Father Joseph Ill0, pastor of Star of the Sea church in San Francisco, gave a nine-minute homily on Sunday, April 26 on St. Joseph the solace of those in misery.
Father Illo began, “We’re trapped inside. We’re not sure if we can trust the media or the government.”
And then with a more explicit description of the human condition. Go to the 4 minute 42 second marker of the video:
“Christians know that misery is inevitable on this side of the grave. Those you dearly love will die. Your children will at times rebel against you. Your boss will treat you unfairly. And age will make you old and immobile. What Homer calls ‘hateful old age’ is especially feared and hated in pagan cultures.”
Frequent reception of the Eucharist is very recent in Catholic history. People act like being without it for five or six weeks is worse than death. The Church only legislates that Catholics should receive the Eucharist once a year, minimally. So once a year suffices, in the mind of the Church. Daily Communion is hardly necessary.
This makes sense to me. I don’t understand why conservative Catholics are freaking out about two months of no Communion. Receiving once a year is good enough for the Church so it should be good enough for the Trads too. Unless you think you are more Catholic than the pope.
Henry , I am not more Catholic then the pope , I am a better Catholic then the pope , I would never accept a crucifix mounted on a hammer and sickle, never tolerate a a mccarrick or mahoney , and if found I would use all remedies to see that they are punished and excommunicated . I would speak directly , honestly and without ambiguity. I would not abide false idols (paceamama) or pagan celebrations on holy ground . I would not stab my Chinese brothers and sisters in the back , by making a pact with Satan,(ccp) I would honor my Lord , the Blessed Mother and my predecessors by preaching the One True Faith. I am praying for a pope like that.
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Henry, clearly from your posts, you have a problem with conservative, orthodox Catholics. Get over it already! They have their crosses, you have yours. No need to be snarky. Perhaps your attendance at a Traditional Latin Mass would be good for your soul.
We miss Holy Communion because is not only a symbol. It is the real Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and without Him we cannot do anything good. We need graces. Please read your catechism-sacraments.
Although frequent reception of Holy Communion is relatively recent in Church history, that doesn’t make it necessarily less desirable. In the Roman Catholic Church, young children didn’t receive Holy Communion until a little more than a century ago, yet, most of us, I’m sure, see that development as a good thing (and consistent with the Church’s Tradition). Saints have encouraged frequent reception of Holy Communion (and frequent Confession). You make a point, however, that it is not necessary and we are now forced to realize the presence of Christ God in ways other than (receiving) Holy Communion. It’s also important to note that minimal requirements are not ideal. They’re just an absolute minimum standard below which we should never fall. I don’t think I’m “required” to tell my wife that I love her or kiss her more than annually. Yet, after 35 years of marriage, I’m absolutely convinced that more frequent expressions of affection and love are better. :)
Great comment, Rick W.
To Ron and Henry: Many graces are received from Confession and Communion. God’s graces help us to live better lives of virtue and deepen our interior lives in Christ, so why wouldn’t you WANT to go to confession frequently and receive Our Lord as frequently as possible?
I miss receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist. However, I follow the guidance of the Holy Father in this pandemic. It would be wrong to gather for the celebration of the Holy Mass which could result in many deaths. The Lord understands. We must not be selfish about what we want during this pandemic but instead think of what Our Lord wants.
Receiving the Bread of Life in the state of grace could never cause death, and if it did, What a way to die!
O memorial wondrous of the Lord’s own death! Living Bread, that givest all Thy creatures breath, grant my spirit ever by Thy life may live, to my taste Thy sweetness never failing give.
Pelican of mercy, Jesu Lord and God, cleanse me wretched sinner, in Thy precious Blood: Blood whereof one drop for humankind outpoured might from all transgressions have the world restored.
Jesu, Whom now veiled I by faith descry, what my soul doth thirst for, do not, Lord, deny. That Thy Face unveiled I at last may see, with the blissful vision blest, my God, of Thee.
— English translation of Adoro TE, 5-7, by St. Thomas Aquinas