Bleg
December 17, 2007
This will be one of the few times I make a request of readers and particularly clergy. I can only speak for myself. During this time of year, many appear for Communion who in some cases had no intention of receiving communion or in other cases are inexperienced at receiving communion. In the latter case, I’m speaking of youths who have received their first communion, but have unfortunately not received communion regularly. During such times, an usher accompanying the minister of communion is helpful. Ushers are there to safeguard the Sacrament. Unfortunately this joyous time of year is accompanied by numerous acts of desecration.
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While I worked at Philmont Scout Ranch there was always the problem (or blessing, depending on how you look at it) that you have a lot of folks that aren’t Catholics coming to the Mass because the rest of their crew did. One of the nice things that the priests did there was to announce before communion that all were invited to come up, but if you were neither Catholic or properly disposed to receive communion you should cross your arms as a sign to the priest to give you a blessing. While it doesn’t explain why, it does make clear in a friendly way the importance of the Eucharist and who should receive. I don’t know if it would help in your case, but its worth a shot.
Stephen – I’ve had a similar experience at my parish – A quick reminder from Father concerning proper reception does the trick and doesn’t come off as condescending or judgemental.
BTW, after Christmas Mass, the priest I’m thinking of usually adds, as a joking afterthought, “Ok, then, I’ll see you all at Easter…” which usually gets a big laugh.
There really isn’t anything judgemental about an usher standing a few feet from where people proceed after receiving communion. I’ve seen it done several times in larger churches. In case I wasn’t clear, the thing I’m looking to have avoided is consecrated hosts left in pews or put in garbage cans.
I do have my own ideas about avoiding illicit reception, but my goal here is more modest.
Oh – I’ve never seen the behavior you describe (the garbage??), but that’s horrific, MZ.
What are the specific circumstances/incidents you have seen? This is a serious issue of sacriledge.
Last year at Christmas, I saw a young man back at the pew holding the host and just looking at it. I walked up to him, and I told him he needed to consume it now. Poor kid turned about three shades of white. His mother, I’m assuming, sitting next to him said, “I was going to tell him.”
Two Easters ago (I think), I witnessed a couple men slip the consecrated host into their pockets after receiving in the hand and turning around. The distribution was done in an overflow balcony. They men appeared to be trying to be discrete about it. From what I’ve heard via radio, priests have found communion hosts in many places. I think in most cases, it is a person who knows they shouldn’t receive, but doesn’t know what to do once they receive the host. Having people led from the pews to communion probably doesn’t help matters, nor the more modern 20 person to a pew arrangements.
It’s never occurred to me – what should one do, if one receives in the hand, and then realizes (too late) that it would be inappropriate to consume the host?
Matt – I think in that case the person should consume it and ask forgiveness.
Maybe after Mass he can return it to the priest. Doesn’t even have to confess at that point. Just say he found it in the pew. I actually found a host in a pew after Mass once.
In urban parishes, where we welcome all of God’s children — the mentally ill and those with serious emotional and other problems, these issues are more commonplace than in some of our sanitized, conservative parishes ministering to God’s faithful living in gated communities. A pastorally trained attendant for each Eucharistic Minister is helpful.
As for faithful Protestant Christians approaching for communion, proper education is helpful. There is no scandal with their reception of the Eucharist, per se. After all, when Our Lord was on earth, His body pressed up against prostitutes, taxcollectors and every sort of sinner imaginable. And our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters commune infants who certainly have less of an understanding of the great Mystery of the Eucharist than an adult Protestant might (and certainly even the greatest Catholic theologian has not come close to fully understanding all of the glory of the Eucharist.).
But the issue is not scandal by a Protestant receiving, but rudeness on the part of the Catholic Church. A polite host would not invite a guest to only share in part of the festivities — come for dessert or only the entree or only the entertainment portion of the evening. You invite the guest to the fullness of the event. Same to for the Church. The invitation is for the fullness of life in the Catholic Church not just communion. In many of our communities, that invitation is not always clear, and that is unfortunate.
The problem, Kurt, is that the majority of Protestants do not believe that it is Christ which they encounter. The Lord pressed up against all sorts of people, but was invited and stayed with those who experienced a conversion and said, “This truly is the Lord.” The invitation is to come and join the Catholic Church – one cannot receive the sacraments in any order one chooses, at the time of one’s choosing, for that is Protestantism in itself. There is a certain life and order that one enters into in choosing the Church. First, one must be baptized. Then, one must profess Faith in all that the Church teaches. Then, one may be welcomed at the Table.
Yes, the invitation from the Church is not just to receive one sacrament or to partially partake in the faith of the Church. The invitation from the Church’s part is to the fullness of life in Christ. That is why it would be improper for a priest to invite non-Catholic to receive communion.
However, that only speaks to our behavior as Catholics. The Catholic Church should not be extending a limited invitation to only the Holy Eucharist but a full invitation. As for the faithful and baptized Protestant, should they present themselves for communion, there is no scandal. In our post-Councilar ecumenical dialogue with our separated brothers and sisters, we have discovered that yes; many of them do believe they encounter Christ in the sacrament of Holy Communion. Yes, they may have a more limited understanding of this than adult Catholics (though maybe a better understanding than the infants which the Eastern Catholic churches commune) but none of us has a full understanding of this great Mystery.
Maybe after Mass he can return it to the priest. Doesn’t even have to confess at that point. Just say he found it in the pew.
But then he would be lying, right?
The problem, Kurt, is that the majority of Protestants do not believe that it is Christ which they encounter.
I am not in favor of intercommunion (only in certain circumstances) but this statement is simply not true. Many, if not most, Protestants do believe that Christ is encountered at Eucharist. Many of those ever believe in the Real Presence. They simply don’t believe in transubstantiation.