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User: crossman
Name: Father Christopher J. Rossman
A Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in KS currently assigned as the Associate Pastor of Prince of Peace parish in Olathe, KS.

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Friday, June 13, 2008

Decline in belief in the Eucharist...cont.

After reading the responses, both in the comments and in emails that were sent to me privately, this is obviously a hot topic. There are definitely strong emotions on either side of this as well as many who see that there is merit to both sets of reasons. After reading some of the comments I include myself in seeing merit to the emailer. Many of the responses to the emailer's comments reflected various personal viewpoints of both forms of the Mass and I think that is worth noting.

I want to respond to a couple of the emailer's particular reasons since I did not focus on each individually in my last post.

With regard to receiving communion in the hand, the Sacred Congregation For Divine Worship clarified Paul VI's permission given by saying:

The rite of communion in the hand must not be put into practice indiscriminately. Since the question involves human attitudes, this mode of communion is bound up with the perceptiveness and preparation of the one receiving...it is necessary to have the introduction of the rite preceded by an effective catechesis, so that the people will clearly understand the meaning of receiving in the hand and will practice it with the reverence owed to the sacrament.

Again, catechesis is emphasized by the Holy Father and THAT is what is greatly lacking in our faith today.

I read a number of documents on communion in the hand and most focus on the belief that this practice has a negative impact on reverence toward the Eucharist. I absolutely agree that this practice can be a factor in the decline in the reverence of the Real Presence but I again submit that it is the internal disposition that is the ultimate focus. A person receiving in the hand is not going to be less reverent simply because he or she receives in the hand. The lack of catechesis promotes that lack of reverence because it lacks understanding about Who a person is receiving at Communion.

A couple of points I want to make about these documents I read. A number of documents stated that NEVER in history has it been condoned to receive communion in the hand. That is absoultely incorrect. I quote:

Communion in the hand should show, as much as communion on the tongue, due respect towards the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. For this reason emphasis should be laid, as was done by the Fathers of the Church, upon the dignity of the gesture of the communicant. Thus, the newly baptized at the end of the fourth century were directed to stretch out both hands making "the left hand a throne for the right hand, which receives the King" (Fifth mystagogical catechesis of Cyril of Jerusalem, n. 21: PG 33. col 1125, and Saint John Chrysostom, Homily 47: PG 63, col. 898.)

I also want to point out that what may have disturbed me the most in reading these documents is that some, although none by bishops or priests, claimed that receiving in the hand is sacrilege. This practice IS currently approved by Rome and therefore CANNOT be sacriligeous. Others even went as far as to say that those receiving in the hand would go to hell. Still others claimed that those who receive in the hand need to go to reconciliation and confess to desecration to the sacredness of the Eucharist. All of these things are grossly inaccurate and in some cases inflammatory. This again proves my point that it is a lack of catechesis, on both sides of the issue, that is primarily at fault.

Lastly, it should be made clear that we cannot judge others simply by what they do. I absouletly cannot, nor should anyone, judge whether a person believes that they are truly receiving the Body and Blood of Christ based on how they receive either on the tongue or in the hand.

I am certain we will continue to have dicussions on this topic and I really do encourage you to keep commenting. While I am not convinced that the reception of communion in the hand is the source of the lack of reverence in the Real Presence, you have convinced me that this is a contributing factor. Maybe this issue is like the blind man who approached Jesus:

Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on him and asked, "Do you see anything?" Looking up he replied, "I see people looking like trees and walking." Then he laid hands on his eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. (Mark 8:23-25)

I will be away from the parish from June 15th to June 19th on a mini-vacation with my dad. I'll be back on June 20th so we most certainly will continue our discussion then. Keep commenting on this and until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 07:06 | link | comments (2) |
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Comments:
#1  14 June 2008 - 21:23
 
I agree 100% with the three reasons that you gave in your homily for the decline in belief of the Real Presence. I think those are certainly the most important and foundational reasons.

As for the reasons given in the e-mail...

Reason #1: Mass in English. Complete hogwash, in my opinion. I'm 19 years old and joined the Church last year. I've only just recently gone to a Mass in the Extraordinary Form and let me assure you, I believe that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist. I think that it is true that "mystery and reverence" are important matters to the issue of belief in the True Presence, but I don't think that the N.O. necessarily takes "mystery and reverence" away from the Mass. I have experienced extremely reverent N.O. Masses. And I have experienced extremely irreverent N.O. Masses. Any irreverent Mass is going to affect how people view the Holy Eucharist... if we're not treating the Holy Eucharist with reverence and awe, which is due to Jesus Christ, then it can be easy to see a decline in belief through the years.

Reason #2: Priest facing the people. Again, I'd have to say not directly related to belief in the Real Presence one way or the other. I happen to love the idea of ad orientem and I think it has a lot of symbolism. But to say that having the priest face the people affects belief in the Holy Eucharist? I don't know about that. Which ever direction the priest is facing we ought to be focusing on the Holy Eucharist. I don't see much validity to this point in regards to the decline of belief in the True Presence.

Reason #3: Extraordinary Ministers and Communion in the hand... I'm torn on this subject. I think that both of these play an role, but I don't think that either of them are bad in and of themselves. I have seen people receive in the hand with great reverence. I have seen people receive in the hand with great irreverence. I agree that inward disposition is the most important thing and that we really ought not to judge that disposition of any communicant. However, when much of a congregation -appears- to be receiving Holy Communion in the same manner that they'd reach out and receive a piece of candy, I can see where this can play a role. We are human and we need outward signs of things. It's part of why God made the Sacraments. Having an outward sign of our inward disposition is important and can play a vital role in how view things. If someone is treating the Holy Eucharist as if merely bread, then that attitude is going to show, even if there is belief the the host is Jesus Christ. Belief should affect action.... Reception in the hand can appear to be "common" rather than "sacred", since that's how we receive everything else in this world. I think anytime things become "common" it can be difficult, without proper catechesis, to see the sacredness.

As for EMHC's... yeah, I don't think this has much a leg to stand on, really. If the attitude about the congregation is that being an EMHC is a way to get involved and it's centered around the idea "well, why shouldn't -I- distribute Holy Communion?" then of course there's going to be problems with belief in the Real Presence. But that's hitting a deeper issue of what's important. It's not about me or you, lay person or priest.. it's about Jesus Christ. The debate about having EMHC's take the attention away from Jesus.

So, overall... No, I don't think VII had anything to do with the decline in belief of the Real Presence. I think the decline is because people have been more concerned with themselves and their own lives and wants and needs than with Jesus. And that's because there is a huge decline in prayer among the faithful and a lack of catechesis. Just like you said in your homily.

Kayla
Anonymous
#2  15 June 2008 - 08:36
 
Wow, Kayla you should teach at seminary!!! I could not have put it better than you did. It's wonderful to see a person such as yourself so knowledgeable and understanding of your faith. You give priests such as myself great hope for the future of our Church.
Thank you for your comments. It was a delight to read them and inspiring to me.

God bless
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