What's so bizarre about this is that in times of plague -- specifically the Black Death -- some clergy rushed to tend the sick (and thus died at higher rates than the gen pop) but very many straight up abandoned their vows, deserted posts and turned to general debauchery https://twitter.com/EdwardPentin/status/1246411919273144322

The other frustrating thing is that "the Church" isn't just what you see in Rome; thousands upon thousands of priests are still anointing the sick and delivering viaticum in nursing homes, hospitals and hospices. Plus, Catholic hospitals/homes/hospices are still operating.

Cloistered nuns in Italy, France, and the USA are also spending every waking hour sewing face masks to donate to front-line healthcare workers, preparing individual (sanitary) oil stocks for priests so they don't spread illness, and praying for the sick. https://international.la-croix.com/news/italian-and-french-nuns-make-masks-to-stop-spread-of-covid-19/12107#

I've spoken with a Dominican friar who *chose* to be locked into a nursing home where COVID19 is spreading so he could minister to the residents without putting his priory or anyone else at risk of contagion. The Church is still here, even if St. Peter's square is closed.

It's hard to fast from the Sacraments. But when Christ arose from the dead and Mary Magdalene rushed to embrace him, he said: Noli me tangere, don't touch me. Sometimes having faith means accepting distance, even when you crave closeness. That's the season we're in now.