rcn:
Has anyone suggested yet that the premise of this thread is simply baseless? That there is in fact no “decline in belief of the Real Presence”?
I hope no one is using that “only 30% believe survey”, because it’s been thoroughly debunked by Catholic Answers, way back in 1999 !
catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9910qq.asp
When I married a Catholic in 1987, many of his friends and family assumed I would come into the Church. When I told them I didn’t believe in the Real Presence, didn’t think I needed to confess my sins to a priest and didn’t agree with the moral teaching of the Church w/r/t sexuality their responses were universally “well, it’s kind of symbolic, I mean, we’re not
cannibals”, “well, no one really goes to confession anymore”, and “well, no one really follows that”. My response was “well come on over to the dark side, you’re more Methodist than you are Catholic.” Felt like I knew more about what they were supposed to believe than they did.
From those exchanges I had the very strong impression that many Catholics did not know or at least believe in the Real Presence. Now that I am a Catholic, I know many who do believe, ardently, but I would also say I know many more who would seem not to. And yes, some of this is judged by their actions in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
I go back to the quote of someone, not Catholic, who said, if Catholics really believed, wouldn’t they be on their knees constantly, or flat on our faces. Would we have to BEG them to come to adoration? Wouldn’t we have to have a lottery to draw times for adoration, to be sure everyone got a chance to have time in the packed chapel?
I do think that the principle of Lex credendi, Lex orendi, is a part of it. As people pray so they believe. Just like good manners. If kids are trained to show respect to their elders in their actions, they are more likely to ultimately absorb that respect, and make it their own. As we drop the gestures of respect, (or, for instance, turn genuflection into a brief curtsey) we stop *demonstrating * our devotion, and it makes our children less likely to pick up on, or understand, our devotion, or develop their own devotion.
Every society has had specific* gestures* of respect to demonstrate and, yes, foster respect. Bowing, kneeling, prostration, are all sacramental gestures that make present the invisible reality which they signify and convey. We are spirits made flesh. We convey our spiritual devotion with physical gestures.
No, our devotion isn’t necessarily dependent on these gestures individually. But collectively, they convey and create an atmosphere which makes this devotion present in a tangible way. Personally the most reverent atmosphere I’ve been privilidged to be witness to was at St. Agnes Catholic Church in St. Paul MN. All received on the tongue, kneeling, at the altar rail, from a priest, with an altar boy holding a paten under your chin. The Sunday I was there they were celebrating two first masses for two just ordained priests from their parish. The music was sacramental, the dress of those attending conveyed the fact that this was the most special thing they were to accomplish this week. They’ve also had 21 vocations in 20 years in this parish alone.
Gestures not withstanding, we also need to be taught from scratch. Kudos to those teaching CCD classes about the Real Presence, and those asking priests to do the same. I am priviledged to have a wonderful priest who emphasizes adoration and Real Presence. In our RCIA class I know several spouses and sponsers who have had their appreciation for the Real Presence come alive for the first time ever, sometimes. We needs the words as well as the gestures. My 2 cents anyway.
Wonderful post, right on the mark!!