Works of Mercy and the Gift of Friendship

We went to the funeral yesterday of a wonderful man. We've known him for decades and although we weren't close family friends, we had many connections through the pro-life movement. As we were getting ready I thought what a great opportunity it was to practice both a corporal work of mercy, bury the dead, and a spiritual work of mercy, pray for the living and the dead. Not only that, but we saw several people we knew and rejoiced in the brief moment allowing us to renew our friendships.

So many people are gifts, some for a lifetime, some for a season. A relative once questioned my statement about being a friend to another relative whom my husband and I supported at a crucial time. She said, "You aren't friends." It was true that we hadn't had much contact for several years, but I still objected. My reply was to ask if the Good Samaritan was a friend to the wounded Jew. How much of a relationship did they have? Did the Good Samaritan ever meet the man again or had he already recovered and gone when he returned to the inn? To stand by someone in need and then lose touch altogether or even go low contact doesn't erase a time of friendship when someone may have been in great need.

Priest Refuses Communion on the Tongue to Kneeling Catholic

To be fair, there were other priests (You can see them in the video.) who gave Communion on the tongue. But this rogue priest knows better than God and felt he had the right to deny the Eucharist to someone because he dared to kneel and try to receive on the tongue. Well, I hope someone identifies the priest and he receives the censure he deserves for denying the canonical rights of the man. Perhaps soon, the priest's action will be the norm, but for now it was a canonical violation that should be exposed. It's especially ironic since Benedict encouraged Communion on the tongue. Lord, have mercy on us for the curse of arrogant priests who inflict their personal desires on Your flock, diminishing reverence for Your sacred. Body and Blood.

A member of the faithful is denied Holy Communion at the Funeral of Pope Benedict XVI because he wanted to receive Our Blessed Lord in the traditional manner, as was often advocated by Benedict himself; on the tongue and kneeling. pic.twitter.com/s8CWVJnE1T

— Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) January 5, 2023