Our news is filled with stories about the vaccines that have finally begun to be administered to protect us against the coronavirus. 

 

The vaccine rollout has had some starts and stops, successes and bumpy moments. That shouldn’t be a surprise given the enormous undertaking that is involved and the unprecedented organization that is required. 

 

As this column has noted previously, the two vaccines currently approved in the United States, one produced by Pfizer and one by Moderna, were morally developed. But some of the testing of those vaccines involved the use of cells taken from abortions many decades ago. The moral responsibility of those who receive the vaccines today is remote and so it is permissible to receive them. 

 

Once again though, the specter of aborted children hovers, even if distantly, over what we deem to be progress in the modern world. We need to reflect on the need to keep our voices raised in witness against use of aborted fetal cells.

 

A second point of reflection for us concerns the future after these vaccines help bring the pandemic under control. In particular, we need to ask what the outbreak will have done to the practice of the faith, especially Mass attendance.

 

The Catholic Church in the United States has for decades seen a slow but constant erosion in the number of people who go to Sunday Mass. Because many adults and families do not make Sunday Mass a priority and a central part of their life together, our young people in particular are falling away from Mass attendance. The cessation of Mass attendance in the high school years, and most especially after young people leave home to attend college is very high. 

 

Not going to Sunday Mass has very practical and personal consequences. When our  life does not have this constant contact with grace, with the Church and with the person of Jesus Christ, it rapidly seeks other worldly practices or moral guidance to fill the void. And so we become a more secular people. 

 

As we look around, can we say that this has brought us more happiness or fulfillment? Even more, we should fear the spiritual consequences for our souls for all eternity.

 

The concern of the moment is that beginning in late March 2020, a dispensation was given for attending Sunday Mass. While that dispensation continues to this day, especially for those who are vulnerable or particularly fearful of the virus, Mass in-person is available.

 

There is a danger that, during the pandemic, some may have simply lost the habit of going to Mass on Sundays. The engaging of an alternate Sunday routine, from sleeping in to using that precious Mass time on other activities can become a temptation to lessen our commitment to this vital practice.

 

As vaccines gradually become available to everyone and the virus eventually recedes, we must resume our obligation, not just of Church law but especially of conscience, to return to Mass. And that is vitally important. Jesus offers Himself to us in a privileged way in the Eucharist. His presence can never be fully substituted by the Mass viewed virtually.

 

As we approach the beginning of Lent in just a few weeks, take the time to examine your conscience and your practice of Sunday Mass attendance. Have you been back to Mass since it has become available for personal attendance? If not, can you say in good conscience that you have a good reason for staying away? Ask yourself: with the practices of distancing and sanitizing well incorporated into our parishes, is it a good moment to renew again this most important practice of faith?

 

Since the day of the Resurrection, Jesus’ followers have come together for the Eucharist on Sundays. We cannot allow the aftermath of the coronavirus to separate us from the richness of meeting Christ at Mass each and every Sunday.