Replies

"I will ask you to search your own heart in response to this question. Do you believe that the hosts Consecrated by catholic priests are invalid?"

Absolutely not!

"Is that the rationale behind this admonition from the GOC?"

No. Though I must say that from an Orthodox pov, the Latin Rite faithful, and to an extent the clergy and hierarchy, have an appalling lack of respect for the Eucharist.

"Why would a GOC Patriarch admonish a practicing member from celebrating liturgy in an authentic setting wih the Real Presence of our Lord?"

Here's why:

"In this case, in fact, the intention is to meet a grave spiritual need for the eternal salvation of an individual believer, not to bring about an 'intercommunion' which remains impossible until the visible bonds of ecclesial communion are fully re-established," he (JP II) affirmed."

"I will ask you to search your own heart in response to this question. Do you believe that the hosts Consecrated by catholic priests are invalid?"

Absolutely not!

Please elaborate.

Though I must say that from an Orthodox pov, the Latin Rite faithful, and to an extent the clergy and hierarchy, have an appalling lack of respect for the Eucharist.

Again, I would ask that you please elaborate.

Here's why:

"In this case, in fact, the intention is to meet a grave spiritual need for the eternal salvation of an individual believer, not to bring about an 'intercommunion' which remains impossible until the visible bonds of ecclesial communion are fully re-established," he (JP II) affirmed."

If the intention is to meet a grave spiritual need for the eternal salvation of an individual believer, then where is the problem? Consecration by a validly ordained priest, comes from Christ. In the Maronite Church, the priest intincts the consecrated host, and places it on the tongue of the recipient with the words: "The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is given to you for the remission of sin and eternal salvation". Where's the problem?

"...not to bring about an 'intercommunion' which remains impossible until the visible bonds of ecclesial communion are fully re-established," he (JP II) affirmed."

I think this is so (when situations aren't grave) because it's the respect rendered from one Bishop (of Rome in this case) to any other Bishop. Brothers can bicker with each other, but our loyalty to the Father is unquestionably firm. Though a birth rite wasn't' "stolen", perhaps the example of Jacob and Esau may bring us to a better understanding of why we hold respectful loyalty for our own respective clergy. Until the brothers are at a position of mutual respect, full understanding, and unconditional forgiveness, the 2 houses cannot be at complete peace with each other. Nor, then, can the congregations be in complete community.

The presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist is our Mystical Head of the Church.