Posted on 10/07/2005 9:48:57 AM PDT by NYer
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Some eucharistic practices, including eucharistic adoration, have brought people closer to the real presence of Christ, but there may be some drawbacks to watch for, said some members of the Synod of Bishops.
Italian Cardinal Camillo Ruini, papal vicar of Rome, said the discovery of eucharistic adoration has been "a key development," especially for youths, in establishing a relationship with that invisible reality of the divine.
He said the church has had to learn how to explain Christ's presence to people who live in a culture that does not understand reality unless it is visible.
"In the extended silence of adoration, (people) find a better opportunity of personal relationship with Christ and God the Father," he said in his Oct. 6 speech to the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist. Portions of some speeches from the Oct. 2-23 synod were released by the Vatican.
French Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes said while eucharistic adoration has become very popular in France there were some dangers. He said adoration risked becoming too individualistic a practice in which the person could lose a sense of the church as a spiritual community.
He also warned that with eucharistic adoration "there is an absence of words." The church must make sure young people understand their faith and can express that faith, he said.
He also said eucharistic adoration could lead to a neglect "of the other different ways the risen Christ has real presence."
Bishop Perrier said adoration of the Eucharist does help prayer "escape the trap of introspection," because this form of adoration is seeing Christ "face to face." He said it probably became popular with so many young people because today's generation "cannot live without images."
"By looking at the host, certainly, we do not see Christ in his divinity or in his humanity, but we do fix our eyes on the most direct sign of his real presence," he said in his Oct. 6 talk.
Another synod member said the sign of the Eucharist needs to be made more "clearly visible" as the bread that becomes the body of Christ.
Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron of Agana, Guam, said perhaps "the church needs to restore the 'breadness' of the bread," by using the "unleavened bread used in the ancient and primitive church rather than the wafer-thin, mass-produced bread we use as hosts for our people today."
He said using signs that "fully and powerfully represent the reality they signify and not just approximate them" might lead the faithful to "better appreciate the Eucharist."
He said in his experience small faith communities more successfully grasped the faith.
In order to foster that sense of a close community, he suggested the priest take the Eucharist to seated people.
"What sort of a banquet does one go to which requires you to stand rather than sit?" Archbishop Apuron asked.
He said that, in the Gospels, St. Mark said "Christ served the apostles -- he did not ask or invite them to come up" in order to receive his body and blood.
The archbishop praised the Neocatechumenal Way in Guam and said he has witnessed "a remarkable growth in faith in the lives of thousands of people" who are part of this parish-based process of faith formation.
A beautiful suggestion but impossible to put into practice, unless in a small community. It would not work at World Youth Day.
A beautiful suggestion but impossible to put into practice, unless in a small community. It would not work at World Youth Day.
I would give a lot of business for bakers, though. :-)
In the Eastern Rite, the Bread *is* Breadl albeit leavened Bread. In some parishes, some families are tasked to bake the Bread following a strict formula.
But you're right. This won't work at the WYD.
-Theo
Yeah.
I'm gonna take a wild guess and say not likely.
And if he's an archbishop and wants hand produced unleavened bread rather than mass produced, doesn't he have the ability to do that in his diocese?
"What sort of a banquet does one go to which requires you to stand rather than sit?" Archbishop Apuron asked.
Yes, for the sake of community, let's also turn all the pews inward instead of facing the tabernacle - oh, wait, that's already being done -- oh, DOUBLE WAIT - what tabernacle?
"What sort of a banquet does one go to which requires you to stand rather than sit?" Archbishop Apuron asked.
Yes, for the sake of community, let's also turn all the pews inward instead of facing the tabernacle - oh, wait, that's already being done -- oh, DOUBLE WAIT - what tabernacle?
Contrast the comments coming from the French and Italian episcopate to those coming from the eastern episcopate.
The differences are apparent.
People sit for communion in many Presbyterian churches, and the grape juice and crackers are passed down the pew. It's how it was done in the Presbyterian church when I was growing up. Is this guy so ignorant as to not know that this is a completely Protestant idea? Or is that his motivation?
French Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes said while eucharistic adoration has become very popular in France there were some dangers. He said adoration risked becoming too individualistic a practice in which the person could lose a sense of the church as a spiritual community.
Um...Bishop, faith is individual. The community starts with the individual. This is one of the ways in which God speaks to us individually.
He also warned that with eucharistic adoration "there is an absence of words." The church must make sure young people understand their faith and can express that faith, he said.
IF they didn't have faith, they would be at adoration. And the silence is wonderful in a world where noise is the noem 24/7.
He also said eucharistic adoration could lead to a neglect "of the other different ways the risen Christ has real presence."
Oh, for Heaven's sake. I wonder what his other excuses are.
Um...Bishop, faith is individual. The community starts with the individual. This is one of the ways in which God speaks to us individually.Pope Benedict XVI actually address this in Introduction to Christianity where he says:
The primacy of the word means that faith is focused on community of mind in a quite different way from philosophical thinking. In philosophy, what comes first is the private search for truth, which then, secondarily, seeks and finds traveling companions. Faith, on the other is, first of all a call to community, to unity of mind through the unity of the word. Indeed its significance is, a priori, an essentially social one: it aims at establishing unity of mind throught the unity of the word. Only secondarily will it then open the way for each individual's private venture in the search of truth. (Introduction to Christianity, The Ecclesiastical Form of Faith, p. 93)I believe this is what Bp. Perrier may be alluding to. The Holy Father made unexpected remarks yesterday when he sensed that there was a false dichotomy being set up between "sacrifice" and "communal" aspects of the Eucharist. Having come out of the Anglican experience where "sacrifice" is paid lip service in preponderance for the "communal" aspect (thus open communion), I can certainly appreciate the discussion. I think the Bishop is earnest in his concerns speaking to a generation of young people raised to be individualistic, certainly to a culture that sees faith as private.
Did you see this thread?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1498756/posts
"Father Constantine also disclosed that Benedict XVI has decided to propose an hour of Eucharistic adoration in St. Peter's Basilica. The adoration will be led by the Holy Father himself on Monday, Oct. 17, from 5-6 p.m."
Marshmallow, I wonder if Bishop Lynch will go, or will make up some excuse not to? We should pray for him on Monday. That would be around lunch time here in the states?
Dedemona, how can such an unbelieving person become the Bishop of Lourdes - of all places?! You'd think the Bishop there would be even more holy. His attitude is so negative "things could happen," "might happen," etc. He's just making up excuses for why he doesn't want to do it.
I'm glad our Holy Father is doing this. It might separate the wheat from the chaff ...
Anything is possible. I have no idea how some of these people get to be bishops. Some of them have been disasterous picks. Mostly it's been the papal nuncios in individual countries recommending men who aren't suited for the job.
We have a holy hour at our cathedral. It is popular in some ways, but is at 3:30 on Saturday afternoon. I don't mean to make excuses, but there are other times during the week that would by much better attended. There needs to be some thought put into this.
I think sometimes things are scheduled that way on purpose. That way when someone asks about it, the priest in charge can always say, "See - we have ______, but no one ever comes, so we might as well not do it anymore." That's like scheduling Rosary for Friday night. Who with kids (especially here in Texas where Friday night is football night) would be able to come, even if they wanted to?
[French Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes] also warned that with eucharistic adoration "there is an absence of words." The church must make sure young people understand their faith and can express that faith, he said.After silent Adoration come the words of Benediction that express the faith, your Excellency ...
Adoration
During this period there should be appropriate prayers, songs, readings from scripture, and a brief homily to help the congregation focus its attention to the worship of the Lord. It is important to remember that the Eucharist is the "Real Presence" of Jesus Christ.Benediction
After a period of meditation and reflection the celebrant goes to the altar, genuflects, and kneels. The following or another suitable eucharistic hymn is sung.Down in adoration falling,PRIEST/DEACON: You have given them Bread from heaven (P.T. Alleluia)
This great Sacrament we hail;
Over ancient forms of worship
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith will tell us Christ is present,
When our human senses fail.To the everlasting Father,
And the Son who made us free,
And the Spirit, God proceeding
From them Each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Might and endless majesty. Amen.
ALL: Having all sweetness with it (P.T. Alleluia)PRIEST/DEACON: Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death. May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood, help us to experience the salvation won for us and the peace of the kingdom, where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
ALL: Amen.The celebrant will then bless all present with the Eucharist.
Reposition
When the priest or deacon has blessed everyone he then replaces the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle and genuflects. The following acclamation may be said at this time. This acclamation is called the Divine Praises.Blessed be God.As the celebrant is leaving the following or another suitable hymn may be sung.
Blessed be his holy name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be his most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin and Mother.
Blessed be St. Joseph, he most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints. Amen.Holy God, we praise thy name;
Lord of all, we bow before thee;
All on earth they scepter claim;
All in heaven above adore thee.
Infinite they vast domain,
Everlasting is thy reign!Hark, the loud celestial hymn;
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and Seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord!
**In order to foster that sense of a close community, he suggested the priest take the Eucharist to seated people.**
This sounds so strange to me; I would much rather go back to kneeling at a Communion Rail or keep the (still respectful) standing posture, than sitting.
Besides should not we be fostering a reverence for the person of Jesus Chrisit present in the Eucharist (rather than focusing on the community)?
(Good grief, we even stand to greet a stranger who is introduced to us!)
Modern day "Marthas" still abound.
Just as in Our Lord's day, some folk get all bent out of shape when the faithful sit at His feet in a spirit of intimacy and adoration as Mary did in the Gospel passage.
The Bishop seems to be confusing Eucharistic Adoration with a solid catechesis program for young people.
The Church has a place for both of these practices.
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