Eucharist is being abused - Gozo Bishop
Catholics living in mortal sin through an extramarital relationship cannot receive Holy Communion, even though there may be special circumstances excusing them, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has insisted.
"If one is behaving in a way which in itself is a form of moral disorder, even if the person in question, subjectively, has reasons that excuse him or her or reduce guilt, this person still cannot receive Holy Communion because this would create scandal for others," he said.
Mgr Grech's words, in a homily he gave on Sunday, are the latest statement on a controversy that erupted after Fr George Dalli last month said he would administer Holy Communion to a woman whom he knew was involved in an extramarital relationship.
In his homily, Mgr Grech did not make specific references but said: "Lately, there are teachings being spread in our midst which go against the Catholic Church's doctrine about the Eucharist. We are living in times where, though we appear to be religious, we're losing the sacred sense of things and in this way we end up abusing of the Eucharist."
He said the Church had consistently taught that whoever committed mortal sin, which also encompassed cohabiting, had to confess before receiving the Eucharist. "Because to receive communion we have to be in God's grace and mortal sin denies us this state of grace."
The bishops had already issued an official statement in the wake of Fr Dalli's comments, highlighting that couples who live together without being married "should not present themselves" for the Eucharist.
Fr Dalli did not actually encourage such couples to present themselves for communion but said: "I would be abusing my power were I not to administer Holy Communion." In fact, canon lawyer Fr Brendan Gatt told The Sunday Times that priests could only refuse to administer Holy Communion in "extreme" circumstances, which did not include cases involving cohabiting couples or divorcees.
Mgr Grech's homily follows on this principle of placing the onus on the individual, citing the warning that St Paul gave in his letter to the Corinthians, that people should examine themselves well before presenting themselves to "eat the bread..."
However, the Gozo bishop also raised a question mark over a grey area that some priests have been highlighting in the debate.
During the weekly TV programme Xarabank in which he made his comments, Fr Dalli made another point which prompted debate, when he distinguished between the different reasons leading people to cohabit. He insisted he could not condemn a married woman who had been abandoned with three children and who had found meaning and love in a new relationship.
Other priests supported this differentiation publicly, arguing that often such matters were best addressed by believers and their spiritual directors or confessors since all cases were unique.
Fr Gatt even pointed out that there was a 1981 synod document, Familiaris Consortium, which dealt with these scenarios. The document speaks of divorcees but the situation is analogous to the ones typically seen in Malta: where a separated person has started a new family founded on genuine love.
It contemplates the possibility of couples in this situation receiving Holy Communion with the blessing of the Church. But the situations contemplated are very particular. One of the conditions, for instance, is that the couple in question restrains its relationship to a platonic one as far as possible. It also asks that the couple receive Holy Communion in a place where the congregation is not aware of their situation, so as not to create "scandal".
Mgr Grech dwelled on this point in his homily and asked whether the teachings on the Eucharist had been degraded over time.
"We also have to reflect on whether we have lost the sense of sin, because if for us anything goes, then it would explain certain abuses on the Eucharist."
According to theologian Fr Paul Galea, the bishops were prompted to make the statement to uphold the Church's moral teaching and eliminate scandal and the possibility of people starting to think that the Church was condoning cohabitation.
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Neil Sant
Jun 10th 2010, 13:19
@William P Flynn - 15% attendance? Are you sure. Just asking where you got that statistic. I agree with your comments on this blog.
Joe Zammit
Jun 10th 2010, 11:45
Faith alone is not enough to attain eternal life. Christ requires of us works as well. Show me you faith from your works. Also the devil believes, but he is in hell for ever.
Christ told us that only those who DO his will shall go to heaven. Doing his will = obey ALL the Ten Commandments. Transgressing any one of them is sin, grave or venial, according to the matter and circumstances.
Whoever thinks that by Faith alone will be saved is grossly mistaken. When he or she appears before Christ for judgment, he will tell him or her: depart from me you that do evil, as he told to the 5 foolish virgins who had dead faith (no oil = no works).
Christopher Grech
Jun 10th 2010, 10:43
People wake up!
The Sacraments are only made up by the Churches. In medieval times there was a debate on how many sacraments there should be. One princedom (as states were not yet in place) had 3, whilst others had 5 up to 7.
Then they chose the maximum (7), so that the only place to get them is in church.
There is NO Biblical basis for these sacraments, and if one dares to quote scripture, one can always find a few more against these sacraments.
No wonder that Christ came on earth to abolish religions, so as to be the only High Priest, for all time. This so that the priest would not perverse what God intended for us all, and to preserve all the goodness that God has given us in the Bible.
Dr Francis Saliba
Jun 10th 2010, 16:30
"No wonder that Christ came on earth to abolish religions, so as to be the only High Priest, for all time. This so that the priest would not perverse what God intended for us all, and to preserve all the goodness that God has given us in the Bible." (abstracted from Christopher Grech's manifesto "People wake up!)
"Do not hink that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to destroy but to fulfill" (Christ according to Matt 5:17)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and lo I am with you always to the close of the age" (Christ according to Matthew Ch 28)
Take your pick whom to believe.
Steve Pace
Jun 10th 2010, 09:51
@Gerrie Cowie "Malta is a majority Catholic country and its inhabitants have to act upon their own conscience when receiving Holy Communion. It has to be a personal decision between them and the Good Lord Himself. No amount of mockery or fundentalism or sarcasm will be of any use in this particular situation."
A very sober and well placed comment . I totally agree with you .. Pity that some of the most prophetic symbols of religous doctrine come to describe their fellow catholics who express an opinion as follows.
"...and the louder these critics scream the more they demonstrate their total incompetence to give any advice on religious matters, Their aim is not to improve religion at all. Their aim is to destroy all religious belief while hypocricially pretending that they have the well-being of Christianity at heart.
People who speak in this manner are only doing a disservice to the catholic church and cover up their weakness in arguments and hope that persons are disconsolate from taking advantage of the fundamental human right of freedom of expression . Wishful thinking !
Dr Francis Saliba
Jun 10th 2010, 16:46
@StevePace.
Any conscientious and intelligent person who reads your abstract from my comment in the context in which I wrote it would appreciate the fact that my criticism was NOT levelled at genuine Catholics struggling to find a compromise solution between their predicament and the teaching of the Church. It is directed at people (whom I will not name out of charity) with no pretence of any respect for the Church who promptly grasp every opportunity, no matter what, to denigrate the Church.
Steve Pace
Jun 12th 2010, 09:20
Saliba , "my criticism was NOT levelled at genuine Catholics struggling to find a compromise solution between their predicament and the teaching of the Church."
Which ecclesiastical authority do you excersise to decide who is a genuine catholic or not ?
Dr Francis Saliba
Jun 12th 2010, 19:08
@StevePace
I do not have, and I have never claimed that I have any ecclesiastical authority at all. I only express my own personal opinion but I do stop and think before hitting the keyboard. I do not decide who is a genuine Catholic or who is not but many commentators do not leave much doubt where they stand. Many of them brashly boast about their status.
JOHN O SCERRI
Jun 9th 2010, 08:17
Eucharist is being abused................and Confession is being neglected..............What is wrong I dont know but for sure the queue lined up for communion by far out numbers the queue lined up for confession .
Is this the Roman Catholic religion which in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ states that if you are going to receive communion and you remember that you have a conflict with someone turn back and settle your conflict ?
Do we all do this ?
Are we all at peace with Jesus before we receive communion?
Dr Francis Saliba
Jun 9th 2010, 04:48
From the times of St Paul those who were invested by Christ himself with the onerous duty to “bind and unbind” felt the need to lay down conditions for the worthy reception of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Today there are perplexed Catholics who earnestly desire to receive this sacrament but they find themselves in conflict with the official teaching of the Church. Their legitimate course of action would be to pray, pray and pray again expressing their genuine intense desire to be able to meet the conditions that would make them fit to receive the sacrament worthily and without causing scandal. They should do nothing to give comfort to overt denigrators of the Church whose aim in life is to destroy Christianity especially the Catholic Church, all other religions, and the belief in the very existence of God.
G Falzon
Jun 8th 2010, 23:37
My husband left me after 2 years of marriage. He's moved on and has another partner. I - since I follow my Christian values - have not met anyone, and even if I do, I have to spend my whole life not living together, otherwise I can't receive Holy Communion.
But now that I see that the Church is not making any exceptions for cases like mine, I'm starting to change my beliefs and values.
Does it mean that because my husband left me, I'm doomed to a life of loneliness and singledom? Is this fair? Is this what Christ wants?
Dr Francis Saliba
Jun 10th 2010, 08:53
@GFalzon
Changing your beliefs and values is not the solution to the genuine distress of many innocent people suffering from your cruel predicament. It is much more constructive to pray that the Holy Spirit guide the Church how to exercise its Christ given power to bind and unbind. I have learnt that it is presumptious and useless to expect that God should adopt my proposal in preference to his own. That is what the Christian means when he prays that His will be done.
Victor Egere
Jun 8th 2010, 20:32
@ renald williams. Prosit, you knowledge of the bible is well commendable, thanks and remain blessed
Victor Egere
Jun 8th 2010, 20:25
@ Renald Williams. I really commend you for your personal knowledge of the bible. Flesh and blood did not reveal it to you but by our Father in heaven. Remain blessed.
Gerry Cowie
Jun 8th 2010, 19:51
This sensitive subject ought to be closed to those of the Catholic faith, without the interference of those who are either not Catholic or no longer consider themselves Catholic.
The Church is presently a soft target as we all know. Therefore we should all stand up to attacks on the Church from those who have no interest in it, yet feel the need to go on the attack due to their own secularist and athiest agenda.
Also I note that this is an English Language newspaper and I would urge those who wish to use any other language to remember that there are other publications where this is more appropriate.
Malta is a majority Catholic country and its inhabitants have to act upon their own conscience when receiving Holy Communion. It has to be a personal decision between them and the Good Lord Himself. No amount of mockery or fundentalism or sarcasm will be of any use in this particular situation.
Lydia pullicino
Jun 8th 2010, 18:35
John 7:37 'If any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
It is enough for any man to be thirsty. Jesus does not ask for anything else except that we be thirsty for him. Jesus said 'any man'. This is how Anthony de Mello s.j. explains this part of the gospel in his book 'Sadhana'.
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 17:27
Mgr Mario Grech, the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans thank you for your pastoral care and Christian love for us. We expect you to convey to us from time to time a timely spiritual message. All of us will receive your word: many positively, some negatively. But also these 'some' are somehow receiving it and are not letting it pass by unnoticed.
CHRISTUS VINCIT!
Joseph Calleja
Jun 8th 2010, 18:44
Mr Zammit please don't refer your comments as to we. Kindly do not speak for me. The way you feel is purely your business but nobody made you the peoples's rep. Speaking for yourself is your business but let me speak for myself. Mgr Mario Grech is preaching what he believes in but at least he is not condemning anybody like you seem to be doing.
William P Flynn
Jun 8th 2010, 23:24
Joe Zammit if you say 15% of Maltese who go to church constitutes a "great majority", something's wrong with your math.
Joe Zammit
Jun 10th 2010, 11:44
96% of children made their First Holy Communion on Trinity Sunday. They were prepared by their parents, among others. 96%!
72% go to Mass on a regular basis. Some just don't go every week, but 52% go every week and some of them also every day.
95% of Maltese are Catholic: they are baptized in the Catholic Church and in their whole lives they appear in our churches for many occasions. They receive Catholic priests in their homes as well.
S. Calleja
Jun 10th 2010, 19:11
Don't get too excited Joe.
"96% of children made their First Holy Communion"
As if they had a choice.
"72% go to Mass on a regular basis."
And 50% of them are half asleep.
"95% of Maltese are Catholic:"
Most of them through baptism which they didn't even have a say, not to mention that they have abandoned Catholic practices altogether. Nghidulhom ahna, tal-isem.
Michael Vella
Jun 8th 2010, 17:05
At the end of the day, who really cares what the Gozo bishop says anyway??
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 17:41
You don't care and have referred to our dear Mgr Mario Grech! You care indeed!
Michael Vella
Jun 8th 2010, 19:30
I can't understand your comment - it makes no sense to me at all. Who else should I refer to if not ''YOUR dear Mgr Mario Grech'' seeing that this is a report of his homily???
As for caring - trust me indeed that I have certainly not cared for a long time now.
Dr Francis Saliba
Jun 10th 2010, 09:11
Rest assured that there are many, many people who care what our bishops say. That is what irritates you so much. They include those people who ask me why do I bother to reply to comments that they compare to the braying of asses that would never reach heaven!
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 16:55
When Jesus said, "This is my body..." and "this is my blood," the early followers of Christ believed that Jesus was truly present with them when they took Eucharist that they were consuming Christ himself in some way.
Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus of Lyons, Ambrose of Milan, and many others speak of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. When we receive communion, we truly encounter Christ, partaking of his Body and Blood.
Neil Sant
Jun 10th 2010, 10:21
Dude that's really gross!!
Adrian Farrugia
Jun 8th 2010, 16:44
The leaders of our Catholic Church – One question If I happen to be involved in an accident and my life is at sake and I ask for a priest / I ask the priest to forgive me from my sins, at that moment will the priest abolish my sins?
In our bible Jesus Christ said many false prophets will come and will lead us away from our fait. Is this a case were our Church Leaders are doing so and telling us not to have Holy Communion.
So leaders of our Church do not take this path but try to gather the lost sheep and try to understand their situation come up with a proposal. NOT JUST TELLING US we should not present ourselves" for the Eucharist.
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 16:53
The Catholic Church tells you what to do. Lead a life according to God's Ten (not fewer) Commandments. If you fail, there is the Sacrament of Confession. But to love God all of us must deny ourselves CONTINUOUSLY. We must pray, deny ourselves do God's will on us. Only if we are in the state of grace can we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. it is possible to live in grace.
Dr Francis Saliba
Jun 9th 2010, 07:08
One answer to your one question. A priest would give you an absolution "sub conditionem" and leave it in the hands of God to forgive you if you are truly repentant and if you merit God's forgiveness.
Joe Tabone-Adami
Jun 8th 2010, 16:12
Our Lord's words of encouragement to His followers, by way of describing Himself as the Light of the world and comparing Himself to the vine of Life, have scornfully been derided and been made the subject of a ditty - supposed to be humourous, but actually offensive if not downright blasphemous. May He have pity on the perpetrators, and call them to His real love and forgiveness.
Jesmond Micallef
Jun 8th 2010, 15:45
One should not receive Holy Communion if not in good faithfull moral order. Simple as that, really. Our faith gives us our own moral fibre, if one becomes immune to that, then one shouldn't even bother entering church let alone receive Holy Communion. !!
May God Bless us all. We need him in our lives much more then we could ever think of. The church of God is a place of worship, a place of faith and prayer unlike any other form of social gathering. There, its completely personal, "me and him" !!
Joseph Calleja
Jun 8th 2010, 16:22
There, its completely personal, "me and him" !! No Jesmond it's not as easy as that, even though it should be. There are those who think they know more than you and insist that you follow their input otherwise you are not a good catholic or a good person. Holier than thou people that want to tell you how to live your life or else, even though they don't even know you. A direct line to God is your best communication.
Jesmond Micallef
Jun 8th 2010, 17:29
Joseph, it is very personal indeed as I decide whether I should go to a priest for redemption of my sins or not, a priest does not tell me to do so. !! I am no saintly figure, mind you, but its my own conscience.
Victor Egere
Jun 8th 2010, 15:43
God's plan for you is to live a victorious life through His Word. He wants you to get a hold of His Word, study it and discover your inheritance. You have to know the Word, store it in you, and consciously put it to work in your life. That's what puts you over in life. There's no way of appropriating the blessings of God to your life without the knowledge of the Word. The triumphant Christian life that God has ordained for you to live can only be sustained by the acquisition and right application of the knowledge of His Word. Your victory is in the Word of God, so study it to know it, for only through the knowledge of God's Word will you discover and enjoy your glorious inheritance in Christ. The Word of God is far greater than Holy Communion. Its the Word of God that saved and cleanses. Read your bible to know the truth.Amen
Charles Muscat
Jun 8th 2010, 15:43
Is this important anymore if I may ask the Gozo Bishop?
Joseph Calleja
Jun 8th 2010, 15:07
"Eucharist is being abused - Gozo Bishop" The bishop is so right. So I suggest that he and the laymen ask everybody receiving communion if they committed mortal sin and then deny them communion. In the meantime the bishop should come out with a new list of what constitutes mortal sin. Example, having sex before marriage, cohabitation, stealing, lying, defiling young children, abusing your wife and kids, overpricing medicine, prostitution, dirty politics, politicians excepting bribes, abusing animals etc. And who is going to police all these people? Because, if this is the case very few people would or should accept communion. Just about everything we do is a mortal sin. Sometimes, Silence is golden
He who lives in a glass house, should not play with rocks.
Christopher Xuereb
Jun 8th 2010, 14:33
@ Mr Joe Zammit - "Christ is ONE PERSON with two natures TOGETHER forming one person." Don't psychiatrists have a word for this?
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 16:49
Christopher, no they don't because psychiatrists have only one nature: human. And they still need God for their existence.
M.Farrugia
Jun 8th 2010, 14:09
Habib hekk inti vera nisrani u temmen id-duttrina tal-Knisja Kattolika u mhux dak li qed jghidu l-ħafna setet li hawn jiġru mas-saqajn injora dak li kitbu certa individwi li ghandhom agenda mohbija.
Steve Pace
Jun 8th 2010, 13:49
@ Joe Zammit - "You can join as well. Remember you have the date of death written on your head!"
My Goodness,,, I did not Joe Zammit has a Hot line direct with our Lord . Can he tell us the next numbers coming up in Super Five please ?
Come on Joe.....What makes you think you are one step closer to God than any of us common mortals ?
Joe Zammit
Jun 9th 2010, 08:40
From what you said and the way you said it convince me that I have reached my goal.
Alan Watson
Jun 8th 2010, 13:35
Hmmmm, isn't it just possible that some of the priests administering the Eucharist may also be the same ones who see no sin in abusing young children. "Let those without sin..." etc etc
MBorg
Jun 8th 2010, 13:17
@n Karl Consiglio
" The church is giving us the bread / body , but not he wine /blood , no wonder there is all this spiritual thirst."
Do try to keep your dry wit for other things, the above just sounds hollow.
renald williams
Jun 8th 2010, 12:58
peace... health
Jesus promised litteral? water to the adulterous-cohabitant Sammaritan woman (John 4:10-onwards) and did not give her any! Was he lying?
No! He was talking figuratively about the Holy Spirit! (John 7:37-onwards)
Jesus talked spiritually not litteraly…
Jien hu l-bieb. John 10:7. …not a wood-or-aluminium door
Jiena hu d-dawl. John 8:12. …not a torch-or-lamp
Jien hu r-raghaj it-tajjeb, u naghraf in-nghag. John 10:14.
…not us being litteral sheep, going on all fours , saying beq-beq, and eating grass
Jiena hu l-qawmien, u l-hajja. John 11:25…not that we do not die physically
Jiena t-triq, u s-sewwa, u l-hajja. John 14:6…. not an asphalt-or-tarmac road
Jiena d-dielja, intom iz-zragen. John 15:5…. not us being crops-or-fruits
Jiena hu l-hobz tal-hajja; min jigi ghandi ma jiehdu guh qatt; u min jemmen fija ma jiehdu ghatx qatt… Min jemmen fija ghandu l-hajja ta’ dejjem… Hu l-Ispirtu li jaghti l-hajja: il-gisem ma jiswa xejn: il-kliem li nghidilkom huma spirtu u hajja… Mulej… Int ghandek il-kliem tal-hajja ta’ dejjem. John 6:35, 47, 55, 63, 68. …
We are still litteraly hungry and thirsty, after taking the bread and wine...but we live spiritually by the living spiritual words of faith... not by eating litteral flesh and blood...
Steve Pace
Jun 8th 2010, 13:42
With all due respect . It is very apparant that you know your bible well. To be honest as a catholic i envy you . But seriously ,, Do you actually think most people will care to read through the garble of quotes you place on blogs ?
Why not give us your true honest opintion instead of parrot quotes !
One other question . Are you a catholic or do you pertain to some other christian denomination ?
William P Flynn
Jun 8th 2010, 13:43
@ Renald Williams
Jien id-dielja
Jien it- triq
Int marid;
Meta se tfieq?
Jien il-bieb
Jien id-dawl
Tiktibx bil-Malti
Inkella "Foul!"
Jien id-dielja
Inthom żraġen.
Ħaqq! Ħraqt idi
Ma' dat-taġen.
If you think this is gobbledegook, you're right. Give us a break Mr Williams. You're making this paper, yourself and the scriptures look more ridiculous than necessary.
Wilfred L Camilleri
Jun 8th 2010, 18:36
Another bunch of scripture quotes but you still don't come out and say exactly where yous stand on the issue Mr. Williams. Are you afraid of something? What's your point really? If you're a Catholic you have to abide by Church dogma. If you're not Catholic butt out!
renald williams
Jun 8th 2010, 12:54
peace health...
Christians cannot take flesh or blood during their religious ceremonies…
they can and should to save human lives like blood donations and organ donations
Izda niktbulhom, biex jitbieghdu… mid-demm… Acts 15:20.
Li titbieghdu… mid-demm. Acts 15:29.
Ghal dawk il-Gentili li jemmnu, ktibna u qtajna… li jzommu ruhhom lura… mid-demm.
Acts 21:25.
Christians used the bread and the wine, which remained the bread and wine only,
because it was a rememberance of what happened once and for all, not for real.
Ma nixrobx minn dal-frott tad-dielja. Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:18.
Aghmlu dan b’TIFKIRA tieghi. Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25.
Kull darba li tieklu dal-hobz, u tixorbu dal-kalci, THABBRU mewt il-Mulej sakemm jigi.
1 Corinthians 11:26.
Christians did not beleive Jesus was PHYSICALLY somewhere present amongst them.
Jekk xi bniedem jghidilkom: Ara, hawn, jew hemm, hu Kristu: la TEMMNUHX… Ara, jien [Kristu] ghidtilkom minn qabel. Jekk mela jghidulkom: Ara, qieghed fix-xaghri: la tohorgux; ara qieghed fil-kmamar ta’ gewwa: la TEMMNUX dan. Matthew 24:23, 25-26.
Imbaghad jekk xi hadd ighidilkom: Ara, hawn hu Kristu; jew, ara, hemm hu; la TEMMNUHX. Mark 13:21.
Iva, ghalkemm gharafna l-Kristu skond il-gisem, minn issa ‘l quddiem ma NAGHRFUHX izjed hekk. 2 Corinthians 5:16.
Wilfred L Camilleri
Jun 8th 2010, 18:38
Yada, yada, yada! Yawn!
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 20:06
96% of Maltese and Gozitan children a week ago made their First Holy Communion and received the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. 96%!
renald williams
Jun 8th 2010, 12:52
peace and health
Theophilus t’Antijokija. To Autolycus 3:4
Nies bla sens jghidu paroli vojta: u jxerrdu l-GIDEB; fejn kelliema minghajr Alla jakkuzawna bil-GIDEB, billi jghidu li dawk li jaduraw lil Alla u jissejhu Kristjani, jieklu laham uman.
Ewsebju (263-340). Demonstratio Evangelica 5:3, 8:1
Ircivejna TIFKIRA ta' l-offerta ta' Kristu li niccelebraw fuq il-mejda permezz tas-SIMBOLI ta' l-gisem u d-demm tieghu li jsalva skond il-ligi tat-Testment il-Gdid.
Gejna mghallma noffru sagrificcji bla demm u accettabli ghal Alla suprem permezz tal-Qassis il-Kbir tieghu li hu fuq kulhadd.
L-inbid u l-hobz JIRRAPREZENTAW il-misteru ta’ gismu u demmu li salvawna.
Minucius Felix, The Octavius 30
Ahna nitbieghdu mid-DEMM uman.
Athenagoras. On the Resurrection of the Dead, 8
Jekk xi hadd jghallem li l-bnedmin ghandhom jieklu laham uman; m’hu ha jkun hemm xejn xi zomm il-bnedmin, milli jieklu lil xulxin. Li tghid dan it-taghlim: hu kontra l-ligi; u li tghid li bnedmin jieklu l-laham uman, hu xi haga li ghandha tkun mibghuda u michuda. Nichad li xi hadd jista’ jghid ezempju wiehed; fejn Alla jghidilna biex nieklu laham uman, MKIEN.
renald williams
Jun 8th 2010, 12:50
peace and health wishes...
Sas-seklu ghaxra fil-Knisja Kattolika, patri Ratramnus, kiteb u sostna li l-hobz u l-inbid huma l-gisem u d-demm f'sens FIGURATTIV biss.
Duns Skotu, li ghex sas-seklu erbatax (1265-1308), jammetti li d-dottrina tat-transustanzazzjoni (l-hobz u l-inbid isiru litteralment wkoll il-gisem u d-demm tal-Mulej) MA KINITX artiklu ta' fidi, u ghalhekk MHUX dottrina li trid titwemmen bilfors, qabel il-Koncilju Lateran IV fis-seklu 13 (1215), fi zmien il-Papa Innocenzju IV.
Klement ta' Lixandra (150-216) Instructor 1:6
Ghaldaqstant l-Iskrittura semmiet l-inbid is-SIMBOLU tad-demm qaddis. Il-Mulej: fl-Evangelju ta’ Gwann; wera s-SIMBOLIZMU meta qal, Kulu gismi u ixorbu demmi. Iddeskriva b’METAFORA l-possibilita’ li tixrob il-fidi u l-weghda. Fir-realta’; id-demm tal-fidi hi t-tama, li zzomm il-fidi.
Tertulljanu (160-240) On the Resurrection of the Flesh 37, Against Marcion 4:40
billi hasbu li Hu (Gesu') realment u litteralment qalilhom biex jieklu gismu; Hu spjega, Hu l-ispirtu li jiswa’, il-gisem ma jiswiex. Il-kliem li nghidilkom huma spirtu u hajja. Min jisma’ kliemi u jemmen ghandu l-hajja ta’ dejjem.
Wara li ha il-hobz u tah lid-dixxipli, ghamlu gismu stess, billi qal, 'Dan hu gismi,' jigifieri s-SIMBOLU ta' gismi.
William P Flynn
Jun 8th 2010, 12:24
All babies ar baptised; all chldren have communion; 15% of adults go to church. From a captive audience to empty pews in one generation.
What does that say about the church? Almost all other chriistian religions allow divorce.
Josef Laspina
Jun 8th 2010, 12:56
Mr Flynn it has got nothing to do with the Church - its the age we are living in - we all are waiting for the pseudo-messiah to hail from Israel
William P Flynn
Jun 8th 2010, 13:26
MrLaspina, have you and Avigdor Lieberman, Foreign Minister of Israel got your biblical red heifer yet?
If so get the matches so someone can burn it and spread the ashes so the messiah will come.
J Farrugia
Jun 8th 2010, 11:48
"Tqarbin ħażin
[1Kor:11:27] Mela kull min jiekol il-ħobż jew jixrob il-kalċi tal-Mulej bla ma jixraqlu, ikun ħati tal-ġisem u d-demm tal-Mulej.
[1Kor:11:28] Ħa jgħarbel il-bniedem lilu nnifsu, mbagħad jiekol il-ħobż u jixrob il-kalċi.[1Kor:11:29] Min jiekol u jixrob bla ma jagħżel minn ikel ieħor il-ġisem tal-Mulej, ikun jiekol u jixrob il-kundanna tiegħu stess.
[1Kor:11:30] Għalhekk ħafna fostkom huma bla saħħa u morda u oħrajn mejta."
Min ghandhu widnejn biex jisma u jaqra, ha jisma u jaqra.
S. Calleja
Jun 8th 2010, 16:26
"Għalhekk ħafna fostkom huma bla saħħa u morda u oħrajn mejta."
And foolish me I always blamed malnutrition, pollution, abuse of substances, poor food quality, accidents, genetics and old age. Darn must have got that one wrong.
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 11:23
Our Lord told the Pharisees to throw the first stone, but to the adulteress ordered her to sin no more.
Mgr Mario Grech, following Christ's footsteps, guides us on how to receive Holy Communion worthily, i.e., in the state of grace. It is possible to live in grace. By God's help we can deny ourselves always to please God and God will fill our hearts with eternal joy that far exceeds all worldly passing pleasures.
William P Flynn
Jun 8th 2010, 12:33
Yes but which god Mr Zammit? The bishop's god, the priest's god who says he won't deny the eucharist to people cohabiting or the Canon lawyer's god, who sits on the fence? Or wider afield to Anglican Christians'god and others who receive communion whether they are divorced, married, living together, gay or whatever.
If there is a god, he/she/it would get a headache reading this paper.
William P Flynn
Jun 8th 2010, 12:39
Oh, and Mr Zammit, I forgot to say, if we are on the same page about "passing pleasures" and you don't just mean an ice-cream on a hot day when you're out with tal-Mużew, I have to say,
Viva the "passing pleaures"; one can't have too much/many of them ;-)
Steve Pace
Jun 8th 2010, 13:45
Joe --- Jekk xi hadd tefgha il gebel, hu int .... Bil kummenti kollha li tfajt fuq kwazi il blogs kollha... Anzi mhux gebla tfajt int , imma knatten u munzelli ta gebel !
S. Calleja
Jun 8th 2010, 16:30
Joe, no offense, imma bil-paroli kollha 'l ghandek, ma tantx tibqa' xempju ta' "eternal joy" hekk kif issemmelik divorzju jew xi haga ohra li ma taqbilx maghha. Min ghandu l-paci f'qalbu jghix u jhalli 'l min jghix minghajr hafna elogji u priedki.
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 17:19
William, Steve u Calleja, nirringrazzjakom tal-kummenti taghkom imma jien naf x'effett qed ikollhom il-kummenti tieghi bil-grazzja t'Alla u se nkompli. Komplu intom ukoll ghax cert li t-tajjeb jirbah dejjem. Christus vincit!
S. Calleja
Jun 8th 2010, 18:24
Prosit Joe. Ibqa' sejjer hekk.
Ramon Casha
Jun 8th 2010, 11:06
Technically, if someone is PERCEIVED to be in mortal sin but isn't actually sinning and that person receives communion, that could still cause scandal, whereas someone who is really sinning but nobody knows about it would not cause scandal.
Is appearance more important than substance for the church?
Giancarlo Refalo
Jun 8th 2010, 13:40
Good point Raymond.
So if we hide it (and are therefore dishonest) it does not cause scandal ergo its ok.
IF we're open and honest about it (didn't Christ preach honesty?) then big problem big nono we cause scandal and ruin people's lives through the knowledge of our peccaminous state.
Bob Graham
Jun 8th 2010, 10:54
Our Lord said , those how are sinless throw the first stone .
Maybe the Catholic churchs doctrine of Gozo , will throw the first stone to the New Nadur Cemetery .
Karl Consiglio
Jun 8th 2010, 10:38
The church is giving us the bread/body, but not the wine/blood, no wonder there is all this spiritual thirst.
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 11:12
In the Body of Christ there is also his blood, soul and divinity. Christ is ONE PERSON with two natures TOGETHER forming one person. Whatever Christ did, he did it as God and Man. He did nothing only as God or only as Man. He is One person.
William P Flynn
Jun 8th 2010, 12:27
Yes, Mr Zammit and what you say has been proven by DNA tests and atomic microscopes...or not!
renald williams
Jun 8th 2010, 13:13
peace-health
Il-Mulej Gesu' qalilna, "Hudu, kulu … ixorbu lkoll." (Matthew 26:26-27, Mark 14:22-23.).
Incidentalment, skond l-ordni ta' Kristu, il-Kristjani ghandhom jiehdu sehem sew mill-hobz kif ukoll mill-inbid. Hekk kien isir fil-bidu u ghal hafna sekli wara.
Infatti l-isqfijiet ta' Ruma (illum isejhulhom papiet), Ljun I (440-461), Gelasju I (459) u Urbanu II (1105); mis-seklu hamsa sas-seklu tnax, wissew li huwa sagrilegg jekk wiehed jastjeni milli jixrob l-inbid.
Imbaghad dahhlet id-drawwa tat-tqarbin bil-hobz biss. Fis-seklu hmistax (1372-1415), il-qassis Gwanni Huss tkellem kontra din il-prattika gdida. Il-mexxejja tal-Knisja Kattolika, minflok ammettew l-izball, ikkundannaw lil Huss bhala eretiku fl-1411 u harquh is-sena ta' wara.
Ghal dik il-habta laqqghu l-Koncilju ta' Kostanza (15 ta’ Gunju 1415) u hargu ligi li l-lajci ghandhom jinghataw biss il-hobz. Il-Koncilju ta' Trentu (1545 u wara) zied jishet lil min jghid li din il-ligi tmur kontra r-rieda ta' Kristu!
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 17:37
96% of Maltese and Gozitan children a week ago made their First Holy Communion and received the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. 96%!
Karl Consiglio
Jun 8th 2010, 10:35
Tajba din, how is it we are abusing the eucharist if we are not even going to church anymore?
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 11:17
Karl, on Trinity Sunday, just a week ago, 96% of Maltese and Gozitan children of their peer group made their First Holy Communion. They were prepared and led forward to this special occasion by their parents, among others. These children augur well for the future of the Catholic Church in our Catholic islands. Karl, you can join as well. Remember you have the date of death written on your head!
John Vassallo
Jun 9th 2010, 15:04
Joe Zammit, when you're seven years old, people get you to do everything and anything!
I also had my First Holy Communion, in a time when most probably it was 100% (100%!!!!!!!!!!) of children who had their First Holy Communion - yet I don't go to Church anymore. People like you have turned me into an atheist.
Joe Zammit
Jun 8th 2010, 10:21
The Catholic Catechism states: "By the consecration the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1413).