College of Education, Cebu Technological University, M.J. Cuenco Ave., Cebu City, Cebu, 6000, Philippines.
J Public Health (Oxf). 2021 Jun 7;43(2):e360-e361. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab068.
Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, previous research cautioned that complex and meaningful quotidian rituals involving intimate touch need re-evaluation as these pose a hygienic concern in pandemic culture. Faith-based practices entail human-to-human contact that could inevitably cause the virus infection contagion if not appropriately addressed. In a World Health Organization document, the crucial role of inter-faith collaboration and sharing of best practices to combat the spread of the virus are encouraged. In this correspondence, we assert that taking home ashes and launching digital Lenten ashes filter are non-traditional yet creative ways for the Catholic Church to perform the ritual practice in celebrating Ash Wednesday. We argued that such creative ritual practices changed the landscape of faith-based practices and implied trans-local participation of the Catholic community as witnesses of faith while upkeeping public health.
在 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行之前，先前的研究警告说，涉及亲密接触的复杂而有意义的日常仪式需要重新评估，因为这些仪式在大流行文化中存在卫生问题。基于信仰的实践需要人与人之间的接触，如果不加以适当处理，就不可避免地会导致病毒感染的传播。在世界卫生组织的一份文件中，鼓励开展跨信仰合作和分享最佳做法，以打击病毒的传播。在这封信中，我们断言，将骨灰带回家和推出数字四旬斋骨灰过滤器是天主教在庆祝圣灰礼仪日时进行仪式的非传统但富有创意的方式。我们认为，这种创造性的仪式实践改变了信仰实践的格局，并暗示了天主教社区作为信仰见证者的跨地区参与，同时维护了公共卫生。
