Posted on 07/19/2009 3:06:20 PM PDT by Young Werther
On Sunday July 20, 1969 the first people landed on the moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were in the lunar lander which touched down at 3:17 Eastern Standard Time.
Buzz Aldrin had with him the Reserved Sacrament. He radioed: “Houston, this is Eagle. This is the LM pilot speaking. I would like to request a few moments of silence. I would like to invite each person listening in, whoever or wherever he may be, to contemplate for a moment the events of the last few hours, and to give thanks in his own individual way.”
(Excerpt) Read more at liturgy.co.nz ...
First I’ve heard of it !!!
Praise Be to God . . .
I got a little choked up reading this. The importance of this event transcends the particular brand of Christianity one recognizes. The fact that the first men on the Moon, Americans, saw fit to drink of the blood and eat of the body of the Son of Man speaks volumes as to where from we come.
The fear, admiration and respect of Jesus Christ is a sacred bond we make with ourselves and Christ. I’m glad that Aldrin kept this private. The athiests of the day and today would coil themselves in knots over something like this, and the fact that they held radio silence due to one complaint is a testament to the bravery, strength, and beauty of the generation that is now leaving us.
I pray that God shows us the way in the future. God knows we need it now.
(Oh, I just noticed your handle and remember 30 seomthing years ago reading from Die Leiden des Junger Werthers by Goethe.)
That is so exciting. When Columbus and his men first arrived on these shores, they dropped to their knees and worshipped. I am so thankful and awed that when we (mankind) first went to the moon, one of the first actions there was to praise and worship God. Hallelujah!
odds at least 1:4 it’s urban legend
I have great respect for Buzz Aldrin. This only causes me to respect him more. I’m so glad to see him out there right now trying to get people to screw their heads back on straight about space exploration. The liberal DemocRATS got us off track with their bogus environmental crap.
How utterly creepy and disgusting a religion.
I guess you did not see ‘From the Earth to the Moon’?
Good series, although not to big on Tom Hanks, but oh well.
Read the article! The hooha over the Genesis reading on Apollo 8 brought the whole prayer in the classroom to light! to this day religious wackos want to remove "In God We Trust" from our currency and other governmental places. I've been to Arlington National Cemetary and knelt in prayer and thanks those honorable men who fought for our freedoms. Amen!
**Buzz Aldrin had with him the Reserved Sacrament.**
This sounds like a consecrated host and a CAtholic Communion. Didn’t read the entire article, but the word, ‘reserved Sacrament’ makes me think so.
The Holy Eucharist is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church.
We could give it a shot.
Just read the rest of the article. It was NOT a Eucharistic Communion. Rather it sounds like Aldrin was Presbyterian. My error.
Here's a story about in the Houston Chronicle.
Well, it all makes sense, what with how much the moon looks like a wafer and all.
Ping to read later
Communion on the Moon, score so far:
Presbyterians 1, Catholics 0
Greetings, All:
I have the honor of serving as senior pastor of Webster Presbyterian Church in Webster, TX. At the time of the lunar landing Aldrin was an elder in our church. A communion kit was prepared for him by the church’s pastor at the time, the Rev. Dean Woodruff. Since Presbyterians do not celebrate private communion, the communion on the moon was structured as part of a service with the congregation back at the church. Aldrin returned the chalice he used to earth. Webster Presbyterian continues to possess the chalice, which is now kept in a safety deposit box. Each year the congregation commemorates the lunar communion on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of the landing.
While we have to confess some pride in his being a Presbyterian (at least at the time - I don’t know anything about his affiliation now, if any) communion is certainly not solely a Presbyterian ritual. The Presbyterian communion table is open to all Christians. We call it “communion” because in it we commune with God and with all our brothers and sisters in faith, in all times and places and of all names. Aldrin did not take communion on the moon as a Presbyterian so much as he did as a Christian. We Presbyterian, even we Webster-type Presbyterians, do not own lunar communion. The communion on the moon belongs to us all. It can, and should, serve as a powerful symbol of God’s presence everywhere, and of our unity as one family of faith.
By Rev. Mark Cooper
It pretty much explains it all.
This a very moving story. I knew that Aldrin couldn't have been Catholic because in 1969 we were not allowed to touch the Eucharist.
Still a very inspiring story.
“From the Earth to the Moon” did an excellent job covering this, with a great performance by Brian Cranston (Malcom in the Middle, Breaking Bad).
True story.
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