Open Air Mass
I know that screened Masses have served a purpose during the pandemic, but I, and I think others, have had questions about the long-term efficacy of these type of non-participary Masses. A few weeks ago I tweeted a suggestion that maybe people should consider open air Masses, and, to get over the problem of safely receiving the Eucharist, that people could bring their own piece of bread for consecration. I thought no more about it until I heard from Rasto, a young man in Bratislava whom I got to know through the Church Reform Movement, that his group had started doing it, and were very pleased with the result.
My friend, in whose house I am staying during the lockdown, suggested to me that we should try it, particularly on the feast of the Sacred Heart which is the last major feast of the Easter cycle. So she invited her near neighbours, and yesterday evening twenty five of us gathered to celebrate in the garden – careful to observe social distancing. It was a lovely occasion. The evening was dry and warm; the table/altar was placed in the middle, with all of us forming a circle around it. From the offertory on each person held their bread in their hand; we spoke the words of consecration over all and received together at communion time. We did not attempt to receive under both species.
Everybody seemed to be happy with the celebration and many commented that it was great to have Mass after such a long time without it.
This pandemic is forcing us to re-evaluate many aspects of our lives and the way we order our society. I suggest, rather than going back to the way we always did things, it is an opportunity for the Church also to look again, and see if there are more meaningful ways of celebrating the Eucharist. For me, last evening was certainly a meaningful experience and I attribute this to the community gathering together for the celebration.
