The public cessation of the Mass and Holy Communion is “so unique and serious” that it could be understood as a “divine rebuke” for the past fifty years of Eucharistic desecration and triviliazation, Bishop Athanasius Schneider has said.
In a new interview in The Remnant newspaper with journalist Diane Montagna, author of Christus Vincit, a book interview with Bishop Schneider published last year, the Kazakhstan auxiliary links the suspension of public Masses with various changes to the Mass including Communion in the hand — a change that he believes has led to a “weakened faith in the Real Presence.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Bishop Schneider expresses strong opposition to blanket closures of churches or prevention of the faithful from attending Mass:
“As long as supermarkets are open and accessible and as long as people have access to public transportation, one cannot see a plausible reason for banning people from assisting at Holy Mass in a church. One could guarantee in churches the same and even better hygienic protective measures. For example, before each Mass one could disinfect the pews and doors, and everyone who enters the church could disinfect their hands. Other similar measures could also be taken.”
He goes on to say he understands that, given the Italian government’s strict prohibitions, the Pope cannot celebrate the Easter liturgies with a large number of faithful, but he adds that he does not see the logic in “prohibiting the lighting of the fire, the blessing of the water and of baptizing at the Easter Vigil, as if these actions would spread a virus.” He says a “quasi-pathological fear has overcome common reason and a supernatural vision.”
He elaborates:
“It is revealing the loss of supernatural vision. In recent decades, many members of the Church’s hierarchy have been immersed predominantly in secular, inner-worldly and temporal affairs and have thus become blind to supernatural and eternal realities.”
He also says he believes that “without doubt” the coronavirus epidemic is a “divine intervention to chastise and purify the sinful world and also the Church.” He says he does not have “absolute certainty” that the outbreak is divine retribution for the Pachamama events in the Vatican last October, but adds that such a possibility “would not be far-fetched.”
Read the full interview here.
In principle I agree although not convinced communion in the hand of itself is as addressed a primary cause [St Cyril of Alexandria offered instruction on reverent reception on the hand]. As much as I admire and respect Bishop Schneider constant citing of this and the Novus Ordo as cause damages unity distancing ‘traditionalists’ from the majority of practicing Catholics. It’s more the universal lack of faith and drift away from the reality of serious sin erroneously mitigated by theologians as if committing serious sin were virtually impossible. There seems strong cause to believe that churches being shut down and Laity shut out is divine retribution and importantly appeal to return to faithful practice.
Correction it was St Cyril of Jerusalem who instructed on reverent communion on the hand. Added I too believe communion on the tongue is a more reverent form and that too many either were not instructed properly for receiving on the hand or are simply irreverent. The issue is symptomatic of an underlying “universal lack of faith and drift away from the reality of serious sin”. The Sacrifice of the Mass whether traditional or Novus Ordo must be offered with deep faith and reverence. That lack can and must be remedied interiorly not simply externally.
This a very good and astute comment! Thank you! Father Jerome
AMEN. I have been ordained for 52 year and totally agree with your observations.Fr. Peters.
Everyone should be receiving on the hand. But besides that no one should be complying with the lockdowns or Demonic restrictions such as wearing a Mask. All Bishops, priests and laity need to atone for these sins before we can go forward.
Corona virus is a man-made bioweapon with unique characteristics. It is not a product of Nature. Of course that is a state secret of China. Thus it should be said that God is allowing us to punish ourselves by our own hand. Such is His judgement – which is always fearsome to us – but within which judgement is His mercy which is not always visible but only makes itself apparent in God’s time and in His own way.
Could instead the rebuke be directed toward those inclined toward sanctimonious, self-righteous indignation? That indeed the ‘Church’ is within us–just how well we’ve followed the ultimate commandment of loving others as we undoubtedly do ourselves in the “absence” of prayer, adoration, or holy art. Just how much sacrilege of wasted time has been spent commiserating the ‘injustice’ of shuttered parishes in place of concerning oneself in the welfare of others? The Apostles had no physical church. They had only their deeds, their words, their prayers. Is James 1:22-25 of no application in these days? I’d tremble even more before God should I die in these times and be asked, “what did you do? Cry that you couldn’t enter the temple, or cry that you couldn’t love others as I’ve loved you?”
Their are more who don’t follow what Our Lord has taught himself and through His Church. By being liberal in His Church they have brought His Chastisement.
As +Schneider writes in one of his books, ancient reception in the hand for the laity was nothing like today’s practice. There was a type of blessed cloth placed on the hand, and one brought the Sacred Host to one’s mouth with it resting in one’s palm. VERY different from today’s de-sacralized manner. Although, yes, one must interiorize this practice. Some of my adult children receive in the hand, and they are quite devout, thank the Lord.
I feel uncomfortable with Diane Montagna’s interpretation of Bishop Schneider’s words and should like to read the whole interview. I agree with the verbatim quotations by Bishop Schneider; and I respect and admire the Bishop greatly.
However I find that I also agree wholeheartedly with Fr Peter Morello; and whether it be divine retribution or not, God is certainly teaching the world that man is powerless and we need to turn to Almighty God. We need to see all times as signs of God’s infinite Love and Mercy.
I think if you re-read your post you will see why Bishop Schneider is correct in saying that BECAUSE of the wide acceptance of Communion in the hand, faith has dwindled greatly, to the point of losing the essence of faith: supernatural faith. To receive GOD on the hand dismisses His fue Kingship, and our lowly state. The lack of reverence says it all.
The pandemic is a hoax. No one should have complied with the lockdowns and following the demonic restrictions.