Italians do not just want online religious practices as they miss the community
The pandemic enabled Italy to rediscover the importance of the Liturgy of the Hours and praying the rosary in families. Thanks to online broadcasts, three times more people than normal followed daily Mass. Italians, however, miss their community and hope that the time of crisis will contribute to the renewal of parish life.
Since the re-opening of churches that allow for the participation of the faithful in Italy, researchers are examining how the pandemic has changed the church in this country. First results show that the faithful are satisfied with the actions that priests took at this challenging time to guard their religious life.
However, they are very critical of those priests who did not decide to conduct online broadcasts or those who reduced their activities to a media show.
Surveys show that Italians have become much more independent in their religous life, discovering that they themselves are responsible for their own spiritual welfare which should not entirely depend on a – more or less likeable – priest.
The daily liturgies of Pope Francis broadcasted every morning from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta were especially popular among the elderly. Youngsters, however, chose websites about spirituality, the interior life and various types of prayer meetings addressed to young people.
Source: pch24.pl
