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Risks of attacks, Covid-19 ... for Catholics, such a special All Saints' Day

2020-10-31T20:29:49.784Z


Churches remain open - and watched - to celebrate All Saints' Day. But after the attack on the Basilica of Nice, the fear of the Covid


This Sunday, Mgr Luc Crepy, bishop of Puy-en-Velay, will not celebrate All Saints' Day, the feast of all saints, in his cathedral, but in village churches located on "the heights", in "the mountains From Haute-Loire.

A spiritual marathon.

Three masses, at 9:30 am, 11 am and 3 pm, during which he will replace a priest currently hospitalized in serious condition, victim of the pandemic.

“I have four elderly priests who have died from Covid-19 in the past three weeks,” he says.

During his homily, titled "All Saints' Day, welcome a word of hope", the prelate will call on his flock not to put themselves, "in these very gloomy times", in "violent anger" after the terrorist attack aimed at the Catholic community in Nice.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, the merciful ..." he praised.

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In these Auvergne buildings as in all those of France, the health and security crisis will inevitably be invited to mass.

Despite the re-containment, all parishioners, provided they are masked and respect barrier gestures, are exceptionally authorized to take part in the Sunday services of All Saints like those of Monday commemorating the deceased.

Gatherings under very tight surveillance in the context of a higher risk than ever of an attack.

The forces of order and soldiers of the Sentinel device must thus ensure the security of places of worship during "dynamic and static patrols".

The benches deserted by 30% of parishioners

Despite this scary climate, Giovanna, 70, retired cross this Saturday at the Saint-Eustache church, in the heart of Les Halles, in Paris (I), will be present at the office this Sunday celebrated, among others, for her husband and her son, both of whom died three years ago.

“Of course, we are afraid, because fear is human.

Times are dark but we try to be as much as possible in the light, we have no choice ”, she positive at the entrance to the place of worship, under the watchful eye of several CRS on duty.

"We must hope to be protected by the Lord and the police," she continues.

Will the faithful respond massively, like Giovanna, to the call of All Saints, when, in recent months, the pews of churches in our country have been deserted by some 30% of parishioners, mostly elderly, because of of the pandemic?

Will the fear of an attack be stronger than the faith to come together?

“Our Church has been bruised.

Me, I feel in the faithful a great need for fraternity, to meet and celebrate worship.

In this context of emotions and wounds, we will continue to live, to believe ", insists Father Hugues de Woillemont, secretary general of the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF), recalling that" zero risk does not exist ".

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The days following the assassination of Father Jacques Hamel in 2016 by two Islamists in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray (Seine-Maritime), the churches had then registered strong crowds.

"When things seem to collapse, when we face so many trials, we cling to God who is our rock", compares the clergyman.

Will there be a mass at Christmas?

Bishop Luc Crepy also thinks that the pews of the churches of his diocese will be well stocked.

"Catholics have not been able to celebrate Easter because of the confinement, they do not yet know if they will be able to celebrate Christmas, so the feast of All Saints is eagerly awaited," he said.

"Many families wish to be able to pray for the deceased whom they were not able to accompany during the first confinement", he explains.

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"In times of confinement, faith is also an extremely strong support", observes, for his part, Father Christian Lancrey-Javal, parish priest of Notre-Dame-de-Compassion, in Paris (17th century), who, this Sunday, will send to his many faithful “a message of consolation and… of hope”.

Source: leparis

All life articles on 2020-10-31

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