“Nevertheless, the Orthodox do like to dip their toes in the water of sexual continence for married clergy for they prescribe abstinence from sexual relations for a certain period before celebration of the Eucharist, do they not?”
M, its the same rule for me and all other Orthodox lay people. Its not the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, per se, its the reception of communion. Its a fasting discipline.
“A ruling which effectively kills a daily celebration of the Eucharist such as that to which Catholics have access.”
And which they receive without fasting, priests included, from food or marital relations, as I understand it. I also understand that there is no requirement of confession prior to reception and that people who are “living in sin” are welcome to receive. Its what we would call receiving unworthily. Some Fathers have said that unworthy reception is the drinking and eating of one’s own condemnation. Now that, M, is a shame at least.
I suppose in place where there are multiple priests, a daily Divine Liturgy could be chanted, but it isn’t. Its not the custom, M.
Yeah, but it's easy and it's a "feel-good" thing... :)
As regards someone's comment about not being able to serve two masters, then all married people, not just priests, must hate God too. But, then, even loving yourself does that.
Seeing as a priest cannot celebrate the Divine Liturgy without taking Communion, that is a distinction without a difference. It's a Divine Liturgy killer. Either the priest has sex or he celebrates the Liturgy but not both.
Happily Catholic priests are not faced with that choice. There is no divide. There is no wife to compete for the priest's attentions (in the Latin Rite).
Just as St. Paul recommends.
As for having the same abstinence rule for the laity, that is indeed a lofty and exalted discipline. There is no doubt that Catholic rules on fasting before Communion need some work, although I'm not sure whether they should go to that extreme. BTW, at communion time in the Orthodox Church, is a quick scan of those refraining from presenting themselves essentially the same as asking for a show of hands for who had sex last night?
And which they receive without fasting, priests included, from food or marital relations, as I understand it.
As priests are celibate, the issue is moot. You are correct that there is no abstinence requirement for laity.
I also understand that there is no requirement of confession prior to reception and that people who are “living in sin” are welcome to receive.
"Living in sin"?? What does that mean? We're all living in sin, unless we're no longer sinners.
The rule is that nobody in the state of mortal sin may approach Communion. Anyone who does so commits sacrilege.
Its what we would call receiving unworthily.
In one sense, no one is "worthy".
"Lord I am not worthy that you should come under my roof but only say the word and my soul will be healed".
Some Fathers have said that unworthy reception is the drinking and eating of one’s own condemnation. Now that, M, is a shame at least.
St. Paul says it. It's in ..........um...........is it 2nd Corinthians? Can't remember off the top of my head. It used to be the reading for the feast of Corpus Christi in the old missal before they changed it. Too scary, apparently. They ought to bring it back.