There’s a video making the rounds on Facebook depicting distribution of Communion during Sunday’s papal Mass in Manila. In it, we see various individuals — not a few of whom appear to be laity — placing the Eucharist in the hands of those in the front of the crowd to be handed back like common food.
The original video currently appears only on Facebook, but we have received permission to create a YouTube copy for your convenience:
Some have gone so far as to describe what you are seeing here as a “desecration” of the Eucharist. While I doubt this is intentional, I find it hard to dispute that description. Whatever the case, I can’t see a way any Catholic who believes in the Real Presence would find this appropriate.
Contrast what you are seeing in the video above with this section of our featured video of Bishop Athanasius Schneider, where he describes the reverence with which we should treat the sacred host (the most relevant clip begins at 8:56, as linked, and ends at 10:39, but the entire section beginning at minute 5:00 is beautiful and worth watching if you have the time):
Can we think of any substance on this earth more precious than the Eucharist? Not gold or silver or platinum, not diamonds or jewels, not any other tangible thing has a value comparable to Our Eucharistic Lord. To treat Him in such a way that the sacred species may be profaned, trampled, or crushed…it should horrify us.
It is essential that we correct these practices, beginning at the parish level, so that people return to a sense of the sacred and this reverence becomes instinctive – no matter the circumstances.
There are those who may ask, “What are people supposed to do at these large papal Masses?”
I’ve got a poor head for logistics, so I won’t make concrete suggestions except to ask: does the value of these large papal Masses outweigh the offenses against the Blessed Sacrament that occur during them? I’ve heard stories about consecrated hosts brought home from World Youth Day and put in scrapbooks, or sold as memorabilia on Ebay. We already have seen the rise of Satanic Masses which desecrate the Eucharist – requiring hosts that are easily obtained from venues where nobody will notice them being stolen.
But if these Masses are deemed a necessary witness of the faith, then perhaps if communion can’t be distributed in an appropriate fashion, it should not be distributed to the entire gathering. We do not need to receive communion at every Mass we attend. In fact, if we are not properly disposed, we should not receive, even if we are in a state of grace. Personally, I find the idea of seeing my Lord handled like a beach ball at a concert more than sufficient to cloud any sense of proper disposition.
How many of those hosts were unintentionally dropped and stepped on, to say nothing of the lost fragments? How many were pocketed and brought home? How many were received by those who were non-Catholic, or were not in a state of grace? There’s simply no reasonable way I can conceive of for a Mass with over a million people in attendance to handle distribution of communion properly. It is a wonderful thing to yearn for our Lord in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar and to desire to be present with the Vicar of Christ in a public Mass. But that yearning should be accompanied by a deep and abiding sense of propriety, a desire never to offend Him or profane His sacred body, even by accident.
What about you? What do you think? Leave your comments below.
Steve Skojec is the Founding Publisher of OnePeterFive.com. He received his BA in Communications and Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2001. His commentary has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Crisis Magazine, EWTN, Huffington Post Live, The Fox News Channel, Foreign Policy, and the BBC. Steve and his wife Jamie have eight children. You can find more of his writing at his Substack, The Skojec File.
These mega-masses need to be seen for what they are — a manifestation of neo-triumphalism. One wishes to be as positive as possible, but in what sense can it be said that three to six million people were really “at” this Mass?
My thought exactly.
It was actually 6-7 million people
Wow!
I might have put it slightly differently. If someone showed you a video of someone splashing paint onto the Mona Lisa, or smashing the Pieta with a hammer, or ripping up a Gutenburg Bible, or bombing Chartres Cathedral, how would you feel watching that? Cringing inwardly a little? But the Holy Eucharist is infinitely more precious than any of these precious artifacts of our culture.
Rather than “descrecration,” it may be better to use Bishop Schneider’s word “humiliation.” Christ is already humiliated in the host. Does one want to humiliate him more? As for me, I have started to receive Communion only on the tongue and under one species, kneeling where possible. At a Papal Mass, I hope I would be reverent enough abstain. Great words by Bishop Schneider, and the question-and-answer session should not be missed. Thank you.
Shame on that priest. He should have stopped distribution of the Sacred Host and had some harsh words after he saw what was happening. Everyone sticking out their grubby hand to snatch and pass back the Sacred Host to others.
in reading one of the Letters of Pope St. Leo the Great, he says if the gathering for Holy Mass is too large, then say Masses for those who could not receive the Eucharist or attend Mass properly; meaning those away from where Mass was being celebrated.
I agree, Steve: I don’t think there was intentional desecration, but that is in effect what it was. At these mega-Masses (which are problematic at a number of levels), I would recommend against distributing Holy Communion to all. The people should be informed/reminded before Mass that they are never obliged to receive Communion, apart from their Easter duty (remember that?). I’m even opposed to concelebration in these (and most other) cases, especially when the “concelebrants” are miles away from the altar, but that’s another matter. The only thing that’s *not* out of hand these days is Communion.
Fr. Thomas Kocik,
I must also mention that the event was “Extraordinary” as mentioned by Archbishop Socrates Villegas.
And as it is written also in Redemptionis Sacramentum 2004
[157.] If there is usually present a sufficient number of sacred ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may not be appointed. Indeed, in such circumstances, those who may have already been appointed to this ministry should not exercise it. The practice of those Priests is reprobated who, even though present at the celebration, abstain from distributing Communion and hand this function over to laypersons.[258]
[158.] Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged.[259]This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason.
[159.] It is never allowed for the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to delegate anyone else to administer the Eucharist, as for example a parent or spouse or child of the sick person who is the communicant.
[160.] Let the diocesan Bishop give renewed consideration to the practice in recent years regarding this matter, and if circumstances call for it, let him correct it or define it more precisely. Where such extraordinary ministers are appointed in a widespread manner out of true necessity, the diocesan Bishop should issue special norms by which he determines the manner in which this function is to be carried out in accordance with the law, bearing in mind the tradition of the Church.
Following Christ, I would say: ” Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
While I have not attended a papal Mass, I have attended very large outdoor Masses and I will never do it again. Most present are not truly present. There is chattering and distractedness galore. The distribution of Holy Communion becomes a sideshow and the level of reverence is sorely lacking. The sheer numbers make it all very difficult to truly participate unless you are front and center. Now, there are many of us who have not been properly catechised and the sheer desire for the Host may lead people to not to stop and think about what they are doing. Only God can read our hearts. That being said, those in authority should take all of this into account during such times and do what is truly best, ensuring that the Eucharist is kept safe from abuse and ignorance.
I watched the videos in disbelief. I have a number of Filipino Facebook friends, and I have always known Filipinos to be pious and orthodox. I have literally been sickened by seeing the ordinary desecrations of the Eucharist too common at parish Masses. God knows what I might have been if I had been in Manila.
Even if it wasn’t intentional desecration, it was carelessness with the Blessed Sacrament that amounted to desecration. I’ve seen hors d’ouvres served with more care than the manner in which the Blessed Sacrament was distributed there.
This makes me sad because i think what it boils down to is just plain old ignorance. I agree that there is clearly no bad intent, but the priest(?) or Eucharistic minister didn’t seem to bat an eye when people starting passing Jesus around. I would assume learning the proper way to distribute the Eucharist is taught in Eucharistic Reverence 101. I also fear that Jesus may have been dropped a time or two…*cringing*
I saw in other articles (sorry no link…) that they found some hosts in the mud…
this the one? http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-end-result-of-communion-in-hand.html
I don’t believe Communion should be distributed at all during Masses of this size because it must inevitably lead to scenes like this which is shocking.
Isn’t this the same pope who told an adultress over the phone (who wanted to receive despite continuing in her relationship) that “a little bread and wine never hurt anyone”?
I would love to hear more from those who were present, even if they must post under a pseudonym.
Do the people in the video even believe in the Real Presence as understood by the Church? Doubtful. We are on the verge of a great chastisement. Recent events in Europe and the Middle East should make that clear. DJR
The way the Eucharist was passed was undoubtedly wrong. But believe me, there are waaay more Filipinos that believe in the Real Presence of Jesus than their Western counterparts! You try waiting over 12 hours overnight in the cold pouring rain during a typhoon just to attend Mass!
Well, if the people in the video believe in the Real Presence, all the more reason to worry for them, as what they did was a sacrilegious outrage. If they don’t believe in the Real Presence, their actions would be excusable perhaps, as they wouldn’t know what they were doing.
It’s not precious – just watch them pass it around like a cheap cracker. This is inevitable where there are huge gatherings of people all of whom think they “must” consume the holy Eucharist. It’s reason #3412 why the Mass should not be the forum for massive, crowded events.
Let us pray for reverence for the Body Blood Soul & Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ in every situation. The priests; hands are conscrated for a reason. I don’t believe lay people should ever handle The Eucharist. Every Catholic should be aware of this…for the reasons mentioned above. Jesus deserves our reverence.
“I can’t see a way any Catholic who believes in the Real Presence would find this appropriate.”
I absolutely agree. This kind of humiliation cannot happen if one knows the true meaning of Mass as an expiatory sacrifice–not a human’s sharing festival or something–and the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Host.
glad to see our lord Jesus doing His rounds, getting close to His people! just like in the Holy land with the crowd around Him …who touch me? sad we had these days “the Eucharistic police” around ….they may need a hug ..
The crowd in the Bible didn’t pass Jesus over their hands from here to there like a balloon… gosh
The stronger my belief that Jesus is God, the less I want to hold Him in my hands. On the way to Jairus’ house, the multitudes thronged and pressed Him, but the only person cured was the woman who touched, not Him, but the hem of his garment. Some people who touched Jesus were saints; others who touched Him wanted to throw Him off a cliff, betray Him with a kiss, crucify Him. From what I can tell in the Gospels, Jesus touched but did not like to be touched. Perhaps He was like His Father in that way. After the Resurrection, He told Mary Magdalen, “Do not touch me,” and Thomas, “Put thy finger” not on Him but in His wounds; then He implied that it was better not to. And I believe that Thomas just saw, and did not touch, before saying, “My Lord and My God.” Jesus distinguished between Himself, the Living Bread, from the bread that fed thousands and could be gathered as fragments in baskets. Thank God for priests–other Christs–as well as for the Catholic Church, for allowing us to receive Him as reverently as we know how, and not like a thing of this world.
clearly we read a different gospels. God became human to be intimate with us, and then he became bread, body, blood, soul and divinity, touch, taste and see the goodness of the lord, and he came to touch the sinner, the lonely and you. What do you think happens when Jesus Eucharist is inside your body, what a physical touch.
Since you said good-bye in another comment, I suppose you won’t read this. We read the same Gospels but naturally get different things out of them. Since we are Catholics, that should not matter much. As Dom John Chapman wrote, “The catechetical instruction of the Church is represented in substance by the modern Catechism and not by the Gospels.” If we both believe what is in the catechism, then we are in the same Catholic Church. God bless.
Please tell us what happens when the Eucharist is consumed.
Indeed, and is this how you treat God? Pass Him around like some ball?
that is why He became bread, da!
To be eaten yes. To be desecrated No.
Actually, the “Eucharistic police” came into being with the new Mass, not the old, where the priest (and the altar server, I can say from experience) had no idea what the people were doing and the enforcers, if any, were parents. The locus classicus for this is Bryan Houghton’s novel Judith’s Marriage, but since some people here have Mosebach’s The Heresy of Formlessness I’ll quote a paragraph from it below. In the Sunday Masses I attend, the deacon and the priest are often observing the people, sometimes giving them instructions about when to stand, when to sit (never when to kneel), occasionally giving a disapproving look or waiting until everybody–well, almost everybody–is in the required posture. As an example, during the Our Father, the deacon says words addressed to the Father but he is definitely looking at and appears to be speaking to the congregation right and left like a cheerleader.
Here’s the quote from Mosebach (p. 129):
As a treat, here’s a quote from R. Michael McGrade’s Death of a Catholic Parish: The Benalla Experiment, (pp. 263–264):
“At least they are at mass and in the presence of the Lord (Matthew
18:20 – when two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with
them”)
When Jesus ate with the tax collectors, the scribes and pharisee complained “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” The Rabbis and others spiritual leaders were the highest members of Jewish society. Everyone looked up to them, and they avoided those whom they deemed as sinners, in order to maintain their “clean image”. They were what the Old Testament calls the wicked, unworthy to be part of the people of God. But Jesus broke societal taboos showing that He was looking beyond culture, beyond their profession or their past, but He was looking at their hearts. Jesus didn’t require people to change before coming to Him, He sought them out, met with them where they were, and extended grace to them in their circumstances.
I can think of many more way I would rather spend my day then being at mass. So initially though I did want to jump and point my fingers and say, “how rude”, I stopped myself and thought of something I once read….
……If Jesus were physically present in our world today, would we as church people be comfortable if he spent his time with cheats and swindlers, sexually deviant individuals, gays and lesbians? Would we not be infuriated if he constantly went to their dinner parties and didn’t
come to ours?……..
What does this have to do with profaning the Blessed Sacrament?
I am neither condoning nor condemning their actions. Just trying to focus on the more positive side of things, reflecting and on what Jesus would have done/said if he was here and sharing what came to mind…..is that okay with you?
Personally, I think Jesus and His Blessed Mother would have been saddened at what happened at irreverent passing of His body at the mass.
As for Jesus spending time with “cheats and swindlers, sexually deviant individuals, gays and lesbians” I would say good, they need to be converted and turn from their evil ways of sin. Jesus wouldn’t be like, “Wassup, dude? How are you and husband doing? I love man. Peace” and then bless the 2 guys and send them on their merry way.
Thank you for your reply Sev (I love Sev – popular Indian snack noodles :D). I guess the way I way I see it in this….I don’t think Jesus would shy away from being near them and say “convert and repent BEFORE you come near me”…but to obtain salvation, yes, they will need to turn from their evil sins. Let’s remember though, these people won’t forced to be around him bounded by a chain, they were free to come and go as they please. There must be something about Jesus Christ that people wanted to be around with him. The ones who didn’t didn’t. The one who did…did. He doesn’t require us to believe as precursor to come to him, but the more one they are around him, the more they themselves will change. Faith and change comes from within and it something that is organic.
Jesus wouldn’t be like, “Wassup, dude? How are you and husband doing? I
love man. Peace” and then bless the 2 guys and send them on their merry
way.
– Actually I believe he would. He came for the sinners not the righteous. He loves them and will still bless them. Blessing falls both on the saved and unsaved. Rain doesn’t just fall on the believer/unbeliever, it falls on both. He doesn’t discriminate. That is why unbelievers prosper as well. Whether it is eternal is a different story.
Jesus’s most intimate friends and followers, who lived with Him for three years and who saw Him do and heard Him say many more things than are recorded in the Gospels, were constantly surprised by nearly everything He did. Not to question anyone’s—certainly not your—understanding of Christ, predicting what He would do in particular cases in today’s world seems to me going where angels fear to tread. Please don’t take this personally.
None taken. 😀 Just basing on the pictures of Christ I see. He always spoke harshly to those who came to Him with the Law (full of pride and self-effort), yet lovingly and gently to those who came to him for help, who felt they didn’t deserve it.
Shalom.
Ah, and he was quite firm with a certain fellow who decried the liberal use of costly ointment applied to his feet instead of being given to the poor.
You talking about Judas? or Simon? or…..
I’m not exactly sure what you are saying….If anyone understand this please explain to me…
St. Benedict’s Thistle meant Matthew 26:6–13, Mark 14:3–9, John 11:55–12:8. John talks about a certain fellow. Matthew and Mark say others agreed with that fellow—at least until Jesus spoke up for her. Verses to meditate on for those who think they know Jesus.
Okay. I shall end here. Pretty obv now we are seeing different pictures of who Christ and the Eucharist means different things to us. I just hope that when Christ comes back…we will in out own ways recognise him.
Because I said that SBT was not referring to Simon the Pharisee? Easy confusion, since Jesus was in the house of Simon, brother of Martha and Mary.
We shall have an eternity to learn who Jesus is. For Catholics, possibly a good start to a beginning of an introduction to an acquaintance of God is praying, slowly, one of the several litanies of Jesus. Pictures are good, but prayer is for everybody. As I’m sure you agree.
My prayer for myself, my family, and everyone, is that Jesus knows US when he comes back….(Matt 7:22-23)
You will have NO option other than to recognize Him as the Parouisa means the end of time and the Judgment
But is there really one Christ or are there versions of Him according to who we want Him to be?
Is this a case of making Christ according to our image?
Seriously…this forum has the most number of Judaizers ever.
How dumb? Since when has saying that you are making Christ according to your image been a case of Judaizing?
If you don’t know what the term means don’t use it.
Thanks for helping to clarify my point. 🙂
Actually, when he rebukes Judas Iscariot for using the poor as a means to denigrate reverence for himself.
And yet what did He say? I came not to abolish the law but to fulfil it.
And how did He fulfil the law?
He made it even harder. Before it adultery was just adultery. Then He said that if you looked at a woman with lust you already commit adultery.
The touchy feely picture you paint of Christ is not the entire Christ we find in the Bible.
Before it adultery was just adultery. Then He said that if you looked at a woman with lust you already commit adultery.
Who did he direct all his harsh words to…the Pharisees.
Definition of Fulfill (English dictionary)
– Achieve or realize
(something desired, promised, or predicted):
– archaic Complete (a
period of time or piece of work):achieve or realize (something
desired, promised, or predicted).
– synonyms:succeed in, attain,
realize, consummate, satisfy, manage, bring off, bring about, carry
off, carry out, carry through, bring to fruition, deliver;
If you quote v17, you need to quote v 18 too. it goes hand in hand.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot
or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is
fulfilled.
(till – there was a timeline. fulfilled – past tense.)
Read Carefully: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy,but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, [condition #1:] Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall
in no wise pass from the law, [condition #2:] till all be fulfilled.”
Christ did not say,”I come not to destroy but to establish or perpetuate”. Rather but to “fulfill”
From the Greek Dictionary
Strong’s Number: 4137 (Pleroo)
-to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill
to the full
– to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally
– to render full, i.e. to complete
– to fill to the top: so
that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim
– to make complete in every particular, to render perfect
– to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some
undertaking)
From the root word: Pleres (4134)
– full, i.e. filled up (as opposed to empty)
– of hollow vessels
– of a surface, covered in every part
– of the soul, thoroughly permeated with
– full, i.e. complete
– lacking nothing,perfect
Jesus last words in John 19:30: “It is finished”
Definition of Finished (English Dictionary)
– (of a task or activity) brought to an end; completed.
– (of a person’s work) expert or accomplished.
Strong’s Number: 5055 (Teleo)
– to bring to a close, to finish,to end
– passed, finished
– to perform, execute, complete, fulfil,
(so that the thing done corresponds to what has been said, the order, command etc.)
a. with special reference to the subject matter, to carry out the contents of a command
b.
with reference also to the form, to do just as commanded, and generally
involving the notion of time, to perform the last act which completes a
process, to accomplish, fulfil
What did Jesus finish?
Jesus gives us the answer throughout the gospels, and the New Testament writers give us the answer throughout the epistles.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them,” (Matthew 5:17).
Jesus obeyed the Father by being the perfect fulfillment of the Law of God and the prophesies regarding the Messiah. Jesus finished the work given to Him by His Father.
Sigh! You really do not get it do you? You were trying to minimize the law but Jesus was in fact maximizing the law – making it harder not easier.
Well, not to the Pharisees, but to his disciples. Very hard to find a common basis for discussion.
Right…that is correct. my bad. Getting late…almost 2am here. The sermon on the mount shows me this…very simply….if you think you can get there on your effort, well you can’t. (add to the law). And that is why we need Jesus. And when I go to Jesus, He will give me rest.
Common basis for discussion (where are my notes, hang on)
·Common points of agreement between orthodox Catholics and evangelical Protestants extend to belief in the Triune nature and full theistic attributes of God
· God as the sovereign creator and sustainer of the world
· Acceptance of Christ’s incarnation as God-man, including trust in His virgin birth
· Atoning death on the cross
· Jesus bodily resurrection from the grave
· Jesus ascension into heaven
· His future return (the Second Coming)
· The resurrection of mankind (bodies of the righteous and the wicked)
· Affirmation of the Holy Spirit’s personality, deity and involvement in redemption
Acknowledgement of sin, necessity of grace, and the need for salvation
· And while not mentioned explicitly in the creeds, both camps have a high view of Scripture affirming both the inspiration and infallibility of the Old and New Testaments.
Galatians 5:22-23New International Version (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
I think both camp can accomplish much when we see it from the lens of Grace and Jesus finished work on the cross. Not that the traditions ain’t important….I guess I just see it more as inspired rather than dogma.
Now it’s really time for bed.
P.s Leo..I like you more than MarcAlcan.
I find this “what would Jesus have done” thing.
Well Jesus left us the Church. That is what He has done. And the Church has already set out the guidelines on the proper reception and distribution of communion.
Yes Jesus left us the Church….the first Church – 1st century Christians . The Group of believers that came about after ACTS. Not the Roman Catholic church which was the first institution. The seven sacraments and Eucharist pronounced to be a true propitiatory sacrifice as well as a sacrament came about AFTER the Council of Trent, which by the way was formed as a response to the Protestant Reformation. This council had the power to not only reestablish and clear up previous Catholic beliefs, but it could completely change the beliefs, teachings, and practices of the Church in whatever way they saw appropriate at the time.
Well duh, it’s the same Church. You are obviously ignorant of Christian history.
I find you the weirdest person on this blog.
You were defending the people for the way they took the Eucharist and now it seems you are not even Catholic?
So I suppose it is only to be expected that you don’t mind the desecration of the Lord because to you it’s nothing but bread because in protestant churches that is all it is.
Carholic in the universal sense of the word. And I actually said I didnt think it was right….but focus on the positive. And dont assume….coz u cant put me in a box. I believe all denomination of the christian faith has different emphasis and perspective of who God is and I choose to focus more on the commonality that we share. I may not be catholic anymore in the sense of going to the catholic church but it doesnt discount the beautiful aspects of the catholic church that I still love. Think of it as the schrodinger cat paradox…where until the box is opened…the cat is considered both alive and dead at the same time. Shalom MarcAlcan.
No you aren’t. You are Protestant. You are your own pope and your own magisterium. That is the height of arrogance.
You did that yourself.
So what if you love them if you’ve ditched them and ditched the Church with them. That is like the man who swears he loves his wife but goes home to his mistress.
I would. IF it were like. But it isn’t.
never mind. you won’t get it. good night
At least say whether or not you are a cat.
meow. *lol* good night Leo 😀
Good night, kyrie100.
Perhaps not a very decisive thought experiment, since cats have 9 lives.
LOL. Perhaps he was saying he’s used up the 8th.
Louie Verrecchio says it best on his site, Harevesting The Fruit of VII today..”No More Outdoor Mega Masses” Here is the link to his site: http://www.harvestingthefruit.com/ . I think the question of “intention” is not the issue here. These are not intrinsically evil people. Sadly, they don’t know any better, and I’d probably apply that description to most Catholics today, who for all intents and purposes, don’t believe in the Real Presence anyway. Its all part of the most recent iteration of “Aggiornamento” . We are witnessing firsthand the Protestantization of the Catholic Church, where this is viewed as primarily, a symbolic gesture. Come Lord Jesus!
Harvesting…sorry
I was deeply disturbed and saddened by this article/video so decided to ask someone who was actually there from wee hours of the morning & longing to receive our Lord after almost 12hours and here’s what she wrote. BTW Sister Maria Cecilia Payawal PDDM is a member of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master and holds a Licentiate in Sacred Liturgy from the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy in Rome run by the Benedictine Monks.
—-
Dear Corina,
Peace! Yes! I was at the Luneta where this communion happened. At first I thought like what others thought…something like “desecration”. However, seeing how the Eucharist (host) was desired by the people to receive, I believe it was not. If you were there, you could have noticed the deep faith of the people, people who long for God, present in the host, present in the person of the “Pope”, people who for such “longing” like us, were there as early as four in the morning to wait for the coming of the Pope at around three in the afternoon of Sunday. Was it not a manifestation of deep and real faith?
It was indeed a “treasured” experience! Hope you were there!
with my prayers,
sr.m.cecilia
I’m not sure how the feelings of desire or, indeed, the deep faith of the people somehow overcomes the desecration of the Eucharist. With all due respect to the sister, this is a manifestation of the Church of Man–that feelings somehow magically turn an act of desecration into a “manifestation of deep and real faith.” No. What happened is that people were carried away by the situation. They did what they would not have done if the circumstances had been more in line with the true sense of worship and communion in the Mass.
I am trying to think of how the Lord himself handled these situations. I believe when there were large crowds to feed he would bade them sit down in an orderly manner and the apostles not only distributed, but took up the fragments of bread.
I agree the distribution of the Eucharist could have been better organized. I have attended 3 World Youth Days where pilgrims prepare with a sleep out the night before and Communion was always individually received. Hopefully this kind of thing doesn’t happen too often. But I am reassured that the pilgrims in Luneta were genuine in wanting to receive the Eucharist
Again, being “genuine” does not make okay what happened.
Let us all learn from
Jesus Himself, as per His examples He was never a stickler of the Laws! Who are
we to Judge what Jesus thinks or feels towards those you also judged as guilty
of desecration of the Holy Eucharist? If the
Church hierarchy of bishops, priests & even the Pope were
not able to properly guide these simple folks of what they should do, how dare
we blame them? If it’s a requirement for you to find someone to blame
then by all means take the bishops to the task! Make them explain
to you, in fact they already made a statement regarding this but if it’s still unacceptable to you then complain to the Pope! But please spare the common folks
whose love for Jesus might be tenfold than yours. And yes “that love” does not make what happened ok but for sure Jesus have long forgiven them, he looks at the heart & our faith, not at laws & our failures to adhere.
It is not the simple folk that are to blame but the hierarchy. The ones who were responsible for the logistics. And the bishops who tried to weasel out of the problem they created.
These are not our laws, they are God’s laws. Jesus also said he did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. So we need to have context here and not some ethereal Jesus that we would like to have. You are manifestly incorrect in saying that I was judging the people who were present at that Mass. Please reread my words. Also, I suggested elsewhere that the clergy may need catechism regarding this situation. I’m afraid you are the one who is being judgmental, or at the very least, misunderstanding the teachings in the Gospels. There is a significant difference between the loaves and the fishes and the Last Supper. One is the physical comfort that Jesus offered to those who were following him. The other is the Holy, sanctified, transubstantiated Body of our Lord. If you persist in this line of thought, then you are contributing to the devolution of the understanding of the Holy Mass, and are participating in transforming it into a bread and circus.
So this adulation for a human being – the Pope – makes the desecration of the Lord excusable?
Yes, the Pope is Christ’s Vicar but we are talking about the Body of Christ here.
I only receive kneeling, and on the tongue; often I am the only one who kneels. So far I have not been refused or made to feel uncomfortable but if this were to happen, I would never darken the door of that church again.
I came to this blog by accident, just responded and read some of this comments…who are u people? am i in the same catholic church? maybe is generational… since i have very little good to say here …cus i desagree with most of what I read, just wish you luck with your “Eucharistic police”, i pray for u guys and please pray for me.. good bye
If you think posting here is being Eucharistic Police, then it is clear that you really do not know your faith.
The definition of profane is to take that which is holy and make it common. Yes the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Blessed Lord was profaned. Pope Francis and all the Bishops and priests will be judged for our irreverence.
Most Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – I adore thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences whereby He is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.
“Let this prayer be echoed all over the world.” – Mary
most of the comments I see here are from bigots judging other peoples faith and love, God didn’t teach us to follow a book made by mortal men, He taught us to see with our hearts. Isn’t he a God of compassion and love after all?
Like x 1000
And where did you learn that God is a God of compassion and love? That “book made by mortal men” perhaps?
more like my parents, friends, priests and day to day life., and you just proved what I said yet again. but good try 😉
Not so fast. How Catholics know about the Catholic God’s compassion is from the life of Christ written in the Gospels, prophesied in the Old Testament, handed down by the Apostles and taught with the Church’s magisterium. Is there another gospel somewhere that you know about?
I WAS THERE. I never saw this “desecration” until now. So it must have been only a few people who did this passing on of the Sacred Body of Our Lord compared to the 6 million who were there. I thank those who are understanding enough to think that this is unintentional and those people were not aware of what they were doing. But for those who seem to think that all those 6 million people are sort of “guilty”, please, I was there and I did not even see this. I myself receive Our Lord always in the mouth & kneeling if possible. But I think the majority of Catholics, not only Filipinos, are very pious, more pious than I, but are ignorant of some doctrine like this issue. No need to judge these Filipinos, most of them are simple folks yet they love Jesus & the pope very much. Many of them spent a sleepless night exposed to the elements, came from far places islands away, stayed in the cold rain soaking wet, & many others things that they suffered (I don’t know if they had enough food) just to be there at the 3PM Papal Mass. What I think is that we who know this particular doctrine have a lot of work to do in teaching simple folks like these. I try to do my part teaching in a technical school for poor youth. I hope you try to do yours. Thanks.
Ariel, thank you for your thoughtful response. I have little doubt that most Filipinos are, by and large, above average in piety. I’ve certainly always had that impression.
This is emblematic of a much larger problem in the Church. It is a problem where the value of the Eucharist is subordinated to the feelings of those present at the Mass. Where man becomes the principle subject of veneration at worship and Christ takes a backseat. When we see this happening in our parishes every Sunday, it’s no wonder that it happens at large spectacle masses like this one.
I place the blame for this at the feet of our priests and bishops, not necessarily the people. It is of course beautiful to see such a yearning for Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I just wish that the love people had for Him led them to consider what they are doing, and to seek to do all they can never to profane His precious body and blood, even by accident. But if they aren’t shown this example by the clergy, I wonder how many of them will reach the conclusion on their own.
Agreed, Steve. Thanks also… I heard or read someone who said that if the priests and bishops have shortcomings, it’s because the laypeople have not prayed enough for them. So we’ll try to do this more.
In the end, we will be judged by what we do especially to others and through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord we will merit the Kingdom of God.
Nothing wrong period ……at least they have strong faith and belief with the Lord Jesus Christ…..
perhaps it was wrong, or conventional at the very least. it is definitely not the ideal situation but i am disgusted at the reaction of some people here. is this attitude of catholics elsewhere the reason why many of them are leaving the catholic church? is dogma more important than its believers? is it really so wrong for people to help each other receive christ and make him a bit more accessible to those far away? did the apostles form a queue and kneel in front of christ to receive his body and blood at the last supper? i think not. i imagine it was passed around the table too.
but i’m not a very good catholic so i could be wrong. it’s been 18 years since my last confession and i don’t even remember the last time i had communion.
i wasn’t there, but i was wishing i was the whole time the pope was in the philippines. i have been in one of the papal audiences in rome and it was great to be among fellow catholics from around the world, but i can clearly see from my tv that my experience couldn’t compare to the spirit of camaraderie that people had during the recent papal visit in the philippines. because i have experienced snippets of it everytime we people participate in a huge gathering, from the world youth day in 1995 and one other mass gathering when we ousted a president. my cousin who was there says everyone was on their best behavior and were friendly and helpful to each other, including those in charge of security. it was one of those times that make you proud to be catholic. i will forever regret not being there
mega-masses should be avoided? seriously?! perhaps it’s because western people here are used to hearing mass in grand but empty cathedrals. i’m still depressed with how empty the major basilicas are in rome (except for st. peter’s and maria maggiore i guess) and how they are reduced to tourist attractions. the church is a community and i prefer to hear mass in our crowded neighborhood basketball court than be one of the 5-10 people who still hear mass in a church in the western world.
i must admit that this is the first time i’m learning that it is optional to serve communion and i was actually surprised when i saw that it was limited during the mass in tacloban (by far my most favorite mass). the filipino people does practice catholicism differently from the rest of the world and i can go on about my own complaints against them and how our brand of catholicism isn’t the proper way sometimes. we do tailor our faith to our culture. which is why some people who met the pope did not kiss his ring and instead touch his hand on their foreheads because that is how we show respect. fellow passengers pass the fare to each other until it reaches driver when we use public transportation, which is the closest analogy that we can make for what they did last sunday. again, perhaps what they did was wrong and against the rules. but i would rather have the body of christ be dirtied and some fragments accidentally fall to the ground trying to reach everyone any anyone who wants to receive him than limit him to a privileged few.
gosh, i didn’t even capitalize everytime i mention christ. does that mean my soul will burn in hell?
I would say….u need to go to a protestant church….reckon there will be more than 5-10 people. And u are not going to go to hell for not capitalizing christ. He loves you too much to let dogma and tradition stand in the way from loving you for you. The veil has been torn. Have a great personal relationship with him…we can go directly to him now.
Now I am going to run out of here before I get holy war declared on me.
no, thank you ^_^ i’m quite happy being catholic. imperfections and all. even with bigots in our midst
🙂 🙂 wherever one grows the most is the most important. I am ex romon catholic turn protestant…though…I identify with both. Thus I call myself catholic but catholic in the universal sense of the word rather than roman catholic the denomination. Love yr nick. And good points. I cant imagine a mass with 6-7 million pple….wow.
You are assuming that to leave the Church that Christ established is to grow. That is regress.
Thank you nuclearwirehead! Finally someone says what I was thinking. People need to realize that with a land area of 58 hectares (limited; not all are were available as you can see in the pic on both sides) for 6-7 Million attendees, under the rain with chilling winds and so many not allowed to carry for convenience due to security reasons. They’re not allowed to bring tents, umbrellas, bags to name a few that i can recall. How do you people expect those mega-mass-goers were able go forth and back around to roam.. make a line and other not-so-important-what-could-have-had some know it all people says here. Its so judgmental and unfair coming from spectators!
Believing in hell may make one less likely to go there. But even bigots (be nice and say “zealots”) go to heaven. They go to Confession&dmash;as you should—and they ask the Father to forgive them as they forgive others.
I’m saying things that 99% of readers here don’t need to—and shouldn’t have to—read, but if you love God as do most Filipinos, practice your Faith! Make your Easter duty this year.
All these problems began at Vatican II when Paul VI changed the liturgy, the disciplines most important the theology of the sacrament of eucharist to accomodate to the needs of ecumenism…Never was a problem like this before 1958. In Vatican II we don’t even believe in the presence of Christ in the host; even the priests don’t believe. The most disrespectul discipline was to give communion in the hand…I have personally reached conclusion, when I compare the liturgy of the byzantine mass and the novus ordo mass…that is doubtful not to mention invalid…I have left this Vatican II Church because I no longer believe in the validity of these sacraments. (exception for baptism)
i dont see any desecration here num 1. This is Food! is passing a form of desecration in such situation? mas desecration siguro if nagkatulakan sila just to have communion. Jesus himself break the law of sabbath…. for a reason… tao lang din naman ang gumawa ng rules for that. all i can see is filipino spirit of bayanihan
People who criticize the way the Eucharist was distributed at the Papal Mass are upholding a distinction that they believe Jesus made: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you.” Saying, “num 1. This is Food!” obscures the issue, even if Jesus was pleased by what happened.
Yes it is food but it is not like any other food. That Bread is Jesus Christ.
Eucharist fall in the mud in luneta mass http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthepinoycatholic.blogspot.com%2F2015%2F01%2Fcommunion-in-hand-is-culprit.html&h=-AQGRnQqU
I agree with that, too. As a regular devotee of the Holy Eucharist and an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, it saddens me when the Blessed Sacrament is not treated with dignity and reverence. If we can give so much importance on expensive things like a brand new cell phone, a 24 karat gold ring or jewelry, why can’t we give much more value on our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Greatest Treasure Himself? He truly humbled Himself in the form of the Sacred Host and Wine which is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. It is my prayer that more people will continue to encounter our good and merciful Lord through the Holy Eucharist. The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Southeast Asia and predominantly Catholic.
hello,,being roman catholic for such a long time,,i started to do studying on other Christians churchs and came to the conclusion that the orthodox church is the correct way for me to worship,,bein a convert to orthodoxy,,the respect for the eucharist is immense,,cannot be touched by the laitys hands,,only given out by the ordained and under both species(bread and wine) like our Lord said,,take eat,,drink,,,and I often wondered how a roman catholic without being confimed can accept communion,,seems backwards to me,,how can you accept the fullness of Christ but not be confirmed with the holy spirit?/ catholics better start looking at these issues,,,that is if the reverence is still important,,,