Posted on 10/29/2006 3:04:31 PM PST by NYer
To: Pastors, Administrators, Deacons, Parish Staffs, and Principals
From: Msgr. Royal M. Vadakin, Moderator of the Curia/Vicar General
Date: October 27, 2006
Subject: Holy Communion: An Update
Cardinal Roger Mahony and the Auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles would like all in the Archdiocese to be made aware of what follows in this update.
You may wish to share this with your parishioners and those who find this policy update clarifying and of assistance in the celebration of the Eucharist.
Cardinal Mahony and the Auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles have received a letter written on Oct. 23 by Bishop William S. Skylstad, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, notifying bishops of a change in the indult -- or church permission -- in effect since 2002 which allows extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to help cleanse cups and plates when there are not enough priests or deacons to do so.
According to his letter, Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, asked Pope Benedict XVI about the matter during a June 9 audience, “and received a response in the negative.”
Receiving Holy Communion under both kinds remains a “more complete” sign of the sacrament’s meaning and continues to be the norm in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Until Cardinal Mahony and the auxiliary bishops have the opportunity to discuss the new recommendations, both locally and at the general meeting of the USCCB in November, no changes will be made regarding the present policy for the distribution of Holy Communion and/or the purification of the sacred vessels.
In an October 12 letter to Bishop William Skylstad, the president of the US bishops' conference, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship reported that Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) ordered an end to the American practice. Cardinal Francis Arinze (bio - news) was responding to a request from the US bishops' conference, asking for approval to continue the policy.
Bishop Skylstad, in turn, wrote to all American bishops on October 23, informing them that "it will be necessary to inform all pastors that extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may no longer assist with the purification of sacred vessels at Mass."
Although the General Instruction of the Roman Missal specifies that sacred vessels may be purified only by a priest or deacon, the American bishops had obtained an indult, or permission, to allow extraordinary ministers to assist in that role. This indult was intended to encourage more people to receive Communion under both kinds.
In his letter to Bishop Skylstad, Cardinal Arinze noted, "Sometimes, however, the high number of communicants may render it inadvisable for everyone to drink from the chalice." He recommended that the American bishops remind their people of the teaching from the Council of Trent, "that Christ is fully present under each of the species. Communion under the species of bread alone, as a consequence, makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace."
Bishop Skylstad, in conveying news of the Vatican decision to the American hierarchy, attached a list of questions and answers about the distribution of Communion, prepared by Bishop Donald Trautman, the chairman of the US bishops' liturgy committee. Bishop Trautman reminded his fellow bishops that the use of extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist is intended "exclusively for those instances where there are not enough ordinary ministers to distribute Holy Communion."
Cardinal Mahony is an evil, demonic pig.
So, in other words, Mahony is going to do whatever he wants, as per usual.
I guess no one got the memo at our Parish. After Communion the chalices are put on a tray, covered with each purificator. After the Body of Christ is put in to two ciboria (ciboriums) the remaining four are stacked and placed on the credence table along with the tray.
After Mass the sacristan of the week, cleans all of the chalices and ciboriums.
OTOH, we got a new priest two weeks ago. Actually he was here in the 90's as a Parochial Vicar. He's back as the Rector. We didn't think we would be getting another priest. This week our prayers were answered and we have a new Parocial Vicar, a Benedictine Monk. He wants very much to learn to do TLM. Yippee!
Well, according to Cardinal Mahony, who is of course the supreme arbiter in these matters (actually, I think its some kind of heresy or at any rate anathematized doctrinal error to say that communion under one species is not complete).
If they're going to give Communion under both species, I wish they'd use intinction, as the Eastern Rites do. But that would put the EEMS out of a job, and we couldn't have that.
Ahah, you found it! But that's Trent, and the good Cardinal (Mahony) believes that Trent is so yesterday. Trendy hipster that he is.
Seriously, I don't know how that man keeps his job.
In other words, "We'll just keep doing what we've been doing, because these directives couldn't possibly apply to us!"
It is called "satan" ...
You know they won't because that would restrict the 'freedom' of using EMHCs.
Communion in the Maronite Catholic Church is strictly by intinction. The priest dips the Consecrated host into the Precious Blood and places it on the tongue of the communicant with the words:
"The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is given to you for the remission of your sins and eternal salvation."
The communion line moves fairly quickly and most efficiently. All children who have not yet received the Sacrament of Holy Communion are blessed by the priest touching the communion cup to their head. Even the youngest child is privileged to receive this blessing. Father knows his congregation and recognizes visitors from the Middle East with the same words, spoken in Arabic.
While it is true that the earliest christians celebrated communion in the hand, they were also instructed to touch their eyes, nose and mouth with the Consecrated host before swallowing the Consecrated host. This practice is no longer practical in today's society. Communion by intinction eliminates all concerns of germ transmission. It is a beautiful and well celebrated practice in the East that should be adopted in the West.
Amen.
Thank you, Maeve! I live in the archdiocese of Los Angeles and we must suffer him.
Even though I am not Catholic, I am appalled to see what he does to the Church.
"Until Cardinal Mahony and the auxiliary bishops have the opportunity to discuss the new recommendations, both locally and at the general meeting of the USCCB in November, no changes will be made regarding the present policy for the distribution of Holy Communion and/or the purification of the sacred vessels."
The way I read this every single Mass offered in the LA diocese which follows this directive is illicit.
It seems like, to these innovators, Vatican Council II replaced the Council of Trent, and nothing therein decreed any longer applies. Of course, they innovate all kinds of things never mentioned in VCII. The "spirit of", don't you know. How old IS Mahoney, anyway?
At the Catholic church I'm running away from, the sacristy is off the sanctuary, all the way in the back. The choir (myself included) is right next to it, and the only separation is a curtain. We hear the EMHCs back there crashing and banging as they wash the chalices and ciborii. They also chat and converse, quite oblivious to the fact that the mass continues on the other side of the curtain.
There are two churches I'm running TO, and both use intinction. One is Anglican use. The other uses intinction at the Latin NO, and the host only at the TLM. ALWAYS on the tongue in both places.
I think all of us need to pray for the re-conversion of Roger Cardinal Mahoney back to the real Catholic faith. We need to pray for our enemies.
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