Everyone receiving the Eucharist

[lak611]

The better question may be, if all those people in the past really believed the Body of Christ was being offered, why didn’t they approach? Why did they regularly turn down this great gift. Do you think they all had mortal sins on their souls all the time?

It could have been as simple as the fact that they broke the fast. The fast used to be from midnight and then later it was 3 hours. With the fast being only 1 hour now, most people would not be breaking the fast unless the went to the drive-through on the way to church.

 

[lak611]

Just as we see people flooding to the front of the Church to receive the Eucharist we should also find a way to ignite peoples need for the Sacrement of Confession.

I agree with you. The priests at my church do mention confession in their homilies. I think it is a great Sacrament and like to go often.

 

[lak611]

Many these days see sin as primarily societal not personal in nature. Therefore if we gather as a community and communally ask for forgiveness, we are forgiven as a community. Strange concept but one that many people have these days. Another aspect is the increasing belief that one is just not responsible for their own actions. I’ve been roundly criticized on this forum for suggesting that people make their own choices whether to sin or not. The prevailing view seems to be that outside circumstances and events in ones life determine whether or not our behavior is sinful or not. It(sin) can be explained away and even nullified by outside events. The aspect of choosing to sin is pretty much ignored and dismissed by many of our more progressive thinkers.

And I think that is just plain wrong.

I am a gen-Xer, and I agree with you. My sins are mine alone. The community did not make me commit them, nor did my upbringing have anything to do with me committing them. I need to take responsibility for my actions. Confession is about admitting my faults and resolving to amend my life, with the help of God’s grace. It is not about making excuses.

 

[Matas]

I suggest a good slow read of the following excellent document.
It can be found at jloughnan.tripod.com/defensem.htm

OK…Great article. So what? This thread is not meant as an indictment of the Pauline Mass. I do not read into any previous post a sense that there is anything wrong with the NO Mass. What Paul VI meant, and what has actually come to pass are two different things. To turn this thread into another CAF Vatican II rant is to trivialize the sentiments expressed herein. In short, while your informative post is informative and good, it is off the mark.

 

[valient_Lucy]

As a cynical Gen Xer…I place the blame squarely on the Boomers Juuuust kidding…sorta

As a cynical Gen Yer, I blame them too.

 

[valient_Lucy]

one thing that i will not ever forget is when my good friend (somewhat religious ) asked me why i didnt go up to get the eucharist uch: i was dumbfounded. what do you say to that?

My goodness! What a question! I can’t imagine ever asking someone something like that! Talk about “none of your business.”

 

[pyropam]

Why would anyone ask this question? Who are you to judge? Do you know that these people have commited mortal sins? I should think that you would be proud to go to a parish where so many are not in mortal sin. We have many people who stay in the pew, and many who go up to receive a simple blessing. I’m always praying for them. I would never judge the ones who are receiving.

 

[valient_Lucy]

OK, I give up. You guys are right, everyone today is a sinner. That nice couple that sits behind me each and every Sunday with their kids only take the Eucharist because they don’t really believe in it at all. I know they SAY they do, but there pretty young so they are probably not holy like older folks.

Or maybe the emphasis on lay participation in the Mass after VII encourages more people to participate in Christ’s great gift. Maybe they don’t feel unworthy anymore because they better understand the great gift being offered. The better question may be, if all those people in the past really believed the Body of Christ was being offered, why didn’t they approach? Why did they regularly turn down this great gift. Do you think they all had mortal sins on their souls all the time?

Yes, I do think that today’s situation is better. And I will continue to assume my neighbor is free of mortal sin until such time as I am given to see men’s souls, and I fervently pray that day never comes.

I’m not sure that the posters are saying that no one should receive the Eucharist, or that frequent communion is a bad thing. But I do think many people are troubled by the idea that there are so many people receiving the Eucharist, and so few people going to confession. Before I became Catholic, I saw one of my friends receive the Eucharist, even though she was living with her boyfriend. I am sure she is not the only person in the parish who has done something of that nature.

I agree that there could have possibly an unhealthy emphasis the other way. It is possible that more people in the 50’s were overly scrupulous, and that they felt that even small mistakes were mortal sins. But I was not born then, and I haven’t polled those over 50 on the distinctions between mortal and venial sins, so I have no way of knowing. But I don’t think that it’s necessarily any better today, with everyone receiving the Eucharist and so few people going to confession.

 

[theresa1967]

I love the attention you are giving… reminding us all of the Host and wine. being God almighty in our life as we know it! He promised He would never leave us or forsake us. God keeps His promises. Its a sacrifice of our " own" understanding…that Jesus is asking you to believe in Him and the Gift of Himself to us. That is why we have DAILY MASS. To get fed the food of Angels. Remember the miracle of the loaves…the water into wine…Its not a coincedence …He said at the last supper…to do this, not remember this. TO DO …meaning eat and drink . The true gift of himself in our time. thanks for reminding us all…with love and grateful for the true bread and wine of life!

The teaching hasn’t changed, the people have. Stick to your conscience and do your best to fight the feeling of peer pressure if you feel you’re not properly disposed for communion. I often don’t go up for communion if I’ve sinned and haven’t been to confession.

Remember what Mom always used to say, “If all your friends jumped off a bridge would you follow them?” Just think, your example could give someone else the courage to follow their conscience rather than the herd.