Yes. It’s none of your business. He may need God’s grace more than you. That’s between him and God.So, an obviously drunk man sat next to me at Midnight Mass. He went up and did receive The Eucharist. I don’t know what the canon law is on this sort of thing. And even if I was sure that he was intending to consume Our Lord while in a state of mortal sin, I’m not sure if/how I should act in this situation.
thoughts?
Then you did all you could or should do.I did pray for him.
NOT if he drove there.The fact that this man felt the need to be there and participate is a good thing, in my opinion.
Well yes, of course!NOT if he drove there.
Well stated.You dont know for sure he was drunk unless you were there with him as he consumed alcohol…after all there is prescription medication and medical conditions that can cause a perfectly sober person to appear intoxicated when they are actually not…its best not to judge unless you know something for certain…
If he were acting irrationally for what ever reason (he may have been intoxicated, on drugs or mentally imbalanced) then I would inform an usher to make them aware of a potential safety issue.So, an obviously drunk man sat next to me at Midnight Mass. He went up and did receive The Eucharist. I don’t know what the canon law is on this sort of thing. And even if I was sure that he was intending to consume Our Lord while in a state of mortal sin, I’m not sure if/how I should act in this situation.
thoughts?
FWIW, from what I saw his girlfriend had the keys. And as far as what I observed, besides all the telltales signs of physical impairment the guy **reeked of booze. But I suppose it’s possible that a drink was spilled on him.NOT if he drove there.
“Admonish the sinner” is one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy and something we should be doing if our family members or close friends are obstinately persisting in manifest grave sin. In fact it is sometimes incumbent upon us to say something and to remain silent would be sinful.And we should pray for all those not properly disposed to receive, and for those of us who are properly disposed to receive the courage to softly remind relatives and friends of the sanctity of the Eucharist without judging them for any grave sins that we are aware of their involvement in, including adultery, fornication, contraception, etc…the disposition to receive by the intoxicated man may have been far more acceptable than that of our close relatives, friends, or even ourselves.
Who’s affair is it then?It’s not our affair to decide a person is or isn’t worthy to receive, even if the answer might seem obvious to our fallible observations.
That being said, the Eucharist is not a sorcerer’s potion that will bewitch a person into a state of holiness. Saying, “He might need it more than you,” is not orthodox teaching. It doesn’t work like that. Sacraments are not spells, and they have zero spiritual value if not received with the proper disposition of the heart.
There are those on this forum who irrationally apply the idea of charity to the point where if they were being accosted with a man pointing a gun at them they would think he may be trying to offer it to them as a gift instead of robbing them…FWIW, from what I saw his girlfriend had the keys. And as far as what I observed, besides all the telltales signs of physical impairment the guy ***reeked ***of booze. But I suppose it’s possible that a drink was spilled on him.
So unusual that we agree on anything! Must be that Christmas in the air!“Admonish the sinner” is one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy and something we should be doing if our family members or close friends are obstinately persisting in manifest grave sin. In fact it is sometimes incumbent upon us to say something and to remain silent would be sinful.
Can you more accurately describe this person’s obvious drunkeness? Some alcoholics have to have a constant supply of alcohol in their system or else they’ll fall into a dangerous condition called delirium tremens and can develop life threatening seizures. As an ICu nurse I’ve indeed taken care of alcoholics whose blood alcohol level were 3 times the legal limit but this was the level their body needed to stay at or else they develop alcohol withdrawal tremors and come dangerously close into having seizures. If physiologically someones body develops an extreme dependence on alcohol such as this then are they committing a mortal sin by receiving the eucharist?So, an obviously drunk man sat next to me at Midnight Mass. He went up and did receive The Eucharist. I don’t know what the canon law is on this sort of thing. And even if I was sure that he was intending to consume Our Lord while in a state of mortal sin, I’m not sure if/how I should act in this situation.
thoughts?
Approaching a visibly drunk man to admonish him not to receive communion might not be the wisest idea from a safety standpoint.“Admonish the sinner” is one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy and something we should be doing if our family members or close friends are obstinately persisting in manifest grave sin. In fact it is sometimes incumbent upon us to say something and to remain silent would be sinful.