Would be interested in your thoughts on this commentary on the Eucharist: It is in the Eucharist that all that has been created finds its greatest exaltation. Grace, which tends to manifest itself tangibly, found unsurpassable expression when God himself became man and gave himself as food for his creatures. The Lord, in the culmination of the mystery of the Incarnation, chose to reach our intimate depths through a fragment of matter. He comes not from above, but from within, he comes that we might find him in this world of ours. In the Eucharist, fullness is already achieved; it is the living centre of the universe, the overflowing core of love and of inexhaustible life. Joined to the incarnate Son, present in the Eucharist, the whole cosmos gives thanks to God. Indeed the Eucharist is itself an act of cosmic love: “Yes, cosmic! Because even when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world”. The Eucharist joins heaven and earth; it embraces and penetrates all creation. The world which came forth from God’s hands returns to him in blessed and undivided adoration: in the bread of the Eucharist, “creation is projected towards divinization, towards the holy wedding feast, towards unification with the Creator himself”. Thus, the Eucharist is also a source of light and motivation for our concerns for the environment, directing us to be stewards of all creation.
Spot on. Its cosmic fantasy masquerading as Catholicism. The Eucharist as a fragment of matter. That's the worst description of the Eucharist in 2000 years of Christianity. Even Martin Luther was closer to the truth than that cosmic drivel. No its the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ.
Hippy virtue signalling for self proclaimed intellectuals. There I said it and yes I read the whole document a while back. Jesus spoke in parables, often so that the Scribes and Pharisees would not understand Him. Yet, he always explained his parables to the Apostles who followed Him. Sadly, I often find myself in the Scribe and Pharisee camp when it comes to the writing of these Popes. I'm not giving Luther any kudos though, I think you've gone too far garabandal.
You are correct Garabandal the Eucharist is not a fragment of Matter, but the bread from Heaven. (The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity)! Priest: You have given them Bread from Heaven! All: Having in its self All Delight! Mary Ann posted this in the Thread "The Most Blessed Eucharist" a few years ago An article from 2005 about what Saint John Paul II said about the Eucharist http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/n...for_confession_purity_in_receiving_eucharist/ The date of the article, March 14, 2005 was when Saint Pope John Paul II was ill from advanced Parkinson's Disease and in the Gemelli hospital with the flu. It was also written less than a month before he died. He sent a letter dated March 8, 2005 to several priests. He wrote this from the hospital. Many people have said that he had mystical experiences. He wrote about the urgency of the call to conversion and need to confess one’s sins. The message was addressed to Cardinal James F. Stafford, major penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, to his collaborators, to father confessors of Roman basilicas, and to numerous other priests. He said in part, "only people with a sincere awareness of not having committed mortal sin may receive the body of Christ." The Pope called for the Eucharistic mystery to be celebrated "with pureness of heart and sincere love." He concluded, "Clearly and simply preach the true doctrine concerning the need of the Sacrament of reconciliation for receiving communion, when one is aware of not being in God's grace. At the same time, encourage the faithful to receive the body and blood of Christ in order to be purified of venial sins and imperfections, so that Eucharistic celebrations are pleasing to God and associate us with the offer of the holy and immaculate Victim with a heart that is contrite and humbled, confident and reconciled.”
It does have a hint of Teilhard about it. But parts of it are also reminiscent of Chapter 8 of St. Paul's letter to the Romans. In fairness to Pope Francis, I think that by "fragment matter" he meant the post-transubstantiation appearance or accidents rather than the substance of the Eucharist. Pope Francis has been giving a series of catechises on prayer. I watched the very beginning but only lasted until about his third sentence before switching off because I felt he was about to personify the earth and deliver another lecture on climate change. He referred to prayer as groaning and said that the earth prays because scripture tells us that it groans. I should have had more patience and respect for his teaching authority but this lockdown has my nerves on edge and I wasn't in the mood for waffle. Anyway, St. Paul tells us in Roman 8 that all creation is groaning in labour pains. That paragraph about the Eucharist coming from Laudato Si, I think it very possible that we can expect to hear more about animals, the environment, planet earth and the cosmos in the context of St. Paul's epistle to the Romans although not (I hope) to the extent of Teilhard's Cosmic Christ Mass on the World. I would like to learn some more on Catholic teaching about St. Paul's epistle to the Romans. Do you know of any trustworthy reading material?
I find some contradictions in the Pope's reflection on the Eucharist in Laudato Si --the Pope says He does not come from above but from within -- yet Christ clearly taught His Body and flesh come from above -- John 6v51 - 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." The Church fathers taught that it is the bread that He is the Bread that comes down from Heaven. But if that text (Lev 24:5-9) is taken to refer to the greatness of what is mystically symbolized, then there is a 'commemoration' which has an EFFECT OF GREAT PROPITIATORY VALUE. If you apply it to that 'Bread which came down from heaven and gives life to the world,' that shewbread which 'God has offered to us as a means of reconciliation, in virtue of faith, ransoming us with his blood,' and if you look to that commemoration of which the Lord says, 'Do this in commemoration of me,' then you will find that this is the unique commemoration WHICH MAKES GOD PROPITIOUS TO MEN. (Origen Homilies on Leviticus 9 c185-254AD)
Indeed the Church Father's are explicit in their writings that the Eucharist consists of two elements earthly and heavenly. St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 140 - 202 A.D.) …He took from among creation that which is bread, and gave thanks, saying, "THIS IS MY BODY." The cup likewise, which is from among the creation to which we belong, HE CONFESSED TO BE HIS BLOOD. He taught THE NEW SACRIFICE OF THE NEW COVENANT, of which Malachi, one of the twelve prophets, had signified beforehand: [quotes Mal 1:10-11]. By these words He makes it plain that the former people will cease to make offerings to God; BUT THAT IN EVERY PLACE SACRIFICE WILL BE OFFERED TO HIM, and indeed, a pure one; for His name is glorified among the Gentiles. (Against Heresies 4:17:5) But what consistency is there in those who hold that the bread over which thanks have been given IS THE BODY OF THEIR LORD, and the cup HIS BLOOD, if they do not acknowledge that He is the Son of the Creator… How can they say that the flesh which has been nourished BY THE BODY OF THE LORD AND BY HIS BLOOD gives way to corruption and does not partake of life? …For as the bread from the earth, receiving the invocation of God, IS NO LONGER COMMON BREAD BUT THE EUCHARIST, consisting of two elements, earthly and heavenly… (Against Heresies 4:18:4-5) If the BODY be not saved, then, in fact, neither did the Lord redeem us with His BLOOD; and neither is the cup of the EUCHARIST THE PARTAKING OF HIS BLOOD nor is the bread which we break THE PARTAKING OF HIS BODY…He has declared the cup, a part of creation, TO BE HIS OWN BLOOD, from which He causes our blood to flow; and the bread, a part of creation, HE HAS ESTABLISHED AS HIS OWN BODY, from which He gives increase to our bodies. When, therefore, the mixed cup and the baked bread receives the Word of God and BECOMES THE EUCHARIST, THE BODY OF CHRIST, and from these the substance of our flesh is increased and supported, how can they say that the flesh is not capable of receiving the gift of God, WHICH IS ETERNAL LIFE -- flesh which is nourished BY THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD…receiving the Word of God, BECOMES THE EUCHARIST, WHICH IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST… (Against Heresies 5:2:2-3)
Here are some reflections on the Eucharist by Pope Francis that he should have put in Laudato Si instead of that cosmic stuff -- This is what we experience in today’s celebration: the Lord who wants to remain with us in the Eucharist. And we become the Lord’s tabernacles, carrying the Lord with us; to the point that he himself tells us: if we do not eat his body and drink his blood, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven. This is a mystery, bread and wine, the Lord with us, within us, inside us. The Eucharist is the synthesis of Jesus entire existence, which was a single act of love for the Father and for His brothers and sisters. There too in the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus took the bread in His hands, offered the prayer of blessing to the Father, broke the bread and gave it to the disciples; and likewise with the cup of wine. But at that moment, on the eve of his passion, he sought to leave in that gesture of the new and eternal covenant, a perpetual memorial of His paschal death and resurrection. The feast of Corpus Christi each year invites us to renew the amazement and joy for this wonderful gift of the Lord, who is the Eucharist. Let us welcome Him with gratitude. The Eucharist is Jesus himself who gives himself entirely to us. Nourishing ourselves of Him and abiding in Him through Eucharistic Communion, if we do so with faith, transforms our life, transforms it into a gift to God and to our brothers and sisters. Nourishing ourselves of that “Bread of Life” means entering into harmony with the heart of Christ, assimilating his choices, his thoughts, his behaviour. It means entering into a dynamism of love and becoming people of peace, people of forgiveness, of reconciliation, of sharing in solidarity. The very things that Jesus did. Jesus concludes his discourse with these words: “he who eats this bread will live for ever” (Jn 6:58). Yes, living in real communion with Jesus on this earth lets us pass from death to life. Heaven begins precisely in this communion with Jesus.
I'm going to delete my comments on PF. I am uneasy in being publicly critical. ( on my way to confession and this seems to be an issue)
https://onepeterfive.com/bishop-sch...crusade-of-reparation-for-eucharistic-abuses/ In this very recent article, Bishop Athanasius Schneider suggests that each person give at least one hour of Adoration per month in reparation for sins and offenses committed against our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. He refers to St. Francisco Marto, Pope John Paul II, and others. It is edifying that a member of the hierarchy suggests a solution to the problem. This is what I have been waiting for.
Online live Adoration at Savior.org all the time except during Mass Or there is online live Adoration through EWTN Check times
