Mgr Dr Anton Gauci, Victoria
That ongoing 'debate' about receiving Holy Communion
I refer to the leader Debate On Who Will Receive Holy Communion (June 9).
I find it hard to believe that among real Christians, let alone children of the Catholic Church, there should have arisen this "debate". The remarks in the editorial, particularly when quoting the document issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, are all to the point.
There is one point I would like to make clear, while avoiding to tackle the numerous doubts brought about by diverse questions connected with painful unchristian situations. This point is just the fact that, when the Church maintains that those living in a state contrary to that which God's laws impose are not to receive Holy Communion, the Church itself is simply following and proclaiming God's law as this clearly appears in Sacred Scripture. So that it is by no means a simple decision or law of the Church itself
In his First Epistle to the Corinthians, Apostle Paul has these words: "So if anyone eats this bread and drinks from the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, he is guilty of sin against the body and the blood of the Lord. That is why a man should examine himself carefully before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. For if he eats the bread and drinks from the cup unworthily, not thinking about the body of Christ and what it means, he is eating and drinking God's judgment upon himself; for he is trilling with the death of Christ. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died." (1 COR. I I, 27-30)
Before he came to these words, the Apostle had told the Corinthians: "Everyone keeps telling me about the arguing that goes on in these meetings, and the divisions developing among you, and I can just about believe it." (1 COR. I 1, IX). When I was a student in Rome we had a very learned professor, also very sharp and prudent and diplomatic, who frequently made use of the Latin expression "Intelligent paucif"!
With God's justice there never was and never could be any joking. In matters of sex, of conjugal life, just as in all other sectors of man's life and behaviour, God has given us his law. He has also left us at liberty. In the Book of Ecclesiastics 15.18 we read: "Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him." It is so simple! We are at liberty! Obviously God's justice will subsequently not fail to take its course!
Divorce, adulteries, abortion... then murders, drugs, hatred, unjust sentences in court, corruption, etc, etc. Yes, God has left us full liberty of behaviour. But then expect not His justice to fail to do its part. And this in spite of the abundant eulogies we so often hear on God's mercy!
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Steve Pace
Jun 17th 2010, 21:03
@Joe Zammit - "But here I would like to go further than that. Some sin, fall again in sin, and again… on end. To these I would like to tell them that it is possible to give up sin once for ever and become a continuous friend, even an intimate friend of God "
My Goodness. Sainthood for Joe Zammit is near . Joe seems to have found the solution to all our problems. Thank you Joe . God bless you. Tonight i will light a candle in front of your framed text
Joe Zammit
Jun 16th 2010, 22:19
Martin Luther admitted the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. However, he rejected the doctrine of transubstantiation.
Confronted with these challenges to the TRADITIONAL Catholic teaching on the Eucharist by the Protestant reformers, the Council of Trent issued an authoritative teaching on this change of the substance of the bread and wine at the consecration of the Mass.
"Because Christ our Redeemer declared that what He offered under the species of bread was truly His Body, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE FAITH OF THE Church OF GOD (and this holy Synod now states it AGAIN) that by the consecration of the bread and wine a change takes place in which the entire substance of the bread is changed into the substance of the Body of Christ our Lord, and the entire substance of the wine into the substance of His Blood. This change the Holy Catholic Church fittingly and properly calls "transubstantiation" (Sess. 13, ch.4).
Steve Pace
Jun 17th 2010, 23:16
@Joe Zammit.... Joe, in case you missed it, Alison Bezzina's blog is about abortion. Its amazing how you find so much energy to defend morality and yet you seem totally oblivious to such and important issue.
Edward Mallia
Jun 16th 2010, 19:55
@ Joseph Seisun The surprise is that you style yourself 'a Christian who must speak out and proclaim the Gospel truth'. The term 'Transubstantiation' was indeed coined at the Council of Trent, in a fresh attempt to describe the indescribable-- the mystery of the Eucharist. But the term is NOT the 'doctrine'. That is as old as the Last Supper, as described in the three synoptic gospels, those that you are 'proclaiming', at least the versions I have seen. I suggest that you take some time off from trying to keep us in a state of constant surprise.
Chris Reiff
Jun 16th 2010, 18:26
Please excommunicate cohabiting couples from the Church. Please free them from insanity!
Joe Tabone-Adami
Jun 16th 2010, 15:50
This is what basic Catholic doctrine is about. Plain, with no 'ifs' and 'buts'. Sometimes, I get the impression that certain contributors to the 'debate', particularly Clergymen who should know much better, simply ignore Who (not what, please) the Holy Eucharist is and why He instituted it in the first place as a pledge of eternal Life. As Mons Gauci rightly reminds us "intelligenti pauca".
Franco Farrugia
Jun 16th 2010, 17:39
Fine - it seems that you are more Catholic than the Pope, and you are happy with it. But please, leave the rest of us to live as we think best. Don't push your personal beliefs down our throats.
Joseph Seisun
Jun 16th 2010, 14:04
Again, I have to disagree with the interpretation of the mentioned Sacred Scriptures. The two main points here is 1. The Law 2. Transubstantiation.
The book of Roman's is the Apostle Paul's masterpiece. In it he explains the true purpose of the Law and God's grace. Most 'religous-law-observing' people would be completely surprised when they grasp what Paul is saying!
Then we have the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. I bet that most local Catholics will be astonished to know that this was only officially incorporated in the documents of the Catholic church during the Council of Trent in the middle of the 16th century. In other words, the doctrine that the bread and wine actually change into the flesh and blood of Jesus, has only been around for the last 450 years. But Christians have been existing for the last 2000 years!
I have no intention to offend no one. But as a Christian, I have to speak out and proclaim the Gospel truth.
Joe Zammit
Jun 16th 2010, 22:20
Joseph Seisun, the doctrine of transubstantiation was declared as a dogma in the Council of Trent, but its belief by the Catholic Church has been since the time of Christ and the Apostles. When in doubt, take the Catechism of the Catholic Church to enlighten yourself on the TRUTH!
victor rodenas
Jun 16th 2010, 13:27
If I am not mistaken a very learned priest with a DR. before his name wrote in this paper that,...~only those who are excomunicated are barred from Holy Communion~.DID i READ WRONG, OR MAYBE i did not understand something. Please explain.
Joe Zammit
Jun 17th 2010, 08:37
Victor, all persons who are in sin are barred from receiving Holy Communion but if they approach the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the priest must give them Communion. Those who are excommunicated or interdicted are not only barred from Holy Communion but also refused
to be given Holy Communion by the priest.
George Mangion
Jun 16th 2010, 11:59
Well written Fr. I add: What does it avail me receiving the Holy Communion without aiming at real and sincere conversion? Are we to go on believing that the number of times one communicates will be taken in account? All sacraments without the clear intent of conversion, are null and void. It's a pity we are still ignoring the call of Vat. II to conversion and are highly sacramentalized.
Even that, it counts on all issues, not co-habiting christians only, We are not being saved unless we take on our cross and follow Jesus. If marriage, priesthood, and all you want offers an occasion of suffering, Christ invites to take up the cross and follow Him, not try to shift it over.
JOe VELLa
Jun 16th 2010, 11:55
@renald williams
Those who are interest on this interest subject do not need you to write down the scriptures for us.
With is your point with reference to the letter by Dr. Anton Gauci after all?
renald williams
Jun 16th 2010, 18:41
Jesus, in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 7 and Matthew Chapter 5, peace and health...
37 U, ara, mara li kienet fil-belt, u li kienet midinba, malli għarfet li Ġesù kien qiegħed fuq il-mejda f’dar il-Fariżew...
38 U qagħdet f’riġlejh warajh tibki...
39 Issa meta ra dan il-Fariżew li stiednu, qal fih innifsu: Dan il-bniedem, kieku kien profeta, kien ikun jaf min hi u x’inhi l-mara li qiegħda tmissu: għax hi midinba.
40 U Ġesù wieġeb, billi qallu: Xmun, għandi xi ngħidlek. U hu qal: Mgħallem, għid.
41 Kien hemm wieħed li jislef il-flus li kellu żewġ midjunin: wieħed kellu jagħtih ħames mitt dinier, u l-ieħor ħamsin.
42 U meta ma kellhom xejn biex iħallsu, ħafrilhom bil-qalb it-tnejn. Għidli mela, min iħobbu l-aktar?
43 Wieġeb Xmun, u qal: Naħseb li dak, li ħafirlu l-iżjed. U qallu: Ħsibt sewwa.
47 Għalhekk ngħidlek: Dnubietha, li huma ħafna, huma maħfura; għax ħabbet ħafna: iżda lil min jinħafirlu ftit, dan ftit iħobb.
48 U qalilha: Dnubietek maħfura.
50 U qal lill-mara: Il-fidi tiegħek salvatek; mur bis-sliem.
27Smajtu li ntqal min-nies ta’ dari: La tagħmix adulterju:
28 Imma jien ngħidilkom: Li kull min iħares lejn mara biex jiżni magħha, ikun ġa f’qalbu għamel adulterju magħha.
Joe Zammit
Jun 16th 2010, 11:41
What Mgr Gauci said is right. Any mortal sin impedes us from receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus worthily. Woe to us if we are stubborn and approach the Sacrament of Love in sin which is the opposite of love!
Any person who is in sin can change his life. Of course, the first steps are repentance and receive the Sacrament of Confession. But here I would like to go further than that. Some sin, fall again in sin, and again… on end. To these I would like to tell them that it is possible to give up sin once for ever and become a continuous friend, even an intimate friend of God.
Grace is the solution. I can say that by grace we win all temptations immediately, always and easily. By grace we can grow in our love for God continuously.
Those who are in sin, let them visit Jesus in the Eucharist found in all our churches and ask him for the grace of never offending him again, of growing continuously in his love! I can assure you that sooner or later he will give it to you.
renald williams
Jun 16th 2010, 11:38
Jesus, in the Gospel of John, Chapter 8, peace and health wishes to all
3 U l-iskribi u l-Fariżej ġiebu mara maqbuda fl-adulterju; u meta qegħduha fin-nofs,
4 Qalulu: Mgħallem, dil-mara nqabdet fl-adulterju, fl-egħmil stess.
5 Issa Mosè fil-liġi ordnalna, li bħal dawn nħaġġruhom: Iżda int xi tgħid?
6 Dan qaluh, huma u jġarrbuh, biex ikollhom fuqiex jixluh. Imma Ġesù tmejjel ’l isfel, u kiteb b’sebgħu fl-art, qisu ma semagħhomx.
7 Iżda meta baqgħu jistaqsuh, twaqqaf, u qalilhom: Min fostkom hu bla dnub, jixħtilha ġebla l-ewwel wieħed.
8 U raġa’ tmejjel, u kiteb fl-art.
9 U huma li semgħu dan, billi kienu ikkundannati mill-kuxjenza tagħhom stess, ħarġu wieħed wieħed, ibda mix-xjuħ, sa l-aħħar wieħed: u Ġesù baqa’ waħdu, u l-mara wieqfa fin-nofs.
10 Xħin Ġesù twaqqaf, u ma ra lil ħadd ħlief il-mara, qalilha: Mara, fejn huma dawk li kienu jixluk? Ħadd ma ikkundannak?
11 Hija qalet: Ħadd, Sinjur. U qalilha Ġesù: Lanqas jien ma nikkundannak: mur, u tidnibx iżjed.
Joe Zammit
Jun 16th 2010, 17:00
Hekk hu: tidnibx izjed! Ma qallhiex 'emmen' u bizzejjed, imma qallha 'tidnibx izjed'. Dawk huma l-opri. Min jemmen u jidneb l-infern imur ghax ikollu fidi mejta. Imur il-genna min jemmen, jittama u jhobb. 'Ihobb' igifieri josserva l-Kmandamenti t'Alla kollha ghall-imhabba t'Alla.
renald williams
Jun 16th 2010, 11:35
Jesus, in the Gospel of John ,Chapter 4, peace and health to all
7 Ġiet hemm mara mis-Samarija timla l-ilma, qalilha Ġesù: Agħtini nixrob.
9 Qaltlu mbagħad il-mara Samaritana: Kif int, li int Lhudi, titlob tixrob lili, mara Samaritana? Għax il-Lhud ma jagħmluhiex mas-Samaritani.
10 Ġesù wieġeb, u qalilha: Kieku kont taf il-għotja t’Alla, u min hu dak li qallek: Agħtini nixrob; kont titolbu int, u kien jagħtik ilma ħaj.
13 Wieġeb Ġesù, u qalilha: Kull min jixrob minn dal-bir jarġa’ jieħdu l-għatx:
14 Iżda kull min jixrob mill-ilma li nagħtih jien ma jieħdu għatx qatt; imma l-ilma li nagħtih jien ikun fih għajn ta’ ilma ġieri sal-ħajja ta’dejjem.
15 Qaltlu l-mara: Sinjur, agħtini dan l-ilma, biex ma jeħodnix għatx, u lanqas niġi hawn nimla.
16 Ġesù qalilha: Mur, sejjaħ lil żewġek, u ejja hawn.
17 Wieġbet il-mara, u qalet: M’għandix raġel. Qalilha Ġesù: Sewwa għidt, m’għandix raġel.
18 Għax ħamest irġiel kellek; u dak li għandek issa mhux żewġek: dan sewwa għidt.
19 Qaltu l-mara: Sinjur, nara li inti profeta.
25 Qaltu l-mara: Naf li għandu jiġi l-Messija, li jissejjaħ Kristu: meta jiġi, igħarrafna kollox.
26 Qalilha Ġesù: Hu jien li qiegħed nitkellem miegħek.
Joe Zammit
Jun 16th 2010, 13:15
By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins. The more we share the life of Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to break away from him by mortal sin. The Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sins - that is proper to the sacrament of Reconciliation. The Eucharist is properly the sacrament of those who are in full communion with the Church.
Lina Caruana
Jun 16th 2010, 10:52
Many Maltese nowadays seem always ready to pick up a fight or challenge any authority including the Almighty God!
My deepest regret to the Almighty God for having had to express it with the intention of raising consciousness and reflection to what is being done.
God's mercy is infinite but so is His Justice.
My fear is how soon will it be and how many times will we "reject" God's Mercy to make it untenable in today's language to be disqualified into a Justice category.
Hopefully may great minds measure their own potential and God's infinity to find a solution.