In
last Sunday's bulletin column our pastor observes,
Today the liturgical calendar has us celebrating the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. This feast previously was called Corpus Christi and was observed on a Thursday. In keeping with contemporary cultural situations, it was moved to Sunday so more of us could celebrate this event.
He goes on to discuss Church teaching on the Eucharist, the need for a proper disposition when receiving, and some issues of form, including,
While a person has a right to receive Communion on the tongue, receiving in the hand seems to be more in harmony with Jesus’ command when he said, “TAKE and EAT.”
On the other hand, lining up at one of many distributors, receiving standing and in the hand, then walking over to the cup, do have some resemblance to the contemporary cultural situation of a fast food restaurant.
Not sure what he means by "contemporary cultural situations" don't many (most?) European and Latin American s countries and some US dioceses observe Corpus Christi on a Thursday? I am assuming life is no less contemporary in Milian or Mexico City.
ReplyDeleteIf moving celebrations of Holy Days around to get more people in the pews is a good thing I am not sure why so many parishes (including St. Al's) often offer only 1 Mass on the Jan. 1 Holy Day of obligation early in the morning? Wouldn't having that Mass at like 2:30 in the afternoon when more people are awake after a night out also be a good way to keep with "contemporary" situations?
In his book Spirit of the Liturgy Ratzinger dealt with the false dichotomy between "outward signs of reverence" and "disposition."
I know many people, myself included, who know that decided to recieve on the tounge was a decision that went against the grain of my own life expereinces and in the end was one of the best decisions I have made in terms of my spiritual life.
I am not sure why so freqently we see the tiny handful of people who recieve on the tounge catching flack for not going along with the crowd on this. How many people at St. Al's typically recieve on the tounge? I would be shocked if it is more than 5.
Is this really the biggest problem that needs to be worried about on Corpus Christi?
A column on why people in a state of mortal sin should go to confession before recieiving communion would have been more useful to the salvation of souls.
"...do have some resemblance to the contemporary cultural situation of a fast food restaurant."
ReplyDeleteWell as we already have drive-by funerals in the contemporary culture, might we expect to see drive-by Communion next...?