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Each of us — and especially we “cradle Catholics” — is in danger of becoming an “Accidental Catholic.”

This scripture was very much on my mind today and yesterday as I was discoursing with Forest Keeper about the nature of the sacraments. It seems that the woman's will -- in cooperation with Christ's divine presence, utterly passive in this case, -- effects her salvation. Does this then give rise to the Lutheran consubstantiation?

It is true that one who approaches the sacrament in a defiant mode takes it on his condemnation (1 Cor. 11:27). It does not follow from 1 Cor. 11 that he who is distracted, for example, by the crowd, at no fault of his own, is likewise condemned. Nor does the Church teach that: the truth is that the sacrament is efficacious even for one who approaches with the blasphenous intent, certainly for one who is swept up by the crowd. The story teaches that the woman's faith made her whole, but it also teaches that Christ's garment, in itself and regardless of the woman's disposition, has made her faith complete to fruition. His garment was a sacrament.

Catholics venerate relics for a reason.

Thanks for the ping. I liked the article and think the ideas apply to us as well.

It seems that the woman's will -- in cooperation with Christ's divine presence, utterly passive in this case, -- effects her salvation.

That's interesting in this case because we have to ask ourselves what the cause was for her to act. It seems that Jesus gave credit not to her decision to touch His garment, but rather to her faith, which she already had. Jesus makes no statement akin to pronouncing her saved because of what she did. So, what effect on the woman's salvation would you say this event had? It appears she already knew (and was right) ahead of time that her plan would work.

The story teaches that the woman's faith made her whole, but it also teaches that Christ's garment, in itself and regardless of the woman's disposition, has made her faith complete to fruition. His garment was a sacrament.

What in the story leads you to think that Christ's garment brought her faith to fruition? Her faith told her that it would work. When Jesus said "Go in peace" to comfort her, she was never afraid of Jesus, she was afraid of the crowd noticing her.