Depression Among Roman Catholics Due to Fear of Death or Impracticability of Sacrament of Penance During Covid-19 Lockdown Days

Abstract

COVID-19 has created a greater impact on the life of both living and non-living organisms. Amount of people suffering from COVID-19 is increasing day by day. The government has implemented lockdown in the whole country. During the time of lockdown, all the churches and temples were closed and only the rituals were taken place with the only presence of priests. People become more stressed when they lost their freedom to do their rituals in churches. Pieces of evidence suggest that Faith has great importance in the life of human beings. In Catholic teaching, the Sacrament of Penance is the method of the Church by which individual men and women confess sins committed after baptism and have them absolved by God through the administration of a Priest. When lockdown begins such rituals were stopped and it may lead to a small amount of depression. The result of the research says that according to the data collected from 14 participants, it’s very clear that they are not much depressed even though they are not able to practice their religious rituals, also people who are having religious beliefs are not at all depressed and they have someone to share their problems. Family members, friends and priests are there to talk to them even if they face any troubles. Confession helps to open up suppressed information towards a priest.