lifesitenews--2020-03-24--Church authorities submit to state authority, suspend Masses, lock churches due to coronavirus

March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― Catholic shepherds around the world have submitted to state authority ordering the ban of public Masses and even the closing of churches because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic .
In some cases , churches have been forced to close while wine and beer stores , cannabis stores , and other so-called “ essential services ” have been allowed to remain open .
By March 20 , every diocese of the United States had suspended public Masses .
Public Masses have also been suspended across Canada , from the Archdiocese of St. John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Diocese of Victoria in the west .
Cardinal Thomas Collins , Archbishop of Toronto , ordered all the churches and chapels in his archdiocese to be closed .
“ In order to assist in limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus , we have already cancelled the public celebration of the sacraments , including the Eucharist .
In view of the increased restrictions on public activity , I am now asking you to close your church and any chapel , even for individual prayer , effective immediately , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the suspension of all public Masses , and this has already been done in the Diocese of Jalisco and today in the Archdiocese of Mexico City .
Nicaragua has also suspended public Masses .
In Brazil , 36 archdioceses , 113 dioceses , five prelatures , and the personal apostolic administration of St. John Mary Vianney have suspended public worship , whereas a small minority of dioceses are still offering public Masses .
In Argentina , the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires has suspended public worship .
The situation is even more dire in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have all public Masses been suspended , churches have been locked and shut so that the faithful can not go into them for private prayer .
The United Kingdom is now in a state of “ lockdown , ” with its population of over 66 million forbidden to leave their homes except for essential work , necessary shopping , medical business , or exercise outdoors .
In the Republic of Ireland , all public Masses were suspended by St. Patrick ’ s Day .
On the European continent , the bishops of France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the civil authorities have not banned all religious gatherings .
In France , people are allowed to visit a church as long as no more than 20 are there at once .
The Society of St. Pius X , a fraternity of priests with irregular canonical status , is continuing to allow congregations of up to 20 people to assist at their liturgies .
In Spain , 59 of 70 dioceses had suspended public worship by March 16 .
In Portugal , the bishops suspended all public Masses 10 days ago .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Masses to be found , with the stipulation that worshippers maintain a distance of 1.5 meters ( approximately 4 feet , 9 inches ) .
However , Saturday evening Masses and Sunday Masses are closed to the faithful and Holy Week ceremonies will be held behind closed doors .
In Belgium , there will be no public Masses until April 3 at the earliest .
In Germany , the bishops conference has instructed each diocese to act according to local state instructions , and most dioceses have suspended public worship .
In Austria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the state , has been suspended .
In Switzerland , the state has forbidden public worship , and public Masses have been suspended by the bishops .
In Italy , all public Masses are officially suspended , although a public Mass for Laetare Sunday was filmed within St. Peter ’ s Basilica itself this week .
In Malta , all public Masses are suspended .
Public worship has also been suspended in Hungary .
In Poland , there are still public Masses , as long as congregations are limited to 20 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that congregations be reduced to five people .
In Estonia , all public Masses have been suspended .
In Russia , public Masses have been suspended in Moscow and St. Petersburg .
However , public worship continues in the Saratov diocese , in southwestern Russia , in the Novosibirsk diocese in western Siberia , and in the Irkutsk diocese in eastern Siberia with dispensations for the sick and the rest of the faithful counselled to be prudent in their worship .
In Asia , public Masses are suspended in Singapore , Malaysia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In India , public Masses were suspended in Mumbai after a lawsuit by a lawyer .
Today , India is reportedly ordering its people into “ lockdown ” at midnight after a spike in coronavirus cases .
At least some dioceses have suspended public Masses in Japan .
The bishops of New Zealand have suspended all public Masses , as have several bishops in Australia .
Bishops ’ conferences , dioceses and even individual priests around the world are seeking to minister to the faithful by broadcasting and/or live-streaming their private or semi-private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are encouraging their priests to give Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Reconciliation to individual parishioners while taking precautions to keep both the faithful and themselves from disease .
Funerals are also being permitted albeit with small congregations or even limited to immediate family .
In many places , churches are being left open so that the faithful can pray privately in them .
In their statement about new restrictions on public worship because of the pandemic , the Austrian Bishops Conference wrote in defense of churches remaining open .
“ Parish churches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open as places of hope -- also in times of restrictions with regard to leaving the home , ” they wrote .
“ They are available for all people for individual prayers and thus are part of the provision of spiritual welfare , for the good of the entire population.
” With files from LifeSiteNews ’ Matthew Hoffman , Maike Hickson , and Jeanne Smits

Liquor stores are considered 'essential,' but worship is not in most countries during the pandemic.
PRAYER PLEDGE: Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― Catholic shepherds around the world have not only stopped public Masses, but some have even closed churches because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. In some cases, churches and other places of worship have been forced to close by state authority while wine and beer stores, cannabis stores, and other so-called “essential services” have been allowed to remain open.
By March 20, every diocese of the United States had suspended public Masses.
Public Masses have also been suspended across Canada, from the Archdiocese of St. John’s, Newfoundland in the east to the Diocese of Victoria in the west.
Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, ordered all the churches and chapels in his archdiocese to be closed to reflect “increased restrictions” by the government.
“In order to assist in limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we have already cancelled the public celebration of the sacraments, including the Eucharist. In view of the increased restrictions on public activity, I am now asking you to close your church and any chapel, even for individual prayer, effective immediately,” he said.
In Mexico, bishops have recommended the suspension of all public Masses, and this has already been done in the Diocese of Jalisco and today in the Archdiocese of Mexico City.
Nicaragua has also suspended public Masses. In Brazil, 36 archdioceses, 113 dioceses, five prelatures, and the personal apostolic administration of St. John Mary Vianney have suspended public worship, whereas a small minority of dioceses are still offering public Masses. In Argentina, the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires has suspended public worship.
The situation is even more dire in the United Kingdom, where not only have all public Masses been suspended, churches have been locked and shut so that the faithful cannot go into them for private prayer. The United Kingdom is now in a state of “lockdown,” with its population of over 66 million forbidden to leave their homes except for essential work, necessary shopping, medical business, or exercise outdoors. In the Republic of Ireland, all public Masses were suspended by St. Patrick’s Day.
On the European continent, the bishops of France have suspended all public Masses, although the civil authorities have not banned all religious gatherings. In France, people are allowed to visit a church as long as no more than 20 are there at once. The Society of St. Pius X, a fraternity of priests with irregular canonical status, is continuing to allow congregations of up to 20 people to assist at their liturgies. In Spain, 59 of 70 dioceses had suspended public worship by March 16. In Portugal, the bishops suspended all public Masses 10 days ago.
In Holland, there are still public weekday Masses to be found, with the stipulation that worshippers maintain a distance of 1.5 meters (approximately 4 feet, 9 inches). However, Saturday evening Masses and Sunday Masses are closed to the faithful and Holy Week ceremonies will be held behind closed doors.
In Belgium, there will be no public Masses until April 3 at the earliest. In Germany, the bishops conference has instructed each diocese to act according to local state instructions, and most dioceses have suspended public worship. In Austria, public worship, though not forbidden by the state, has been suspended. In Switzerland, the state has forbidden public worship, and public Masses have been suspended by the bishops.
In Italy, all public Masses are officially suspended, although a public Mass for Laetare Sunday was filmed within St. Peter’s Basilica itself this week. In Malta, all public Masses are suspended. Public worship has also been suspended in Hungary.
In Poland, there are still public Masses, as long as congregations are limited to 20 people, but the Polish government requested today that congregations be reduced to five people. In Estonia, all public Masses have been suspended. In Russia, public Masses have been suspended in Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, public worship continues in the Saratov diocese, in southwestern Russia, in the Novosibirsk diocese in western Siberia, and in the Irkutsk diocese in eastern Siberia with dispensations for the sick and the rest of the faithful counselled to be prudent in their worship.
In Asia, public Masses are suspended in Singapore, Malaysia, and in parts of the Philippines. In India, public Masses were suspended in Mumbai after a lawsuit by a lawyer. Today, India is reportedly ordering its people into “lockdown” at midnight after a spike in coronavirus cases. At least some dioceses have suspended public Masses in Japan.
The bishops of New Zealand have suspended all public Masses, as have several bishops in Australia.
Bishops’ conferences, dioceses and even individual priests around the world are seeking to minister to the faithful by broadcasting and/or live-streaming their private or semi-private Masses. In addition, many bishops are encouraging their priests to give Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Reconciliation to individual parishioners while taking precautions to keep both the faithful and themselves from disease. Funerals are also being permitted albeit with small congregations or even limited to immediate family. In many places, churches are being left open so that the faithful can pray privately in them.
In their statement about new restrictions on public worship because of the pandemic, the Austrian Bishops Conference wrote in defense of churches remaining open.
“Parish churches should, if possible, be kept open as places of hope — also in times of restrictions with regard to leaving the home,” they wrote.
“They are available for all people for individual prayers and thus are part of the provision of spiritual welfare, for the good of the entire population.”
With files from LifeSiteNews’ Matthew Hoffman, Maike Hickson, and Jeanne Smits
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lifesitenews--2020-03-24--Texas bishop calls Communion ‘ESSENTIAL’ as US bishops suppress public Masses

TYLER , Texas , March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler , Texas has in the past 24 hours used Twitter to declare that participation at Mass is essential to “ our life in Christ ” and called on people to do penance in response to the coronavirus .
The public celebration of Mass has now been canceled in many parts of the world due to the pandemic , and many churches have also been closed altogether .
Last week , Strickland said Mass would not be celebrated publicly in his own diocese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be provided on April 1 .
He said he had made the decision “ [ h ] aving consulted medical experts and heeding the guidance of the civil authorities and public health professionals regarding the critical need to limit gatherings to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease , including the guidelines issued by the President of the United States in this time of national emergency.
” Strickland posted yesterday : “ Let us heed the lessons we are being given .
1 .
The Eucharistic Liturgy & participation in it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
2 .
Receiving the Body of Christ is ESSENTIAL to our life in Christ .
HE IS OUR DAILY BREAD .
As bishop I will seek EVERY POSSIBLE MEANS to share HIM !
” Earlier today , the bishop called for repentance in response to the pandemic .
“ PEOPLE OF THE WORLD FALL TO YOUR KNEES .
Fall to your knees , beg forgiveness of your sins ...
SIN is real , beg God ’ s Mercy .
Stop worshiping yourself , stop worshiping creation , stop worshiping your desires , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Father , Son & Holy Spirit .
REPENT !
” he tweeted .
Strickland later clarified that he was aware that he must lead the way in making acts of repentance , writing , “ Just to be clear as a bishop I must be the first to fall to my knees , repent of my sins & beg God ’ s Mercy ... ..the shepherd must lead in humble service….. ” This past Saturday , Strickland stationed himself at the busiest intersection in Tyler and blessed people as they passed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aloft in a monstrance .

'Receiving the Body of Christ is ESSENTIAL to our life in Christ,' Bishop Joseph Strickland tweeted. 'HE IS OUR DAILY BREAD.'
TYLER, Texas, March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas has in the past 24 hours used Twitter to declare that participation at Mass is essential to “our life in Christ” and called on people to do penance in response to the coronavirus.
The public celebration of Mass has now been canceled in many parts of the world due to the pandemic, and many churches have also been closed altogether.
Last week, Strickland said Mass would not be celebrated publicly in his own diocese until further notice and that an update would be provided on April 1. He said he had made the decision “[h]aving consulted medical experts and heeding the guidance of the civil authorities and public health professionals regarding the critical need to limit gatherings to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, including the guidelines issued by the President of the United States in this time of national emergency.”
Strickland posted yesterday: “Let us heed the lessons we are being given. 1. The Eucharistic Liturgy & participation in it are ESSENTIAL to our life in Christ. 2. Receiving the Body of Christ is ESSENTIAL to our life in Christ. HE IS OUR DAILY BREAD. As bishop I will seek EVERY POSSIBLE MEANS to share HIM!”
Let us heed the lessons we are being given. 1. The Eucharistic Liturgy & participation in it are ESSENTIAL to our life in Christ. 2. Receiving the Body of Christ is ESSENTIAL to our life in Christ. HE IS OUR DAILY BREAD. As bishop I will seek EVERY POSSIBLE MEANS to share HIM! — Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) March 23, 2020
Earlier today, the bishop called for repentance in response to the pandemic.
“PEOPLE OF THE WORLD FALL TO YOUR KNEES. Fall to your knees, beg forgiveness of your sins…SIN is real, beg God’s Mercy. Stop worshiping yourself, stop worshiping creation,stop worshiping your desires, fall to your knees & worship God, Father, Son & Holy Spirit. REPENT!” he tweeted.
PEOPLE OF THE WORLD FALL TO YOUR KNEES. Fall to your knees, beg forgiveness of your sins…SIN is real, beg God’s Mercy. Stop worshiping yourself, stop worshiping creation,stop worshiping your desires, fall to your knees & worship God, Father, Son & Holy Spirit. REPENT! — Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) March 24, 2020
Strickland later clarified that he was aware that he must lead the way in making acts of repentance, writing, “Just to be clear as a bishop I must be the first to fall to my knees, repent of my sins & beg God’s Mercy…..the shepherd must lead in humble service…..”
Just to be clear as a bishop I must be the first to fall to my knees, repent of my sins & beg God’s Mercy…..the shepherd must lead in humble service….. https://t.co/hyDAzUTwKV — Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) March 24, 2020
This past Saturday, Strickland stationed himself at the busiest intersection in Tyler and blessed people as they passed in their cars with the Blessed Sacrament held aloft in a monstrance.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-24--Traditional Catholics attend outdoor ‘parking lot’ mass amid coronavirus

ALLENDALE , Michigan , March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Hundreds of Catholics from across Michigan flocked to the small town of Allendale this weekend to attend from inside their vehicles the only public Mass offered in the entire western part of the state .
Fr .
David Gillilan of the Society of St. Pius X ( SSPX ) endured chilly 30° temperatures Sunday morning as he said what some are calling a “ parking lot mass ” from a wooden altar set up on the porch of the rectory located behind St. Margaret Mary ’ s Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the choir didn ’ t sing , those who went to the Mass said it was as reverent and as holy as any other Sunday liturgy .
“ It was sort of like Ireland and the old Mass rocks , ” one man who knelt on the concrete outside during the service said .
“ It was a pretty cool experience.
” The SSPX is a pious union of more than 600 traditional Catholic priests .
Founded in Switzerland in 1970 , the group maintains that the crisis in the Church is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council .
It also claims that “ supplied jurisdiction ” allows its priests the freedom to operate outside the authority of ordinary diocesan bishops .
Although Catholics can fulfill their Sunday obligation at a Society chapel , and validly and licitly get married and confess their sins to an SSPX priest , many theologians still consider the group to have an “ irregular ” canonical status .
Relations between Rome and the Society on the latter ’ s “ normalization ” are a frequent point of discussion among traditional Catholics .
Some believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Church , while others , like the SSPX “ Resistance , ” believe that it would result in the Society compromising their faith .
On a normal weekend , St. Margaret Mary ’ s sees upwards of 200 laity at its 9:00 A.M. Sunday Mass .
According to one of the ushers who helped direct cars to their parking spots , Sunday ’ s liturgy saw an increase of more than two dozen new attendees who don ’ t regularly go to the chapel .
One of the possible reasons for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan , but throughout the United States have been left without access to the sacraments , as the COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in most every American bishop canceling public Masses in his diocese .
In order to help maintain the spiritual well-being of their parishioners , Catholic priests are resorting to drive-thru confessions , outdoor adoration , and broadcasting Mass online .
For its part , LifeSite has launched a rosary crusade that is being live-streamed on the LifeSite Connect app .
Download the app today by clicking here , and you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Fr .
Anthony Pillari every day at 12:00 P.M. EDT .
On Monday , March 23 , Michigan ’ s Democratic governor , Gretchen Whitmer , issued an order putting the state on lockdown for the next three weeks .
She previously restricted public gatherings of more than 50 people but exempted religious communities from being punished if they violate that limit .
Fr .
Jurgen Wegner , the district superior of the Society of St. Pius X ’ s American district , released a statement on March 14 indicating the SSPX @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for protection during the coronavirus pandemic .
He also said Society-run chapels in the U.S. would “ follow the lawful government orders ” that are handed down .
Society churches are already implementing changes in order to abide by state guidelines and health concerns while ensuring that the faithful can receive the sacraments .
In Ontario , an SSPX chapel added a third Mass time in order to keep attendance below 50 .
In Mukwanago , Wisconsin , a chapel held Mass outside in front of the church while also hosting an additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the normal two Masses offered in the morning .
At St. Margaret Mary ’ s Sunday , separate kneelers were placed six feet apart for the distribution of Holy Communion .
Fr .
Gillilan told LifeSite he doesn ’ t know for certain if another parking lot Mass will be necessary .
During his sermon at the Saturday evening liturgy , he preached about how the Church has lived through far worse times but that this outbreak should remind Catholics to be grateful for the sacraments and to not take them for @ @

Hundreds of Catholics sat in their cars and followed along in their missals as Fr. David Gillilan of the Society of St. Pius X offered Mass outside.
PRAYER PLEDGE: Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
ALLENDALE, Michigan, March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Hundreds of Catholics from across Michigan flocked to the small town of Allendale this weekend to attend from inside their vehicles the only public Mass offered in the entire western part of the state.
Fr. David Gillilan of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) endured chilly 30° temperatures Sunday morning as he said what some are calling a “parking lot mass” from a wooden altar set up on the porch of the rectory located behind St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church.
While no sermon was given and the choir didn’t sing, those who went to the Mass said it was as reverent and as holy as any other Sunday liturgy. “It was sort of like Ireland and the old Mass rocks,” one man who knelt on the concrete outside during the service said. “It was a pretty cool experience.”
The SSPX is a pious union of more than 600 traditional Catholic priests. Founded in Switzerland in 1970, the group maintains that the crisis in the Church is a direct result of the Second Vatican Council. It also claims that “supplied jurisdiction” allows its priests the freedom to operate outside the authority of ordinary diocesan bishops.
Although Catholics can fulfill their Sunday obligation at a Society chapel, and validly and licitly get married and confess their sins to an SSPX priest, many theologians still consider the group to have an “irregular” canonical status. Relations between Rome and the Society on the latter’s “normalization” are a frequent point of discussion among traditional Catholics. Some believe that it would help defeat modernism in the Church, while others, like the SSPX “Resistance,” believe that it would result in the Society compromising their faith.
On a normal weekend, St. Margaret Mary’s sees upwards of 200 laity at its 9:00 A.M. Sunday Mass. According to one of the ushers who helped direct cars to their parking spots, Sunday’s liturgy saw an increase of more than two dozen new attendees who don’t regularly go to the chapel.
One of the possible reasons for the uptick is that Catholics not only in Michigan, but throughout the United States have been left without access to the sacraments, as the COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in most every American bishop canceling public Masses in his diocese.
In order to help maintain the spiritual well-being of their parishioners, Catholic priests are resorting to drive-thru confessions, outdoor adoration, and broadcasting Mass online. For its part, LifeSite has launched a rosary crusade that is being live-streamed on the LifeSite Connect app. Download the app today by clicking here, and you’ll be able to pray the rosary with Fr. Anthony Pillari every day at 12:00 P.M. EDT.
On Monday, March 23, Michigan’s Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, issued an order putting the state on lockdown for the next three weeks. She previously restricted public gatherings of more than 50 people but exempted religious communities from being punished if they violate that limit.
Fr. Jurgen Wegner, the district superior of the Society of St. Pius X’s American district, released a statement on March 14 indicating the SSPX is offering a “continuous Mass” for protection during the coronavirus pandemic. He also said Society-run chapels in the U.S. would “follow the lawful government orders” that are handed down.
Society churches are already implementing changes in order to abide by state guidelines and health concerns while ensuring that the faithful can receive the sacraments. In Ontario, an SSPX chapel added a third Mass time in order to keep attendance below 50. In Mukwanago, Wisconsin, a chapel held Mass outside in front of the church while also hosting an additional afternoon liturgy at 4:00 P.M. on top of the normal two Masses offered in the morning. At St. Margaret Mary’s Sunday, separate kneelers were placed six feet apart for the distribution of Holy Communion.
Fr. Gillilan told LifeSite he doesn’t know for certain if another parking lot Mass will be necessary. During his sermon at the Saturday evening liturgy, he preached about how the Church has lived through far worse times but that this outbreak should remind Catholics to be grateful for the sacraments and to not take them for granted.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-24--Bishops will re-consecrate Portugal to Immaculate Heart to fight coronavirus

PORTUGAL , March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Faced with the coronavirus crisis , the Church of Portugal will renew its consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25 , at the end of the 6:30 P.M. rosary ( 1:30 P.M. New York time ) .
Since the announcement of this initiative by the bishops of Portugal on Saturday , the bishops of Spain have asked to join this initiative .
Following their request , the Portuguese episcopate this Monday offered the bishops ’ conferences of the world to join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The prayer of consecration will be pronounced by Cardinal António Marto , Bishop of Leiria-Fatima .
It will take place in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord .
The ceremony will be broadcast live on the online page of the Shrine of Fatima , and , in Portugal , on television , on the radio , and on Christian-inspired digital platforms .
“ All the dioceses will be united in the prayer of the Rosary for the intentions of the whole world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatic situation we are going through because of the Covid-19 coronavirus , ” said a statement from the Permanent Council of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference ( CEP ) published last Saturday .
On October 20 , 2019 , the Bishops of Portugal consecrated the Catholic Church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the closing Mass of the missionary year at the Shrine of Fatima , also marking 175 years of the Apostleship of Prayer in Portugal .
The Shrine 's website recalled that the first consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 1931 , eight months after the official recognition of the apparitions by the Bishop of Leiria , at the end of the first national pilgrimage of the Portuguese episcopate to Fatima .
Before the consecration , the cardinal-patriarch , D. Manuel Gonçalves Cerejeira , declared : The Bishops of Portugal , your pastors , are gathered here today to thank Our Lady of Fatima for the visit she has deigned to make to our land .
In order that the ceremony of thanksgiving may be complete , they will consecrate their work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Immaculate Heart of Mary .
This consecration complements the national consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus made three years ago by the Portuguese Episcopate .
By descending to Fatima , Our Lady made this place the new Portuguese Bethlehem .
If in Bethlehem Our Lady gave the world Jesus , Jesus who is Truth , Life , Forgiveness and Peace , by coming down to Fatima , she gave us a new gift of her son .
Fatima has become the national shrine from which she repeats to all peoples : do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of God , we received Jesus only through your hands .
At the end of this speech , the cardinal pronounced the prayer of consecration .
Later , in October 1942 , the year in which the 25th anniversary of the apparitions was celebrated , Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a radio message .
Referring to the ceremony next Wednesday , March 25 , the Shrine ’ s website continues : The Heart of Mary presented itself to Lucia from the very beginning , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a way that leads to God .
Again , in July , after the vision of hell , she reaffirmed this by offering consecration to her Immaculate Heart as a means of conversion and reparation .
Thus devotion to the Heart of Mary becomes , especially with the request for consecration of Russia and all that it would symbolize , an expression of the presence of God that accompanies the drama of human history , inviting believers to another vision of history , projected onto an eschatological dimension .
In Pontevedra and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event of Fatima , the call to consecration was renewed , with the Reparatory Communion of the first Saturdays which is associated with it .
AciDigital announced that the bishops of Portugal will gladly accept requests from other bishops ’ conferences in the world to join the consecration on Wednesday .
The requests will need to be made by the presidents of the bishops ’ conferences or by the secretaries of these conferences on behalf of the presidents .
They should be addressed to Dom Manuel José Macário do Nascimento Clemente , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general secretary of the Portuguese bishops ’ conference , Fr .
Manuel Joaquim Gomes Barbosa , at the following e-mail address : [ email protected ] AciDigital gives further details for the foreign bishops .

PORTUGAL, March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Faced with the coronavirus crisis, the Church of Portugal will renew its consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, at the end of the 6:30 P.M. rosary (1:30 P.M. New York time). Since the announcement of this initiative by the bishops of Portugal on Saturday, the bishops of Spain have asked to join this initiative. Following their request, the Portuguese episcopate this Monday offered the bishops’ conferences of the world to join in this “act of devotion.”
The prayer of consecration will be pronounced by Cardinal António Marto, Bishop of Leiria-Fatima.
It will take place in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the online page of the Shrine of Fatima, and, in Portugal, on television, on the radio, and on Christian-inspired digital platforms.
“All the dioceses will be united in the prayer of the Rosary for the intentions of the whole world and especially for Portugal, in this dramatic situation we are going through because of the Covid-19 coronavirus,” said a statement from the Permanent Council of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP) published last Saturday.
On October 20, 2019, the Bishops of Portugal consecrated the Catholic Church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the closing Mass of the missionary year at the Shrine of Fatima, also marking 175 years of the Apostleship of Prayer in Portugal.
The Shrine's website recalled that the first consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary took place on May 13, 1931, eight months after the official recognition of the apparitions by the Bishop of Leiria, at the end of the first national pilgrimage of the Portuguese episcopate to Fatima. Before the consecration, the cardinal-patriarch, D. Manuel Gonçalves Cerejeira, declared:
The Bishops of Portugal, your pastors, are gathered here today to thank Our Lady of Fatima for the visit she has deigned to make to our land. In order that the ceremony of thanksgiving may be complete, they will consecrate their work and the destiny of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This consecration complements the national consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus made three years ago by the Portuguese Episcopate. By descending to Fatima, Our Lady made this place the new Portuguese Bethlehem. If in Bethlehem Our Lady gave the world Jesus, Jesus who is Truth, Life, Forgiveness and Peace, by coming down to Fatima, she gave us a new gift of her son. Fatima has become the national shrine from which she repeats to all peoples: do whatever my Son tells you. Mother of God, we received Jesus only through your hands.
At the end of this speech, the cardinal pronounced the prayer of consecration. Later, in October 1942, the year in which the 25th anniversary of the apparitions was celebrated, Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a radio message.
Referring to the ceremony next Wednesday, March 25, the Shrine’s website continues:
The Heart of Mary presented itself to Lucia from the very beginning, from the second apparition, as a refuge and a way that leads to God. Again, in July, after the vision of hell, she reaffirmed this by offering consecration to her Immaculate Heart as a means of conversion and reparation. Thus devotion to the Heart of Mary becomes, especially with the request for consecration of Russia and all that it would symbolize, an expression of the presence of God that accompanies the drama of human history, inviting believers to another vision of history, projected onto an eschatological dimension. In Pontevedra and Tuy, in the visions that closed the event of Fatima, the call to consecration was renewed, with the Reparatory Communion of the first Saturdays which is associated with it.
AciDigital announced that the bishops of Portugal will gladly accept requests from other bishops’ conferences in the world to join the consecration on Wednesday.
The requests will need to be made by the presidents of the bishops’ conferences or by the secretaries of these conferences on behalf of the presidents. They should be addressed to Dom Manuel José Macário do Nascimento Clemente, cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon, or to the general secretary of the Portuguese bishops’ conference, Fr. Manuel Joaquim Gomes Barbosa, at the following e-mail address: [email protected]
AciDigital gives further details for the foreign bishops.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-24--Coronavirus relief negotiations resume after Dems’ lefty wish list blows up

WASHINGTON , D.C. , March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democrats drew national ire this weekend when they rejected a tentative deal for a coronavirus relief package in favor of a new new bill filled with left-wing agenda items , but as of Tuesday afternoon there are signs Democrats might already regret the stunt .
On Sunday , the Senate was slated to vote on a $ 1.6 trillion bill containing $ 75 billion for hospitals across the country , $ 1,200 checks to every American making below $ 75,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses that have been forced to indefinitely shut down in the interest of containing the virus ’ spread .
Before the vote , however , Pelosi announced that she wanted to draft her own plan instead of presiding over House feedback to the Senate version , leading to the vote deadlocking at 47-47 .
Democrats publicly complained that the Senate bill needed additional provisions for food stamps , expanded emergency leave , and unemployment insurance .
But details soon emerged about the contents of Pelosi ’ s 1,119-page proposal , many of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those items include greater collective-bargaining powers for unions , new fuel-emission standards for airlines , expanded tax credits for green energy , mandates for states to allow early voting and same-day voter registration , a bailout for the U.S .
Postal Service , and automatic extension of non-immigrant visas .
The development was met with swift and fierce backlash from Republicans and others who wanted a no-frills package focused on the immediate crisis .
The negative feedback may have been enough to get Democrats to reconsider ; Politico reported that Senate Minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bargaining table with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and White House representatives .
“ There are lots of good things here , ” Schumer said , predicting that lingering disagreements could be resolved in a matter of hours .
“ In the last few days , we have made huge progress in achieving these goals.
” Pelosi added , “ There is real optimism that we could get something done in the next few hours.
” “ We ’ re trying to finalize all the documents , going through a lot of complicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of progress , ” agreed Trump administration Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland said the timeline for a vote would be “ as soon as possible.
” Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews ’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world .

Liberals wanted to add items such as tax credits for green energy that have nothing to do with helping individuals and businesses.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democrats drew national ire this weekend when they rejected a tentative deal for a coronavirus relief package in favor of a new new bill filled with left-wing agenda items, but as of Tuesday afternoon there are signs Democrats might already regret the stunt.
On Sunday, the Senate was slated to vote on a $1.6 trillion bill containing $75 billion for hospitals across the country, $1,200 checks to every American making below $75,000 a year, and financial aid to businesses that have been forced to indefinitely shut down in the interest of containing the virus’ spread.
Before the vote, however, Pelosi announced that she wanted to draft her own plan instead of presiding over House feedback to the Senate version, leading to the vote deadlocking at 47-47.
Democrats publicly complained that the Senate bill needed additional provisions for food stamps, expanded emergency leave, and unemployment insurance. But details soon emerged about the contents of Pelosi’s 1,119-page proposal, many of which were entirely unrelated to the coronavirus response.
Those items include greater collective-bargaining powers for unions, new fuel-emission standards for airlines, expanded tax credits for green energy, mandates for states to allow early voting and same-day voter registration, a bailout for the U.S. Postal Service, and automatic extension of non-immigrant visas.
The development was met with swift and fierce backlash from Republicans and others who wanted a no-frills package focused on the immediate crisis. The negative feedback may have been enough to get Democrats to reconsider; Politico reported that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has returned to the bargaining table with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and White House representatives.
“There are lots of good things here,” Schumer said, predicting that lingering disagreements could be resolved in a matter of hours. “In the last few days, we have made huge progress in achieving these goals.” Pelosi added, “There is real optimism that we could get something done in the next few hours.”
“We’re trying to finalize all the documents, going through a lot of complicated issues, and we're making a lot of progress,” agreed Trump administration Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland said the timeline for a vote would be “as soon as possible.”
Readers can click here for LifeSiteNews’ live updates on the coronavirus and its impact all over the world.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-24--Top pro-life leader: coronavirus pandemic is ‘chastisement’ for sin of abortion

LONDON , England , March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – John Smeaton , Chief Executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children , the first and largest pro-life organization in the United Kingdom , has called the coronavirus pandemic a “ chastisement ” for abortion and other sins .
“ Boris Johnson ’ s government does not realise that the coronavirus is a chastisement for , amongst other things , the killing of innocent children in the womb , ” he wrote on Facebook March 23 .
His comments were made after the government had announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women would no longer have to go to a hospital or to have a medical abortion .
A spokesperson of the UK ’ s Department of Health and Social Care has since walked back the announcement and said , “ This was published in error .
There will be no changes to abortion regulations.
” Nonetheless , LifeSiteNews followed up with Smeaton to properly understand his remarks .
While “ it ’ s a prudential judgement whether a particular terrible disaster is a chastisement , ” the pro-life leader said that there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connection between the current pandemic and its characterization as a chastisement plausible .
Specifically , he mentioned “ the deprivation from Catholics worldwide of the Holy Eucharist , ” which he said was “ unprecedented.
” He continued that “ it reminds us painfully of the shameful abuse of the Body and Blood of Our Lord which is commonly observed at Masses throughout the world , in particular at Novus Ordo Masses where Communion in the hand has led to countless sacrileges taking place.
” Smeaton explained how abortion has killed “ between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world in the last 50 years .
“ That ’ s more people killed than all the people killed in all the wars in the whole of recorded human history.
” Abortions affect not only the little baby , whose life is taken away .
“ Every one of these children was killed in the heart of an individual family so each abortion has the possibility of darkening the consciences of many more than one person , ” Smeaton said , describing the consequences .
Another point mentioned was the promotion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not least by individual Catholic bishops and by , for example , the entire Conference of Catholic Bishops of England and Wales.
” Smeaton called this “ a sin that ’ s even worse than abortion and might well provoke God ’ s anger in a terrible chastisement.
” “ Countless church officials , even at the highest level of the Church , are encouraging sins ( not only , I should say , in the form of the LGBT agenda ) against which Our Lady of Fatima particularly warned Jacinta , during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and February 1920 , pretty much exactly 100 years ago : ‘ More souls go to hell for the sins of the flesh than for any other reason.
’ ” In his conversation with LifeSiteNews , Smeaton repeatedly referred to the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima , Portugal .
In 1917 , she had told the three children that if people did not stop offending God , he would punish the world “ by means of war , hunger and persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father.
” “ Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the ‘ learned and the clever , ’ ” the British pro-life leader emphasized .
Since it was given to three little children , “ it ’ s therefore perfectly legitimate for simple laymen like myself to make such a connection ” between the coronavirus outbreak and the notion of a chastisement , “ if there are reasonable grounds for doing so.
” As far as historical precedents for chastisements are concerned , Smeaton pointed to remarks made by Italian historian Roberto de Mattei .
He observed parallels between the 21st century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ravaged by famine , plagues , and war all over Europe .
As LifeSiteNews reported , many great saints taught that these were “ signs of God ’ s chastisement.
” “ Saint Bernardine of Siena ( 1380-1444 ) admonished : Tria sunt flagella quibus Dominus castigat : there are three scourges with which God chastises : war , plague , and famine , ” de Mattei said .
“ Saint Bernardine belongs to a number of saints like Catherine of Siena , Bridget of Sweden , Vincent Ferrer , Louis Marie Grignon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history natural disasters have always accompanied the infidelities and apostasy of nations.
” Smeaton made sure to explain that “ the whole of mankind is punished by sin – by both original sin and by individual sins.
” As Christ took our sins upon himself , “ we are called to share in Christ ’ s sufferings for the sins of mankind.
” He said that “ Pro-life leaders , myself included , can be guilty of all sorts of sins and we must all examine our consciences , but I can honestly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a chastisement is based on reasonable grounds , of the kind I ’ ve mentioned , and not self-interest.
” The pro-life leader said he respects fellow Catholics who are careful about calling a particular “ war or plague or persecution ” a chastisement , as long as they give reasons .
“ Perhaps bishops who say that it ’ s not a chastisement are being cynical – particularly if they don ’ t give their reasons for using that term which seems intended to be a little insulting , ” he @ @

'The coronavirus is a chastisement for, amongst other things, the killing of innocent children in the womb'
LONDON, England, March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – John Smeaton, Chief Executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, the first and largest pro-life organization in the United Kingdom, has called the coronavirus pandemic a “chastisement” for abortion and other sins.
“Boris Johnson’s government does not realise that the coronavirus is a chastisement for, amongst other things, the killing of innocent children in the womb,” he wrote on Facebook March 23.
His comments were made after the government had announced that due to the coronavirus outbreak, women would no longer have to go to a hospital or to have a medical abortion. A spokesperson of the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care has since walked back the announcement and said, “This was published in error. There will be no changes to abortion regulations.”
Nonetheless, LifeSiteNews followed up with Smeaton to properly understand his remarks.
While “it’s a prudential judgement whether a particular terrible disaster is a chastisement,” the pro-life leader said that there are a number of aspects that make a connection between the current pandemic and its characterization as a chastisement plausible.
Specifically, he mentioned “the deprivation from Catholics worldwide of the Holy Eucharist,” which he said was “unprecedented.” He continued that “it reminds us painfully of the shameful abuse of the Body and Blood of Our Lord which is commonly observed at Masses throughout the world, in particular at Novus Ordo Masses where Communion in the hand has led to countless sacrileges taking place.”
Smeaton explained how abortion has killed “between one to two billion” people in the world in the last 50 years. “That’s more people killed than all the people killed in all the wars in the whole of recorded human history.”
Abortions affect not only the little baby, whose life is taken away. “Every one of these children was killed in the heart of an individual family so each abortion has the possibility of darkening the consciences of many more than one person,” Smeaton said, describing the consequences.
Another point mentioned was the promotion of the LGBT agenda in schools, “not least by individual Catholic bishops and by, for example, the entire Conference of Catholic Bishops of England and Wales.” Smeaton called this “a sin that’s even worse than abortion and might well provoke God’s anger in a terrible chastisement.”
“Countless church officials, even at the highest level of the Church, are encouraging sins (not only, I should say, in the form of the LGBT agenda) against which Our Lady of Fatima particularly warned Jacinta, during visions received by her between December 1919 and February 1920, pretty much exactly 100 years ago: ‘More souls go to hell for the sins of the flesh than for any other reason.’”
In his conversation with LifeSiteNews, Smeaton repeatedly referred to the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima, Portugal. In 1917, she had told the three children that if people did not stop offending God, he would punish the world “by means of war, hunger and persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father.”
“Our Lady’s message was not given to the ‘learned and the clever,’” the British pro-life leader emphasized. Since it was given to three little children, “it’s therefore perfectly legitimate for simple laymen like myself to make such a connection” between the coronavirus outbreak and the notion of a chastisement, “if there are reasonable grounds for doing so.”
As far as historical precedents for chastisements are concerned, Smeaton pointed to remarks made by Italian historian Roberto de Mattei.
He observed parallels between the 21st century and the 14th century, which was ravaged by famine, plagues, and war all over Europe. As LifeSiteNews reported, many great saints taught that these were “signs of God’s chastisement.”
“Saint Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444) admonished: Tria sunt flagella quibus Dominus castigat: there are three scourges with which God chastises: war, plague, and famine,” de Mattei said.
“Saint Bernardine belongs to a number of saints like Catherine of Siena, Bridget of Sweden, Vincent Ferrer, Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort, who warned how throughout history natural disasters have always accompanied the infidelities and apostasy of nations.”
Smeaton made sure to explain that “the whole of mankind is punished by sin – by both original sin and by individual sins.” As Christ took our sins upon himself, “we are called to share in Christ’s sufferings for the sins of mankind.”
He said that “Pro-life leaders, myself included, can be guilty of all sorts of sins and we must all examine our consciences, but I can honestly say that my comment that the coronavirus is a chastisement is based on reasonable grounds, of the kind I’ve mentioned, and not self-interest.”
The pro-life leader said he respects fellow Catholics who are careful about calling a particular “war or plague or persecution” a chastisement, as long as they give reasons.
“Perhaps bishops who say that it’s not a chastisement are being cynical – particularly if they don’t give their reasons for using that term which seems intended to be a little insulting,” he said.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-24--US House resolution denounces Chinese Communist gov’t for mishandling of coronavirus

WASHINGTON , DC , March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – A resolution introduced in the U.S House of Representatives condemns the Chinese Communist government for its mishandling of and misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak which has led to a worldwide pandemic and threatens to topple the economies of many nations .
The bipartisan resolution asserts that China “ made multiple , serious mistakes in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak that heightened the severity and spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , which include the Chinese government 's intentional spread of misinformation to downplay the risks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with international health authorities , internal censorship of doctors and journalists and malicious disregard for the health of ethnic minorities.
” The resolution , introduced by Rep. Jim Banks , R-IN , identifies many specific missteps of the Chinese Communist Party and cites a study by the University of Southampton , all of which were reported by LifeSiteNews last week .
The University of Southampton study found that the spread of the coronavirus now holding much of the world hostage could have been substantially reduced if Chinese authorities had acted more swiftly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during its early stages .
The results suggest that if interventions had been staged three weeks earlier the number of cases of COVID-19 would have been reduced by 95 percent .
Currently , nearly 400,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide , resulting in over 17,000 deaths .
Those numbers increase by the hour .
The resolution calls on the Chinese Government to : • Publicly state that there ’ s no evidence that COVID-19 originated anywhere else but China ; • Denounce the baseless conspiracy that the United States Army placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detainment of Uyghur Muslims and other persecuted ethnic minorities ; and • The Chinese government ’ s censorship of doctors and journalists during the early days of the outbreak ; • The Chinese government ’ s refusal to allow scientists from the Centers of Disease Control to assist its response to COVID-19 for over a month after cooperation was offered , needlessly endangering the lives of its own citizens and hampering the United States ’ early attempts to learn more about COVID-19 ; and • China ’ s National Health Commission ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
It also calls for World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to retract highly misleading statements of support for the Chinese Government ’ s response to COVID-19 , especially his praise for the “ commitment from [ China ’ s ] top leadership , and the transparency they have demonstrated.
” The resolution comes as the Chinese Communist Party continues to assert its “ success ” in stopping the virus in its tracks is a model for other countries to follow .
“ Learn from China , ” is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mosher , an internationally recognised authority on China .
Mosher said that no one should believe Communist China ’ s claim that the coronavirus is under control .
It ’ s “ just one more piece of Chinese propaganda to add to the ever-growing pile of lies that Beijing has been telling these past three months.
” The resolution can be read here .

The Chinese government intentionally downplayed the risks of the virus, wouldn't cooperate with international health authorities, and censored doctors and journalists, the resolution says.
WASHINGTON, DC, March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – A resolution introduced in the U.S House of Representatives condemns the Chinese Communist government for its mishandling of and misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak which has led to a worldwide pandemic and threatens to topple the economies of many nations.
The bipartisan resolution asserts that China “made multiple, serious mistakes in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak that heightened the severity and spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which include the Chinese government's intentional spread of misinformation to downplay the risks of the virus, a refusal to cooperate with international health authorities, internal censorship of doctors and journalists and malicious disregard for the health of ethnic minorities.”
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Jim Banks, R-IN, identifies many specific missteps of the Chinese Communist Party and cites a study by the University of Southampton, all of which were reported by LifeSiteNews last week.
The University of Southampton study found that the spread of the coronavirus now holding much of the world hostage could have been substantially reduced if Chinese authorities had acted more swiftly and had been more forthcoming in their reporting during its early stages.
The results suggest that if interventions had been staged three weeks earlier the number of cases of COVID-19 would have been reduced by 95 percent.
Currently, nearly 400,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide, resulting in over 17,000 deaths. Those numbers increase by the hour.
The resolution calls on the Chinese Government to:
Publicly state that there’s no evidence that COVID-19 originated anywhere else but China;
Denounce the baseless conspiracy that the United States Army placed COVID-19 in Wuhan;
Revoke its expulsion of American journalists;
End its detainment of Uyghur Muslims and other persecuted ethnic minorities; and
End all forced labor programs.
The resolution condemns:
The Chinese government’s censorship of doctors and journalists during the early days of the outbreak;
The Chinese government’s refusal to allow scientists from the Centers of Disease Control to assist its response to COVID-19 for over a month after cooperation was offered, needlessly endangering the lives of its own citizens and hampering the United States’ early attempts to learn more about COVID-19; and
China’s National Health Commission’s duplicitous denial of the person-to-person transmissibility of COVID-19.
It also calls for World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to retract highly misleading statements of support for the Chinese Government’s response to COVID-19, especially his praise for the “commitment from [China’s] top leadership, and the transparency they have demonstrated.”
The resolution comes as the Chinese Communist Party continues to assert its “success” in stopping the virus in its tracks is a model for other countries to follow.
“Learn from China,” is the latest Party line, according to Steven Mosher, an internationally recognised authority on China.
Mosher said that no one should believe Communist China’s claim that the coronavirus is under control. It’s “just one more piece of Chinese propaganda to add to the ever-growing pile of lies that Beijing has been telling these past three months.”
The resolution can be read here.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-24--Living without the Eucharist

Living without the Eucharist

Formerly Heart to Heart with Mother Miriam , Mother Miriam Live brings you inspiration and solutions for life ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Miriam is a Catholic nun on a mission to bring hope to a world that @ @ @ @ @ let her share that hope and joy with you !
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Watch Mother Miriam's Live show from 3.24.2020. Today Mother talks about the coronavirus and what Catholics can do without the Eucharist.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-24--Cloistered hermit shows Catholics how to survive coronavirus quarantine

March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The coronavirus outbreak has forced millions of Catholics across the world not only to be quarantined , but to be without access to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass .
With that in mind , I thought there ’ d be no better person to speak to about surviving — and thriving — while living in social isolation than Fr .
Maximilian Mary Dean , a cloistered hermit who resides in the Diocese of Harrisburg , Pennsylvania .
Fr .
Maximilian was a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the superior of their contemplative order in Italy and served as postulant director for six years in the United States .
When the founders were replaced by a commissioner , Fr .
Maximillian prayerfully discerned that there was no future for his contemplative vocation with the Franciscans .
Eventually , Bishop Ronald Gainer welcomed him into his diocese as a priest hermit .
Fr .
Maximilian ’ s story is truly unique .
As a young boy , he grew up in a wild household where his parents would host massive parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of a rock band .
When he was just 16 , after a wild night of drinking , he got into a car accident that almost cost him his life .
“ If I died at that moment , I ’ m convinced that I would have been condemned to hell , ” he told me on my podcast today .
“ But God in His mercy gave me a second lease on life and began to call me to respond to his grace.
” Fr .
Maximillian is still a musician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are wholesome and enjoyable .
Go to his website , www.FatherMaxMusic.com , to listen to some of his best work .
What I really wanted to ask Father about was his thoughts on the coronavirus and what advice he has for Catholics who are holed up in their homes .
First off , he told me , and I agree with him , that mankind is being punished with the coronavirus for its many sins and that large-scale suffering is “ always linked to our sins.
” He mentioned how Our Lady of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred in the 1840s in France , proved that the famine that was occurring at the time was a direct result of men profaning Sunday and using the Lord ’ s name in vain .
Father also mentioned how Our Lady of Fatima warned about World War II taking place if men didn ’ t do penance .
Fr .
Maximillian believes that the coronavirus is being inflicted on mankind for not repenting of its ways .
He singled out abortion , homosexuality , pornography , and the failure of churchmen to preach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fullness as major contributors to sin in these times .
“ Any sickness , any suffering , is linked to our fore-bears ’ sins and also our own sins , ” he said .
“ How can God not respond in some way , you know ?
” So what can Catholics do in these times ?
When we are in isolation , Father said , music “ can help lift us up when we 're getting kind of down and struggling ... there are times where the music just helps me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said we should “ make our life an extension of the Mass ” and offer up our sufferings in “ atonement for our sins and those of the world.
” That ’ s not going to be easy , he added , but Catholics need to realize that the situations they find themselves are are either “ willed or they ’ re permitted by God to draw us closer to Him to help save and sanctify ourselves.
” Fr .
Maximillian added that Catholics must “ hunker down and pray ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to focus on God .
“ The whole world is being forced to think about their final end .
They ’ re all being forced to think about the four last things ... there ’ s many souls , I think , right now that are disposed because of the situation to extraordinary conversion , ” he told me .
“ How many souls will go to Heaven if we pray and sacrifice for them ?
... Our prayers and sacrifices can bring about the salvation and sanctification of many souls.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video on the show ’ s YouTube channel and right here on my LifeSite blog .
It is also available in audio format on platforms such as Spotify , Soundcloud , and ACast .
We are awaiting approval for iTunes and Google Play as well .
To subscribe to the audio version on various channels , visit the ACast webpage here .
We ’ ve created a special email list for the show so that we can notify you every week when we post a new episode .
Please sign up now by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the YouTube channel , and you ’ ll be notified by YouTube when there is new content .
You can send me feedback , or ideas for show topics by emailing [ email protected ] .

Fr. Maximilian Mary Dean believes that the coronavirus is being inflicted upon mankind for our many sins but that if we 'cling to Our Lady's Immaculate Heart, everything will be all right.'
PRAYER PLEDGE: Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The coronavirus outbreak has forced millions of Catholics across the world not only to be quarantined, but to be without access to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. With that in mind, I thought there’d be no better person to speak to about surviving — and thriving — while living in social isolation than Fr. Maximilian Mary Dean, a hermit who resides in the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Fr. Maximilian was a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate for a total of 22 years. He was the superior of their contemplative order in Italy and served as postulant director for six years in the United States. When the founders were replaced by a commissioner, Fr. Maximillian prayerfully discerned that there was no future for his contemplative vocation with the Franciscans. Eventually, Bishop Ronald Gainer welcomed him into his diocese as a priest hermit.
Fr. Maximilian’s story is truly unique. As a young boy, he grew up in a wild household where his parents would host massive parties. He was also a guitarist and a member of a rock band. When he was just 16, after a wild night of drinking, he got into a car accident that almost cost him his life.
“If I died at that moment, I’m convinced that I would have been condemned to hell,” he told me on my podcast today. “But God in His mercy gave me a second lease on life and began to call me to respond to his grace.”
Fr. Maximillian is still a musician and produces some really great songs that are wholesome and enjoyable. Go to his website, www.FatherMaxMusic.com, to listen to some of his best work.
What I really wanted to ask Father about was his thoughts on the coronavirus and what advice he has for Catholics who are holed up in their homes.
First off, he told me, and I agree with him, that mankind is being punished with the coronavirus for its many sins and that large-scale suffering is “always linked to our sins.”
He mentioned how Our Lady of La Salette, an approved apparition that occurred in the 1840s in France, proved that the famine that was occurring at the time was a direct result of men profaning Sunday and using the Lord’s name in vain. Father also mentioned how Our Lady of Fatima warned about World War II taking place if men didn’t do penance.
Fr. Maximillian believes that the coronavirus is being inflicted on mankind for not repenting of its ways. He singled out abortion, homosexuality, pornography, and the failure of churchmen to preach and live by the Faith in its fullness as major contributors to sin in these times. “Any sickness, any suffering, is linked to our fore-bears’ sins and also our own sins,” he said. “How can God not respond in some way, you know?”
So what can Catholics do in these times? When we are in isolation, Father said, music “can help lift us up when we're getting kind of down and struggling…there are times where the music just helps me to keep my focus on God.”
He also said we should “make our life an extension of the Mass” and offer up our sufferings in “atonement for our sins and those of the world.” That’s not going to be easy, he added, but Catholics need to realize that the situations they find themselves are either “willed or they’re permitted by God to draw us closer to Him to help save and sanctify ourselves.”
Fr. Maximillian added that Catholics must “hunker down and pray” and enjoy some music to calm their nerves and to focus on God.
“The whole world is being forced to think about their final end. They’re all being forced to think about the four last things…there’s many souls, I think, right now that are disposed because of the situation to extraordinary conversion,” he told me. “How many souls will go to Heaven if we pray and sacrifice for them? … Our prayers and sacrifices can bring about the salvation and sanctification of many souls.”
The John-Henry Westen Show is available by video on the show’s YouTube channel and right here on my LifeSite blog.
It is also available in audio format on platforms such as Spotify, Soundcloud, and ACast. We are awaiting approval for iTunes and Google Play as well. To subscribe to the audio version on various channels, visit the ACast webpage here.
We’ve created a special email list for the show so that we can notify you every week when we post a new episode. Please sign up now by clicking here. You can also subscribe to the YouTube channel, and you’ll be notified by YouTube when there is new content.
You can send me feedback, or ideas for show topics by emailing [email protected].
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lifesitenews--2020-03-24--Pro-life leaders to public health officials: Response to COVID-19 shouldn’t promote abortion

WASHINGTON , D.C. , March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Today the leaders of national and state-based pro-life groups sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Alex Azar , calling on all public health officials to oppose the promotion of abortion amidst the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ While we are in a hectic race to save lives , Planned Parenthood and other powers in the abortion industry remain insistent on taking the lives of innocent unborn children .
While surgery centers postpone elective and diagnostic procedures , abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortions and putting women , especially the poor , at risk .
Their continued operation depletes sorely needed personal protective equipment and leads to complications that will further overwhelm already overextended emergency rooms .
The abortion industry is compounding one crisis with another .
Therefore , we urge public officials to use their broad emergency authority to safeguard against the extreme abortion agenda.
” The letter outlines ways that public health officials can resist the abortion lobby ’ s agenda including : • Ensuring that emergency response funds are not diverted to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry to cease operations and join other healthcare providers in donating their PPE ( personal protection equipment ) and other equipment to coronavirus response ; • Ensure that telemedicine abortion is not expanded during the crisis and maintain FDA limits on dispensing of chemical abortion ; • Continue actions to stop illegal mail-order sale of chemical abortion ; and • Promote medically accurate and supportive information for women that counters the inaccurate and exploitative messaging coming from an abortion industry all too happy to use the current pandemic to scare women and families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 50 pro-life leaders , including Marjorie Dannenfelser , President of SBA List ; Penny Young Nance , President of Concerned Women for America LAC ; Donna Harrison M.D.
, Executive Director of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists ; Fr .
Frank Pavone , National Director of Priests for Life ; Kristan Hawkins , President of Students for Life America ; and Lila Rose , President of Live Action .
The abortion lobby has been insisting that aborting babies is an “ essential ” medical service and should be @ @ @ @ @

'While surgery centers postpone elective and diagnostic procedures, abortion centers are churning out surgical and chemical abortions...'
PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Today the leaders of national and state-based pro-life groups sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, calling on all public health officials to oppose the promotion of abortion amidst the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter reads in part:
“While we are in a hectic race to save lives, Planned Parenthood and other powers in the abortion industry remain insistent on taking the lives of innocent unborn children. While surgery centers postpone elective and diagnostic procedures, abortion centers are churning out surgical and chemical abortions and putting women, especially the poor, at risk. Their continued operation depletes sorely needed personal protective equipment and leads to complications that will further overwhelm already overextended emergency rooms. The abortion industry is compounding one crisis with another. Therefore, we urge public officials to use their broad emergency authority to safeguard against the extreme abortion agenda.”
The letter outlines ways that public health officials can resist the abortion lobby’s agenda including:
Ensuring that emergency response funds are not diverted to the abortion industry;
Urging the abortion industry to cease operations and join other healthcare providers in donating their PPE (personal protection equipment) and other equipment to coronavirus response;
Ensure that telemedicine abortion is not expanded during the crisis and maintain FDA limits on dispensing of chemical abortion;
Continue actions to stop illegal mail-order sale of chemical abortion; and
Promote medically accurate and supportive information for women that counters the inaccurate and exploitative messaging coming from an abortion industry all too happy to use the current pandemic to scare women and families into abortion.
The letter was signed more than 50 pro-life leaders, including Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of SBA List; Penny Young Nance, President of Concerned Women for America LAC; Donna Harrison M.D., Executive Director of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life; Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life America; and Lila Rose, President of Live Action.
The abortion lobby has been insisting that aborting babies is an “essential” medical service and should be continued during the pandemic.
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lifesitenews--2020-03-24--Pro-life satire vid destroys pro-abortion claim that sex is for pleasure, not babies

March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – Laura Klassen is back with the latest video in her “ Just Saying ” series , this time satirizing the popular pro-abortion talking point that abortion is justified because an abortion seeker never “ consented ” to getting pregnant .
Klassen , the founder and director Ontario-based pro-life group Choice42 ( Choice For Two ) , dons a pink wig in each “ Just Saying ” installment to debunk common pro-abortion talking points with humor .
The latest video has her character , a ditzy pro-abort , enjoying a massive tray of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eating all the donuts is not consent to gaining weight .
Winning !
” “ There is no known correlation between eating sugary , carby goodness and gaining weight , right ?
Right ?
” she says .
“ OK , if I get fat from this , someone is gon na be in big trouble .
And it ’ s not me !
” To make the analogy explicit , she continues that it ’ s just like how “ no one could know that sex leads to pregnancy , duh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not consent to pregnancy ” is a common defense of allowing abortion .
Pro-lifers have responded by noting that virtually everyone who engages in consensual sexual intercourse knows pregnancy is a possible outcome , and by arguing that , even if the premise were true ( or in cases such as rape , where the woman did not consent to anything ) , it would not logically follow that killing an innocent child is an ethical remedy .
Choice42 ’ s “ Just Saying ” series has previously skewered the arguments for Down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward unwanted kids , excluding men from the abortion debate , and the idea that a “ magical birth canal ” turns an ambiguously human fetus into a true living being , as well as some abortion activists ’ avoidance of the word “ abortion ” and the double standard of protecting preborn puppies but not baby humans .
The organization also releases more serious videos on topics such as the firsthand accounts of women who choose life in difficult circumstances and works to help women by connecting them to crisis pregnancy resources @

The newest 'Just Sayin' video uses donuts to skewer the pro-abortion grasp of pregnancy consent.
PETITION: Urge state governors to stop abortions during coronavirus crisis Sign the petition here.
March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Laura Klassen is back with the latest video in her “Just Saying” series, this time satirizing the popular pro-abortion talking point that abortion is justified because an abortion seeker never “consented” to getting pregnant.
Klassen, the founder and director Ontario-based pro-life group Choice42 (Choice For Two), dons a pink wig in each “Just Saying” installment to debunk common pro-abortion talking points with humor. The latest video has her character, a ditzy pro-abort, enjoying a massive tray of donuts, talking about how “consent to eating all the donuts is not consent to gaining weight. Winning!”
“There is no known correlation between eating sugary, carby goodness and gaining weight, right? Right?” she says. “OK, if I get fat from this, someone is gonna be in big trouble. And it’s not me!”
To make the analogy explicit, she continues that it’s just like how “no one could know that sex leads to pregnancy, duh!”
“Consent to sex is not consent to pregnancy” is a common defense of allowing abortion. Pro-lifers have responded by noting that virtually everyone who engages in consensual sexual intercourse knows pregnancy is a possible outcome, and by arguing that, even if the premise were true (or in cases such as rape, where the woman did not consent to anything), it would not logically follow that killing an innocent child is an ethical remedy.
Choice42’s “Just Saying” series has previously skewered the arguments for Down syndrome abortions, abortion as a mercy toward unwanted kids, excluding men from the abortion debate, and the idea that a “magical birth canal” turns an ambiguously human fetus into a true living being, as well as some abortion activists’ avoidance of the word “abortion” and the double standard of protecting preborn puppies but not baby humans.
The organization also releases more serious videos on topics such as the firsthand accounts of women who choose life in difficult circumstances and works to help women by connecting them to crisis pregnancy resources.
Share


lifesitenews--2020-03-24--The state has forbidden public Masses. Why it’s a huge problem for bishops to go along

March 24 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – When the princes of the apostles , Peter and Paul , suffered their martyrdom under Emperor Nero , there must already have been a Christian congregation in Rome , that is , the Roman Church already existed .
In front of her was a rocky path , a few centuries long , until Emperor Constantine the Great ( †337 ) liberated her from the danger of persecution and declared her a religio licita .
Even though Emperor Julian the Apostate ( †363 ) rebuilt the ancient temples again and attempted to push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triumph of the Christian altar could not be stopped any longer .
In late antiquity , the question of Christian worship became a question of the cult that supported the state , and thus an eminently political one .
Erik Peterson has shown that since the Apocalypse of St. John , the understanding of cult has aimed at becoming the cultus publicus ( public cult ) of human society .
Christians recognized in their Lord slaughtered and risen on the throne of the cross the true Pantocrator and ruler of history .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and therefore quite naturally took on representative forms of the imperial cult .
The altars of the Christians replaced the pantheon of the old empire .
After the sack of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 , Augustine felt compelled to respond with his great work De Civitate Dei to the accusation that the suppression of the old public cult of the Roman gods by the worship of the Christians was to blame for the catastrophe .
The gods had not wanted to support the state since they were abandoned by it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , it is curious that by decree of the prime minister public Masses are forbidden for several weeks throughout Italy ( and more and more European countries ) .
For the first time in millennia , a crisis in the former core area of the Roman Empire is being met without religion and even the cultus publicus is being banned .
This is the final consequence of the fact that the secular state has the right to place itself above religion .
Something else has to scare us even more .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to the fact that also within the Church one can no longer understand the necessity of a continuous cult , and that bishops can rather quickly agree with the drastic measures of the government .
Of different theological developments , let us pick two important ones .
If in more and more countries today no public cult is possible anymore , then it must be said that it was in a certain sense already abolished within theology by parts of the later liturgical movement , because it wanted to detach Christian worship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from philosophical insights .
The Second Vatican Council , however , did not only see in Christ ’ s priesthood the cultus publicus accomplished , but applied this concept quite classically ( SC 7 , 27 , and others ) .
Even more than this set of questions , however , it is decisive that in the 20th century it was increasingly relativized to frequently celebrate the Eucharist , i.e .
the actual core of worship .
Odo Casel ( †1948 ) has formulated a re-foundation of Christian worship that is entirely determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Important theologians in the 20th century were on the one hand fascinated by the theology of mystery , but on the other hand also had weighty objections because of its metaphysical weaknesses .
An important controversy arose between Casel and Gottlieb Söhngen ( †1971 ) , Joseph Ratzinger ’ s doctoral supervisor , whose central question was whether the sacrificial act of the Mass was numerically identical with that on the cross .
The theology of mystery in Casel ’ s wake in all its manifestations leads to assume such a numerical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TRE 1 , 169 ) , with far-reaching consequences .
The understanding of the Eucharistic celebration thus shifts from a sacrifice made here and now to a memory ( albeit filled with reality ) of the Paschal Mystery of Christ .
In the further reception of Casel , the content of the Paschal Mystery is no longer only the sacrificial transition to the Father ( Jn 13:1 ) in Cross , Resurrection , and Ascension , i.e .
a classical view of sacrifice .
Instead , it is expanded into a general anamnesis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the saving action of the biblical God in history .
In addition , as a consequence of Casel ’ s reception , it is emphasized that not only the Mass participates in the Paschal Mystery .
Every liturgical celebration , also the liturgy of the Word presided over by a layman , is its expression .
From here , by the way , it is understandable that the Synodal Path indiscriminately offers a Mass at one time , and at another time a liturgy of the Word as the central worship service for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other hand , tried to preserve the sacrificial character of the Mass and maintained the numerical difference between the sacrificial act on the Cross and that of the Eucharist .
Only in this way could the presence of Christ at Mass , in contrast to his presence in the other sacraments , be distinguished as sacrificial ( cf .
Kühn ) .
This fundamental helpful insight , however , did not prevent Rahner for his part from strongly relativizing the necessity of the frequentness of Mass .
He formulates as a central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be celebrated “ as often as the frequentness of the celebration of Mass increases the fides and devotio of those celebrating.
” In other words , this means that there is no effect of the Sacrifice of the Mass except that which is aimed at those who currently participate in it .
The Magisterium of the Church has tried to counteract the relativization of the Sacrifice of the Mass .
In his encyclical Mediator Dei , Pope Pius XII emphasized not only the liturgy as a cultus publicus , but also the classical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has : praise , thanksgiving , expiation and petition .
These purposes of sacrifice , however , have a clear and relevant reference to the life of man : “ One understands , then , why the Holy Council of Trent assures that through the Eucharistic sacrifice the saving power of the cross is turned to us for the forgiveness of our daily sins.
” The Second Vatican Council speaks of a continuation of the sacrifice of the cross ( SC 47 ) .
Pope Paul VI , in his encyclical Mysterium Fidei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1965 , emphasizes precisely with regard to this formulation its continuity with the doctrine of the Sacrifice of the Mass of the Tridentine Council .
Moreover , it was the Pope of the Council who urged priests to celebrate Mass daily , noting : “ For every Mass celebrated is offered not only for the salvation of some , but for the salvation of the whole world.
” This formulation was also used by the conciliar teaching authority ( PO , FN 15 ) .
How strongly the Pope of the Council insisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mass is proven by the sentence with which he closes his call to priests to daily celebration , stating that they “ contribute most to the salvation of the human race.
” Our times present us with new challenges , with the reactions of state and Church to the coronavirus being only one symptom .
The question is how faith in a God who has entered history and who calls upon his covenant people can also become socially relevant without becoming secular .
But it is also about the innermost question of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times would have been aware that the Eucharistic Sacrifice represents today ’ s most powerful intervention of God in history .
Written by Fr .
Dr. Sven Leo Conrad FSSP , head of the Fraternity ’ s Academic Council .
This article was first published by Die Tagespost and is translated with permission by Martin Bürger .

PRAYER PLEDGE: Rally around the daily Rosary to stop the coronavirus Sign the petition here.
March 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – When the princes of the apostles, Peter and Paul, suffered their martyrdom under Emperor Nero, there must already have been a Christian congregation in Rome, that is, the Roman Church already existed. In front of her was a rocky path, a few centuries long, until Emperor Constantine the Great (†337) liberated her from the danger of persecution and declared her a religio licita. Even though Emperor Julian the Apostate (†363) rebuilt the ancient temples again and attempted to push through the return to paganism, the triumph of the Christian altar could not be stopped any longer.
In late antiquity, the question of Christian worship became a question of the cult that supported the state, and thus an eminently political one. Erik Peterson has shown that since the Apocalypse of St. John, the understanding of cult has aimed at becoming the cultus publicus (public cult) of human society. Christians recognized in their Lord slaughtered and risen on the throne of the cross the true Pantocrator and ruler of history. His cult also had to incarnate within history and therefore quite naturally took on representative forms of the imperial cult. The altars of the Christians replaced the pantheon of the old empire. After the sack of Rome by the Visigoths in 410, Augustine felt compelled to respond with his great work De Civitate Dei to the accusation that the suppression of the old public cult of the Roman gods by the worship of the Christians was to blame for the catastrophe. The gods had not wanted to support the state since they were abandoned by it.
In view of these dates of Church history, it is curious that by decree of the prime minister public Masses are forbidden for several weeks throughout Italy (and more and more European countries). For the first time in millennia, a crisis in the former core area of the Roman Empire is being met without religion and even the cultus publicus is being banned. This is the final consequence of the fact that the secular state has the right to place itself above religion.
Something else has to scare us even more. The theology of the last decades has substantially contributed to the fact that also within the Church one can no longer understand the necessity of a continuous cult, and that bishops can rather quickly agree with the drastic measures of the government. Of different theological developments, let us pick two important ones. If in more and more countries today no public cult is possible anymore, then it must be said that it was in a certain sense already abolished within theology by parts of the later liturgical movement, because it wanted to detach Christian worship radically from the history of religion and from philosophical insights. The Second Vatican Council, however, did not only see in Christ’s priesthood the cultus publicus accomplished, but applied this concept quite classically (SC 7, 27, and others).
Even more than this set of questions, however, it is decisive that in the 20th century it was increasingly relativized to frequently celebrate the Eucharist, i.e. the actual core of worship. Odo Casel (†1948) has formulated a re-foundation of Christian worship that is entirely determined by the certainly biblical concept of mystery. Important theologians in the 20th century were on the one hand fascinated by the theology of mystery, but on the other hand also had weighty objections because of its metaphysical weaknesses. An important controversy arose between Casel and Gottlieb Söhngen (†1971), Joseph Ratzinger’s doctoral supervisor, whose central question was whether the sacrificial act of the Mass was numerically identical with that on the cross. The theology of mystery in Casel’s wake in all its manifestations leads to assume such a numerical identity (cf. Ulrich Kühn, TRE 1, 169), with far-reaching consequences. The understanding of the Eucharistic celebration thus shifts from a sacrifice made here and now to a memory (albeit filled with reality) of the Paschal Mystery of Christ. In the further reception of Casel, the content of the Paschal Mystery is no longer only the sacrificial transition to the Father (Jn 13:1) in Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension, i.e. a classical view of sacrifice. Instead, it is expanded into a general anamnesis of Christ or into a cipher for the saving action of the biblical God in history. In addition, as a consequence of Casel’s reception, it is emphasized that not only the Mass participates in the Paschal Mystery. Every liturgical celebration, also the liturgy of the Word presided over by a layman, is its expression. From here, by the way, it is understandable that the Synodal Path indiscriminately offers a Mass at one time, and at another time a liturgy of the Word as the central worship service for the members.
Karl Rahner, on the other hand, tried to preserve the sacrificial character of the Mass and maintained the numerical difference between the sacrificial act on the Cross and that of the Eucharist. Only in this way could the presence of Christ at Mass, in contrast to his presence in the other sacraments, be distinguished as sacrificial (cf. Kühn). This fundamental helpful insight, however, did not prevent Rahner for his part from strongly relativizing the necessity of the frequentness of Mass. He formulates as a central principle underlying it that the Eucharist must be celebrated “as often as the frequentness of the celebration of Mass increases the fides and devotio of those celebrating.” In other words, this means that there is no effect of the Sacrifice of the Mass except that which is aimed at those who currently participate in it. The Magisterium of the Church has tried to counteract the relativization of the Sacrifice of the Mass. In his encyclical Mediator Dei, Pope Pius XII emphasized not only the liturgy as a cultus publicus, but also the classical purposes of sacrifice, which the Eucharist has: praise, thanksgiving, expiation and petition. These purposes of sacrifice, however, have a clear and relevant reference to the life of man: “One understands, then, why the Holy Council of Trent assures that through the Eucharistic sacrifice the saving power of the cross is turned to us for the forgiveness of our daily sins.”
The Second Vatican Council speaks of a continuation of the sacrifice of the cross (SC 47). Pope Paul VI, in his encyclical Mysterium Fidei, prepared still during the Council in 1965, emphasizes precisely with regard to this formulation its continuity with the doctrine of the Sacrifice of the Mass of the Tridentine Council. Moreover, it was the Pope of the Council who urged priests to celebrate Mass daily, noting: “For every Mass celebrated is offered not only for the salvation of some, but for the salvation of the whole world.” This formulation was also used by the conciliar teaching authority (PO, FN 15). How strongly the Pope of the Council insisted on the necessity of the frequentness of Mass is proven by the sentence with which he closes his call to priests to daily celebration, stating that they “contribute most to the salvation of the human race.”
Our times present us with new challenges, with the reactions of state and Church to the coronavirus being only one symptom. The question is how faith in a God who has entered history and who calls upon his covenant people can also become socially relevant without becoming secular. But it is also about the innermost question of the sacramental action of the Church. Faithful times would have been aware that the Eucharistic Sacrifice represents today’s most powerful intervention of God in history.
Written by Fr. Dr. Sven Leo Conrad FSSP, head of the Fraternity’s Academic Council. This article was first published by Die Tagespost and is translated with permission by Martin Bürger.
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