Vatican II Chronicles: A couple of musings
Particles, and a Letter
On Gluten and Transubstantiated Particles
Isn't it odd that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops offers exquisite concern for those with celiac disease needing to avoid cross-contamination of gluten from regular hosts, but somehow those same particles merit no thought from those same bishops as to whether they are falling on the floor or remain on the fingers of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (who rarely purify after distribution — I’ve only seen it once) and those of the communicants themselves?
In other words, if you have celiac disease and the priest (or EMHC) is giving you Holy Communion from the low-gluten ciborium, but has also been distributing from the regular ciborium, you can still get sick due to particles from the latter transferred to the former. Ideally, there would be a separate minister or you'd receive first or he would purify before giving it.
But would he provide a paten for Holy Communion, wielded by an altar boy under your chin, thinking of those same particles? Or take any other measures to be sure the particles aren't being profaned — by falling on the floor and being trampled on, say? Would he provide an altar rail and reception on the tongue for those sensitive to profanation?
I mean, I am concerned for those with gluten intolerance who wish to receive, and rejoice that a means has been found for them, but — where is the exquisite care for Him?
Is it The Spirit or is it Just How It Is Now
The fact that a letter like this (sent to me by a friend who picked it up) can be casually dropped into the bulletin without fear of censure from on high maybe suggests that Help Is Not on the Way.
Let’s take a glance at it, shall we?
“Mass is now [after Vatican II] seen as a community celebration, not a private devotion.”
What?
“God loves me unconditionally. I cannot earn or lose that love.”
Ambiguous as to whether Father realizes that God’s love might send any one of us, in justice, to Hell.
“No religion is favored by God over others.”
Prescinding from the antisemitism line, which has nothing to do with what goes before, all I can say is that if a priest doesn’t think the Catholic religion is favored over others, I suggest he not depend on it for his livelihood, as that would constitute fraud.
“The Church is a human institution and must adapt to the times.”
Romans 12: 2 “And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.”
&etc… “Enjoy life!”
Sigh.
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How about this:
If I may comment on the priest's letter in the local Church bulletin. I'll go point by point.
1. He may see the Mass as a 'community celebration', however, it is NOT. It is the supreme and only efficacious propitiatory sacrifice for the remission of sin re-presented; it is literally both the Last Supper and Calvary made manifest temporally for the faithful. Further, we are not as important as the Priest in the Mass. It is vitally important to us, though it does NOT require us in order to be necessary and relevant.
2. This point is pretty much an expression of the sin of presumption and could be material heresy. Taken on its face, it puts parishioners in great danger. If they were to infer that they can receive the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin they will find that they will not lose God's love, but that it includes his justice and that eternal damnation is a real possibility.
3. Simply, this is material heresy. The Church has declared dogmatically that the Holy Roman Catholic Church is the ONLY Church and Bride of Christ. Any merits from any other Christian denomination come from the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. If she were to cease to exist (which isn't actually possible, but IF) then there would be no 'churches' at all.
4. The Bible is not the sole authority on God's word (unless he is a closet Sola Scriptura 'believer'). The dogmas of the Church (whether based on scripture, the Magisterium or Tradition) are to be taken literally. There is no cafeteria now or ever.
5. Heresy. Holy Orders and Baptism do NOT confer the same rights, privileges or authority; period.
6. Also heresy. The Church is NOT a human institution. It is Christ's institution. We are its members and the Magisterium its caretakers.
7. Disingenuous at best. Baptism and Consecration of the Eucharist are unchangeable sacraments in form, matter and intention. The other five have varied slightly in form. The 'pastoral' interpretation of Quo Primum is - more than likely - incorrect, based on its dogmatic treatment by the Magisterium from 1570 until 1970. Consequently, the entire liturgy may, in fact, be unchangeable in toto.
8. Regardless of conscience, we may NOT disagree with the dogmatic teachings of the Church "and still be good Catholics." I wonder if he would agree that we can disagree with his sacrilegious musings for departing from Church tradition and "still be good Catholics" - probably not because traditionally minded Catholics have a mental disorder according to the Holy Father (please pray for him to hold fast to that with which he has been entrusted).
9. We cannot take responsibility for the marginalized. We are called to live out and express to them the virtue of Charity.
10. The member of the Episcopacy who have been (and still are) complicit in sexual sins of various types must be held accountable, not "the Church" as a whole.
Great article. It clearly motivated me. God bless.
I love it when you post these kinds of little rants, Mrs. Lawler. I couldn't read the entire letter, since I'm on my phone, but from reading the excerpts you quoted I can tell this is one of those little bulletin sections of "wisdom" that are really full of hogwash. I think we're in more trouble than we realize.