Eucharistic Ministers Mass 2009
June 2009
From the first days when the Breaking of Bread (the Mass) was celebrated the only reason that some of the consecrated bread was retained after Mass was that it could be brought to those members of the Christian community who could not come physically to participate in the Breaking of Bread. The reason this was done was because these people were present at the Breaking of Bread in every respect except physically, therefore they had the right to eat the bread. Therefore it was a sign of their full communion with and participation in, the life and work of the Christian community to which they belonged.
Over the centuries the practise of retaining the Consecrated Bread, as described above, evolved into a cult of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with all sorts of offshoots which to a large extent distorted our understanding of the Eucharist. We ended up with a sort of individualistic devotion to ‘sweet Jesus’ who was the lonely prisoner in the tabernacle and who needed someone there to keep him company.
For those whose faith was deeply rooted in their Christian community. For those who understood that the breaking of bread was the great sign of their oneness with Christ and through him with each other. For those who were involved in helping and sharing with each other within the Christian community, these cults of devotion to the Blessed Sacrament could be taken in their stride.
Unfortunately for most Catholics it focused them away from the Christian community into an I/Thou relationship with God. Their religion became a private relationship between them and God or them and Jesus. As a result of these peripheral devotions was that many became obsessed with their own unworthiness and sinfulness and the need for constant penance and reparation.
This is what happened to Catholicism in Ireland. Some of the results of this type of spirituality have been coming in recently. People are shocked today that such institutional abuse and callousness towards the vulnerable could have occurred over such a long period, not only in church run institutions but in government agencies and in the Irish family unit.
This from a country which was 100% Christian.
This from a country which boasted 95% church attendance.
This from people who spent long hours in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
This from people who were weekly and in many cases daily communicants.
When I was growing up if you didn’t get the last rites just before you died you were presumed to be in Hell or at least Purgatory where you endured years and years of cleansing fire. This was of course the will of an infinitely merciful God.
From this it was a short step to thinking that you deserved suffering and hardship, it was God’s will and it was good for you.
So as Eucharistic Ministers you must never lose sight of the Christian Community from which the Eucharist comes. When you bring communion to the sick and the housebound you are not bringing Jesus to them. They are already united with Jesus and Communion is the great sign of this unity and of their participation in the community ‘breaking of bread.’ It is as much your duty to bring them the news, the love, the concern and the help of the Christian Community as it is to bring them Holy Communion.
From the reactions of the housebound whom you serve I know that many of you are already doing this.