Unworthy of Christ: A Biblical Defense of Catholic Communion

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1 I. Remote inquiry Sinners Meal or Sacred Meal II. Root Instructions - From Scripture and other sources III. Related instructions What do we mean by Communion? What is mortal sin? IV. Relevant Issues Divorce and remarriage Public sinners and dissenters A way forward? General Outline

2 Reflection by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger Nowadays [some] New Testament scholars say that the Eucharist is the continuation of the meals with sinners that Jesus had held.a notion with far-reaching consequences. It would mean that the Eucharist is the sinners banquet, where Jesus sits at the table; [that] the Eucharist is the public gesture by which we invite everyone without exception. The logic of this is expressed in a farreaching criticism of the Church s Eucharist, since it implies that the Eucharist cannot be conditional on anything, not depending on denomination or even on baptism. It is necessarily an open table to which all may come to encounter the universal God,

3 Reflection by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger However tempting the idea may be, it contradicts what we find in the Bible. Jesus Last Supper was not one of those meals he held with "publicans and sinners". He made it subject to the basic form of the Passover, which implies that the meal was held in a family setting. Thus he kept it with his new family, with the Twelve; with those whose feet he washed, whom he had prepared by his Word and by this cleansing of absolution (John 13:10) to receive a blood relationship with him, to become one body with him.

4 Reflection by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger The Eucharist is not itself the sacrament of reconciliation, but in fact it presupposes that sacrament. It is the sacrament of the reconciled, to which the Lord invites all those who have become one with him; who certainly still remain weak sinners, but yet have given their hand to him and have become part of his family.

5 Reflection by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger That is why, from the beginning, the Eucharist has been preceded by a discernment. (I Corinthians 11:27 ff). The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, [the Didache], is one of the oldest writings outside the New Testament, from the beginning of the Second Century, it takes up this apostolic tradition and has the priest, just before distributing the sacrament saying: "Whoever is holy, let him approach, whoever is not, let him do penance. (Didache 10)

6 I. Remote inquiry Sinners Meal or Sacred Meal II. Root Instructions - From Scripture and other sources III. Related instructions What do we mean by Communion? What is mortal sin? IV. Relevant Issues Divorce and remarriage Public sinners and dissenters A way forward? General Outline

7 Relevant Scriptures So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. (1 Cor 11:27-32)

8 Relevant Scriptures Lord, who is it [who will betray you]? Jesus answered, It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it. So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, What you are going to do, do quickly. Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, Buy what we need for the feast, or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. (Jn 13:21-30)

9 Relevant Scriptures So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny (Mat 5:21-26)

10 Canon Law Canon 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or to receive the Body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible.

11 Catechism Catechism 1385 To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

12 Didache If any one is holy, let him approach; if any one is not so, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen. (Didache 10) But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, "Give not that which is holy to the dogs." (Didache 9)

13 Ratzinger Memo Presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion should be a conscious decision, based on a reasoned judgment regarding one s worthiness to do so, according to the Church s objective criteria, asking such questions as: "Am I in full communion with the Catholic Church? Am I guilty of grave sin? Have I incurred a penalty (e.g. excommunication, interdict) that forbids me to receive Holy Communion? Have I prepared myself by fasting for at least an hour?" The practice of indiscriminately presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion, merely as a consequence of being present at Mass, is an abuse that must be corrected (cf. Instruction "Redemptionis Sacramentum," nos. 81, 83). (Ratzinger Memo to McCarrick, # 1)

14 I. Remote inquiry Sinners Meal or Sacred Meal II. Root Instructions - From Scripture and other sources III. Related instructions What do we mean by Communion? What is mortal sin? IV. Relevant Issues Divorce and remarriage Public sinners and dissenters A way forward? General Outline

15 What do we mean by Communion? More than a me and Jesus concept To be united to Jesus is to be united to his Body, the Church It is also to be united to his mind and heart, therefore to his teachings and the values and priorities of his heart. I believe all that the Holy Catholic Church believes, teaches and professes to be revealed by God.

16 Exodus 24:4-8 Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do. Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his."

17 I. Remote inquiry Sinners Meal or Sacred Meal II. Root Instructions - From Scripture and other sources III. Related instructions What do we mean by Communion? What is mortal sin? IV. Relevant Issues Divorce and remarriage Public sinners and dissenters A way forward? General Outline