“Just wondering — how many of those 1,200 would you estimate are in a proper state of grace to receive Communion? Were there 1,200 people in line for the confessional yesterday? Perhaps the the single priest would be capable of distributing Communion to those who are eligible to receive it? Just wondering”
Would you like our one parish priest to ask them? Is not that something between each Catholic and God? Did not Jesus say in a parable, “Let he who is without sin cast the first, stone.”
Your comment reminds me of a story told by a priest giving a mission at my last parish. He related how while a young priest serving in NYC, he was distributing Communion next to an older priest at a weekday Mass. A homeless alcoholic came forward and the younger priest refused Communion. After Mass, the older priest commented to him about his high standards and wondering what Jesus would have done.
The priest cannot be expected to know the condition of every soul coming to receive, but we should be introspective enough to consider our own failings before receiving. Too many of us walk up there mechanically because it is what what we think we are supposed to do at that time. The priest should take time in his homilies to point out the inconsistency between the line to the confessional and the line to communion.
As to your anecdote, I’m inclined to take the side of the young priest. He may not know what is in the heart of the homeless alcoholic, but if he smelled of alcohol then the outward sign is that the poor man is still engaged in his sin. Jesus would know exactly what was in that man’s heart and would act accordingly. The priest cannot do that, but what he can do is invite the man to meet with him after the Mass and and then talk to him to try and discern the condition of the man’s soul and then determine if giving him communion is a good course of action.