8-year-old's first Holy Communion invalidated by Church

Newsday ^ | August 12, 2004 | John Curran

[sidewalk]

BRIELLE, N.J. -- An 8-year-old girl who suffers from a rare digestive disorder and cannot consume wheat has had her first Holy Communion declared invalid because the wafer contained none, violating Catholic doctrine. Now, Haley Waldman's mother is pushing the Diocese of Trenton and the Vatican to make an exception, saying the girl's condition _ celiac sprue disease _ should not exclude her from participating in the sacrament, in which Roman Catholics eat consecrated wheat-based wafers to commemorate the last supper of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion.

[NatsMom]

The name Melchisedech means "king of righteousness" consisting of two words, Melek-King , Zedek-Righteousness which are a interpretation of his name. This person was also known as the King of Salem meaning "king of peace". Little is known about this person who suddenly appears on the scene in Abraham’s day.


"But Melchisedech, the king of Salem, bringing forth bread and wine, for he was the priest of the most high God, Blessed him, and said: Blessed be Abram by the most high God, who created heaven and earth."

But, if we read this with the actual meaning of the words, lets see what happens -

"The King of Righteousnss, the King of Peace, bringing forth bread and wine...."

Is there any reason why a Christian would not see reference to Christ here? No wonder the author of Hebrews makes a case for Christ as being the High Priest in the order of Melchisedech! First off, the author is attempting to justify to the Jews why they followers of Christ have "left" the Aaronic order of priests, which was a priesthood handed down through families, by bloodline. He makes a case for an older order of priesthood of the One True God, that of Melchisedech, of a spiritual nature. In fact, in the early Church, there were some that felt that Melchisedech was divine. Some believed it was the Holy Spirit that appeared to Abram in the desert, prefiguring for future generations the Last Supper and the establishment of the Eucharist.

We read, in Heb.7:3: "Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest for ever."

It is the priesthood that continues, which is a type of Christ’s perpetual priesthood. The author of Hebrews contrasts the two priesthood's. Jesus did not serve as a priest on earth because he was not of the tribe of Levi but of Judah (Hebrews 7:14; 8:4). In the Old Testament a priest was required to be a descendant of Levi. High priests who performed the atoning sacrifice on the Day of Atonement were required to be descendants of Aaron, Levi's great grandson (Numbers 18; Hebrews 5:1-4). To be a Aaronic priest one had to trace their ancestry to Aaron, to be a Melchisedech priest was of a divine appointment. While the Levitical priesthood ministered to only one nation, the Melchizedek priesthood ministers to all.

We read, in Hebrews 7:

26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:

27 Who needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, in offering himself.

28 For the law maketh men priests, who have infirmity: but the word of the oath (which was since the law) the Son who is perfected for evermore.

And regarding this you state: "So you see that Hebrews does not support the continuation of a mortal priestly office at all, but instead insists on the sole sufficiency of Christ's high priesthood. It also, as indicated by the bold, denies the continual re-sacrifice of the Mass, as Christ died "once and for all" "

Here you show that you obviously misunderstand the "sacrifice" offered at Mass. We are not repeating the sacrifice. We are participating in the one and only sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. We are linear creatures, born into time. Christ is not bound by linear time. The sacrifice offered at the Mass by a validly ordained priest is the one and same sacrifice, the only and sufficient sacrifice, of Christ.

Regarding 1 Peter 2:9-10, the footnotes included in the NAB state, "The prerogatives of ancient Israel mentioned here are now more fully and fittingly applied to the Christian people: "a chosen race" (cf Isaiah 43:20-21) indicates their divine election (Eph 1:4-6); "a royal priesthood" (cf Exodus 19:6) to serve and worship God in Christ, thus continuing the priestly functions of his life, passion, and resurrection; "a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6) reserved for God, a people he claims for his own (cf Malachi 3:17) in virtue of their baptism into his death and resurrection. This transcends all natural and national divisions and unites the people into one community to glorify the one who led them from the darkness of paganism to the light of faith in Christ. From being "no people" deprived of all mercy, they have become the very people of God, the chosen recipients of his mercy (cf Hosea 1:9; 2:23)."

In Exodus 6:19 the Lord tells Moses to tell the Israelites that they will be a "kingdom of priests". Does that mean that every single Israelite was a priest? Obviously not, since only those of the Aaronic bloodline could be priests. What this means is that the whole nation was consecrated to God in a special way, forming an entire race of people made sacred, dedicated to worship and serve the One True God. When Peter calls us "a royal priesthood, a holy nation" he is explicitly referring to this verse from Exodus, and means essentially the same thing. We are a people dedicated to the service of the Lord. Another way of looking at it might be to say that we are all Christ's disciples, and we are called, through our discipleship to not only serve and worship the Lord, but to live as one who dedicates all that they do to the Lord. We are consecrated at our Confirmation, with holy oil, chrism, the same oils used to consecrate kings. Are we all kings? Or are we all "Christs"? The word for annointed in Greek is "kristos", Christ. By virtue of our discipleship and even moreso by our Confirmation, we are all called to be images of Christ to the world. That is what is meant by calling us a "priestly people".

As for the Sacrament of Holy Orders - the "power of order" was committed by our Lord to his Apostles, who were to continue his work and to be his earthly representatives. The Apostles received their power from Christ, and their successors received, in turn, their power from the Apostles. From Scripture we learn that the Apostles appointed others by an external rite (imposition of hands), conferring inward grace. For instance, Paul reminds Timothy that he was made a bishop by the imposition of Paul's hands - 1 Timothy 4:4 - and Timothy is instructed to appoint presbyters the same way.

[NatsMom]

"Buts its so much more interesting and fun to declare " I am a victim", or even more fun to declare "my kid is a victim""

Oh,and ever so much more fun to write news stories about! Gee, if it weren't for Catholics, the media would only have Bush to bash!

[Terp]

Fithmark wrote:

Catholics should always strive to be charitable towards those who embrace the errors of the Reformers, but should never be tolerant of the errors themselves.

Or to put words in Fithmark's mouth:

Catholics should always strive to be charitable towards the heretics who embrace the errors of those heretical Protestants, but should never be tolerant of the errors themselves [sarcasm].

[quidestveritas]

You wrote:
"Clearly the Sabboth had been given to men through Moses so that they might enjoy rest after labor, not so they might be burdened further by life's exigencies. "


The primary reason for God's *commandment* to keep the Sabbath day holy was not for the comfort and rest of man but for the honor of the God who rested on the seventh day. What Christ taught by His opposition to the Pharisees was that love of neighbor and even pity for brute animals are not opposed to the love of God but actually complete it.

JMJ --- Roger

[quidestveritas]

I have celiac disease. Even a small amount of wheat does damage to our intestines causing them to be less able to absorb nutrients. Immediate reactions are rare, usually they are delayed by 8 to 24 hours. These reactions can be violent but they rarely are life threatening.

Unless they happen to be like me. I shouldn't be driving if I am having a violent reaction. I can come close to fainting.

With continued exposure to wheat, the worst cases can die of malnutrition. Exposure to wheat also increases the risk of some cancers and the development of other autoimmune diseases and nutrition related disorders. For a celiac to have some semblance of normal health he needs to avoid eating even the smallest amount of wheat. I have reacted to eggs fried on the same surface as pancakes.

There are some who have a wheat allergy who could go into anaphylactic shock, but this is not Celiac Disease, not the case of this child and mother.

One fallacy should be pointed out from the original article. Celiac disease is not rare. Studies have shown that 1 in 130 have the disease. Many are asymptomatic and doctors don't look for it like they should. It is in the top ten undiagnosed diseases. There is a hereditary component so if there is one celiac in a family expect to find 3 or 4 more in the extended family.

Hope this information is helpful.

JMJ---Roger

[Zack Attack]

Our Lord’s listeners understood him perfectly well. He repeated himself several times, and they knew what he meant. People started getting up and leaving. They heard him, they no longer thought he was speaking metaphorically.

I don't disagree. Those who left, left because they took it literally and they knew it was against YHWH's Torah to consume blood. Just as Paul warns us not to follow another gospel, YHWH warned Israel not to follow anyone teaching contrary to His Torah, even if they produce signs and wonders.

If they mistook what he said, why no correction? Instead, he lets these people, his own disciples, walk away. He doesn't call them back. Instead he looks at the Apostles, and asks them if they are going to walk away as well.

Yes, they walked away. Disciples that Yeshua had not chosen and who he already knew did not believe. Although he did hint to them when he said "the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." YHWH speaks through His Son and His words bring life.

Blessings

[quidestveritas]

As a Traditional catholic who has Celiac disease, I have often offered the graces I would receive through my hopefully worthy spiritual communions back to God for the conversion of those who receive the Sacrament only routinely or without much thought for what they are really doing. Also for those who who receive unworthily in the state of mortal sin. They are torturing Christ again, biting and gnashing on His Flesh, eating and drinking their own damnation.

I have reflected that Christ knew that in these last times Celiac disease would be discovered and that maybe it is a sign for our times. When the Wheat of His Flesh would work death to my body, It most certainly works death to the souls of the many who treat His Body and Blood with such irreverance and sacrilege. So few Catholics go to confession before receiving. It is not because they are sinning less than their forebearers. They are most certainly sinning more.

All sickness has its origin in the sin of our first parent. We are sick because we are sinners. We are dying because we are sinners. We may only have life in us if we eat His Body and drink His Blood and do so consciously with faith, hope and charity. The Sacraments are serious business. They are our source for our salvation. They communicate Christ to our mortal bodies. They preserve us for eternal life.

But, sadly, for some they are pearls cast before swine. The children's food is given brazenly to the dogs and just to please other men who hate the Faith and the Church's teaching on morals. The true sheep are scattered because the shepherds prefer to please the world and have chosen the false peace that the world has to give. These are truly sad times when a true Catholic has to be ashamed of the actions and inactions of his Pope, bishop, and priest.

There is a real Hell for sinners, so we must do penance for our sins and make reparations for those of others. Otherwise we don't love God and we don't love our neighbor.

"Many souls go to Hell because there is no one praying and making sacrifices for them," - Our Lady of Fatima.

JMJ --- Roger

[Lazamataz]

Jesus used unleaved wheat bread. He didn't use cake. He didn't use barley. He didn't use peanut butter. He didn't use fried chicken. Your quarrel is with Jesus, not the Church.

This sort of stuff is part of the reason I realized Catholicism was not for me, and converted to my fathers religion of Judaism.

[good_fight]

Indeed! No legal hair-splitting in that tradition! :-)

[R. Scott]

The Catholic church was founded by Christ.

I always thought that the Christ was a Jew, and that the Catholic Church was founded by Paul.

[sinkspur]

With all due respect, the opinion of some flack in the SSPX is not normative in the matter of valid hosts, since many of these same flacks will question the validity of Novus Ordo consecrations in any case.

The USCCB has determined the hosts from the Benedictine Sisters to be valid matter.

End of discussion.

[sinkspur]

Your misguided allegiance to extreme traditionalism is keeping you away from the Precious Blood of Christ.

Your intransigent pastor is jeopardizing your spiritual welfare, yet you blame it on your "passivity."

The administration of the SSPX shows, once again, why it is dangerous.

[FITZ]

Yes --- I certainly would question that! What if they broke the host in half or in quarters --- it's such a minute amount of wheat --- it can't be like eating several pieces of bread.

[ultima ratio]

"This sort of stuff is part of the reason I realized Catholicism was not for me, and converted to my fathers religion of Judaism."

Your hostility is showing.

[Lazamataz]

Your hostility is showing.

So?

[old and tired]

Please, speak to your pastor. I cannot believe he does not give you an opportunity to receive the Precious Blood. If he still refuses, please try to find an Indult Mass with an understanding priest.

[ultima ratio]

So why pretend you have reasoned your way out of the faith? In fact, of all religions, Catholicism is most reasonable.

[Lazamataz]

So why pretend you have reasoned your way out of the faith? In fact, of all religions, Catholicism is most reasonable.

Sez you. I found that having three G-ds is kinda polytheistic (yeah yeah yeah, I've heard the old three-in-one thing before, and I didn't buy it then, either).

Furthermore, you literally pray to people (saints, Mary, etc). It's like you are worshiping them, too, especially Mary.

[Quix]

FWIW, FYI,

FWIW, Some may be interested in some of these:

You and others may enjoy several posts (412-417?) that I just put on the TP thread.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1157571/posts?page=416

One is about God speaking clearly to a Moslem woman;

Another has a photo of some dancing angels in Indonesia that the photographer etc. were not aware of until after the film came back;

Another of many miracles in Kenya;

And another of a resurrection in China.

And, there's a post about a psychiatrist discussing speaking in tongues/praying In The Spirit.

Blessings,

[ultima ratio]

Your ignorance, my faith. Do you think the first apostles--who were Jews--found it any easier to comprehend?