Pope Francis' remarkable comments on Communion Services while Archbishop of Buenos Aires

[Duesenberg]

I have often thought of this remarkable quote from Pope Francis (then Cardinal Bergoglio) during an interview he gave to 30 Days back in 2007:

"… I didn’t say that pastoral systems are useless. On the contrary. In itself everything that leads by the paths of God is good. I have told my priests: Do everything you should, you know your duties as ministers, take your responsibilities and then leave the door open. Our sociologists of religion tell us that the influence of a parish has a radius of six hundred meters (.37 miles.)

In Buenos Aires there are about two thousand meters (1.25 miles) between one parish and the next. So I then told the priests: ‘If you can, rent a garage and, if you find some willing layman, let him go there! Let him be with those people a bit, do a little catechesis and even give communion if they ask him.’ A parish priest said to me: ‘But Father, if we do this the people then won’t come to Church.’ ‘But why?’ I asked him: ‘Do they come to Mass now?’ ‘No,’ he answered. And so! Coming out of oneself is also coming out from the fenced garden of one’s own convictions, considered irremovable, if they risk becoming an obstacle, if they close the horizon that is also of God…"

Ref. 30 DAYS: In the Church and in the world

While I suspect the “influence” of most Catholic parishes in the US extends far further than a third of a mile, I am still deeply intrigued by his comments and wonder if they have changed on this subject now that he has become the pontiff?

It seems exposure to both the word of God and the Word of God is of paramount importance and not that the communion service is unnecessary or somehow negative. I can think of many situations where people cannot attend Mass during the week (or sadly, even on Sundays) – skilled nursing facilities, remote job sites, simply no Masses available, and a reverent communion service might indeed be a great thing.

 

[Duesenberg]

I really wish that Pope Francis would expand on this, now that he is the Pope. I think what he describes would be a very effective way in which to bring people back to the Catholic faith. Particularly those that have been burned by their local parishes and thus no longer take part in the life of the Church.

 

[anon64350612]

No thanks. When I was young, and would occasionally go to church at a shrine with no priest on staff, I was always disappointed if there was no Mass and the nuns did readings and handed out Communion instead. A communion service didn’t cut it, even for a lapsed Catholic who didn’t really know much at the time. It just made me feel like no one really cared anymore.

 

[Duesenberg]

No thanks. When I was young, and would occasionally go to church at a shrine with no priest on staff, I was always disappointed if there was no Mass and the nuns did readings and handed out Communion instead. A communion service didn’t cut it, even for a lapsed Catholic who didn’t really know much at the time. It just made me feel like no one really cared anymore.

You missed the point entirely. I’m not comparing a CS to the Mass, as there is obviously no comparison. I’m talking about situations where there simply isn’t going to be a Mass. Some get very defensive and in essence assert “if there is no Mass obligation, then CS’s are not a good idea” – even though CSs obviously do not satisfy one’s obligation to attend Mass.

When a Mass is simply not going to happen due to resources (would you have been happier if the shrine would have offered nothing at all?), do you not think that a CS is worthwhile to help provide spiritual nourishment via both the word of God and the Word of God – even when the sacrifice is not possible?

How about another situation where those who (very sadly) won’t step into the only Catholic parish (and thus Mass) that is available to them? Might being nourished by the word of God and the Word of God outside of Mass allow them to heal enough to one day go back to Mass?

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I agree. As they say, “better than nothing”, and the line that really strikes me here is the one about how these folks weren’t going to church in the first place. Maybe we should go out to meet them… that sounds familiar.

 

[Duesenberg]

I agree. As they say, “better than nothing”, and the line that really strikes me here is the one about how these folks weren’t going to church in the first place. Maybe we should go out to meet them… that sounds familiar.

I tend to agree. So long as the CSs are impeccably reverent and include catechesis (e.g. the CS is no substitute for the Mass), I simply don’t see the downside.