CCC 1413.
I believe that you’re misunderstanding the statement, but I can’t help you any further. I do disagree with Fr. McBrien’s opinion regarding Eucharistic adoration.
We can’t ignore the literal sense of what is said, which is what you claim he is not saying. To make the claim you wish to make we must suspend the principle of non-contradiction, and bid farewell to rational discussion.I believe that you’re misunderstanding the statement, but I can’t help you any further. I do disagree with Fr. McBrien’s opinion regarding Eucharistic adoration.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
His wording may be poor, but the concept is correct. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the sum of everything that the soul needs. This does not deny that everything else flows from the Eucharist and leads back to the Eucharist. That’s the point here. This is where I disagree with Fr. McBrien. Eucharistic adoratioin leads us back to the Liturgy of the Eucharist and comes from the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is a continuation of the adoration that we give to God in the Liturgy. But I do not deny the fullness and completeness of the Liturgy. That would be wrong.
The problem is that it is either intentionally problematic (oh let’s call a spade… heretical) or so poorly stated as to be in error. Given Fr. McBrien’s history of dissent, it cannot be assumed it is accidental, although charity forbids us from assuming that it was intentional. There is a huge difference between saying that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life and that it is all a Catholic needs sacramentally.His wording may be poor, but the concept is correct. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the sum of everything that the soul needs. This does not deny that everything else flows from the Eucharist and leads back to the Eucharist. That’s the point here. This is where I disagree with Fr. McBrien. Eucharistic adoratioin leads us back to the Liturgy of the Eucharist and comes from the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is a continuation of the adoration that we give to God in the Liturgy. But I do not deny the fullness and completeness of the Liturgy. That would be wrong.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
I am afraid that this is exactly what is required when reading Father McBrien’s work. He seems to advocate a position of not-taking-a-position and a vision of Catholicism where as much or as little as you want to believe is A-ok.
Please. This is not a hair splitting contest, or a quote from the “rule book” about technicalities.This thread has gone off completely into the uncharitable and unjust domain. Fr. McBrien is wrong in his views on Eucharistic adoration. However, that does not make him a heretic, the “father of lies”, a Protestant, or an evil person.
Eucharistic adoration is not a dogma of the Church. It is a ritual and a pious practice. Fr. McBrien is not denying the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. That would be heresy. In fact, he states that Christ is sacramentally present. In other words, he is ontologically present and the bread and wine undergo an ontological change, which is far deeper than a physical change. Unfortunately, he does not go on to explain the difference between a physical and a sacramental change, maybe because the article is about adoration, not about the sacrament of the Eucharist itself.
Though I strongly disagree with his opinion that adoration of Christ in the Eucharist is not really necessary, as a theologian I must agree that it is not a requirement of the Church. It is a devotion that is promoted by the Church. It is a devotion that has led many people to the altar of sanctity and therefore worth promoting. Thus I disagree with him as to its benefit.
But I do agree that it does not take the place of the liturgy, but it is the result of the liturgy and therefore there is a strong link between devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the liturgy of the mass and the liturgy of the hours. In fact, in many communities, mine included, it is a custom to pray the Liturgy of the Hours before the exposed sacrament. Even when it’s not exposed, we pray it before the tabernacle. Only monks pray the liturgy of the hours in the chapter hall, where the sacrament is not present, because adoration is not part of the Benedictine and Carthusian traditions.
I can see where Fr. McBrien is coming from. He is using the ancient monastic traditions, which do not include adoration, even to this day. But he is ignoring that other religious and secular traditions have developed that do include adoration and have found it to be spiritually beneficial. It is this spiritual benefit that he ignores.
That being said, ignoring this does not make him a heretic, agnostic or even a rebel. The Church does not demand Eucharistic adoration. She strongly promotes it. There is a big difference. To attack this man as a heretic and as a malicious person is against justice and charity. I even noticed that some people took the liberty in their posts to drop his title and refer to him by his last name only, as if he were not a priest in good standing with the Church, which he is.
Let’s be balanced here. Father’s opinion is not one that many of us share. But it is an opinion that is allowed by the Church by the mere fact that it is not against any doctrine or dogma of the Church.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
Ed, I don’t see that anyone is in agreement with Fr. McBrien re the benefits (or lack thereof) of Eucharistic adoration. Fr. McBrien is who is he is. It’s that obvious and that simple, IMO.
As I said, Fr. McBrien’s history of commentary/viewpoints speaks for itself.
The official teaching of the Church is that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. Fr. McBrien has not denied this. Eucharistic adoration is not a doctrine or a dogma. Therefore, Fr. McBrien has a right to his opinion. I do not agree with it. But I will not deny his right to have his opinion, nor pin a heretic button on his because he disagrees. That would be silly. Many people disagree with many things. They are wrong, but they are not heretics.
Thank you for your clear explanation. I was thinking about this myself. Even though, I feel I could not be happy without Adoration, and that this practice keeps my sanity, health, peace, and hope, and has increased my faith and love, it isn’t a dogma nor doctrine, just a devotion, and optional. And a wonderful one at that!The official teaching of the Church is that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. Fr. McBrien has not denied this. Eucharistic adoration is not a doctrine or a dogma. Therefore, Fr. McBrien has a right to his opinion. I do not agree with it. But I will not deny his right to have his opinion, nor pin a heretic button on his because he disagrees. That would be silly. Many people disagree with many things. They are wrong, but they are not heretics.
As to the rule book raising Eucharistic adoration to a dogma, that will not happen, because it is not and has never been. We can’t create new dogmas out of the bllue.
Is Eucharistic adoration good for the soul? Of course. Does it enhance the prayer life of the Church? Yes. Does it encourage the contemplative life? Yes it does.
Do I disagree with Fr. McBrien’s opinion of this question? Yes I do. Is he a heretic or a bad seed? Not for disagreeing with this point. It’s allowed to disagree on this point.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
Unfortunately we live in a punitive oriented society. We want to punish anyone who thinks differently or who thinks outside of our box. This is not charity. This is a subtle kind of oppression. We see if on both sides of the aisle, left and right.Thank you for your clear explanation. I was thinking about this myself. Even though, I feel I could not be happy without Adoration, and that this practice keeps my sanity, health, peace, and hope, and has increased my faith and love, it isn’t a dogma nor doctrine, just a devotion, and optional. And a wonderful one at that!
Our Mother Church offers, besides the ‘non-optional’ aids to faith, such as Sacraments and sacramentals along with communion of saints and Mother Mary, other ‘optional’ aids, such as personal devotions [Divine Mercy] and Eucharistic Adoration -two of my favorites. Whether one wishes to take advantage of these or not, is optional…but why not?
Personally, I am SO grateful for Eucharistic Adoration. And my answer to those who sincerely don’t ‘get it’ is to pray for an increase in Eucharistic Adoration, maybe even in those who can’t understand it.
It must seem strange, thinking about it, that we sit in silence for hours at a time in front of the Eucharist. For Protestants and non-Christians, it must seem as terrible idolatry. For Catholics who don’t ‘Adore’, it must simply seem as an exaggeration. Isn’t it enough to receive communion within oneself? Is it really that necessary to ‘adore’ it first?
I can’t blame them, really.
I will say that it is important to take children to an Adoration Chapel every once in a while, and to show them what to do once in front of the Eucharist. It becomes a lifelong relationship, that no one can break, and no explanation is ever needed once one experiences it - once one has built that relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist.
St. John Vianney said that once he asked an old man, who would spend hours adoring the Blessed Sacrament in silence, what was he actually doing? The old man replied something to the effect of : ‘Oh, I don’t know. I look at Him. He looks at me. And, we are happy together like this.’
Thanks again for ‘calming’ down the passions, and the cries of ‘heresy’…
The words “heresy” and “excommunication” are supposed to be uttered only in extreme circumstances, regretfully, and not often…however, some use these words in daily conversation, as if they meant nothing! :sad_yes: