Coins lose value the second they are put in circulation. i.e. free to be handled by hands and fingers. Numismatic dealers have been able to preserve the luster and fine quality of 100-yr old coins, simply by keeping them from being touched by hands (among other things).
Elements of the species must be identifiable as bread to be Consecrated thus microscopic crumbs and teeny-weeny white dots on a black glove are not something we need to be concerned about.
Somewhere in cyberspace there is a youtube video illustrating the placing of unconsecrated hosts on a black velvet cloth. (Getting back to your macroscopic crumbs.)Also as Bsp Schneider points out in the video Mark posted many things have been permitted in the Church that later have been determined to be damaging.
I do not think anyone here is disputing the fact that the Church has the authority to regulate the sacraments (see qualifying remark below.*) I would hold though, that the “isms” of which you speak are based upon our own understanding of the faith and the grace of the Spirit concerning personal devotional practices, (not personal opinion.) Otherwise, why do bishops even disagree about communion in the hand and why did Pope Benedict favorably address the issue of COTT?
Not according to Bsp Schneider who is quoted as saying, "“There is the grievous fact of the loss of the Eucharistic fragments. And the fragments of the consecrated Host are crushed by feet. This is horrible! Our God, in our churches, is trampled by feet!”
Dogmata!
I think this thread is getting cross-posting from the synod thread.
If it’s not done with malice or disrespect I can’t see being too concerned about it. It seems a bit leaglistic and scrupulous to me, especially to say it’s helping to cause a great crisis in the Church. To me it’s also a distraction to be woried about this while receiving communion.
I think the issue is the first part, and maybe the literal definition of “microscopic”. When do the species cease to exists? For one, in evaporated molecules, or in true microscopic groupings (that which cannot be seen), or in one’s stomach when the host is reduced similarly in size. The Eucharist does not abide forever, each molecule until the end of time.
The bishop in the article in the OP mentioned the synod. I’d say it’s right on topic.
I’m sure all would be forgiven, but overt carelessness might be another matter.
It’s called “selective” vision.
And don’t we have a paten to catch any crumbs that may fall, although I know not every church does this when offering the Eucharist.
When they start realizing the issue is not just about asserting one’s rights, maybe they’ll come to at least requiring a paten for both CITH and COTT.
Ugh!! True this!! When Mother Angelica talked about some parishes putting the tabernacle in a BROOM CLOSET, she knew what she was talking about. We have 2 parishes in my area that carry the tabernacle into another back room. NEVER on the Altar. What a travesty!! Then you mention it to the Pastor and he seems to pacify you with umpteen excuses. Then you mention it to the Bishop, and he does the same. I have been receiving Communion on the tongue for several years now, and in the recent past there was one Priest who didn’t want to distribute it to me that way. He would almost miss my tongue every time. I started to think it was somewhat passive aggressive. I do believe that the way you conduct yourself with body movements and Communion not only display respect for Our Lord at Mass but you just naturally HAVE MORE respect and reverence. It’s a matter of body mannerisms to the brain. We may not have had so many Catholics that don’t believe in the real presence, if we had not ripped out the Communion Rails and started dolling out the Holy Eucharist like poker chips. And then you have a dozen or so Eucharistic Ministers running around the Altar talking to each other like they are at some social event. Lots of reparation needed to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
If a paten is not needed to catch crumbs, and really the host we use do not drop crumbs, I still believe a paten is a good symbolic addition to the emphasize the importance of each particle of the Holy Eucharist. Two days ago I was downtown Houston and found Mass at chapel in the middle of the city. I was so impressed with the care the priest took with the cleaning of the vessels, more than required to insure that nothing remained. It is not that such meticulous double-checking is needed to insure no species remained as it was the importance of extra time taken doing the job. It provided a good teaching moment, as I had my son with me.
Part of respect should include how we speak of the Holy Eucharist. The comparison of communion and poker chips strikes me are rather disrespectful.
I’m sorry, but that’s the impression I get when I see how utterly CARELESS even the clergy is when distributing the precious body of Our Lord!!! The fact of the matter is that we have a clergy in my parish that is always ‘snapping down’ the Host in the hands of communicants and many times they break and crumble. People have informed him of this so as to maybe gently remind him of what he’s doing. I make sure now (as I have had this happen to me) that I am not in his line for Communion. In fact this was the turning point for me several years ago and since then I receive on the tongue. I totally respect and revere the Blessed Sacrament, but I just wish some of our Priests and Deacons would as well.
I went back to read the original article and your post was underneath. If no one acknowledged it, I wish to do so now. The laity for years and years have suffered through various degrees of disbelief, shock, alarm and distress over some of the things than have transpired over the past 50 years. Father Richard Gilsdorf (now deceased) wrote in his book “The Signs of the Times” that he and his bishop no longer held to the same faith - so serious has it become. I am encouraged and believe the voices of more and more shepherds, the true champions for God, will be heard and already we know who they are by their quiet, yet effective and unyielding defense of the faith.
AMEN, AMEN AND AMEN!! God’s truth will prevail in His Church. This is a battle that is still going on INSIDE the Church. So anxious are they (some clergy and laity alike) to tamp down the traditions, that they are starting to target some traditional parishes. Take for instance St. Innocence in New York. They offer an EF of the Mass, and of course along with the OF. From what I’ve read, they are a growing parish. The parishioners there have put their blood, sweat and tears into renovations and financially supporting the parish, and they are now doing fine financially, but it is at the top of the list for closures. Meanwhile there are other more contemporary (and even somewhat controversial) parishes that will be preserved, and strangely not doing as well financially or growth wise. Puzzling.
The story of Holy Innocents is puzzling and maddening to say the least. We have churches a few blocks away which promote the homosexual lifestyle and they don’t get touched. Instead we have our Cardinal smiling and giving his blessing to these people while punishing devout priests and closing down the churches where the traditional devout Catholics come to worship our Lord as he asked and as has been passed down through the generations.AMEN, AMEN AND AMEN!! God’s truth will prevail in His Church. This is a battle that is still going on INSIDE the Church. So anxious are they (some clergy and laity alike) to tamp down the traditions, that they are starting to target some traditional parishes. Take for instance St. Innocence in New York. They offer an EF of the Mass, and of course along with the OF. From what I’ve read, they are a growing parish. The parishioners there have put their blood, sweat and tears into renovations and financially supporting the parish, and they are now doing fine financially, but it is at the top of the list for closures. Meanwhile there are other more contemporary (and even somewhat controversial) parishes that will be preserved, and strangely not doing as well financially or growth wise. Puzzling.
