Valid eucharist or profaned host?

[Potato1]

Ok we have a liberal preist whom I feel is a tortured and hurt soul. During Sundays Mass (supposed to be about the eucharist) He gave his usual feel good, “you don’t have to follow rules” and “pious people annoy me” homily about how the eucharist is not about Jesus but rather us. He talked with distain about adoration. BUT here is the kicker. During the consecration he gets down from the altar is and walks a ways doen the isle and says “This is the lamb of God”… and then we respond Lord "I am not worthy… " Then he walks a little ways more down the isly and does this again then to the back of the Church and a third time does this same thing. I was shocked and confused. I absatained from communion because I wasn’t sure what had happend here and there was enough doubt in my mind that I felt it was profane. This priest loves to go to the edge of heresy but just barely toes the line. Early in my faith this man was on of the reasons I believe today. However he is unconventional and sarcasstic, cynical and defiant. What should I do. Was the eucharist profaned by this grandstanding?

 

[Dandelion_Wine]

Both.

Nothing you stated would seem to indicate that the Eucharist wasn’t valid. As long as he said and meant the words of consecration.

His “this is the Lamb of God though” shows irreverence for the Eucharist and thus I believe falls under the category of “profaned”.

But that’s just my 2 cents.

Time to invite your Bishop for a visit.

 

[Della]

If this is the usual sort of thing your priest is doing you should gather solid evidence and send it to your bishop for correction.

Personally, I think Father needs a long sabbatical to get his priorities straight and to learn how to properly conduct the Liturgy.

 

[Potato1]

Both.

Nothing you stated would seem to indicate that the Eucharist wasn’t valid. As long as he said and meant the words of consecration.

His “this is the Lamb of God though” shows irreverence for the Eucharist and thus I believe falls under the category of “profaned”.

But that’s just my 2 cents.

Time to invite your Bishop for a visit.

So, if it is profaned should one recieve?

It would be nice if the Bishop came as it is HIS CATHEDRAL!

 

[Teelynn]

Personally, I would not. It might have been a “valid” consecration, technically, but spiritually it was (IMHO) sacrilegious. (did I spell that right?)

If it were me, I would be on the horn to my Bishop, like yesterday. He is a perfect example of why so many in the Catholic Church have such irreverence and even disbelief in the True Presence.

Mainly, please pray for him. Pray hard!! He is in danger of leading people down the wrong path. (the path NOT to heaven) Sounds to me (although who can judge a soul but God) like he might be in grave danger himself.

 

[Seminarian_Matt]

Potato1,

Typically I like the follow the Gospel (Matthew 18:15-17), so I would encourage most people to address their conerns to the priest. However, it seems that your priest would not care about following the Mass Rubics even if you pointed out his errors to him.

‘Therefore no other person whatsoever, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on their own authority’ (Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, #22.3).

Therefore, I encourage you to write to your bishop and inform him of the problems at the parish church. Please contact the bishop! If we do not stand up against such sacrilege then more and more priests may do such things in the hopes of not being reprimanded. As for you, I encourage you to find a new church to attend Mass.

masstimes.org/
ecclesiadei.org/masses.cfm

 

[HailMary]

The priest can be an atheist and as long as he has the faculty to celebrate mass, the Eucharist is truly present since its the work of Christ.

 

[Dandelion_Wine]

So, if it is profaned should one recieve?

I would. Just because the priest is doing this stuff doesn’t change the validity or effects of the Eucharist for you. One of those ex opere operato/ex opere operandi kind-of-things.

 

[HailMary]

I would. Just because the priest is doing this stuff doesn’t change the validity or effects of the Eucharist for you. One of those “ex opere operandi” kind-of-things.

True, that the graces you receive are dependent on the Holy Father, the Bishops, your bishop, the priest and even the sanctify of the people, but less grace is better than no grace.

 

[catherine_m]

Ok we have a liberal preist whom I feel is a tortured and hurt soul. During Sundays Mass (supposed to be about the eucharist) He gave his usual feel good, “you don’t have to follow rules” and “pious people annoy me” homily about how the eucharist is not about Jesus but rather us. He talked with distain about adoration. BUT here is the kicker. During the consecration he gets down from the altar is and walks a ways doen the isle and says “This is the lamb of God”… and then we respond Lord "I am not worthy… " Then he walks a little ways more down the isly and does this again then to the back of the Church and a third time does this same thing. I was shocked and confused. I absatained from communion because I wasn’t sure what had happend here and there was enough doubt in my mind that I felt it was profane. This priest loves to go to the edge of heresy but just barely toes the line. Early in my faith this man was on of the reasons I believe today. However he is unconventional and sarcasstic, cynical and defiant. What should I do. Was the eucharist profaned by this grandstanding?

You need to find another Church for Mass or at least another Priest!

 

[Windmill]

Don’t worry about assuming any guilt by receiving from the altar at such a Mass as this. As stated above, the sacrament is confected, so the graces are there for you. Lift up your communion for the priest’s vocation.

As far as the bishop, I’d bring a small video recorder and tape a few homilies. If that is too conspicuous, try a voice recorder. If your not comfortable with either, then, at minimum, you should make mental notes and email these to the bishop. It is best to bring first-hand proof, though. Once you bring evidence to the bishop’s attention, then it is his responsibility to handle the situation, and not yours. You will have fulfilled your duty.

Unfortuantely, sometimes a priest needs a correction, but it should be done in a discreet, respectful manner (much like your OP) because he is the father figure in the parish, and open attacks from parishioners never solve anything. This is one great advantage to having a hierarchy: they handle these problems.

God be with you.

 

[Joan_M]

The priest can be an atheist and as long as he has the faculty to celebrate mass, the Eucharist is truly present since its the work of Christ.

The priest must have, at the very least, the intention to do what the Church does. If he is an athiest it is possible for him to have this intention, but why would he if he does not believe in God?

 

[Joan_M]

True, that the graces you receive are dependent on the Holy Father, the Bishops, your bishop, the priest and even the sanctify of the people, but less grace is better than no grace.

Actually, the graces you receive depend on your disposition, not those of “the Holy Father, the Bishops, your bishop, the priest and even the sanctity of the people” (people other than you).

 

[sidious]

The priest must have, at the very least, the intention to do what the Church does. If he is an athiest it is possible for him to have this intention, but why would he if he does not believe in God?

If a Priest is an atheist then I would think there is more than reasonable proof that the “Priest” doesn’t intend to do the Consecration.

 

[HailMary]

Actually, the graces you receive depend on your disposition, not those of “the Holy Father, the Bishops, your bishop, the priest and even the sanctity of the people” (people other than you).

Not only your disposition, but the rest as I said. This stems from the article on the Sacrifice of the Mass in NewAdvent newadvent.org/cathen/10006a.htm

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

Ok we have a liberal preist whom I feel is a tortured and hurt soul. During Sundays Mass (supposed to be about the eucharist) He gave his usual feel good, “you don’t have to follow rules” and “pious people annoy me” homily about how the eucharist is not about Jesus but rather us. He talked with distain about adoration. BUT here is the kicker. During the consecration he gets down from the altar is and walks a ways doen the isle and says “This is the lamb of God”… and then we respond Lord "I am not worthy… " Then he walks a little ways more down the isly and does this again then to the back of the Church and a third time does this same thing. I was shocked and confused. I absatained from communion because I wasn’t sure what had happend here and there was enough doubt in my mind that I felt it was profane. This priest loves to go to the edge of heresy but just barely toes the line. Early in my faith this man was on of the reasons I believe today. However he is unconventional and sarcasstic, cynical and defiant. What should I do. Was the eucharist profaned by this grandstanding?

The Eucharist ISN’T about us???

Hm.

 

[THurifer2]

The Eucharist ISN’T about us???

Hm.

The Eucharistic species contains ONLY the Glorified Jesus Christ Body Blood sould and divinity. The Mass is first and formost a perpetual re-presentation (making present) the sacrifice of Calvary. When the priest holds the consecrated Host up we are not adoring…US we are adoring HIM…I think that is what the OP was getting at. I believe he was trying to let us know that the priest has shoved Jesus Christ out of the picture and replaced Him with US. This is the same thing that Adam and Eve did …they put themselves before GOD. Sorta like they said" this isn’t all about us?"

 

[ltbpoe43]

First of all I pray all this can be corrected soon for the sake of yourself and all the parishioners.

I agree with others - find another church if you can. You should at least be comfortable about going to mass without having to worry about so you can properly praise and thank our Lord.

I might try and let the priest know of my concerns first and see if he can explain to your satisfaction these issues. If you are not satisfied with those explanation, let the bishop know of your concerns. He is responsible for all of his flock and it sounds like one of his good shepherds may have lost his way a little.

Good luck

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

I went back and reread the original post very slowly and carefully.

As for the homily, I’m not going to make much comment on it; I wasn’t there to hear it, and this wouldn’t be the first time that someone took something wrong or heard something that wasn’t being said. I’m not accusing this poster of any malice. But MY words are misunderstood quite often; I have seen 5 different people tell of 5 different homilies who were all at the same mass. Technically, of course, if what the priest is said to have stated is part of his homily, he’s quite correct. Eucharist is about Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and yes, it is about us. The WHOLE POINT of gathering together around the altar is to be in communion with each other - to quote a popular hymn, “Lord, may we all one bread, one body be through this blest sacrament of unity.” Now if the priest was preaching some grand herasy (which I am skeptical that this is the case) and claiming that there is no Real Presence, then that is a seperate issue.

As far as his walking down the isle goes: Highly irregular, probably not what he should be doing. But some highly grave and serious abuse? A slap in the face to the Eucharist? Something to make the mass invalid? I think none of the above.

 

[Potato1]

I went back and reread the original post very slowly and carefully.

As for the homily, I’m not going to make much comment on it; I wasn’t there to hear it, and this wouldn’t be the first time that someone took something wrong or heard something that wasn’t being said. I’m not accusing this poster of any malice. But MY words are misunderstood quite often; I have seen 5 different people tell of 5 different homilies who were all at the same mass. Technically, of course, if what the priest is said to have stated is part of his homily, he’s quite correct. Eucharist is about Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and yes, it is about us. The WHOLE POINT of gathering together around the altar is to be in communion with each other - to quote a popular hymn, “Lord, may we all one bread, one body be through this blest sacrament of unity.” Now if the priest was preaching some grand herasy (which I am skeptical that this is the case) and claiming that there is no Real Presence, then that is a seperate issue.

As far as his walking down the isle goes: Highly irregular, probably not what he should be doing. But some highly grave and serious abuse? A slap in the face to the Eucharist? Something to make the mass invalid? I think none of the above.

don’t think this father would ever go to the extreme of denying the Real Presence. Like I said he loves to go right to the edge of heresy but is almost deliberately reluctant to take the leap of heresey. However, if it were just one homily, one time doing something different from the concecration or one time being a little bit sensational then I would understand but each homily has these themes… “God does not judge, God only loves, The Church is like a pendelum…constantly changing, It isn’t about rules, it isn’t about traditions. It isn’t about strickness and fear of the Lord but rather of acceptance.” Annoying and stale week after week but still not quite heresy. As for the grandstanding… it makes my stomach sick sometimes to see abuses such as these. After the Homily I heard one of our friends say to the priest. Nice homily father" not many challenge this man. And to be honest I am not sure I should either, as I stated before, he IS the reason I am Catholic today and I feel he has some deep pain in his life. I pray for him all the time. After Church I went and said a prayer before the Sacrament, something he poo pooed during His homily. I was the only one, I was saddend by this.