Front page news in our local newspaper (which, by the way as far as I know has still not retracted the false, fabricated papal faux pas it wrote about) today is: “The Maori hongi and the traditional Catholic communion are among the centuries-old traditions being put on hold amid fears over a global swine flu pandemic.”
And yes, there is notification on the Roman Catholic diocesan website with a directive from the bishops: The following actions are to cease: Communion on the tongue; Communion from the chalice; shaking hands at the Sign of Peace. I will be particularly interested in the reaction of traditionalist Roman Catholics to the forbidding of communion on the tongue.
Looking at the New Zealand Anglican websites (General Synod, Taonga, diocesan) I cannot find any reaction within Anglicanism.
My e-friend Rev. Scott Gunn has 10 suggestions for liturgy to be adapted in this context. Some will have my not-so-high-church readers looking up their liturgical glossary for “lavabo” etc. My personal favourite is shooting communion wafers at congregants from great distance, to avoid contamination. I also like the suggestion to use incense — loads and loads of it — to fumigate the building. Add methyl bromide to the mix for good measure. And I appreciate the inclusion of the video clip of the botafumeiro, the huge thurible that swings across the transept of Santiago de Compostela’s cathedral (I am lucky enough to have attended such a mass there).
Good Lord. We have received some diocesan guidelines at work but not like this!
Fear is true evil as I see it and this is evil unbound!
Have you seen this excellent post?
I love the shooting wafers at people idea. 😉 Although if the person doesn’t catch them properly, they could hurt. I’ve gotten papercuts from them before.
I had seen old B&W photos of it hanging still from way back but never imagined it was like this in action. They know how to put on a show.
Methyl bromide. Yes, that’s what Jesus meant at the Last Supper (or, was it the Last Supper But One) when he said, ‘You are clean’. 🙂
Peter
PS Have you looked at http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2009/04/flu-faith-guidance-suspend-public-worship.html ?
Actually, you probably need to put Tamiflu in the big thurible since it’s inhaled…
I once suggested that someone make the ABC ride the botafumeiro. Let’s make that the pope now.
😛