do not define the term “apocryphal” the same way Catholics do.
Since I used the term in its proper context, I see nothing wrong with my terminology.
Since I used the term in its proper context, I see nothing wrong with my terminology
You don’t get it, Dr. Eric; the term “apocryphal” carries a different meaning for Protestants.
If they were to look at that, they would think that Catholics actually accept apocryphal books such as the Prayer of Mennaseh and the 151st Psalm and 3rd and 4th Maccabees, which we do not.
I think if a person is contagious then they have a valid excuse to miss mass. If they are just sick, they should sit off to themselves. I don’t belive that staying home because you don’t feel good is good enough. Maybe a little Body and Blood will be just the cure they need.
P.S Please don’t tell my friends in high school this. Headline: Sunday flu sweeps through Nation!
Actually,
Receiving more of the species will just make the Communion last longer.
Usually it lasts about 10 minutes according to theologans (that is why we should do thanksgiving on our knees in a time not inferior to 10 min)that Our Lord is present in our bodies. That is the time it takes for our bodies to digest the Host, when it stops having the form of bread.
So more of the species means a longer time with our lord.
If they are just sick, they should sit off to themselves. I don’t belive that staying home because you don’t feel good is good enough. Maybe a little Body and Blood will be just the cure they need.
Heather L.,
Don’t tell me that you actually don’t believe that if sick people were to take the blood of Christ from the chalice, that the virus they’re infected with won’t actually infect the others who take up the chalice after them?
Count your negatives. I think you have one too many for your intended meaning.
Thanks, Smoky!
I really appreciate that!
I think I simply should’ve said:
“Heather L.
Do you really think that if sick people were to take the blood of Christ from the chalice, that the virus they’re infected with won’t actually infect the others who take up the chalice after them?”
Esau,
I’m still not sure I get your point. Heather L has already assumed that the contagious person has stayed home. She then proceeds to talk about the “merely sick” (ie, not contagious) person.
I don’t know where you get from that what you seemingly ascribe to her in your question (with either single or triple negatives :-D).
Esquire,
As I cited in my first post, she had said:
If they are just sick, they should sit off to themselves. I don’t belive that staying home because you don’t feel good is good enough. Maybe a little Body and Blood will be just the cure they need.
Esau,
“Just sick” was meant to differentiate them from the preceding group, which are the “contagious” who have a valid excuse to stay home.
In other words, her “just sick” are not contagious.
But you omitted Heather’s key sentence:
I think if a person is contagious then they have a valid excuse to miss mass. If they are just sick [Esquire interprets this to mean not contagious], they should sit off to themselves.
I cited only the portion of Heather L.’s comments that I had a problem with.
The first portion, I had none.
If she didn’t use the word ‘sick’ in the second part, I perhaps might have glanced over it.
Yet, for the average reader, to see the word ‘sick’ might seem to excuse them and, in fact, promote their going to Mass when in fact, their ‘sick’ state is one that is actually contagious.
In other words, the state of actual contagion may actually escape the normal audience since they may be more given to how they feel rather than what their actual state is, wherein they may, as mentioned, be contagious even though they might simply dismiss it as being ‘sick’ rather than ‘contagious sick’; if that makes any sense.
I have always been told that we are the most contagious for a period of time BEFORE we actually get any of the symptoms of a virus. Therefore we usually do not know we are contagious when we pass infections on. When we receive from the cup at Mass, we’ll never know if the person before us is contagious. Of course it’s reasonable not to drink from the cup if we know we are contagious. (But even then, do scientists even know exactly when we are contagious unless they take a throat swab or perform some other medical procedure?)
Although, I had done a little research and we spread very little viruses through saliva. It is mostly through nasal secretions.
When you have a cold that lasts 2 weeks or more, I highly doubt that you’ve been sitting at home all that time. When we venture out into the world to work, school, the grocery store or mall, we are constantly around people who are passing their germs to us. Why are we so paranoid about being in contact with germs at Mass?
I have always been told that we are the most contagious for a period of time BEFORE we actually get any of the symptoms of a virus. Therefore we usually do not know we are contagious when we pass infections on. When we receive from the cup at Mass, we’ll never know if the person before us is contagious. Of course it’s reasonable not to drink from the cup if we know we are contagious. (But even then, do scientists even know exactly when we are contagious unless they take a throat swab or perform some other medical procedure?)
Although, I had done a little research and we spread very little viruses through saliva. It is mostly through nasal secretions.
When you have a cold that lasts 2 weeks or more, I highly doubt that you’ve been sitting at home all that time. When we venture out into the world to work, school, the grocery store or mall, we are constantly around people who are passing their germs to us. Why are we so paranoid about being in contact with germs at Mass?
That’s why Communion the Eastern way might make more sense.
Or have the Priest intinct the Host into the Chalice and give it (HIM) to the parishioner.
probably good to have a reminder…
And please, don’t blow your nose, sneeze into your hands (use the crease of your elbow)and then shake my hand and wish me peace. :o)
Alcohol does not necessarily kill the germs on the rim or in the liquid. Wiping the rim does not solve the problem either, because once a person puts his lips in the liquid, the germs are in the liquid.
The Doctrine of Transubstantiation applies only to the wine, not to the germs!!!
The Council of Trent declared that a person receives Christ whole and entire under the appearance of bread alone, and it is not necessary to receive Communion under the appearance of wine. And anathema to anyone who thinks different, they said. That’s good enough for me.
To say that a person cannot get sick from drinking out of a common cup in which hundreds have sunk their lips, their teeth, and their facial hair defies common sense, and such a view debases Communion to the level of superstition.
Doesn`t matter what you say, but how…!! But you said it well http://male-exam.xhostar.com
Or have the Priest intinct the Host into the Chalice and give it (HIM) to the parishioner.
(posted by Val?)
Hi,
I came across this website when looking for a pic of JP II…which I couldn’t find. I read many of the posts and I wanted to say that this is the way in which it is done in my country, Argentina. PAX†
I can’t believe what I am reading in the comments of this post.
Jimmy if you are reading this I think I should point out that I have ask you for a link on your site. I hope by disagreeing with you that you do not stop that link from happening.
I believe it is ok to miss mass if one is sick or has a valid reason for not going, but the way people are responding to this post is unbelievable.
What would have happened if Jesus had told all the sick people to stay at home because He did not want the healthy people to get their infections? My God, what is wrong with you people? Jesus could turn up at your doorstep tomorrow with leprosy and you would run a mile. You are all so concerned with, self, self, self. Where is the Love? Love until it hurts.
Boy this has made me angry. Jesus said, die to yourselves, and what response do you give to Him who bore all your uncleanness. You stone the lepers, you leave the sick man at the side of the road, for someone else to find. If you really want to LOVE, AS JESUS LOVES, then go find a leper and hug them, or a person with a cold and hug them. Maybe what you should do, if the person with the cold insists on going to mass then you could all stay at home, after all you would not want to get sick, would you?
Come on people, if Jesus thinks like that, then you better hope you don’t have a cold when he comes back again.
Jimmy I am surprised you even brought it up.
Then go to mass with a communicable disease, put others at risk–particularly children and the elderly–and, when you die and stand before Christ as Judge, try to explain to Him how you really didn’t commit a sin against Charity by doing so.
What about all of the little cooties in the holy water. Sometimes the water gets really gross at our parish .DO I HAFTA stick my finger in to remit venial sin.UGH!! Thanks..
Belinda,
No. God will forgive your venial sins if you ask him too.
No. God will forgive your venial sins if you ask him too.
Indeed. And part of the temporal punishments due to sin. But, the church does encourage people to obtain remission of temporal punishments through the use of sacramentals, which applies part of the superabundant satisfaction of Christ to us for our sins.
Gurnygob,
I have a child with cancer who, due to the nature of her treatments, has an extremely weak immune system. In mass last year we were seated by an obviously sick woman. I considered takng my child to stand in the back, but as the woman appeared to only have a cold, I convinced myself that it would be okay. By 3am that night, my child had a fever. We rushed her to the hospital early the next morning, as she was going into toxic shock. We spent over a week there as they pumped high-powered antibiotics into my child. We very nearly lost her.
Sometimes the more loving option is to sacrifice our own good and worthy desires, in order to protect the weak. I am here to assure you that there is no magic bubble hovering over the liturgy, to save us from the transmition of germs.
Geeze,La wheeze..When one of my kids gets sick,three days or so pass and then the next person in my family gets sick. All ten at the same time is rough,but one at a time wears you out physically ,and emotionally. It costs us a fortune when we are sick, and the backup of the kids homework ,and laundry is a killer.If your sick at Mass DON’T TOUCH ME OR THE KIDS. Be respectful.Have you forgotten what it’s like to hold a sick crying four year old who is throwing up all over you? I do love you morning Mass people ,but please keep your sneeze! See ya at Mass!
Dear Gurnygob, Are we allowed to go to Mass on let’s say a less crowded Tuesday instead of a packed Sat or Sun to keep our very ill children safer? I’m a convert ..just asking. I would want my non contagious child to receive the body of Christ.Is your child better now??
Re. Mother. I am sorry to here your child has cancer. can you be sure that the woman with the cold was the reason your child got sick. Dear mother, do you think Jesus was unaware of your child, no He was not. your child is closer to Jesus because of that.
Re. Bill912. when I stand before Jesus, will he not say to me, did you visit the sick, did you love the down cast, did you give the thirsty a drink, did you feed the hungry?. Is He really going to say to me, look you give this person a cold, and they died? Jesus cares little for the health of my body and your body when compared to the health of ones soul. dose it matter if you die of good health, or bad health. what is important when you die is the health of your soul not your body. Maybe we should put a bell around the necks of all the sick people and have them chant, ‘stay away, sick person walking’
that way you would know who Jesus wants you to avoid.
it is truly amazing how some people sit a the Table of Jesus and cringe for fear of getting an infection from the person next to them. its a good job that Jesus didn’t think like that.
Re. going to mass. You can go to mass any day of the week, the more the better. The Catholic Church teaches we should always go on a Sunday, or the vigil on Saturday, and that it is a sin to miss unless we have a valid reason.
what do you consider to be a valid reason? I am a father of 3 children, 2 girls and a boy. If my child is to sick to go to mass then i leave them at home. If i am to sick to go to mass, then I stay at home. The comments I have heard or most of them, are more akin to saying that only healthy people should go to mass and receive the healing of Jesus. Jesus said ‘I came to heal the sick’ not the other way round.
In ending I will say this. A man is dying on the street, he has a contiguous disease, his skin is rotting, He is begging for a drink of water. you are walking down that street with your sick child and you noticed the man, what do you do? What would Mother Theresa do? What would Jesus do? Dose it matter if you catch the disease and end up killing the rest of the world because you helped the dying man? no it dose not matter, because you did the will of Jesus
The truth is most of us are more concerned with our ‘family’s’ and our ‘self’ to even noticed our Neighbour.
gurnygob, we are talking about YOU going to mass when YOU are sick, and, thereby, YOU are endangering others.
Does it matter that YOU endangered others’ health? Is endangering another’s health NOT a sin against Charity?
By endangering others’ health, are you not, thereby, doing that to Jesus?
Do any of you go, or have ever went to a healing Mass? Most likely not.
Go to one and see the healing love of Jesus for all his sick children. He cares not if you have a communicable disease.
What if you only have one priest and he has a cold when you turn up at mass. do you sit there thinking should i go to communion or not?
Should the poor Priest call the mass off. Maybe he could get Jimmy to do it for him, thus saving us all from catching His cold.
“He cares not if you have a communicable disease.”
Does He care whether or not you deliberately endanger others with your communicable disease?
Ok I give in. THE COMMENTS JUST SOUNDED A BIT HARSH TO ME.
PS Sorry Jimmy.
Humility reveals one’s character.
Monica had it right on although I disagree with her saying “Jimmy I am surprised you even brought it up.” Jimmy is a fallible human being and there are a lot of people who visit this blog who hold him to a supernatural level. My experience has been that real (ie. LIVELY) faith has been replaced with a practical faith that excludes the supernatural. Monica is right, don’t go around ‘Visiting the sick” which is a corporal work of mercy – you might catch something!
David B, with a cancerous child, it takes 2-3 days for a germ to ‘incubate’ so I doubt that if you were exposed to a person with a cold that your child caught it later on that same night. More than likely, he caught it from someone a couple days before.
“…a lot of people who visit this blog…hold (Jimmy) to a supernatural level.”
Evidence?
BTW, your first paragraph referred to what gurnygob, not Monica, wrote.
So refute what I wrote in response to gurnygob.
“…a lot of people who visit this blog…hold (Jimmy) to a supernatural level.”
You mean he doesn’t shoot bolts of lightning from his beard!?!
Bill912, my bad, I’m only standing behind what gurnybob posted at this stamp “Posted by: gurnygob | Nov 20, 2007 6:55:48 PM” which I mistakenly thought was Monica (which was the post above).
I don’t think anybody is condoning deliberately NOT taking preventive measures such as refraining from handshaking, taking communion from the Chalice etc… this I believe is a mandatory consideration in the name of charity.However, telling people not to come to Church because they are sick might be a bit too much considering if they were ill enough to not come then they would not be there. If they needed to be hospitalized then they would be. If you’re sick and know you can make it to Church, then do so… just stand (or sit) in the back, away from the rest, maybe not receive from the Chalice, don’t shake anyone’s hand etc…
Better yet, attend a Latin mass, where you won’t be subject to the gratuitous hand shaking and sharing of the Chalice.
How is going to mass with a communicable disease that might endanger others, especially those most at risk like the very young and the very old, NOT a sin against Charity?
Well, I guess the followers of Christ were right afterall in trying to hush the sick and dying when they were calling out to Jesus.
“Well, I guess the followers of Christ were right afterall in trying to hush the sick and dying when they were calling out to Jesus.”
??????????
..and be sure not to visit the sick – you might catch something.
“..and be sure not to visit the sick – you might catch something.”
Yes, because – as anyone can tell – this is exactly the same as going to Mass with a bad, infectious cough in callous disregard for the well being of the elderly and others who’s *lives* might be threatened by such an infection.
By all means, go ahead…
He doesn’t want to get it, Tim.
You’ll note, though, that he didn’t say how it’s not a sin to deliberately risk the health of others.
It’s a good thing when people are devoted to the Mass not of of obligation, but rather for the purpose of Glorifiying God, and participating in the Life of the Trinity. I personally think nothing should get in the way of that. (even sickness). I know that for me, I won’t miss Mass for any reason. (even if I’m sick), So, I don’t intristically fault them for wanting to come to Mass. But if you’re gravely ill (no, the Common Cold doesn’t count, lol), then you should stay home.
Why doesn’t the common cold count?
I’m amazed at people who think they are glorifying God by endangering others.
*begins the “slow clap” for bill912* 🙂
“I’m amazed at people who think they are glorifying God by endangering others”
Note I never said to endanger anyone. If you’re going to go to Mass sick then at least sit in the back, don’t shake hands, and don’t receive from the chalice. If you feel able to go then go just make sure not to needlessly expose yourself… sitting by yourself in the back doesn’t compromise anyone if you take the neccessary precautions.
“…sitting by yourself in the back doesn’t compromise anyone if you take the neccessary precautions.”
Care to back up that statement with some medical evidence?
“…sitting by yourself in the back doesn’t compromise anyone if you take the neccessary precautions.”
Excuse me, but I think you should take a course in Virology —
There are those viruses capable of surviving for longer periods of time in the air.
Also, just think how the problem is compounded when you are in an enclosed building with crowds of people.
It’s like an orgy for microbes!
Please be a little more considerate of others and JUST STAY HOME!
“Excuse me, but I think you should take a course in Virology”
And you should take a cours in reading comprehension. Note the words, “Neccessary Precautions.”
And just what are these necessary precautions you speak of?
Don’t you know how contagious viruses are — especially during the driest times of the year?
Do you actually want folks going to Mass dressed up in stage 3 suits?
Out of lurking, finally.
I have been very surprised by the comments here. My priest in Vermont allowed only the host during flu season *and* suspended the sign of peace (just the handshaking and hugging). I am just amazed that there are people here who seem to think that the Lord will put His natural laws aside to allow us to ignore ordinary sanitary precautions.
And for those enduring the horrors of chemo, it is a very big thing to have someone decide that the Lord will protect them from his flu! Most oncologists will send staff home at the slightest sign of illness–their patients have highly impaired immune systems and don’t need to be endangered by anyone’s superior “work ethic” and flu. Those immune systems aren’t magically healthy during mass.
I am a saddened by what I have read here. And it confirms for me that I have decided rightly in by-passing the chalice, as much as I would like to partake. It has always made me nervous but I had no idea there were actually people out there who would deliberately put my health at risk to prove … what? How devout they are?
Oops, just shows that I should have looked at the date of the post. But I didn’t–just saw flu in the permaposts and went off on my rant. Sigh.
It’s happens to all (well, some) of us. I’m not confessing, mind you. 😉
It’s perfectly fine. Especially considering how slow the blog has been in terms of new posts going up, there is nothing wrong with going to and commenting on old but still relevant posts.
Does sinus count?
If I go to Mass with a cold I always bring tissues and anti-bacterial gel to put on my hands after I blow my nose or cough…And I do not hold hands during the Our Father or shake hands nor do I receive from the chalice. It is common courtesy.
Also, since I always carry a little tube of anti-bacterial gel and if I happen to shake someone’s hand who has been coughing up a storm I discreetly, so it is not obvious to others, put the anti-bacterial on my hands after the peace be with you.
And, please don’t bite your finger nails on your right hand all during Mass and want to shake hands, I’ve even seen adults picking their noses in front of me with their right hands and then turn around to me and say “peace be with you”. Common courtesy, people.
I’m pretty late on posting this, but I want to thank you for this blog post! As the mother of a preemie, I was absolutely terrified of Mass the winter my son was born. RSV often shows up as a mild cold in children and adults, but is deadly to infants, and especially to preemies. Often, one of the first symptoms to set in for infants is respiratory distress! I feel horribly guilty for being annoyed at others who went to Mass with colds and the flu. I pretty much never left the house to go to the grocery store that winter. We only went to his doctors appointments and stayed home the rest of the time. We always made sure to get the first appointment of the day so we wouldn’t have to wait in a room with other sick children. I spent months in our home to keep our child safe. It would have been nice to go to Mass, but it simply wasn’t safe for our son. I do wish sick people would stay home temporarily, and offer that up as a sacrifice, so that others dealing with long-term health issues could also participate in the Mass during fall and winter. My son is almost 2 and very healthy now, but after our experience, we stay home when we’re sick!
I know it’s probably tough on the parents who have a lot of kids who keep passing germs to each other, one at a time. I just ask that people be aware of others around them, and to at least consider the option of staying at home when they’re sick, or to try to find some solution that will minimize the spreading of germs. Would those who go to Mass with the flu or a cold consider wearing a medical mask so they don’t spread a potentially deadly disease to the elderly or infants?
What about the mentally ill? When I cannot even get out of bed where is my strength to go to Mass? I am torn about this problem.
Wow! I thought doing the will of God was about doing the right thing! Not about doing the selfish thing! How can some of you purpose to know God’s intent on this matter? Do what is right! Sparing your fellow parishioners the suffering of communicable diseases is your obligation to charity! Ones desire to be “righteous in the eyes of the Lord” by attending Mass because YOU think its necessary even when sick with a communicable illness is just plain ignorant. Hold your neighbors in a higher esteem than this. That is what the Lord tells us.
Well, with regards to this message. I have chronic cough variant asthma…therefore I cough a lot. Some have said unkind comments about me when they thought I could not hear when I was at Mass. I try to keep a cough drop in my mouth and keep as quiet as I can. We need to be careful about assuming that just because someone is coughing or sneezing that they are sick or are carriers of the flu. If you are afraid of catching the flu then by all means do not drink from the challus and do not shake hands in church.
Sorry, just needed to put this out there. We should not assume.
Thanks.
just a response to some points by A Simple Sinner – a part of your post is a kind of fight against vaccination. I don’t think it is good to discourage people from getting vaccinated – especially the elderly and kids – flu as such (not just any cold) might not be that easy to cope with for the elderly because their immunity is often weakened for any reason; even though when the vaccine is prepared they don’t know which specific type will be the most widespread I think it is advisable to get the vaccine, I think it may confer at least some protection also in cases when the agens is not exactly the one contained in the vaccine;I think the adverse effects are very rare these days – it is a question I think, whether what you describe was a reaction to vaccination, without any proof. Of course vaccines fail from time to time (varies between types) and that often they don’t make you immune for lifetime but that is normal;
I think we also need to distinguish between skipping Mass, or just skipping the chalice.
If you are not sick enough to miss Mass, but you think you even might be contagious, then receive only the Host. It is still the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. All miracle healing opportunities available!
If a person in my family is sick and I therefore think that I could be getting sick soon (so I might be in the “contagious with no symptoms yet” stage) I skip the chalice. Even if it’s just a cold.
Why selfishly insist on receiving under both species? Do you think that Jesus will not heal you if you only receive the Host?
If you’re contagious, stay home so you don’t infect others.
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