Swine flu

[Anne]

In the last few weeks I have been to several different parishes for Mass, and I am surprised at the variety of Swine flu precautions. One parish had no sign of peace and no chalice, another had no sign of peace and communion under both kinds as usual (the argument being that there is sufficient alcohol in the wine to act as an antiseptic), another parish had the regualr sign of peace but no chalice, and another had everthing as usual. I happened to be at Mass in Walsingham and at the beginning we were told not to touch each other at the sign of peace, but at the Our Father we were invited to hold hands with each other. No parish I have been to has cancelled passing the offerotry places round. Aren't we a great Church

[Southern Comfort]

For a Swine Flu Eucharistic Prayer (from the Episcopal Church, I would guess), go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsFffB0ONkI

[VML]

Our deacon had a bottle of hand cleansing gel actually on the altar and used it just before distributing Holy Communion! Do we have a first, or is this becoming normal practice? It must have been in case he had needed to use his handkerchief earlier in the Mass...seriously undignified, IMHO.

[Southern Comfort]

The rite of priest and ministers not only cleansing the hands with Purel but vigorously waving them in the air as they rub the gel in is rapidly becoming a disedifying sight in more than a few places.

The whole thing is a hideous over-reaction to an infection which is (a) not serious and (b) not widespread.