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on ‘Those Who Are Called to His Supper’
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
Last week I reviewed the November 2006 U.S. bishops’ document Happy
Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper. Given the phenomenon that
almost everyone over the age of 7 or 8 present for Mass receives holy
Communion (catechumens and candidates preparing for reception into the
Catholic Church are the great exception), it is a timely statement.
Those who understand what the Church believes and teaches concerning the
Eucharist are not oblivious to the contradiction this presents. People
openly embrace lifestyles that conflict with Catholic teaching. Yet,
holy Communion, which celebrates unity with Christ and the Church, is
freely received even though that unity has been ruptured.
Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper reminds Catholics
that there are situations where an examination of conscience before God
would reveal that the reception of holy Communion without prior
utilization of the sacrament of reconciliation is inappropriate.
All communicants from the pope down to a child making his or her first
Communion can only echo the words of the Gospel centurion: “Lord, I am
not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed” (Matthew 8:8). Yet, there are criteria for
the reception of holy Communion: a person must be Catholic, free of
mortal sin, and the Eucharistic fast is to be observed.
In this context, how does one know right from wrong? Happy Are Those
Who Are Called to His Supper instructs rightly that “as Catholics we
believe what the Church authoritatively teaches on matters of faith and
morals, for to hear the voice of the Church, on matters of faith and
morals, is to hear the voice of Christ himself.” Happy Are Those Who
Are Called to His Supper provides examples of thoughts and actions
that are serious violations of the law of love of God and neighbor. It
offers clarification for those who fail to approach holy Communion
without proper dispositions. But, there is more to the statement.
This week I want to share with you what Happy Are Those Who Are
Called to His Supper suggests can be done to better prepare
ourselves for a fruitful reception of holy Communion. The document
emphasizes a theme I have often proclaimed, that is, Mass is not a
private encounter between an individual and Jesus Christ. Quite the
opposite: Mass is communal worship, worship in which the whole Church is
present, including the angels and the martyrs and saints of all ages.
The benefit that an individual receives from the Eucharistic celebration
depends on the way he or she approaches the sacrament. Happy Are
Those Who Are Called to His Supper teaches that each individual
needs to prepare himself or herself for Mass and the reception of holy
Communion. Basically this involves remote preparation and proximate
preparation. The first has to do with how we live our Christian lives
every day. The second has to do with how we come to and participate in
the Eucharistic Liturgy itself.
Under remote preparation, the document highlights common-sense
suggestions. Heading the list is prayer which engenders a love for Jesus
Christ and a desire to do the will of God in our lives. Quality prayer
clearly is important for those who are called to approach the reception
of holy Communion with reverence and awe. If we only pray when we go to
church, our appreciation of Mass and Communion will be superficial.
Communicants need to be people of prayer, precisely because prayer
generates a thirst for the deeper union with Christ that holy Communion
satisfies.
Living the responsibilities of our state in life also draws one closer
to Christ. These responsibilities differ in so far as one is single, a
spouse, a parent, a child, an adolescent, a young adult, a grandparent,
a bishop, a priest, a deacon or one in consecrated life, whether a
worker or retired person, healthy or infirm. It is by faithfully living
out the responsibilities of our state in life that we draw closer to
Jesus Christ and thirst for him.
Participation in the sacrament of reconciliation enhances our
appreciation for holy Communion. The reason is obvious. Sin undermines
and weakens our communion with God and one another. Regular
participation in the sacrament of reconciliation mitigates the damage
which sin in our lives causes. In this vein, acts of contrition and a
daily examination of conscience foster a deeper relationship with God
and urge us to approach holy Communion with greater reverence and awe.
Proximate preparation for holy Communion involves a number of easily
overlooked, yet important steps. Seemingly simple things are important.
Arriving for Mass on time allows us to deliberately prepare for our
participation in the great mystery of the Eucharist and breaks through
the “I’ve got to get it in” syndrome. We are not going to a party or a
social gathering. Therefore, communicants should, with deliberation,
strive to set aside distractions and approach Mass as something most
special. That demands prayerful silence and early arrival. The recently
accepted noisy “fellowship” before Mass is not helpful. It should be
noted that the General Instruction of the Roman Missal instructs (45):
“Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence be
observed in the Church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in
adjacent areas so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the
sacred action in a devout and fitting manner.”
There is a need to be mindful that there is a Eucharistic fast: Except
for water and medicines, no food or liquids are to be taken for at least
one hour before the reception of holy Communion.
Proper attire, too, is important. We should dress in a modest manner
utilizing clothes that reflect reverence for God and respect for the
dignity of the liturgy.
Active participation in the Sacred Liturgy pushes mind and heart beyond
passive presence and rote performance. The more we concentrate on what
we do and why we are doing it during Mass, the more likely we are to
approach the altar for holy Communion with reverence, love and awe as
part of a Eucharistic procession. Making a reverent bow just before
receiving holy Communion (host and cup) expresses our individual and
communal adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist, as well as the
acknowledgement of our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in
holy Communion.
Finally, the period of reflective silence after the distribution of holy
Communion is a time for prayer wherein we ask God to fill us with the
life and love of the Holy Spirit so that we may truly give glory to God
in our lives.
To receive holy Communion is to become one body with Christ. Communion
is intended to fortify our common faith, nurture the common bond of love
rooted in baptism and increase our holiness within the Body of Christ.
It does that provided we approach it with reverence and awe, firmly
embracing the teachings and discipline of the Church.
Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper is a document well
worth studying. It is available via the Internet at www.usccb.org. Click
on “Church Documents,” then “Bishops’ Statements” and then scroll down
to Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper. Copies also may
be purchased from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Publishing, 3211 Fourth Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20017-1194. |
