Valid Communion Issue in NJ

[The_Rigbys]

Esquire:

Can anyone point to the authority for the proposition that the designated Form and Matter for any of the Sacraments is infallibly taught and unchangeable? (…)

There is no evidence that Jesus ever administered the Sacrament of Matrimony or dictated the Form and Matter for Penance (other than instructed the apostles that “who sins you” . . ).

These questions are skirting the issue. We do know that Jesus gave sacramental authority to the Church. Therefore, the Church has the right, responsibility, and wisdom (through the guidance of the Holy Spirit) to establish guidelines to ensure that the sacraments are valid. For instance:

• A castrated man is not valid matter for Holy Matrimony or Holy Orders.
• Olive oil is not valid matter for Baptism.
• Rice (*) is not valid matter for the Eucharist.

( * Not to mention potato chips, chocolate cake, and 7-Up… which some “trendy” priests have attempted to consecrate in the last few decades. )

Here’s a suggestion for non-celiacs who are offended by the Church’s policy. Try to avoid gluten…all gluten…for just a few days. You’ll see that there are many situations where wheat is an unnecessary part of things, and the (secular) organizations in charge usually won’t make any accommodations for celiacs. For instance, we have to avoid Chinese food (soy sauce)… ATM envelopes (glue)… and literally everything on the menu at certain chain restaurants…not to mention most major airlines, and even most hospitals!

By contrast, there are significant historical, theological, and symbolic reasons for using a wheat host. Because of this, the Vatican is being cautious, not allowing other grains…but making special accommodations for the gluten-intolerant. Most of us are okay with this; “awkwardness in receiving Communion” is just one of the many crosses that come with our condition. This mother isn’t satisfied, though…for reasons that just don’t seem to make sense.

BTW, since she won’t let her daughter have “any amount of alcohol,” she’ll also have to watch out for many everyday foods, such as bottled juices and ripe fruit. Thanks to the natural fermentation process, they’re likely to contain tiny amounts of alcohol, which - considering the difference in serving sizes - would probably be more significant than the “accidents of alcohol” in a few drops of the Precious Blood.

Or maybe she objects to the mere idea of her daughter having a sip of the consecrated wine? That’s a common attitude in America. It’s based on Puritan beliefs, though…certainly not Catholic ones.

 

[Fast_ed75]

The problem is that the mother is ignorant of the faith that she allegedly professes to believe in. She obviously does not believe and is grinding an axe. She and everyone else who reject the teachings of the Church are more than welcome to exercise their free will and leave.

 

[larryo]

asquared:

there are other threads on this topics with even more complete explanations. there is an alternative. people with this disorder receive the sacrament, entire and complete, through the precious blood consecrated in a vessel set aside for them, all the time, all over the world. The parents decided tor reject this option, betraying their lack of knowledge and belief about the Real Presence of Jesus in the sacrament, and their willingness to deny the Eucharist to their child in order to pursue their course of action. The priest who contacted the parents and offered the invalid and illicit host should be removed from his clerical state because he has publicly repudiated the Eucharist.

Amen, asquared. You are definitely squared away in your thinking.

 

[trippinprincezz]

Br. Rich SFO:

Then why not just consume a few drops of the Precious Blood?

We do see some people saying that the wine should be replaced with juice. But I do not see where a small, literally a few drops of Precious Blood could interact with any medication. I personally do not buy into the alcoholics dilemma either. I can’t see sending an alcoholic into a downward spin with one drop of Precious Blood.

I do agree with you that any arguments regarding either alcoholism or medication are ridiculous. As you said, it’s only a few drops, they aren’t (or shouldn’t be) drinking down the whole cup and then some.

I myself am on medication with which I am not supposed to drink (which, I must admit, I still do), but when I was still going to church, taking a sip of wine certainly didn’t affect me at all. And if alcoholics are so afraid that sip my ruin everything they’ve worked for, just don’t have it.

I still don’t think it’s right about the little girl though. it’s not her fault she was born that way. Well I’m not saying that they should change the Eucarist, if they already let her make her first COmmunion with rice wafers, then fine, let it stand. Don’t go and change your mind after and call it invalid. If anything do let her do it in the first place, or have her just take the wine.

 

[JimG]

The letter that the girl’s mother wrote to Cardinal Ratzinger makes it clear that she is rejecting the option of receiving just the precious blood (either under the form of wine or of mustum) NOT for medical reasons, but simply because she as the parent feels that it is inappropriate for the child to consume any amount of alcohol whatsoever.

JimG

 

[DuMaurier]

The Catholic Church is not a fast food restaurant. If you “want it your way” go to Burger King.

She had a perfectly valid alternative and rejected it, thereby rejecting the blood and body of Christ. As for the possiblity of gluten mingling in the wine the USCCB has already addressed the issue. A separate chalice must be provided.

Celiac-Sprue Disease

In recent years, the Secretariat for the Liturgy has received numerous inquiries from sufferers of Celiac-Sprue disease whose intolerance for the “gluten” found in wheat breads effectively precludes their reception of the Eucharist under the form of bread. In response to these concerns, the Secretariat has studied this issue carefully and consulted with researchers throughout the United States. Conference officers have, likewise, pursued an active dialogue with various dicasteries of the Holy See.

The following summary of the issues at stake in this important pastoral question are presented to our readership in order to assist Diocesan Offices for Worship in their response to those seeking their assistance.

While each person suffering from Celiac-Sprue disease reacts differently to different amounts of gluten, most doctors advise them to adopt a totally gluten-free diet. This advice is based upon studies which appear to document histologic evidence of inflammatory changes seen on small intestine biopsies when known gluten doses are as low as 100 mg. While it appears that the long term effects of such small inflammatory changes are not readily apparent, some preliminary studies indicate a possible increased rate of cancer with minimal gluten intake, including lymphoma.

Given the need for total abstention from hosts containing gluten, the common advice given to Celiac-Sprue sufferers is to receive the Precious Blood alone. Priests are thus well advised to clearly teach the doctrine of concomitance, the Church’s belief that under either species the whole Christ is received. Likewise, priests should recall the right which each Catholic in good standing has to receive Holy Communion (Canon 843). In the light of this right, the Precious Blood must be made available to sufferers of this disease who request it, even if it is not offered to the rest of the congregation.

Additional concerns emerge when the Precious Blood has been “contaminated” with gluten either by the fermentum or intinction. In such instances it is appropriate to provide a separate chalice for the benefit of those unable to tolerate any amount of gluten.

usccb.org/liturgy/innews/042000.htm

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

tripp(name removed by moderator)rincezz:

I do agree with you that any arguments regarding either alcoholism or medication are ridiculous. As you said, it’s only a few drops, they aren’t (or shouldn’t be) drinking down the whole cup and then some.

I myself am on medication with which I am not supposed to drink (which, I must admit, I still do), but when I was still going to church, taking a sip of wine certainly didn’t affect me at all. And if alcoholics are so afraid that sip my ruin everything they’ve worked for, just don’t have it.

I still don’t think it’s right about the little girl though. it’s not her fault she was born that way. Well I’m not saying that they should change the Eucarist, if they already let her make her first COmmunion with rice wafers, then fine, let it stand. Don’t go and change your mind after and call it invalid. If anything do let her do it in the first place, or have her just take the wine.

The problem is this pastor did this without the Bishops permission. The Bishop must deal with this Sacramental abuse, not by the girl, but by the pastor. Everyone needs to stop referring to invalidating her “First Communion”. In reality she never made her “First Communion”, she received a rice wafer not the Body of Christ.

 

[La_Chiara]

It seems to me that this whole issue is about authority. Those of us who are practicing, believing Catholics also believe that the Pope, the Magisterium, and the hierarchy of the Catholic Church are the final authority on these issues. Not the mother of a girl in Brielle NJ. Anyone who is unwilling to submit to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church on Catholic religious matters is not truly a believing Catholic IMHO. I personally believe this mother is forcing her demands on the Catholic Church. Yes, they are demands because she is unwilling to consider any other options offered to her.

 

[darcee]

"…Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:14)

No one is saying the child can not take communion only that IF she wants to take both the bread and wine then she must do so with the proper matter (wheat bread or low-gluton host). She could also take the wine only, but this won’t work for the mother and she is making a media circus out of something that is really a simple matter.

-D

 

[renee1258]

On another board someone asked me, what if it was my child? I answered it this way. Four years ago I received the Sacrament of Marriage with my Husband, if for some reason we found out it was invalid or found out my children baptism was done incorrectly, we wouldn’t try to validate that attempt by appealing to the media.

Instead we would just do the right thing and do it correctly as soon as possible.Of course I would be devastated, my wedding day was wonderful and I have so many pictures and memories and the same with the Baptism. I would accept as a matter of faith that it was invalid, and as a matter of faith do it properly.

 

[Juxtaposer]

E.E.N.S.:

but Jesus said “whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in Heaven…” so it is so…

If you accept this argument, it should also seem to as though we have God on a string instead of the other way around. As if He has to go along with what the magisterium says. Do you think, then, that God is like, “Boy, I’d really like to transform that rice wafer into Jesus’ body, but the magisterium says I can’t.”?

Power abuse! Power abuse!

 

[JimG]

It was Jesus who said He was the Bread of Life. It was Jesus who at the Last Supper changed bread and wine into his body and blood. The Church is bound by Jesus, and does not consider herself free to change the matter of the sacraments.

If rice is OK, how about oats, barley, or sugar cookies? Can we just place anything on the altar and presume that the sacrament will be valid? Could we use wine for baptism instead of water? Butter for confirmation instead of oil?

 

[Juxtaposer]

JimG:

It was Jesus who said He was the Bread of Life. It was Jesus who at the Last Supper changed bread and wine into his body and blood. The Church is bound by Jesus, and does not consider herself free to change the matter of the sacraments.

If rice is OK, how about oats, barley, or sugar cookies? Can we just place anything on the altar and presume that the sacrament will be valid? Could we use wine for baptism instead of water? Butter for confirmation instead of oil?

Given God’s all loving and merciful nature it’s only reasonable to believe He would allow rice to be consectrated if one is alergic to wheat.

 

[ally]

I have a relative who is a priest who became an alcoholic. He was not allowed to substitute grape juice for the precious blood. He now must have a person who will drink the precious blood for him during the mass. He is not crying to the pope to change the rules so he can drink grape juice. He accepts his cross and can only receive the host.

 

[KennySe]

The Rigbys:

BTW, since she won’t let her daughter have “any amount of alcohol,” she’ll also have to watch out for many everyday foods, such as bottled juices and ripe fruit. Thanks to the natural fermentation process, they’re likely to contain tiny amounts of alcohol, which - considering the difference in serving sizes - would probably be more significant than the “accidents of alcohol” in a few drops of the Precious Blood.

Isn’t there some alcoholic content in many cough syrups?

 

[darcee]

Juxtaposer:

Given God’s all loving and merciful nature it’s only reasonable to believe He would allow rice to be consectrated if one is alergic to wheat.

I would agree with that if there was not a valid other option (wine alone) since there is I think God’s mercy is in place and the mother in this case is the one out of line.

-D

 

[KennySe]

All these threads on the same subject are confusing me as to where I have posted.

Here are the articles to read.

Invalid Communion in New Jersey: Analysis
catholicexchange.com/e3news/index.asp?category_id=10

From the US Catholic Bishops " The Use of Mustum and Low-Gluten Hosts at Mass
usccb.org/liturgy/innews/1103.htm

Benedictine nuns discover way to produce low-gluten Communion hosts
catholickey.org/index.php3?gif=news.gif&mode=view&issue=20040409&article_id=2858

---

As stated more than once,

1. this little girl has NOT been denied Holy Communion.
2. Her First Communion has NOT been invalidated.

Because,
1.she has been offered to receive Holy Eucharist and her mother has rejected the solutions.
2. She did not receive First Communion; she received a rice wafer.

The mother was told of low gluten hosts, which ARE given to sufferers of Celiac Sprue disease.
The mother rejected this.

A priest from another parish, secretly contacted the mother and he gave the girl and the mother rice wafers.

 

[KennySe]

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html

Chapter III

THE PROPER CELEBRATION OF MASS

1. The Matter of the Most Holy Eucharist

[48.] The bread used in the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition.[123] It follows therefore that bread made from another substance, even if it is grain, or if it is mixed with another substance different from wheat to such an extent that it would not commonly be considered wheat bread, does not constitute valid matter for confecting the Sacrifice and the Eucharistic Sacrament.[124] It is a grave abuse to introduce other substances, such as fruit or sugar or honey, into the bread for confecting the Eucharist. Hosts should obviously be made by those who are not only distinguished by their integrity, but also skilled in making them and furnished with suitable tools.[125]

[49.] By reason of the sign, it is appropriate that at least some parts of the Eucharistic Bread coming from the fraction should be distributed to at least some of the faithful in Communion. “Small hosts are, however, in no way ruled out when the number of those receiving Holy Communion or other pastoral needs require it”,[126] and indeed small hosts requiring no further fraction ought customarily to be used for the most part.

 

[Juxtaposer]

darcee:

I would agree with that if there was not a valid other option (wine alone) since there is I think God’s mercy is in place and the mother in this case is the one out of line.

-D

Isn’t it true though, that only His blood is present in the wine? If I’m wrong, sorry. I’m not Catholic.

 

[KennySe]

renee1258:

On another board someone asked me, what if it was my child? I answered it this way. Four years ago I received the Sacrament of Marriage with my Husband, if for some reason we found out it was invalid or found out my children baptism was done incorrectly, we wouldn’t try to validate that attempt by appealing to the media.

Instead we would just do the right thing and do it correctly as soon as possible.Of course I would be devastated, my wedding day was wonderful and I have so many pictures and memories and the same with the Baptism. I would accept as a matter of faith that it was invalid, and as a matter of faith do it properly.

renee, I agree with what you are saying.

But i will make your scenario closer to the little girl’s (with Celia-Sprue disease) scenario.

Preparing for your wedding, you are speaking with your parish priest, who will be presiding at your Wedding Mass.
The priest gives the various options open to you, based on who you and your husband are. (he may not be Catholic, for instance.)

Your motheris not pleased with these Catholic-approved options.

A priest in another parish, on hearing you are engaged, contacts your mother, that he will perform the ceremony the way that she and you want.
The Ceremony takes place in a non-Catholic approved manner.

And NOW you and your mother appeal to the media, for the Catholic Church to change.

To me, that mother in New Jersey is standing on sand.