I never gave it any thought before.
Typically, when there is a large scale disaster as the earthquake in Haiti where tens, even hundreds of thousands have died, or will die, is there a plan to meet immediate Sacramental needs - especially the Anointing of the Sick?
Think about it. Right now there are estimates of 3 million people displaced. Throughout the city are people who are dying - beneath rubble, and in the streets. There are people who will die in the coming days due to infection, lack of water, and injuries.
It is good that the Catholic Church has groups like Catholic Relief Services who are on the ground there now and one of many organizations taking donations (please click here to donate now!).
However, would it not make sense for the Catholic Church to have a network of priests who can fly out for immediate, temporary help with the Sacraments? What if each diocese in the US could send one French speaking priest there in the coming days, how many people who will die regardless, can die having been anointed and perhaps having received the Apostolic Pardon? Perhaps some religious orders could let priest go for 4 weeks, as well.
For those who are in the streets and are surviving, how much comfort and how many graces would it bring to them to have Holy Mass, even if it is on a makeshift altar out in the open air. Perhaps some are now compelled to a conversion of heart or to have their confession heard. The sacred hands of a priest can "feed" their souls.
Their main role there would not to be humanitarian workers, but to move among the dying, the injured and trapped and give them this treasure. It doesn't take away from those who are there for physical work and to meet material needs. It provides dying and injured Catholics - some of them priests and seminarians, with immediate Sacramental needs.
My thought is that this would be a short term (1-2 month trip, or if there are a number of volunteers from a single diocese, send them in two week shifts).
This would work kind of like a red-cross volunteer - one who might have a regular job, but when natural disasters strike, they are mobilized. It would inconvenience a diocese to let go of a priest for a short term assignment to provide for immediate Sacramental needs, but sharing always involves some form of sacrifice.
It's just a thought.
The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
4 Comments:
In a way, I have thought about the same thing, just on a different level. When I hear of disasters, or fires in churches, or the such, my thoughts turn towards to the reserved Eucharist.
I know that what has happened is horrible, but how can a Catholic in good standing not think about the Eucharist in a time like this, and hope that a priest, or lay person, was able to bring Him to safety, and or consume Him, whichever is more feasible.
That thought normally doesn't go over too well with some of my friends...
I have to say that I felt guilty when this tragedy hit and one of the first things I thought was - how will people go to Mass? I figured that the "right" way of thinking is that people are dying and hungry and without homes. And of course that is all extremely important. But on the list with food, water, and shelter, I had Eucharist there as well. I thought I had my priorities out of order - but perhaps it is the pressure of society that makes me think that way, and not put the need for the Sacraments right up there with food and water - because I KNOW BETTER in my heart of hearts.
I do agree - it would seem that the Church should have, not only CRS responding to the physical needs, but also another arm of the CRS that tends to the spiritual needs as well. They are surely no less important.
I would also think that this is a crucial time to bring this country back to Christ and away from some of the evil it has been dabbling in such as voodoo and corrupted Christian ideas. They are a country in need of direction and hope. I pray they look in the right direction going forward. Having priests on the ground right now I'm sure would bring that comfort and hope to many.
Thank you for helping me realize that I had my priorities in order in the first place. ;-)
"Aid to the Church in Need" (http://www.churchinneed.org/) has been helping the Church in poor and oppressed countries survive for over 50 years, so they are a great way to help rebuild the Church's infrastructure and support clergy, seminarians, religious, and catechists.
At Mass the other day, we heard that the O.M.I. school of theology was destroyed, and one of the order's undergraduate seminarians died; so there is much to do.
A brilliant suggestion! Such an arrangement could be set up - surely no more difficult logistically, than existing humanitarian contingency plans. Of course natural disasters are unexpected, sometimes on a vast scale, and can occur anywhere in the world, but if contingency plans were set up and coordinated throughout the Church worldwide, so that provision for the spiritual needs of the dead, the dying and all those affected, could be enacted immediately the circumstances require, what an inspiring example of true Christian charity this would be.
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