Swine flu etiquette in church

May 2, 11:19 PMRoman Catholic ExaminerPamela Luther

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Swine flu stories are abounding ad nauseum with everyone and his or her grandmother writing stories that range from amusing to practical to political.This may be categorized as practical.

In the Catholic Church, we celebrate the Eucharist as a community, sharing a chalice and shaking hands during the exchange of Christ’s peace.

It is common courtesy to avoid the chalice when one has a cold or isn’t feeling up to par, although I have witnessed the opposite sometimes. The H1N1virus (a.k.a. as the swine flu) has changed the perspectives of people very quickly.

My husband and I are in St. Louis this weekend. We went to a 5 p.m. mass this evening. It is always interesting to visit churches in different dioceses, because although the mass is the same, there usually are some differences that can be discerned. There was a huge difference detected this weekend in the St. Louis Archdiocese.

Before the mass, the priest announced that the Archdiocese has suspended offering the chalice as well as shaking hands as a gesture of Christ’s peace at this time.He indicated it might last a few weeks. I thought it was totally appropriate because it took the burden off of people who would not feel comfortable in shaking other people’s hands yet really didn’t want to appear to be rude.

I have to admit I felt some relief, but the mass did seem very different to have those two components omitted from the celebration. There was NO Rite of Peace, not even a verbal exchange or nod of the head.That felt weird.

The Archdiocese of Chicago has taken a different approach. The following statement has been issued regarding the H1N1 virus:

While it has not reached epidemic proportions here in the Archdiocese of Chicago, there have been local reports of a few individuals contracting the H1N1 Virus (the swine flu).
 

At this time, as well as any other, it is important to practice good hygiene and to remember good common sense. All of us would do well to remember that frequent cleansing of the hands, either with soap and water or with an alcohol based anti-bacterial solution, combats the spread or contraction of the flu. This need is especially important for those who minister Holy Communion during the celebration of the Eucharist.

Those who feel ill should especially act responsibly. Refraining from taking Holy Communion from the Chalice, sharing the sign of peace with a simple nod of the head and the verbal exchange of Christ’s peace instead of shaking hands, and avoiding close contact with others will go a long way in helping prevent others from catching the same illness.

While there are no plans at this point in the Archdiocese of Chicago to suspend or change either the Rite of Peace or Holy Communion from the Chalice, all Catholics should exercise prudence while participating in the celebration of the Eucharist.

The Bishops of the United States have posted 10 questions and answers regarding the Swine Flu and Liturgy on their website. You can view this resource by going to the USCCB Website: www.usccb.org.

 

Personally, as I stated last week when the story started to emerge, I am a germ freak anyway so I really haven’t changed any of my habits. One added benefit on a personal note—my husband always thought (but is way too polite to say it) that I am a bit compulsive about the whole hand-washing thing. I have noticed that he is more diligent about it now; I am probably not as polite as he is about pointing out that I have been right all along!

May the Peace of the Lord be with you! Have a blessed weekend!
 

Read Swine Flu: fear or faith