The topic of hygiene precautions at Mass during flu season has been popping up all over the internet. The threat of flu is heightened this year with the prevalence of H1N1 in many areas, and people are understandably even more concerned than usual about disease prevention. Our local bishops have implemented the guidelines of suspending the distribution of the Precious Blood, and the refraining from physical contact during the Sign of Peace. I found it very interesting that neither of these directives affect us, as we attend a Traditional Latin Mass community. We know that Christ is fully present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist and that it is not necessary to receive Him twice under two separate 'Forms' at Mass, and so the Precious Blood is never distributed to the people. The kiss of peace or 'Pax tecum' is exchanged only between the priests and deacons and altar servers at High Mass, and there is no physical contact between the hands - the priest kisses the altar and then symbolically passes on the peace of Christ by greeting the others with a bow.
There are other practices within the Extraordinary Form of the Mass which incidentally also provide for stellar 'health precautions'. The priest washes his hands as part of the ritual prayers and preparation before Mass. Just before the Consecration the priest washes his hands again at the lavabo, and the priest joins his thumb and forefinger after consecrating the Host, and out of reverence for Our Lord he does not disjoin them again until after he has finished distributing the Holy Eucharist. That is why at the 'kiss of peace' shaking hands with someone would be unthinkable.
It is also noteworthy to consider the distribution of the Holy Eucharist at the Extraordinary Form which is so very different from an Ordinary Form Mass. Some have questioned the reception of communion on the tongue in regards to flu precautions, and some parishes have taken to disruptive and irreverent practices in the name of disease prevention (for example, placing hand sanitizer on the altar). In the EF the Eucharist is always received on the tongue while the communicant is kneeling, and it really cannot be compared to receiving on the tongue at an OF Mass. During a OF Mass communicants must process in a line to receive, stop in the right spot, bow the head, say Amen, and then prepare to receive. This is very complicated! The precise timing involved in all these steps can be difficult to master for both communicant and priest, particularly those not accustomed to distributing on the tongue. There is also the issue of height differences that makes distributing on the tongue tricky for some, as the communicant is standing. So indeed, for reasons of timing and logistics the 'touching of the tongue' that horrifies some during flu season does occur frequently. (I have been a daily communicant for many years - I'm speaking from experience.)
In contrast, at the EF the Holy Eucharist is received while the communicant is kneeling and ready and prayerfully waiting to receive Our Lord - there is nothing to do, no walking or head nodding or speaking to distract. The priest distributes the Holy Eucharist while saying Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam. Amen. to each communicant which is considerably more lengthy than 'Body of Christ'. Consequently, everything is slow and reverent, and the priest stands above the communicant, able to easily place the Host on the tongue without any touching at all.
I just find it very interesting that the Novus Ordo Mass, which implemented so very many changes to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, now must incorporate more changes to accommodate health hazards and disease prevention. The Extraordinary Form of the Mass protects us from even extraordinary pathogens such as H1N1.







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