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Hand Sanitizer After Peace?


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PhuturePriest

Man I know how you feel. Although in this circumstance my parents did teach about washing your hands. They left out a lot of other necessary stuff. Like chewing with your mouth closed... when I heard about it while still a child I was like what?? People do that?? How?

 

Sigh.

 

I was taught to chew with my mouth closed from an early age, thankfully. I actually vividly remember it, strangely enough. I was in the basement of the church where they were having a meal, and I must have been 3 or 4 years old. My mother was across the table from me, and she told me to eat with my mouth closed. I obeyed instantly and never ate with my mouth open again. :P

My parents never taught me basic hygiene. I had to learn everything by myself, sadly. They never told me to brush my teeth, take baths, wash my hands, etc. I was 14 when I finally started brushing my teeth every day (And even then, it was once, not twice), and it was a little bit after that when I got into the habit of taking a shower regularly. Before then, I bet I maybe took a bath/shower once a month, and my toothbrushes always looked brand new from under-use, even if they were a year old. I thankfully became a teenager and started worrying about my appearance and smells to impress girls, but before then, I didn't care, because I wasn't taught to care.

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I use hand sanitizer. I DON'T throw it to other people, or make a big deal about it. Therefore, I see no problem with it, and I would be surprised if anyone else would.

I don't receive from the chalice, either. No big deal.

 

Yeah, I don't have a problem with it either in theory.  It's the throwing and the fairly loud discussion that get to me.  Probably a lot more folks use it discreetly and I've never noticed at all.  

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HisChildForever

People who are hand sanitizer crazy after the sign of peace need to realize that...

 

Door handles

Holy water "containers" (I don't know the proper term)

Missals

Pews

 

...have all been touched by the same hands that're being extended to them. Are they going to use hand sanitizer every second they're in the church?? lol.

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PhuturePriest

People who are hand sanitizer crazy after the sign of peace need to realize that...

 

Door handles

Holy water "containers" (I don't know the proper term)

Missals

Pews

 

...have all been touched by the same hands that're being extended to them. Are they going to use hand sanitizer every second they're in the church?? lol.

 

I've always wondered how germaphobes handle the holy water font and missals.

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Where do you live? 

 

The novus ordo I'm talking about is in southern california.  Is that why you asked?

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Father walks up and down an isle shaking everyone's hand without sanitizer.  I haven't yet to my knowledge caught any bugs and am to date nasty bug and cold free.  For we in the pews, we shake hands with those immediately near us, and then just give little waves to others.  If one does not shake hands with those close, custom is a little whisper "Sorry, got a cold" or similar - and just give a little wave.  Never seen a sanitizer to date.  It wouldn't worry me if I did I don't think - some I daresay have important reason to avoid any sort of bug or virus and I can only feel compassion for those who have a phobia about germs.

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Tab'le De'Bah-Rye

It actually isn't compulsory as far as i'm aware to actually shake hands, you can bow with your hands in the praying position. An Indian missionary from India told me they don't shake hands at the sign of peace in India that they bow. Also did you know the sign of peace is not a compulsory part of the holy mass that it is optional and up to the priest. Also i was going to bring something up similar where at this parish i sometimes attend, the servers actually have hand sanitizer on a stool on the alter and they go and use it before they administer communion. I can take the hand sanitizer from the layity before and/or after the sign of peace as long as it's not handed about and a personal choice, but that hand sanitizer on the holy alter disgusts me, it should at least be at the foot of the alter/ on ground level, and the alter i mean as being the whole area where the actual alter is, unsure of church doctrine on the matter but i think it is not the actual alter itself that is deemed as being the alter but the whole elevated area. Cheeky monkeys stop it please and go eat some bananas if your health is more important than anything else. Beware of the cult of the body. Not saying these people are but worshiping your health like it has something to do with salvation is a no no as far as i'm aware, i may be wrong this is just my discernment from the statement from the prophecies of mary by fr gobi( to the priests of our lady) where it says " Beware of the Cult of the Body." I think people throwing the hand sanitizer around and even offering it to others during holy mass is horrible, but i even cringe at talking during holy mass unless it's a dull whisper in the persons ear next to you, i also don't like handing out lollies and gum during holy mass, all seems very irreverant to me and at the least a total lack of understanding of what the person is actually doing at holy mass.

 

Onward christian souls.

 

God is GOOD.

Jesus is LORD.

Edited by Tab'le De'Bah-Rye
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Tab'le De'Bah-Rye

I've always wondered how germaphobes handle the holy water font and missals.

 

 

and drinking out of the cup.

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I dont see any problems with hand sanitizer after the sign of peace. Obviously throwing it around like a baseball is inappropriate but that doesnt mean the hand sanitizer itself is inappropriate.

 

My parish doesnt even do the sign of peace so I dont often run into that problem unless Im somewhere else for mass.

 

However if I am sick, I simply dont shake peoples hands but you do have to be aware that not everyone is so courteous. Spreading sickness can be very harmful to some individuals.

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IgnatiusofLoyola

Before passing judgement on a person who uses hand sanitizer, remember that they may not have a strong immune system, but don't want to make a big deal about it or talk about their illnesses with others.  Or, perhaps the person has a job with little or no sick time so they can't afford to be sick. Or the person wants to stay healthy themselves because they are  caring for an elderly parent for whom a cold or the flu that would be simply an inconvenience for a young person in good health, could be fatal for an elderly person who is already sick. To me, an important part of "love your neighbor as yourself" is giving your fellow worshipers the benefit of the doubt, especially when you don't know their personal circumstances.

 

I agree, throwing around hand sanitizer doesn't fit with the spirit of the Mass. If this is happening, perhaps you may want to talk to the priest about it. But, to me, using hand santizer, if done discreetly, should not interfere with others' worship.

 

And, if a person chooses not to drink from the communion chalice, that is between them and God. There is no rule that I am aware of that requires a commnicant to receive in both forms.

 

I think that the idea of not shaking hands with others if you are sick is very thoughtful and curteous. It should be up to an individual whether or not they shake hands when passing the peace--it is the spirit of the peace that counts, not whether you shake hands. Unfortunately, I suspect that some people worry that others might think they are unfriendly if they don't shake hands. No doubt it depends on the congregation. But, if someone simply wants to wave hello to you, assume it is given in a positive spirit and move on, and not take it personally.

 

In any case, instead of worrying about whether someone uses hand santizer, perhaps the same concern might be directed instead seeing what you can do to support members of the congregation who are hurting, or alone, or having some of the many types of problems that hit all of us at some time or another. I can't speak for God, but I suspect he cares more about loving our neighbor, and trying our best to overlook annoying behavior, than he does about worshipping with all our attention directed at Him, not at those around us.

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blazeingstar

the superbugs are going to kill us all for our addiction to hand sanitizer

 

Yep.  I love how everyone is all for "heard immunity" of vaccinations yet happily touts the use of hand sanitizers which basically turns heard immunity into a joke by reducing killing off the lesser virus.  If someone is immune deficient the last thing they should be doing is using hand sanitizer but rather being very careful about skin-to-skin contact and using non-antibactirial soap to wash their hands and doing it often.

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IgnatiusofLoyola

In any case, instead of worrying about whether someone uses hand santizer, perhaps the same concern might be directed instead seeing what you can do to support members of the congregation who are hurting, or alone, or having some of the many types of problems that hit all of us at some time or another. I can't speak for God, but I suspect he cares more about loving our neighbor, and trying our best to overlook annoying behavior, than he does about and He wants us to worshipping with all our attention directed at Him, not at those around us.

 

Sorry for quoting myself, but I made some mistakes in the last paragraph of my post above that affected the meaning of what I meant to say. I've fixed it above.

Edited by IgnatiusofLoyola
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the superbugs are going to kill us all for our addiction to hand sanitizer

 

Do you mean antibiotics?

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