Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • November 26, 2021 17 And Bishop Donald E. DeGrood of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, noted that there is a healthy tension for the bishops, to call out what isn’t right but to do so in love and to be united as they find ways to apply this new document in their dioceses. The document on the Eucharist states: “One should not celebrate Mass or receive holy Communion in the state of mortal sin without having sought the sacrament of reconciliation and received absolution.” It also says that if a Catholic in his or her personal life has “knowingly and obstinately” rejected the doc- trines of the church or its teaching on moral issues, that person should refrain from receiving Communion because it is “likely to cause scandal for others.” Back in June, at the end of the bishops’ discussion of the document, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, chairman of the bishops’ doctrine committee, said the draft would not focus on denying Communion to people but would emphasize the importance of the sacrament. And in his Nov. 16 presentation of the 26-page statement titled “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church,” Bishop Rhoades said it “addresses the fundamental doctrine about the Eucharist that the church needs to retrieve and revive.” In his short presentation to U.S. bishops, followed by just a handful of comments from the floor, the bishop said the document is addressed to all Catholics in the United States and “endeavors to explain the cen- trality of the Eucharist in the life of the church.” He also said it is intended to be a theological contri- bution to the bishops’ strategic plan and to the bishops’ planned eucharistic revival “by providing a doctrinal resource for parishes, catechists and the faithful.” Just after the bishops voted to approve the docu- ment, which had eight dissents and three abstentions, a few bishops spoke with Catholic News Service about the process from the virtual June meeting -- where the proposal to draft this statement was presented -- until now. Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori said the June discussion was a valuable one and that “even on Zoom , I think the Holy Spirit can operate.” He said the lengthy discussion at the time led the bishops to “what kind of a document we actually needed and wanted, and it emerged clearly, for me at least, that it was to be pastoral document.” Bishop John E. Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, said it was “hard to have a good debate virtually” and that in the months between the two meetings, the docu- ment’s language “changed from being about the presi- dential election to about the introduction of a eucharis- tic revival.” “I don’t think anyone wants to see the division in the conference being headlined and unfortunately that became the narrative,” he said. The lack of debate on the document during the November meeting didn’t surprise him because, he said, “it’s been moving in that direction.” He also said there was a desire among the bishops for unity and that their executive session before the public sessions gave them the chance to discuss and work things out among themselves. “Some of us are simply relieved that we’re not get- ting into the debate about who can receive Communion,” he added. Archbishop Lori said many media outlets portrayed the document as one that would “deny holy Communion to politicians who oppose the church’s teaching on abortion.” “Certainly, we are very cognizant of that chal- lenge.” he said, “but at the same time, this had an emi- nently pastoral intent and it deals with the question of worthiness to receive holy Communion in a way that applies to all of us.” “It’s something all of us ought to be thinking about, myself very much included,” he added. Discussion from the floor included a request from Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces, New Mexico, that the document include more about the paschal mys- tery, or the death and resurrection of Jesus. Bishop Richard F. Stika of Knoxville, Tennessee, wondered how the document would be understood by college students, high schoolers or children, noting that “a lot of it’s over their heads” and they would have to have some kind of theological foundation to grasp it. “We have these beautiful, beautiful documents that sometimes are just ignored,” he said, suggesting that it should be made “more readable and understandable.” In response, Bishop Rhoades said the document “as it stands is really meant for adults,” but he could see it being used in high schools with a teacher who would explain it better. He also said it could be developed by publishers as a resource for catechesis for grade school students. Bishop Timothy L. Doherty of Lafayette, Indiana, said the work put in “laboring over texts should not discourage us,” pointing out that often language falls short but that the church has many other means at its disposal to express the faith such as music, dance, poetry and visuals. The document explains the importance of Communion, often calling it a gift, and uses references from Scripture, prayers of the church and Second Vatican Council documents to back this up. It also explains, citing words of the saints, how Communion is not just a symbol but the real presence of Christ. This transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, the document says, is “one of the central mysteries of the Catholic faith” which is a “doorway through which we, like the saints and mys- tics before us, may enter into a deeper perception” of God’s presence. It notes, almost halfway through, that the Vatican II document “Lumen Gentium” (The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church) describes the Eucharist as “the source and summit of the Christian life.” It also says that as Catholics understand what the Eucharist means, they should more fully participate in Mass and also reach out to serve those in need, citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church , which says: “The Eucharist commits us to the poor.” It concludes with examples of saints who were transformed by their reception of the Eucharist and their deep understanding of what it means. This heavily footnoted statement also has a pastoral message urging those who have left the church to come back. It ties this return back to the Eucharist quoting St. Teresa of Kolkata, who said: “Once you understand the Eucharist, you can never leave the church. Not because the church won’t let you but because your heart won’t let you.” Bishops Eucharist From page 10 Heavenly Father, bless Your Church with an abundance of holy and zealous priests, deacons, brothers and sisters. Give those You have called to the married state and those You have chosen to live as single persons in the world the special graces that their lives require. Form us all in the likeness of Your Son so that in Him, with Him and through Him we may love You more deeply and serve you more faithfully, always and everywhere. With Mary, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer for Vocations