By Aramide Oikelome and Chinyere Abiaziem, Lagos
Holy Communion plate.
Last week, a group of commuters sat in a bus debating the current spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria, which as at today has killed two people in the country. Everyone expressed grave concern and fear. Then someone said aloud, “They said it can be contacted through saliva, blood, urine, semen and any other fluid contact from an infected person.”
In response, another said, “That means I will not be taking Holy Communion again in Church. I can’t share cup with people I don’t know. What if there is someone with the virus drinking the Communion wine from the same cup with me? I can’t take such a risk O!”
Indeed, the current outbreak calls for concern, considering the fact that some churches administer Communion wine from the same cup while others drink from different cups, which are passed across in turns.
Following the outbreak of Ebola Virus in Nigeria, people are gripped with the fear of not becoming victims, as they implore preventive measures, part of which is the avoidance of the Holy Communion meals served differently across denominations.
As the virus is particularly reported to spread through infected saliva and other body fluid such as sweat, urine and semen, there is fear and that a person who drinks from the same cup with an infected person, may run the risk of contracting the deadly virus.
In order to grasp the term, Ebola, as the Bishop of Ekiti, Most Rev. Felix Femi Ajakaye, puts it, it is necessary for us to know its meaning and origin. It is regarded as lethal (deadly, harmful) virus transmitted by blood and fluids, usually resulting in death.
Named after a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it emerged in the 20th century, though presently ravaging and causing fear in West African countries, especially Liberia. A victim of the disease recently came to Nigeria where he died at a Lagos hospital.
Explaining what Holy Communion means, especially to the Catholic Church, the bishop said it is a Christian sacrament that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last supper, with the priest or minister consecrating bread and wine that is consumed by the congregation.
“Is the service containing the sacrament of communion, a celebration of Christ’s memorial, the institution of the Eucharist (Matthew 26; 26-26). It is a participatory celebration, which is the apex and summit of the Catholic Church’s prayer.
“Usually celebrated everyday except on good Friday. for worthy communicants of the holy Eucharist, whether received under both species (body and blood of Christ – the bread and wine after consecration) or not, the recipient has received Holy Communion, each of the species remain whole.
“In the Catholic Church, the consecrated bread and wine are called body of Christ. The act of dipping the consecrated bread into the consecrated wine, so that somebody taking communion receives both is known as Intinction.”
On whether the church is being left out in adopting preventive measures, Bishop Ajakaye posited that the Ekiti Diocese, which he oversees, is partnering with doctors and health workers to educate people on the Ebola disease. This is even as he lauded the proactiveness of the state.
“With the Ebola epidemic and the panic in Nigeria, there are certain campaigns and preventive measure going on in our country. I can confirm here that the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has also begun the sensitisation with doctors and nurses and other medical personnel playing very significant roles.
“I praise the Ekiti State government too for being proactive through its concrete efforts.
“Before now, Nigeria seemed not to prepared for Ebola with the thinking that it was a ‘foreign’ diseases, though present in some neighbouring African countries.
“However, today every household in Nigeria tend to be panicking and want to know more about the deadly disease. Many people are now afraid to do certain things and activities they were used to doing.
“With the warning that Ebola disease is infectious, many people are now very wary of having close contact with other people.”
Beckoning on churches to apply caution and reconsider communicants drinking from few chalices, he stated: “ In line with the fact that Ebola is contagious and there is no known cure yet. Then caution is indeed necessary.
“It is said that Ebola can be contracted through fluids. Thus, I humbly suggest here that churches administering communion have to reconsider the drinking of many communicants from few chalices, if such is of necessity. Otherwise, the act can be suspended.
“Meanwhile, prevention is better than cure. As already indicated above, the reception of communion can be under one or both species.”
However, he enjoined people to follow the precautionary measures and seek quick medical treatment from qualified medical personnel once they notice that their bodies do not function well or normally.
He also encouraged people pray, “people need to pray. At the same time, faith without good works is dead (James 2:17)”.
He cautioned some religious leaders against exploiting unsuspecting followers or public in the name of claiming to have cure for all diseases.
“Soon they can start claiming to have cure for Ebola to exploit the vulnerable people.
“Health is not just wealth, health is everything. We must learn to study our bodies thoroughly and take proper care of ourselves. Life has no duplicate”.
Also, some clerics and non clerics were asked to share their views on the issue. Pastor Ikechi Eze, Mountain of Fire and Miracles, Abuja, said he sees it as one of the arrows from hell and that believers should be assured of God’s promise of not visiting them with strange sickness.
“There is no way Holy Communion can be suspended because of Ebola. As far as I’m concerned, viruses like this are arrows from the pit of hell. God has already said He will not visit we His children, with the diseases of the Egyptians.
“But all the same we have to be careful, churches should analyse the situation, sterilise their cups and know other things to put in place.”
Pastor Edet Idongesit, Jesus House Parish, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), questioned the avoidance of communion, which when taking in faith is capable of destroying diseases.
“Holy Communion is a sacrament given to us by Jesus Christ that represents His body and His blood and it is taken in remembrance of what His death has brought for us in which when taken, sickness and infirmities are destroyed.
Holy Communion is taking in faith to destroy disease, how can we be afraid of contracting disease by taking what destroys diseases?”
On his own, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, Director of Communications, Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, said Holy Communion will not be served to anyone among the congregation suspected to be sick, to avoid members of the church from panicking.
According to him, “There is no cause for alarm, once it is discovered that a member of the congregation is sick, such person will not be administered Holy Communion.”
Princess Abioye Philips, Special Assistant on Transportation, to the Lagos State Governor, suggested that churches should step up their game in checking the virus spread while noting sterilisation as a medium.
As she put it: “Before now, churches like mine sterilise their cups. So, churches which have not been doing so should start sterilising communion cups and upgrade.”
Chike, a Lagos-based Accountant and Catholic Church member, corroborated the opinion of other clerics. In his words: “Why should churches stop the administration of Holy Communion wine, which represents the body of Christ? Doing so undermines the efficacy of the blood of Christ to heal and protect from any form of diseases.
“Besides, in the Catholic Church communicants don’t drink from the chalice. The priest dips the bread in the chalice containing wine, then places the bread in the mouth of the communicant.
“The only and last time communicants drink from the chalice is when they are getting married.”
Susan Ndubuka, a businesswoman and RCCG member advised churches to get more cups, “if possible, members can have their own cups.”
For Anita, a self employed: “Well, I think Holy Communion can be suspended for now, since it can be contracted through getting in contact with infected saliva”.
However, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, RCCG, Holiness Model Parish, Magodo, Lagos, maintained that churches should enlighten the public on preventive measures, so as to curtail its spread.
“In view of the pulling effect that the church has by virtue of the way people troop there, the church will serve as good forum for public enlightenment on the disease.
“Apart from clergies speaking on it, special seminars, and talk sessions by experts should delivered during sermon hours which are peak periods at church meetings.
“Every opportunity should be seized to educate and enlighten the congregants on the prevention, symptoms and what to do in every situation”, he said.
He added that churches, in view of Holy Communion administration, can also help in controlling the virus by providing individual cups, avoiding overcrowding, improving ventilation, ensuring clean toilet facilities, adequate supply of water for sanitisation purposes.
“Concerning the Holy Communion, churches should be encouraged to ensure that every communicant has a cup to take the Holy Communion from.
“Controlling the disease in churches will involve controlling crowd by not allowing overcrowding at worship centres, improving ventilation and ensuring that facilities like toilets are kept clean always with adequate water supply and soap for hand washing after visits to the toilets.”
To intending couples, he advised them to make necessary medical checks before committing to each other, “As It may not be the duty of the church to enforce or initiate such,” he added.
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