The elderly gentleman thinks Pope Francis is some kind of pinko hippie, and there hasn’t been a real Pope in Rome since Giuseppe Siri, and he will tell you alllllll about it if he can get you cornered in the foyer.
The nun next to him is headed to a pro-choice rally after Mass, and is chilling some champagne for the day when women priests will finally be approved.
So … why are they at Mass?
Because Jesus is here, and He’s giving Himself away.
Read the rest of my latest for The Catholic Weekly here.
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Image: Christ revealed in the breaking of the bread, photo by Ted via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Blessed Easter to you! Wish this were the Homily I heard at Easter !
So that’s your Easter message? Come to mass and eat. Never mind about confession or the fact that since you haven’t been to mass in a year, you’re probably taking the Eucharist unworthily. Let’s not let good catechesis get in the way of making you feel better.
I just don’t get it.
She has done three or four confession-themed posts this Lent.
I also kind of think you are making her point.
Maybe John Chrystostom can help you see what Simcha was trying to get at?
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!
Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
St John is not referring to mass. He is referring to the conversion even at the last moment of life and all the joys of heaven await you . That is not what Simcha is saying. She is stating that even if you haven’t been to mass for a few years, it’s ok to receive communion, just come on up! If it’s her intent to have Christmas and Easter Catholics come on a regular basis, that’s great! But encouraging them to receive the Eucharist outside of a state of Grace is wrong. It’s harmful to the person receiving and its just bad catechesis.
No, that’s not what I’m saying, which is why I mentioned people who come “even if they’re not properly disposed to receive the Sacrament.” People do receive unworthily (although I don’t think you can be sure that any of the fictional people I described are definitely in a state of mortal sin). Some don’t know any better, and some don’t care, and this is a serious problem, I agree. But the question is, why do they keep coming back, even if they don’t feel like the Church gives them all the answers they want? That’s what I’m talking about. I have more hope for the eventual salvation of the soul of someone in a state of mortal sin who comes to Mass because he wants Jesus, than I do for the soul of someone who goes to Mass out of habit and doesn’t think twice about why he’s there.