Father Joseph Illo, pastor of Star of the Sea gave a nine-minute homily on March 25, feast of the Annunciation.
Here is a 15-second excerpt:
Some bishops are a little quick to close the churches, thanks be to God that here in San Francisco the Archbishop has encouraged all of his priests to keep the churches open as long as we can.
weird
People should not leave their homes to go to a church where there might be other people. The only way to beat this virus is to not have one person spread it to another.
When you do go to church you are endangering the lives of your community. That is not hyperbole, but science.
Pray at home. It counts just as much as if you were in a church. Watch Mass on Youtube. You may not get to go to communion, but you can do a spiritual communion.
Encouraging people to go to church is a bit flat-earthy don’t you think?
Bob One of course thinks the Church is just and earthly institution. Here ‘s something that he and the rest of the New Church crowd forgets. The Church’s were open during the black death, the sack of Rome, World Wars and host of other catastrophes. We need them open to offer mass to implore God’s mercy. This is something the New Church crowd cannot even comprehend, most Catholics and I dare say most of the clerics have lost their supernatural Faith. The current state of the Church proves this.
There is other data to consider here. The Center for Disease Control, the CDC, posts tables which show that this years US deaths from (other) flu is around 24,000 for the 6 month flu period, or 4000 a month, or 130 deaths a day. There are 5 other flu types, and subvariations. Last year, the flu rate was even higher, about double. And also, the flu season starts slowly, then peaks, where the death rate might be five times higher, then declines as the summer months arrive. If only coronavirus data is considered, the deaths are around 30 a day. So, question: why is coronavirus considered a terrifying epidemic, when the normal yearly flu death rate is already much higher? Compare 30 Coronavirus deaths a day, to 130 flu deaths a day.
So the Threat of coronavirus is held to be more dangerous than the reality of a normal flu?…
To sum up : The seasonal flu illness is known to be dangerous, and the death rate continues to be high year after year. We have learned that the flu is difficult to avoid, and many millions are exposed each year, with the death rate given above. So we continue on to our jobs, our career, and our schools, because we have no choice. Flus cannot be avoided. We have to endure them and go on with our lives, even with painful family deaths.
So, what is different about this year? We tried to avoid the inevitable, and stayed home, no work. We cannot do this. We must work. Next year, and the year after, and the year after that, there will be the flu. We have no choice – Let us go back to work.
And lastly, the same holds true for Mass. We must go to Mass.
I agree with Bob One. Fear is not a virus. Fear won’t make you sick. The Wuhan virus will, and potentially severely and deadly sick. Like 20%
30% reduction in your lung capacity if you survive. Priests who are encouraging people to risk infection by going to public places are being irresponsible. Let’s be scientific and rational and prudent about this whole thing.
This morning’s news reported that the Prime Minister of the UK has Covid 19. Also the UK Chief Medical Officer says he has symptoms and is awaiting test results. Seem the Archbishop has ample reason.
Thankfully social distancing was not a consideration for St Damien of Molokai.