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Rich_C
Guest
OP: Your concern is good, but all you can do is pray for him. I’m sure your intention was not to pass judgment (you just observed an objectively inappropriate circumstance) but like others said our role isn’t to police the communion line.
Probably greater than 9 out of 10 people receiving the Blessed Sacrament today are in grave, if not mortal, sin with an estimated 98% of Catholics using contraception and an estimated 70% of Catholics not believing the Real Presence at all. EMHC can’t turn people away, and some priests are not allowed to either, on orders from their bishop. That’s just the state of the world.
So leaving aside this situation you describe, I think it should be obvious that we need to do penance and reparations. Our Lady at Fatima said that many are falling into hell because we aren’t praying/doing penance enough for them.
I’m writing this as much to remind myself as anyone else. And not speaking for any of you, I know I have plenty of penances and reparations to do for my own sins as well. I pray God let’s me live long enough to do them all.
Here’s an act of reparation. I’ve seen other really good ones out there:
Richard
Probably greater than 9 out of 10 people receiving the Blessed Sacrament today are in grave, if not mortal, sin with an estimated 98% of Catholics using contraception and an estimated 70% of Catholics not believing the Real Presence at all. EMHC can’t turn people away, and some priests are not allowed to either, on orders from their bishop. That’s just the state of the world.
So leaving aside this situation you describe, I think it should be obvious that we need to do penance and reparations. Our Lady at Fatima said that many are falling into hell because we aren’t praying/doing penance enough for them.
I’m writing this as much to remind myself as anyone else. And not speaking for any of you, I know I have plenty of penances and reparations to do for my own sins as well. I pray God let’s me live long enough to do them all.
Here’s an act of reparation. I’ve seen other really good ones out there:
God bless,
Richard
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RosslynV
Guest
Perhaps the homeless man was unaware of the hour fast requirement for Communion. If that is the case, he would not have been culpable in breaking the fast.
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Memaw
Guest
I love the choice of words, ‘policing the Communion line’. That’s cute. To try to help an intoxicated man from doing something he shouldn’t be doing in that condiition anyway is all of a sudden a crime. If that same man was walking across the street in the line of traffic I wonder if anyone would try to stop him or as you put it, ‘police’ him. Wouldn’t that be judgemental to say he was “to drunk” to cross a street. The hour of fast at that moment was not the big concern. Helping the man was. Whatever you do for the least of my brothren, you do for ME. God Bless. Memaw
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ringil
Guest
It is not the role of the layman to determine, encourage, or discourage anyone from receiving Communion in the Communion line.
It is you who are twisting the term “to help” this individual.
Leave it to God and His priests and as a layman, know your place.
When you approach the Lord in Communion focus on YOUR heart, YOUR unworthiness- not anothers.
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maryjk
Guest
And if you want to help. Offer the man a meal, a shower, a place to stay. THAT is how you “help” an intoxicated homeless man.
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MtnDwellar
Guest
100% correct.
From the Archdiocese of Washington:
blog.adw.org/2012/06/on-the-giving-and-receiving-of-holy-communion-some-norms-to-recall/
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Memaw
Guest
I do focus on MY heart and MY unworthiness, now your judging! I Helping someone is not judging and there have been homeless men in church here before and always a man has walked up to them and started a conversation and got them to a shelter where they can get food and hopefully some help. God Bless. Memaw
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DeniseNY
Guest
This
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Bklynguy
Guest
There are people who are allergic to wheat and can only take from the chalice. By your description, that was probably not the case here, but we just can never know.
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Brandon_Cal
Guest
The psychological state of being drunk ends long before the body has finished metabolizing the alcohol. It is perfectly conceivable that a person might reek of alcohol and yet not be drunk; not even tipsy. This is especially so if the person doesn’t have recourse to a shower.
Unless you’re psychic or actually witnessed a person chugging liquor prior to entering the church it is impossible for you to know the psychological state of that person (let alone his spiritual state). Likening this situation to objective desecration of the Eucharist I find to be downright stupid and incredibly offensive.
Unless you’re psychic or actually witnessed a person chugging liquor prior to entering the church it is impossible for you to know the psychological state of that person (let alone his spiritual state). Likening this situation to objective desecration of the Eucharist I find to be downright stupid and incredibly offensive.
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TK421
Guest
It is very wonderful that you are concerned about the proper receiving of the Eucharist, and something that a great many lack in a wounded culture so painfully detached from the sense of the sacred, however it is not within our authority to make these calls. Ideally, you should have greeted him after the Mass if you felt he was in trouble and allowed the priest/deacon to handle the line.
Don’t get discouraged!
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Memaw
Guest
If that were true, he could have explained it to the EMHC. God Bless, Memaw
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maryjk
Guest
Actually, my medical condition is none of the EMHC business. Nor should they judge whether or not I am worthy to receive Christ.
If I had been in that position, I might have explained it to the priest. But most likely, I would have simply walked back to my seat. Then after Mass I would have asked the Priest why he thought I was unworthy.
I regularly receive from the Chalice, but not the Host. It happens every time I am away from my home parish. I have never been questioned. Nor should I be.
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Bklynguy
Guest
No, he doesn’t have to explain anything to the EMHC.
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Lormar
Guest
What would I have done? Minded my own business.
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Memaw
Guest
It’s not a case of judging you unworthy, but it is a case of not understanding the situation. Why you are so defensive about it I don’t know. The Church is definatly interesting in your medical condition, just what do you think the Sacrament of the Sick is all about. It is recomended that you let the priest know ahead of time so he can be prepared. Many parish’s have hosts that are made just for those that need them. God Bless. Memaw
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MtnDwellar
Guest
The Precious Blood and the Sacred Body of Christ are both fully and completely the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus. At Masses where both forms are available, a congregant may take either or both without explanation.
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maryjk
Guest
The Sacrament of the Sick, or Anointing of the Sick, is for those truly sick. Not for those that can’t have gluten. Regardless, that would make my pastor interested in my medical condition. Not an arbitrary EMHC. Or do you think my and everyone’s medical history should be public knowledge?
An arbitrary EMHC doesn’t need to know my medical history to serve in their ministry. They simply need to offer me the Chalice when I approach.
The same can be said about the “intoxicated homeless man” in the OP. What should the OP have done? Offered the man a meal, a shower or a place to sleep. The OP shouldn’t have decided that it was “highly likely he shouldn’t have received given his intoxication.”
Oh, and why am I defensive about it? Because I am tired of people that know nothing about my condition questioning me or offering me advice.
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7armyrugrats
Guest
Having been homeless and having my family asked to leave Catholic Churches–yes CHURCHES, more than one–I am saddened but not surprised by this thread. I am glad to see so many posters stand up for this man, but I really have to say that more often than not Catholics are more judgemental than merciful.
Also, I understand the posters saying to offer a meal, a shower and a place to stay are trying to be helpful. But honestly, he may just want to be with Jesus and isn’t interested in anything else. My husband and I would meet up on Sunday morning to go to Mass. I was lucky enough to be in a shelter with our son (it was for women and children) while he was on the streets. We had some money and could take care of food, but there was no way to pay for a place to live. We moved across the country chasing a job that didn’t pan out and we had no way to go back home. My husband worked day labor, I looked for work and never found a job there. We saved as much as possible with the hope of either moving back home or getting an apartment. We only saw each other on Sundays. We went to Mass, spent the day together until check in time at the shelter. We just wanted to go to Mass, but all too often we were not welcomed to do so. At one point we started attending a Greek Orthodox Church because we were welcomed there, and through the priest there, we were introduced to a Catholic parish that would welcome our family at Mass.
Those were hard times in my family. I am glad I experienced those times. It has made me a much better person and someone who never forgets how blessed I am. It has given us a completely different perspective than most Americans have. We never forget to thank God for all we are given, and we know how easily abundance can turn to poverty. We remember everyday to live life fully and that as hard as some days are, so many others have it much worse. Please try to remember that it isn’t always a person’s fault they become homeless. Sometimes addictions and alcoholism occur AFTER they are homeless for a while and lose hope. Sometimes it is “medicine” to dull their pain. Praise Jesus my husband and I didn’t fall into that trap or we probably would have never found our way out.
Also, I understand the posters saying to offer a meal, a shower and a place to stay are trying to be helpful. But honestly, he may just want to be with Jesus and isn’t interested in anything else. My husband and I would meet up on Sunday morning to go to Mass. I was lucky enough to be in a shelter with our son (it was for women and children) while he was on the streets. We had some money and could take care of food, but there was no way to pay for a place to live. We moved across the country chasing a job that didn’t pan out and we had no way to go back home. My husband worked day labor, I looked for work and never found a job there. We saved as much as possible with the hope of either moving back home or getting an apartment. We only saw each other on Sundays. We went to Mass, spent the day together until check in time at the shelter. We just wanted to go to Mass, but all too often we were not welcomed to do so. At one point we started attending a Greek Orthodox Church because we were welcomed there, and through the priest there, we were introduced to a Catholic parish that would welcome our family at Mass.
Those were hard times in my family. I am glad I experienced those times. It has made me a much better person and someone who never forgets how blessed I am. It has given us a completely different perspective than most Americans have. We never forget to thank God for all we are given, and we know how easily abundance can turn to poverty. We remember everyday to live life fully and that as hard as some days are, so many others have it much worse. Please try to remember that it isn’t always a person’s fault they become homeless. Sometimes addictions and alcoholism occur AFTER they are homeless for a while and lose hope. Sometimes it is “medicine” to dull their pain. Praise Jesus my husband and I didn’t fall into that trap or we probably would have never found our way out.
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