I wonder how many people live in perpetual darkness in a state of mortal sin. How many approach for Communion every Sunday after a week of immersing themselves in pornography or engaging in sodomy, contraception, fornication, adultery, theft, slander, scandal, etc. -- all the seven deadly sins.
How many then, in their rationalization, professing to be "devout Catholics," betray Jesus like Judas with the kiss of sacrilege?
Yesterday, Fr. Tom wrote cogently about Our Lord saying "No Mas!" I thought of that today as I prayed the Mass at St. John Bosco in front of the tabernacle using St. Jean Vianney's 14th Eucharistic Meditation on "Unworthy Communion" as my "homily." Sobering indeed and a warning to those who dare to profane Christ with sacrilegious Communions.
St. Jean, patron of parish priests, calls sacrilege, "that horrible crime" and goes on to describe its impact:
1. It outrages God more than all other mortal sins. It attacks the Person of Jesus Christ himself, instead of scorning only his commndments, lke other mortal sins.
2. Whoever communicates unworthily "crucifies Jesus Christ in his heart." He submits him to a death more ignominious and humiliating than that of the Cross....The death of Jesus Christ on Calvary was violent and painful, but at least all nature seemed to bear witness to his pain. The least sensible of creatures appeared to be affected by it, and thus wishful to share the Saviour's sufferings. Here there is nothing of this: Jesus is insulted, outraged by a vile nothingness, and all keeps silence; everything appears insensible to his humiliations....My God, how can a Christian have the heart to go to the holy table with sin in his soul, there to put Jesus Christ to death?
3. Unworthy Communion is a more criminal profanation than that of the holy places. A pagan emperor, in hatred of Jesus Christ, placed infamous idols on Calvary and he believed that in doing this he could not carry further his fury against Jesus Christ. Ah! great God! Was that anything to be compared with the unworthy communicant?....Alas! What shall I say? That poor wretch united the Holy of Holies to a prostitute soul, and sells him to iniquitin. Yes, that poor wretch plunges his God into a raging hell. Is it possible to conceive anything more dreadful?
4. Unworthy Communion is in certain respects a greater crime than the deicide of the Jews. St. Paul tells us that if the Jews had known Jesus Christ as the Saviour they would never have put him to suffering or death; but can you, my friend, be ignorant of him whom you are going to receive?...If you are guilty, unhappy man, do not draw near; or else tremble, lest the thunders of heaven be hurled upon your criminal head to punish you and cast your soul into hell.
5. Unworthy Communion imitates and renews the crime of Judas. The traitor, by a kiss of peace, delivered Jesus Christ to his enemies, but the unworthy communicant carries his cruel duplicity yet further. Having lied to the Holy Ghost in the tribunal of penance by hiding or disguising some sin, he dares, this wretch, to go with a hypocritical reverence on his face, and place himself among the faithful destined to eat this Bread. Ah! no, nothing stops this monster of ingratitude; he comes forward and is about to consummate his reprobation. In vain that tender Saviour, seeing that he is coming to him, fries from his tabernacle, as to the perfidious Judas: "Friend, whereto art thou come?...Stop, stop, my son; I pray thee spare me!" Neither the remorse of his conscience nor the tender reproaches made him by his God can stop his criminal steps....He is going to stab his God and Saviour. O heavens! what a horror! Can you indeed behold this wretched murderer of your Creator without trembling?
When I look back on my own life and see my own sacrilegious Communions (I was a teenager and young adult during the turbulent '60s), I thank God for his mercy and kindness to me! And I say with St. Joan of Arc who was asked if she was in the state of grace, "If I am not, may God put me there; if I am, may He keep me there."
The one good thing about the suspension of public Masses and the loss of the bread of life, is that there is currently "no mas" -- no more sacrilegious Communions to grieve the heart of Jesus and submerge unrepentant sinners even further into the demonic sludge. Let us thank God for that blessing and offer our desert time for those who are teetering on the brink of hell. May they come to a clear realization of their danger and repent. And may every one of us repent every day for the sins and faults, even venial sins, that grieve Our Lord. Let us pray for the grace of final repentance at the hour of death for ourselves and others.
Lord Jesus, crucified for out sins, have mercy on us.
Our Lady, refuge of sinners, pray for us.
St. Joseph, patron of a holy death, pray for us.
St. Jean Vianney, patron of parish priests, pray for us.
St. Jeanne d'Arc, pray for us
St. Roch, patron of plague victims, pray for us.
I too have regretted unworthy communions. I am so grateful for your bringing this up. This time of lent and its importance is brought starkly before all with this chastisement. It is a great merciful warning to repent, stop sinning, grieving God. Most especially stop killing and corrupting and enslaving one another with the defense of the unborn innocents a primary moral requirement for this nation to continue as blessed by God. Look around at the whole world's other countries. Why would we give up freedom as a blessing from God to become like that? Most people are risking everything to come here for its blessings which we are on the brink of throwing away. God is a loving Father and is warning us what life will be like not only eternally but on earth without Him. He gave each of us free choice and we are responsible for each of our choices between good and evil daily. Pray people will repent.
ReplyDeleteThe people 'in sin' you reference are not going to churh, and are not Catholics in good standing and are certainly not reading these words. I had hope when I saw your response to Aqua this morning... and then you submit this. In the next six weeks we are going to see suffering and death not seen in 100 years. I implore you to turn away from your sins of pride, hate, denial of fact, vengeance, spite, racism, and an ability to react to change in the year 2020. Who are you to Judge others? Where is your support of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy? Receiving commuinion in the state of grace or not is really not important in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. You could use this blog for GOOD but you continue your rant of hate and judgement. Is this how Jesus lived his life on earth? Compassion, prayer, helping others, and support of the Church you claim to be a member of, will leave a better spiritual legacy. Church Militant and blogs like yours are doomed for eventual failure as the world ingnores anything you have to say because of your mantle of HATE. You have even slammed Pope Francis but the President gets a pass under the guise of abortion?
ReplyDeleteTexas was smart.. The consider abortion elective surgery during the pandemic and have stopped all Abortion! A Catholic Governor! The are things that should be un your blog positive facts not rubrics on how to be a good Christian. PEOPLE ARE DYING! Please please consider what this blog could be. Praised be Jesus Christ..
I'm shocked! You obviously don't think sacrilege is a big deal. Are you serious about those committing sacrilege not going to Church? Nancy Pelosi calls herself a "devout Catholic" and is in church every week if we are to believe her. I was at a daily Mass once in D.C. where Ted Kennedy, another 100% abortion proponent was in the congregation, and Tim Kaine another champion of child killing is praised by his ear-tickling pastor. Joe Biden sometimes goes to Holy Trinity in Georgetown when he is in town.
ReplyDeleteSacrilege is a sin against the FIRST COMMANDMENT. That is the most important command God gave us.
I don't judge the state of any man's soul, but I have an obligation to judge actions and I do that according the laws of the Church and scripture. If you have an argument with that you are talking to the wrong person. You are shaking your fist at God.
I don't know you but I can make a reasonable "judgment" using the seat of judgment, my reason, to recognize that you do not think with a Catholic mind. I haven't judged anyone in this post. I've shared the words of a saint who brought many, many souls to repentance and spiritual life and is the patron saint of parish priests.
If you don't like what you read here, why do you come? Go somewhere where the words and thoughts please your ears.
And we don't judge your soul, Mary Ann, but we judge your actions. And Anonymous hit the nail on the head. Thank you Anonymous. Mary Ann, I do hope you will come to see the truth of what Anonymous wrote. We are in the midst of the worst pandemic in modern times, and yet you continue to rant and rage, showing no compassion for the great suffering all around you.
ReplyDeleteMost people who receive communion unworthily have no idea what they are doing. They will be judged very lightly. But those of us who claim to know what we are doing will receive a much harsher judgemnt.
You can say and do all the right things, but if you have no love, it means nothing. I see no love on your blog. That is what your words say. There is no other way to judge them.
Why are you still coming to my blog, Mary. You've said many times you aren't coming any more. You're like a moth to a flame. I can just see you cheering if I get sick so you can say, "I told you so." But I have no doubt you will do it in a most loving manner. And that is the last I'm responding to you. You may continue to rant and rage about how hateful and unloving I am. I presume you include St. Jean Vianney in that judgment.
ReplyDeleteMary Ann,
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you block that woman in Brooklyn? She's very tiresome. She sees "no love on your blog" because she herself does not display love.
Also, there are a few who might not want me to die, but if I died of CV they would say, "Seeee! I told her so! If only she had listened!"
So I pray not to die of CV, not because I'm afraid of it, but because I don't want anyone to say "I told her so! She didn't listen and now she's dead...of Coronavirus. HA!"
Wow rather then get into a proper debate over her posts...Mary Ann makes a decision to play the victim! How very sad. Her twitter page has only 274 followers and 88 following so Praise the Lord that this spiritual pandemic of her creation is somewhat contained. Thank goodness for my sister in Christ in Brooklyn.
ReplyDelete2 Timothy 2- 24 -26
But the servant of the Lord must not wrangle: but be mild towards all men, apt to teach, patient.
With modesty admonishing them that resist the truth: if preadventure God may give them repentence to know the truth;
And they may recover themselves from the snares of the devil by whom they are held captive at his will.
Douay-Rheims The Holy Bible published 1941 With notes ' On the study of the Holy Scriptures.' by Pope Leo XIII
I challenge your Mary Ann to cease from posting for the next seven days and instead study and pray on 2 Timothy 2 - the entire chapter. Also Titus 3:10 and 1 Timothy 5:20 I will at the same time be praying for your conversion!!! And I am going to follow you everyday going forward. In thee O Lord have I trusted...
I've debated plenty, Anonymous, but, unlike you, I never "debate" dressed in a cloak of anonymity. You need to read your own quote: "the servant of the Lord must not wrangle: but be mild towards all men, apt to teach, patient" LOL!
ReplyDelete