2nd Sunday after Epiphany (Holy Communion) His Mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye. 1. The marriage feast of Cana is famous for His Majesty s first miracle of turning water into wine good wine, wine that is aged and delightful to the taste wine that cheers the heart. This miracle, with of the six stone water jars, shows to the power of God. As we know, at a word, God created the Universe out of nothing, in six days, while making it look old. It also shows how God can also make the substance of bread and wine change instantly at the word of the priest into His Body and Blood. How sad that the sorcerers and alchemists of the world down through the ages have tried and tried to find ways to transform lead or mercury into gold or find a universal elixir ever seeking the philosopher s stone. Here it is right here in the Holy Mass the elixir of eternal life delightful and fine wine that cheers the coldest of hearts. The Precious Blood NO Philosopher (Socerer) Stone needed. We have the ROCK of the Altar to which the priest speaks and out comes the elixir of eternal life! The Lord of lords has entered this world and wed Himself to our lowly human nature. The wine of old ways, especially those emanating from hell such as the philosopher stone and alchemy, must cease for now there is the new wine of Christ s Precious Blood. 2. Although I would love to pursue this Gospel more, most especially how St. Jerome, and later Thomas Aquinas, taught the bridegroom at the wedding in Cana was none other than the beloved disciple St. John explaining how he left the good of marriage for the better life of a virginal apostle although I would love to explore what this means for priestly celibacy and religious life as well as holy matrimony, today I want to address a few matters surrounding the reception of Holy Communion that seem to be bothering some people. Most notably when and how often ought we to receive Holy Communion? 3. There is more here than can be answered in a Sunday sermon, but let s begin by recalling what the Church did in the past, withholding judgment of whether we think it was fitting or not as we are biased by modern practices and ideas, me thinks. Before Pope St. Pius X opened up the door for more frequent reception of Holy Communion, the faithful were
more reserved about approaching the Altar Railing, only being required by the Church to go once a year, what is called the Easter Duty. (St. Therese rightly complained that His Majesty does not descend from heaven to dwell in a ciborium but in hearts of His faithful.) Normally, the faithful were advised on how often to receive by their confessor, thereby making a link between the priest in Confession and at Priest at Mass. This makes perfect sense since the same Blood with which the priest absolves sins in the confession is only made possible by his offering the Holy Mass at the altar. This is why only priests can hear confessions and absolve. What is more, this encouraged people to go to confession more. It also enabled the priest to encourage the devout to improve their piety while challenging those of a more worldly disposition to further conversion. WE must never forget, man is often not a very good judge in his own case. It helps to get some outside guidance. 4. Not surprisingly, with such a system in place, the communion lines were some what shorter. Have you ever visited a museum where they show you the irons used to make the Communion Hosts? It is obvious they were not very likely to be used for mass production which is what we need in these times. Although some struggled with fasting from midnight to receive, the majority were most likely not ready or willing to follow the advice of the confessor to improve their lives. This is human nature. 5. Not surprisingly this system was abused at times, by both parties. Here are two examples. (i) St. Teresa of Jesus had a group of nuns receiving Holy Communion daily insisting vehemntly that they would die if they did not go the altar rail daily. When she came to visit that Convent, she informed them that this practice was not to continue and they would soon see they would not die. After some days and weeks of obeying under duress, they suddenly found that they were better and free of the selfwilled mentality and they did not die after all. Their virtue improved and their ability to get more from Holy Communion increased!! 6. (ii) In a 17 th Century convent of the Sisters of St. Jerome just on the outskirts of Venice (Bassano), Blessed Giovana Bonomo (d. 1670) was often unjustly blocked from reception of Holy Communion by the
confessor. This poor priest was greatly influenced by a clique of nuns working to undermine the saint. Although she longed to receive Holy Communion frequently, her confessor forbade her to go to Communion even on Sundays and feast days without his leave. She would line up for Communion with the other sisters only to be turned away almost every time. At times she had to wait six months. Yet, one day God intervened by sending his angel to take a host from the ciborium held by the priest after he had denied Joanna. When the priest came to the last sister, he discovered to his chagrin that he did not have enough hosts even though he had carefully counted the number ahead of time. After Mass he asked Joanna if she knew what had happened. When she explained the angel gave her Holy Communion, this priest finally began to see the truth of the matter. 7. In our times, with frequent Communion being the norm, the role of the confessor just described has been more or less ended. As we just heard, this does prevent power priests from controlling people unnecessarily. One the other hand, now every Catholic is free to decide whether they want to go or not, and with everyone going, we wonder how many sacrilegious communions take place in the world today? Also, as you can imagine, the priest basically only has his voice, and the threat of denying absolution, to encourage people to a better life. 8. Please take note. I am not encouraging or advocating a return to this practice until the Church restores it as that is above my position (want to avoid dangers of power priests and personality cults). As I said, this has seemingly been given to the people themselves. Nevertheless, here some things to help us decide and discern 9. Since the 1970 s a new thing has come about, namely the ability to go to Holy Communion twice a day. I have actually witnessed and heard about people going three times, sad to say. This is because they were not aware of the law. But why not? If the Mass has been reduced to a banquet, as even John Paul II openly admitted was the case in one of his earliest apostolic letters Dominicae Cenae, no. 11, then the result is everyone ought to go at every Mass. Why go to Mass if you are not going to
partake. What if you go more than once?? Hmmm. 10. Not surprisingly, in the 1970 s the Vatican opened the door to a second Communion for the sake of unity when the second Mass was a ritual mass such as a funeral or wedding. In this way, by going to Communion, the faithful attending show they are in union with those receiving the ritual. UNITY as the main reason not to help the faithful get more graces. 11. This was just a stepping stone to the door opening wider with 1983 Code of Canon law where it says that as long as the person attends the entire Mass the second time, they can receive Holy Communion again. NO special circumstances, such as a ritual Mass, are required. To justify this, I once heard the late Fr. John Hardon, may he rest in peace, make an argument for receiving twice in one day, namely that we are in a new age of martyrs and we need the strength to persevere. Perhaps, but truth be told, all this is completely unprecedented and no saints or doctors heretofore have made these arguments. Our Lord told us to ask for our Daily Bread not breads. The priest in encouraged to offer Daily Mass not Masses. To offer more, he is supposed to have a faculty to do so from his bishop as well as a just cause for saying additional Masses. 12. No wonder Fr. Mateo had this insight back in the mid 20 th C Alas, for many good Christians the Eucharist consists merely of Holy Communion. They do not come to Mass for the purpose of adoring, praising, and blessing the Most Holy Trinity, per Ipsum, et cum Ipso, et in Ipso, but only in order to receive Holy Communion. For too many Holy Mass is, after all, but the liturgical key which opens the tabernacle door. The official praise given to God by the Church though the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is very often entirely overlooked Fr. Mateo. 13. But I propose yet another reason why so many get up and go to Communion at nearly every Mass they attend. Because the priest receives at every Mass. If he does, why not me too at every Mass. This, of course, is egalitarianism a leveling. The priest is confecting a Sacrifice He is re-presenting Calvary for us for the sake of divine Worship of God
and to do this properly, he must make the Body and Blood of Christ present separately using the double consecration as well as consuming the species. The window of Calvary is open between these two events. This is what makes a Mass. The priest absolutely must receive both species to make the Mass valid. The people in the pews do not need to receive at all to make it valid. It is important not to confuse the two. 14. What to do? Here are some suggestions on how to consider these things, keeping in mind the principle that Tradition keeps us sane. What did they do heretofore? It worked for 100s of years, why not now? This is sticking to the rule of faith mentioned by St. Paul in the Lesson. 15. (i) Treat Mass first and foremost as a Sacrifice it requires a priest to consecrate and receive Holy Communion under both kinds but this same sacrifice does not require those in the pews to receive. Thus, we must not feel compelled to receive just because the priest does. Let us not forget that even though priests are above the people in sacramental order they are not necessarily above them in holiness and virtue. Not everything the priest does can or should be imitated by all. 16. (ii) Do not go to the altar rail just because everyone else is going. Even though the discipline of old has been relaxed, I would recommend sticking to Tradition which has always been Holy Communion is received at most once per day only. As St. Teresa taught her nuns, we will not die by not going every time it is offered. 17. (iii) Build up your piety and devotion and be willing to forego reception of Holy Communion at times when you are not properly prepared. One way to prepare well is explained by the Council of Trent, namely by making spiritual communions and visits to the Blessed Sacrament. Be sure also to prepare the body and soul for this Divine Gift by fasting and saying your daily prayers. 18. I will end with this sermon with two stories from the life of St. Jean Vianney cf. The Insight of the Cure D Ars, XX, pp. 115-117