Sacrilidge Against the Eucharist

[EsclavoDeCristo]

I am a missionary in Honduras, Central America and today had a very unpleasant experience at Mass. Near where I live there is an orphanage that is run by a very Catholic woman but supported almost totally by protestants. Consequently there are always protestants comming down to visit the kids and give away stuff durning short term “mission” trips. SO thats the background for my little incident.

Down here Mass is always loud and a bit unorthodox, i.e., kids running around, dogs entering the church, lots of chatter and a band with drums and an out of tune guitar. Today I noticed some really out of place gringos, a well dressed man and woman. They were sitting with the orphanage kids and snapping photos like they were at tourists’ attraction, and chomping down on gum like it was going out of style.

When time came for the Eucharist, I went up and received Jesus and returned to my seat to kneel and pray. As I was praying I noticed the couple getting into line to receive the Host. I felt a sick feeling comming up in my stomach. I hate confrontation but I knew that now was the time for a spiritual work of mercy: correct those in error!

So I went up and gently asked if they were Catholic. They replied no and in as few words as possible (they were in line to receive Christ) I explained that it was against Church teaching for non-Catholics to comulgate.

It didn’t get into an argument but the man basically told me to " go jump in a river" and so proceeded to communicate with his wife. I felt so sick…SACRILIDGE!

I plan on speaking to the priest later today and explaining to him the situation. I also plan on speaking to the woman in charge of the orphanage (she wasn’t present at Mass this morning, there is one in the afternoon as well).

I guess there is no question in this thread. Any comments, suggestions and advice are welcome. Thanks for letting me vent and may Christ be praised, worshipped and adored in all the tabernacles of the world until the end of time!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

EsclavoDeCristo:

I am a missionary in Honduras, Central America and today had a very unpleasant experience at Mass. Near where I live there is an orphanage that is run by a very Catholic woman but supported almost totally by protestants. Consequently there are always protestants comming down to visit the kids and give away stuff durning short term “mission” trips. SO thats the background for my little incident.

Down here Mass is always loud and a bit unorthodox, i.e., kids running around, dogs entering the church, lots of chatter and a band with drums and an out of tune guitar. Today I noticed some really out of place gringos, a well dressed man and woman. They were sitting with the orphanage kids and snapping photos like they were at tourists’ attraction, and chomping down on gum like it was going out of style.

When time came for the Eucharist, I went up and received Jesus and returned to my seat to kneel and pray. As I was praying I noticed the couple getting into line to receive the Host. I felt a sick feeling comming up in my stomach. I hate confrontation but I knew that now was the time for a spiritual work of mercy: correct those in error!

So I went up and gently asked if they were Catholic. They replied no and in as few words as possible (they were in line to receive Christ) I explained that it was against Church teaching for non-Catholics to comulgate.

It didn’t get into an argument but the man basically told me to " go jump in a river" and so proceeded to communicate with his wife. I felt so sick…SACRILIDGE!

I plan on speaking to the priest later today and explaining to him the situation. I also plan on speaking to the woman in charge of the orphanage (she wasn’t present at Mass this morning, there is one in the afternoon as well).

I guess there is no question in this thread. Any comments, suggestions and advice are welcome. Thanks for letting me vent and may Christ be praised, worshipped and adored in all the tabernacles of the world until the end of time!

Knowing that there are so many non-Catholic visitors. The Pastor may want to inform the congregation of the rules for receiving Holy Communion just before distributing Communion.

 

[puzzleannie]

I was at an educational conference in a Catholic setting, but many of the participants were seminarians or students at a nearby Protestant institution. the program included LOTH and daily Mass, which of course was optional but some of those students – two women in particular – made a point of attending Mass each day and approaching for communion, even though the priest explained patiently, accurately, compassionately and in great detail the reasons they could not receive. They of course were making some kind of political statement. Nobody else had a problem with it and the others were embarrassed by the discourtesy shown by these women. One of them told me in conversation that she actually had been raised Catholic but left over issues like womens ordination etc. She asked if I would still receive communion if I left the Church. I responded that it was unthinkable I would ever leave the Church, but if I did the reasons would be so grave that I could not bring my self to participate in her sacraments. I said it would be analogous to divorcing your husband for grave abuse and then having sex with him.

 

[EsclavoDeCristo]

puzzleannie:

I responded that it was unthinkable I would ever leave the Church, but if I did the reasons would be so grave that I could not bring my self to participate in her sacraments. I said it would be analogous to divorcing your husband for grave abuse and then having sex with him.

Wow! I would have liked to be a fly on the wall during that conversation. Great response by the way. I may have to use that one!

 

[stbruno]

This is the Year of the Eucharist. The year set aside by our late pope to honor, catechize and evangelize through the Lord’s Body and Blood. However, some where down the line, groups feel that this is also the means for political movements, like the Rainbow sash group, etc. Truly we need to protect the sanctity of this great gift by our example and also by our loudly witnessing to those who are poorly catechized or not at all. That’s a hard task to pull off sometimes especially when we are in the midst of an apparent serious abuse, but that does not mean we should give up the effort. Congratulations to puzzleannie & our friend in Central America and all those who speak loudly about the Glory of God. God is smiling on you!

 

[EsclavoDeCristo]

stbruno:

This is the Year of the Eucharist. The year set aside by our late pope to honor, catechize and evangelize through the Lord’s Body and Blood. However, some where down the line, groups feel that this is also the means for political movements, like the Rainbow sash group, etc. Truly we need to protect the sanctity of this great gift by our example and also by our loudly witnessing to those who are poorly catechized or not at all. That’s a hard task to pull off sometimes especially when we are in the midst of an apparent serious abuse, but that does not mean we should give up the effort. Congratulations to puzzleannie & our friend in Central America and all those who speak loudly about the Glory of God. God is smiling on you!

God bless you brother for your dedication and faith to the Eucharist! Thanks for your words of encouragement.

UPDATE:
I was able to speak with the pastor of the parish and he said he’d speak to the director of the orphanage about her short term volunteers. Unfortunately our protestant brothers who are disrespectful during Mass give all “gringos” a bad name making it very difficult for us Catholic gringos to integrate into the community. Please keep the orphanage, their volunteers, and our parish pastor Fr. Herminio in your prayers! Praise God today as we remember His asencion (in Honduras we remember ascension today)!