Question: Does desecrating the Eucharist "harm" God in any way?

Vivificat - From Contemplation to Action ^ | 15 May 2014 | Teófilo de Jesús (@vivificat)

[Teófilo]

Brethren, Peace be with you.

The recent attempt by a number of misguided children to reenact a black mass in Harvard University brought to mind that incident almost six years ago, when a third-rate scientist in the University of Minnesota also abused academic freedom and basic human respect in his own show at desecrating the Eucharist. Both activities, the black mass, and the teacher's rant, were satanically inspired, the difference being that one acknowledges the inspiration, while the other denies it.

This brings to mind a question that might be in the minds of some: does harming the Eucharist somehow "harms" God?

The short answer is "no."

I'll take these verses from the Gospel of John as a starting point for a brief reflection on the issue:

²⁹ And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe. ³⁰ I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; ³¹ but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go hence. (John 14:29-31, RSV)

The "ruler" or "prince" of this world is Satan. Jesus asserts that Satan has no power over Him. I imagine that Satan would have wanted to use all his angelic power to destroy the human nature to which the Word of God was united to in the person of Jesus, but couldn't, not because God prohibited it by some decree, or because Jesus was surrounded by protective angels, no, not at all, but because even Satan understands the abyss between the Creator and the creature, that the abyss between him and God persisted even after the incarnation, and that such an action would have been less than futile. Ridiculous, in fact, and the devil hates to be held in ridicule. To this day, the impossibility of  Satan destroying God in the Flesh, of not even influencing Him through temptation, drives the devil into a furious rage to this day.

However, what he was unable to accomplish directly, he had a hand in accomplishing it indirectly. Hence, Satan "entered" Judas Iscariot (John 13:27) starting by this action the whole drama of Jesus' passion and death. The Lord himself acknowledged this "hour of darkness" (Luke 22:53).

Satan didn't have to twist many arms to accomplish the object of his hatred, for all the impurities found in the hearts of men, even their deepest, darkest hatred against God, found easy expression in every slap, spit, insult, thorn, lash, cross, and nail that God suffered in the way of Golgotha.

There's another aspect to the Lord's suffering that, in my view, often goes unacknowledged: the suffering of the Messiah was complete. Nothing bad we do adds to it and yet, in a delicious paradox, the evil we choose not to do subtracts from it for that would be an evil He didn't have to atone for. Therefore, though we can't add to His suffering, we certainly can alleviate it in the evil we don't do. How that works will be the subject of another post.

In the meantime, be assured that whatever evil inane satanists and mad scientists seek to accomplish when they desecrate the Eucharist has no effect on God himself. That would be like claiming to put out a solar flare - much less the entire Sun - with a bucket of water.

These miscreant either know this, of fantasize that they do in fact, hurt God. However, they do perpetrate a real evil, first, against themselves. Because their hatred of God kills the supernatural life of grace within them. They effectively commit spiritual suicide repeatedly every time they engage in a desecration.

The second evil these poor sinners effect is making their hatred against us, believers, clear and manifest, with the object of humiliating us, reducing us to impotence and maybe even making us hate them at which point we would have become them. That's the only clear and present danger I see in these desecrations, not as an expansion of the reign of darkness as such, but the temptation to follow them into deep, dark sin.

Let me finish on a bright note: even the sin of desecration will be forgiven if forgiveness is asked. Jesus himself forgave his executioners and I am sure that Our Lady, the holy women, St. John, and eventually all the apostles, followed suit. There's nothing we can do to stray from God's infinite mercy.

Ergo, let's pray for these miscreants, let us pray for ourselves to not fall into temptation, and let us forgive them because "they know not what they do" (Luke 23:44).

- Read also The Satanic Case for Catholicism at Aleteia.org

[Teófilo]

Typos. Blunders. Mine.

[Teófilo]

PING!

[GladesGuru]

The larger question is “Can man hurt G*d?”

By definition, the Omniscient and Omnipotent is in no danger from Man.

A case can be argued that Man should hope the Divine to also be Omnibenivolent - something about Man’s behavior ......

[Mrs. Don-o]

[ex-snook]

Jesus went through a lot worse.

[Salvation]

So are you saying that the consecrated host, The Body and Blood of Christ, is not hurt or damaged by the abuse of ill-informed protestors?

Christ died for their sins too. I think it does hurt Christ, for it is one of the sins that caused his Crucifixion.

[Alex Murphy]

The short answer is "no."

But it sure gets Catholics' scapulars in a wad!

[Buckeye McFrog]

The fact that it could not hurt an almighty and omnipotent God does not mean that it is acceptable, nor should it be tolerated.

[trisham]

LOL!

[Solson]

If it “doesn’t harm God” then why are Satanists so adamant they desecrate it during their rituals? Never mind all the relevant scriptural references to the REAL Presence of the Eucharist...just answer the first question.

[Teófilo]

But it sure gets Catholics' scapulars in a wad!

No comprendo. My scapular surely is dirty, smelly, and all sweaty, but not wound in a wad...

;-)

~Theo

[Teófilo]

If it “doesn’t harm God” then why are Satanists so adamant they desecrate it during their rituals? Never mind all the relevant scriptural references to the REAL Presence of the Eucharist...just answer the first question.

I gave two answers to that question on the post. But here's another one: they can't harm God, but they surely want to! So they seek to do the impossible.

What they want is to move us to hate them, because if we do so, they win.

~Theo

[ex-snook]

They believe in the Real Presence! Don’t you wish everyone did.

[Solson]

So you don't think sin hurts God? Do you think he's sitting there just saying "do whatever you want, can't touch me!"?

For the record, I hate Satan.

[Teófilo]

Quote: So are you saying that the consecrated host, The Body and Blood of Christ, is not hurt or damaged by the abuse of ill-informed protestors?

Christ died for their sins too. I think it does hurt Christ, for it is one of the sins that caused his Crucifixion.

Christ certainly died for all sins, for all sins were present to Him at the crucifixion, up to an including every sin of desecration to be committed until the end of time.

Hence, every desecration we witness in time adds nothing to the sufferings of Christ, because He has already atoned for those.

Not committing a desecration, in fact, refraining from sinning altogether, brings him "relief" for that's one less sin he didn't have to atone for.

Therefore, try not to sin but if and when you do, know that the road to forgiveness and redemption has been already paved for you.

~Theo

[Teófilo]

In a (very real) sense, yes. It’s more accurate to say that He carried the weight of every single desecration against His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, from Calvary until the end of time. There is no difference if the desecration was done against his historical, or sacramental Body, the sin is the same, and so is the redemptive good flowing from His suffering.

[Dutchboy88]

"Let me finish on a bright note: even the sin of desecration will be forgiven if forgiveness is asked. Jesus himself forgave his executioners..."

Now there is an odd doctrine. Forgiveness must be asked for and then it will be given. Example Jesus forgave his executioners...because they asked? Hmmm...I missed that part in the story line. Can you help us here?

[my small voice]

“Harms”....uh no.

Annoys, saddens, makes angry....likely so.

If it harms anyone it is the perpetrator and the folks who participate and/or watch. God has warned those who lead others astray. Eternity is a very long time.

My two cents....

[Uri’el-2012]

Question: Does desecrating the Eucharist "harm" God in any way?

YHvH is saddened as millions of His Created Beings are lead astray
whenever a mere human performs an act of satanic magic
by claiming to change a stale Pesach Matzo into the
Creator of the Universe.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[Rich21IE]

Very, very good point. I think Faustina spoke to this, if even though obliquely.