[bornacatholic]

I am quite familiar with the motivations of many of the communion-in-the-hand crowd. But, I don't think it fair or just to insist all of the C-I-T-H crowd were intent on denying Faith in the Real Presence. I think some were well-intended, if misguided.

I was just posting some relevant facts to illuminate the historical backdrop to this opinion piece. It is too little known by the average Christian.

I can make the arguement the ancients receiving in the hand were far more Christian than the Christians receiving on the tongue while kneeling. While psoture is obviously important it is secondaary to a right interior disposition.

I think the focus on the dual aspect of the Mass to be a boon to the Church. For too long, the Sacrificial Nature of the Mass has been over=emphasized, imo. And as you probably know, the Church has emphasized different parts of the Mass in different epochs (see Jungmann's classic study.

FWIW, I think the knowledge of the average Christian about the Real Presence is probably not dissimilar to what went before.

All we have to do is read Trent and what the Bishops there were forced to contend with in the Liturgues back then - ignorance, worldliness, superstition, poor mass attendance, loud talking during Mass, worldly music etc.

There is nothing new under the sun. The "crisis" in the Church is, imo, constant. And by noting what I think, I don't in any way discourage Bishops from fulfilling their Duties to Teach, Rule, and Sanctify. Far from it.

I am Blessed to be in a Parish with a Pastor who is a genius. He is charismatic, knows the Bible inside out, and preaches the fulness of Christ every Sunday. I am talking sin, heaven, hell, vice, virtue etc. He also demands we tithe and he has a mission in So. America we all contribute to.

The fact is, I feel genuine sorrow for most Christians in AmChurch. They are nowhere near as blessed as I am

[Pyro7480]

All we have to do is read Trent and what the Bishops there were forced to contend with in the Liturgues back then - ignorance, worldliness, superstition, poor mass attendance, loud talking during Mass, worldly music etc.

There is nothing new under the sun. The "crisis" in the Church is, imo, constant. And by noting what I think, I don't in any way discourage Bishops from fulfilling their Duties to Teach, Rule, and Sanctify. Far from it.

You know, that is really a good point. That is why I admire St. Philip Neri, who almost single-handedly changed the people of the city of Rome for the better.