The story of government-ordered suspension of public Masses is a clear demonstration of just how seriously the Church has lost her Libertas Ecclesiae. For centuries there has been conflicts over the Church’s religious freedom, but she has fought back hard.  Many heroes and saints came to her defence: the Cluny monks, Boniface VIII, St. Catherine, the French Vendeans, Pius IX, and the Polish Catholic Church. Today, however, the Church seems content with her own lack of freedom and is not eager to increase it. The Church even goes so far as to praise those who take her freedom away.

“The Church is not dependent on the state, it must defend its freedom and independence”. “Suspending Masses is an abdication of the task it has, which includes reading the sufferings of this period in the light of the faith, the mystery of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus”. “Jesus became flesh, we believe in the resurrection of the flesh: therefore bodily presence is indispensable”. “The Eucharist is the only true form of adoration of God, it is the reason for the existence of any other liturgical form. It is scandalous that there are bishops who say the Eucharist is overrated.” Cardinal Gerhard L. Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, speaks to the Daily Compass.

At this dramatic and historical moment, it is disconcerting to hear bishops and theologians considering faith as secondary with respect to science and treating God as if he was a “guru” whom we don’t really need at the moment. This is not what the Church has professed for centuries.

In this exclusive interview with the Daily Compass, the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments intervenes on the subject of “take away”  Communion and on the “negotiations” underway to guarantee its taken with the correct precautions: no compromise, “the Eucharist is a gift we receive from God and we must receive it in a dignified way. We are not at the supermarket.” “No-one has the right to prevent a priest from hearing Confession and giving Communion.” “ There is a rule and this must be respected, the faithful are free to receive Communion in the hand or in the mouth.” “It’s a question of faith, the heart of the problem lies in the crisis of faith in the priesthood.” “Mass in streaming is misleading also for priests: they must look at God not at a camera»

Celebrating Mass is quite possible while safeguarding the health of the faithful. All that is needed is to respect some guidelines which, if followed, would allow for public liturgies to resume. Our contributing writer and epidemiologist, Paolo Gulisano, here offers some protocols based on his current knowledge of COVID-19 and principles which the Daily Compass has always supported since the onset of the health emergency. It is a very clear example just how possible it is to combine freedom of worship with legitimate health and safety precautions.

"Priests say Mass too quickly", "Priests don’t understand that during Mass” Our Lady “is present”. Shocking words if we think that it is Satan who utters them during an exorcism. An Italian exorcist reveals this and more in a popular youtube video.

Entrustment or consecration to Mary? The emergence of the coronavirus and initiatives of bishops to implore the Virgin Mary’s protection raise an age-old question. Many bishops avoid speaking of consecration, although Mary herself has asked for this by way of her many apparitions. Yet, this is opposed by certain theological circles. Regardless, it is Scripture that speaks of a Woman whose descendants God wants to be consecrated to her. So why do bishops resist God’s Will?

“We must preach the eternal life found in Jesus Christ.” All the more so in these hard times when people are in need of “hope and consolation.” The death of two of his priest friends due to coronavirus inspired Bishop Peter Baldacchino’s decision to restore the celebration of public Masses in his diocese of Las Cruces. His reasons should serve as a guideline.

It is not a loophole to circumvent the law. Celebrating Mass in this time of crisis is actually an act of full obedience. It is about practicing epikeia, a virtue cited inappropriately to discern communion for the divorced and remarried, but which instead may be perfectly applied to Masses currently prohibited during coronavirus pandemic.

The phenomenon of the coronavirus has provoked considerable online discussion on the theme of the chastisement of God, to which prophecies have been associated and examples of saintly bishops. How are we to judge this matter? By means of a true discernment, which seeks conversion, by using two factors: the exercise of the episcopal ministry as a depository of “charism certain of the truth” and the recognition by the faithful of the holiness of their bishops. Today something similar would not be possible with regard to Covid-19 because if a diocesan bishop spoke like Gregory the Great he would end up in the media grinder. And so if there are chastisements, we bring them to Christ to ask that His wounds heal us, not only from our sins but also from Covid-19.

Sister Emmanuel Maillard, a resident of Medjugorje and a great apostle of the Blessed Mother, explains to The Daily Compass the significance of an epidemic that is forcing “a world that believed it was invulnerable” to its knees; the evils of quarantine and what we should hold tight for our own good; the trial permitted as “a sign of love from a Father who desires the salvation of his children;” the journey of the pious women to the tomb of Jesus, although forbidden by “the police of that epoch;” the mystery of Mary as co-redemptrex and the full of significance of suffering. Finally, she reveals the only way to put an end to the virus.

We too are there with the three women going to the tomb before dawn to anoint the lifeless body of Jesus. Their loving concern is our concern too. With them we discover that the large tombstone has been rolled away and that the body is no longer there. “He is not here”, the angel proclaims, pointing to the empty tomb and the winding cloth on the ground. Death no longer has power over him. We publish the homily of Saint pope John Paul II at the Easter Vigil, 22 April 2000, as a help to live the meaning of Easter.