The various restrictions have raised numerous theological, liturgical and spiritual questions. And the Holy See and the local Churches have urgently tried to provide temporary answers that are in conformity with canon law.

Organizing liturgical services and providing access to the sacraments in ways that adhere to civil laws and respect health measures, has repeatedly strained the Church's legislative norms.

The Institut Catholique of Paris (ICP) explored the issues during a study day on Nov. 30 that brought together canon lawyers and theologians.

"During the lockdowns, which often coincided with the suspension of services, pastors demonstrated their creativity, especially with Masses broadcast on the Internet," said Father Ludovic Danto, dean of ICP's canon law faculty.

"These practices should make us reflect since they raise questions of bringing forth the presence of God and managing what is lacking," he added.

"The situation we are going through can only be understood within the legal framework of the exception," Father Danto pointed out.

Technologies that can reinforce self-isolation

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed new challenges to the Church compared to past epidemics.

"Until the 20th Century, the Church saw epidemic scourges as divine punishment for the sins of humanity, while offering people the opportunity to atone and enter into a new covenant with God," said Father Albert Jacquemin, a lecturer at the ICP.

Such a theology of divine retribution, coupled with limited knowledge of how contamination spreads, led to manifestations of penitential piety.

But the Church has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in a decidedly more technological manner.

And because of this, Father Cédric Burgunt, vice-head of the ICP canon law faculty, asked, "Has the year 2020 marked the digital transition of ecclesial life?"

"It is for the best that technologies have enabled pastors to reach their people in spite of lockdown," he noted.

But he worried that these technologies might also be straining the unity of the Christian community in that they tend to accentuate self-segregation among Catholics.

"We are seeing the emergence of new identities which, thanks to the globalization made possible by digital technology, are grouped together according to people's liturgical and spiritual preferences," the canonist said.

"They disregard territorial structures, whereas in the past the Catholic faithful had a sense of belonging to the universal Church, first of all through the bell tower of their church," he pointed out.

Father Burgun warned against the supposedly unifying nature of social media for Catholics.

"We shouldn't believe that social media creates great encounters, it creates microcosms of like-minded believers," Father Burgun argued.

"The sacrament trapped in a consumer logic"

Liturgical adaptations, whether they are permitted by digital technology or whether they concern the way one receives the Eucharist (for example, outside of celebrations, or the prohibition of communion on the tongue) must not obscure the fundamental question of how to handle what is lacking for Christians.

The issue was raised by Father Olivier Praud, head for liturgical and sacramental services in the Diocese of Luçon.

He warned of a looming threat.

"Suspending liturgies risks turning the Eucharist into a consumer good and diminishing its significance.

"The sacramental perspective would thus find itself trapped in a consumerist logic," he explained.

Father Praud supported his hypothesis by pointing to the natural desire Catholics have to try to fill the void left by the suspension of services.

But he said that contradicts the emptiness that fundamentally characterises the liturgy and Christian revelation in general.

"In all Christian theology, emptiness is necessary to allow God to give his grace," he said.

"In the Old Testament, this is the case for the people of Israel. In the New Testament, the people were waiting for Jesus to save them from Roman oppression," the priest continued.

"But he moves them and responds to the void in his own way: he saves them from Evil by saying 'no' to their immediate satisfaction," Father Praud explained. "That is, by saying 'yes' to their deepest desires."

• Héloïse de Neuville is a religion journalist. First published in La Croix International.

If you do not have an atlas, write the name of as many countries you can recall and lay the list in the centre of your sacred space.

Giving thanks for this new day

God of the universe.
All life comes from you
and all nations are held in your loving embrace.
The pandemic that now holds us hostage
threatens the wellbeing and stability
of the whole world.
With the dawning of this new day
we place our trust in you.
Gather us under your protecting wings
that we might encourage one another
and work together to bring health, safety and peace.

Self-isolation signals a cut-off from many usual and normal contacts.

Social distancing affects every community - family, school, church, town, city, the entire nation, and internationally as well.

This is a terrible global phenomenon.

But perhaps it will bring blessings, as we all come to realise what makes life so precious and the aspects of living we have taken for granted or never really appreciated.

To begin, use some of this prayer time, and some of this day, to reflect on the tragedy of isolation - not simply your own, but the many ways in which people experience isolation: the imprisoned, refugees, social outcasts, the elderly abandoned by family, solo parents, the sick kept in isolation, a person or persons nobody wants anything to do with…

Here are some characters Jesus encountered who knew the pain of isolation: a Leper (Lk 5:12-16), the Gerasene Demoniac (Lk 8:26-39), Lazarus - at the gate of the rich man, (Lk 16:19-31), Zacchaeus (Lk 19:1-10).

There are many more, including Jesus himself; Peter and the other disciples, as a consequence of their abandoning Jesus (Matthew 26:56; Lk 22:54-62; Matthew 27:46).

• Pray these episodes - each of them at different times during the day. Note the ways in which these people were isolated. You may like to look for other examples in the gospel narratives. Note, too, the concern of Jesus to restore people to the community or to help the community to be more accepting of the isolated one. Luke's gospel is particularly concerned with the healing ministry of Jesus and the greatest healing happens when people are at peace with one another.
• Using your atlas or list of countries, locate those most affected by Coronavirus. Consider the amount of isolation affecting the people of these lands and the enormous changes occurring in lifestyle, commerce, transport, and day-to-day living. Pray the following psalm with hope in your heart for healing, for increase in faith and for the strengthening of love between people, isolated or not.

Psalm 91

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shade of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress;
my God in whom I trust.

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge…

You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday…

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone…

Those who love me I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honour them…

Rosary Prayer: Pray the 5th Joyful Mystery - the Finding of the Child Jesus.

Jesus becomes "isolated" from the Nazareth "caravan" and is feared lost in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph search for him through a number of days. Offer this Decade for all who are isolated or lost, and for those desperate to find them and to be reunited.

• Keep contact with people you know to be isolated at this time through phone, email or other social media. The Church has always regarded the "media" as gifts of God. Well used, they can be life-savers and health-givers. Be aware of how much you are now valuing the calls of those concerned for your welfare.

Wonder Counsellor

I give thanks for the many ways
you guide the skills of people to improve and
assist the ways we communicate with one another.
In this time of isolation
when physical contact needs to be avoided
we are blessed with electronic media to
enable support to be given
news to be known and
love to be shared.
May my gratitude continue
beyond this emergency
so that I never misuse any of your gifts.

If you have access to music, conclude by listening to a quiet, reflective piece.

Life as we have known it is completely changed as the nation, along with the rest of the world, wages war against an invisible but deadly enemy, Coronavirus, or COVID-19.

You may have already been "self-isolating"; the "Lock Down" extends that directive to nearly everyone.

Only essential services remain open.

You are a person of faith.

Prayer is an important part of your life.

Worship normally engages you with others and with large gatherings banned, church services, along with concerts, meetings, sporting events and large social celebrations, cannot be held.

We are in a very strange and unfamiliar environment, backpedalling to escape infection and limit the spread of a disease for which there is still no cure.

This means minimal or no contact with others, no touching, no sharing, keeping our distance from one another and keeping everything clean.

It's like we're living "in reverse", backing away from what we've regarded as normal.

Indeed, as social beings, we need contact with others.

Reversing what is natural and necessary is unnerving and extremely disruptive.

So here is a package of reflections to take you through this time of being locked down!

Whether on your own or at home with family, I hope you will find here something to ease the isolation and to let you know you are still connected. Let the spirit be our touchstone and our bridge to one another.

They explore the "In Reverse" title, accepting that while it is unnatural to be apart from others, this time on your own can help you to place more value on community, to become more mindful of those without friends or contacts, and to nurture seeds of kindness and compassion.

Prayer in a time of isolation offers a spiritual bond that will remove loneliness from your time alone and strengthen your appreciation of "togetherness" when you return.

Pray Day One - The water of Life