Last Friday, I went to the school mass with my grandchildren. My granddaughter was a shepherd in an Epiphany pageant. She's movin' on up. Girls get to be shepherds now. Not that you could distinguish the sexes, with all the robes and drapery.
I believe I've spoken about the new Irish priest who is pastor of the church to which the school is connected. He loves Bush and praised him in the first sermon that I heard him preach. He is quite good with the children. He is enthusiastic and engages them by asking them questions. He asked for the names of the three wise men and called on the children who raised their hands. He said, "That's very good. But you don't need to remember that, because their names are not in the Bible."
He preached on Bush again, referring to his visit to the Middle East. He mentioned that on the very day, Friday, Bush was visiting the place where Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity. He said, (I'm not kidding) "Let's give him a round of applause." Clap, clap, clap, clap. He said, "He's going to the Middle East to make peace. Isn't that wonderful?" I would wish that to be true, but I'm not hopeful. I could not applaud. I prayed that he would be touched and transformed by the visit, and that was my best. I don't think I could ever applaud Bush.
In the comments to another post, Paul quoted Bush's words on Friday:
"'For those of us who practise the Christian faith, there isn't a more holy site than where our saviour was born,' Bush said as he came out of the church."
And then Paul said:
How the man (I use the term generously) dares to speak as though he practiced the Christian faith I do not know. It seems the irony of his visit to the Mount of the Beatitudes was quite lost on him as he thinks his presence in the Middle East is as a peacemaker. And I am the Queen or Rumania!
Bush seems, just now, seven years into his presidency, to be giving thought to his legacy. What will he leave behind? What has he accomplished? If he could bring about peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, that would be great, but better men have tried and not succeeded.
I don't know if it's just this priest, or if the Roman Catholic Church has become less strict about following the liturgy in the Missal, but he says the "Hail Mary" somewhere in the middle of mass, and after communion, he leads in saying three times:
"O sacrament most holy,
O sacrament divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving
Be every moment thine."
I know the words, because we used to sing them in my RCC schools.
I will very likely be going to mass there many more times, so I'd better get used to the preaching on Bush.
What would he say if he knew that I was an Episcopalian and that I went to communion?
Since you are not in an isolated situation where no other Communion is available to you, he would be under an obligation to refuse it to you, if my understanding of Roman canons and pronouncements is correct (granted, many years since I read them). Pastorally he might not do that. If you come out as not a Bush supporter, however, well there's grounds to ban you right there! [evil smirk]
ReplyDeleteI am glad he is good with the kids. And there is certainly room for praying for those in authority and wishing Bush success in any efforts toward peace, no matter how skeptical we may be about that whole adventure. The priest seems to be going overboard though. As much as I am tempted, I don't bash Bush when preaching and I don't think folks should be touting him in sermons either. Just my two cents. [Granted, I do quote from Jesus and the prophets and let the word hover in the air for folks to read between the lines, but I don't name names.]
Paul, people whom I respect say that they refrain from taking communion at RCC masses, and I understand that position. Then, of course, officially, according to RCC rules, I am not welcome at the table. My thought is that it's not their right to refuse the Body and Blood of Our Lord, and I'm sure Jesus welcomes me to the table.
ReplyDeleteOf course, if I were told in person to stay away, I would. I'm not at all interested in a public tussle over communion.
I think you are quite right not to mention names in your preaching. You can make your points about mercy, justice, and peace better without mentioning names.
Friends and even a few priests in the RCC tell me not to ask but to partake when I feel God is inviting me. Glad you are participating. God invites whether the official in charge knows it or not!
ReplyDeleteJan, That's what I do. No use to put the priest under stress unnecessarily. Quite a few RCC priests would be most welcoming, despite the official rules.
ReplyDeleteAlthough an Anglican, I spent over 25 years teaching in Catholic schools. I believe I was the first protestant to be invited to a 3 week retreat called "Kairos" in the diocese. The first evening I stayed seated during communion. Some of the others asked me why and I explained. They went to the priest and he told me I was a member of the community and therefore welcome to partake. By the end of the retreat I was asked to assist with the distribution. For the rest of my career I participated in communion at the various schools. While the staff and principals were aware, I did not go out of my way to tell the priests. I have now retired but still take communion when occasionally attending a funeral in a catholic church.
ReplyDeleteMimi:
ReplyDeleteA good friend of mine is a RC Nun. Through her, I have met 2 RC Priests. who not only have offered me COmmunion, but also would be offended if I did not receive Communion from them.
On the flip-side, last year I went to a Mass in NY presided over by Bishop Robinson. In attendance were several RC nuns & Monks. The majority of them took COmmunion from Bishop Robinson, although I believe thaty according to RC doctrine this too is prohibited.
I obviousily agree with your basic premisis: just do what feels right at the time.
BTW, I finally did that meme you tagged me for.
ReplyDeleteBrian, in the 1970s, a Roman Catholic priest and an Episcopal priest were con-celebrating the Eucharist at the Catholic student center at the university here one evening a week. That this was being done was common knowledge, and the bishop never put a top to it, but it was not authorized, either. He looked the other way. It lasted for about 5 years, but it has not happened again since. When I tell people about it, I think some are doubtful that it happened. I can tell you that if it were tried today, it would have to be done in the catacombs.
ReplyDeleteDoug, Roman Catholics are not to receive communion in other churches, according to the rules, but many do anyway.
Jan, I'll have a look.
In the day when I was a church going person (before reverting to a synagogue going person)I started off as RC, with full adult baptism and confirmation, and then found the eucharistic worship and the priestly authority too much, so I started attending the Episcopalian chapel (this was in a college town). No one questioned me; they just assumed I took communion (which was done in pass the bread and cup around in a big circle as we gathered around the altar, and recited to each other "This is my body, etc." as we handed it around), and welcomed me from day one. It possibly helped that the priest was a former RC priest who had married a former RC nun, and taken their ministry into the Episcopalian church. (At that time it was still The Protestant Episcopal Church). But I still took communion every so often in RC churches, and once at a Greek Orthodox church. Communion was communion.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the other point of your post--Bush comes very late to the party, and there's no reason to think the man who showed total incomprension of Iraqi history and society could do better no, but a deathbed repentance is better than no repentance at all.
Oh dear. I so loathe the mention of politics in that realm.
ReplyDeleteAs I understand it, you would not be able to receive communion. However, this is an area in which I must say that rules are... let me not curse here.
It is a big thing for me, if we were "reclining at table" would Jesus give me bread but not you? In fact, would he give either of us bread? Maybe just the orthodox Christians would get it? I mean how utterly ridiculous?!?!!!
Anyway, I had to leave church in a huff today and felt badly about taking my own communion. Our homilist was one of the deacons and his words caused me white hot anger. I felt so scolded. So when I left chuch, I whipped out my blackberry and dashed off an angry note to my pastor who is a bit of a friend.
I am sure he was sitting there taking it all in, but it put me in a tizzy.
As a result I felt, for the first time in I don't know when- maybe ever? That I should not go to communion as I was so furious.
It was 7.30 am mass and sparsely attended and I sit in the front. I felt that maybe the loving balm of Jesus would help me.
Then I went to the gym, ran errands, came home and wrote this and did leave the pc off for about 4 hours. And I did not speak to my husband or stepdaughter either!
Anyway, off topic as usual -All this is to say, I think we all need to be fed. The Irishman would probably not be cool with having communion. Jesus however, i feel certain - is fine!
Damn...I thought I was the Queen of Rumania!
ReplyDeleteSorry...
Kishnevi, welcome. So now you are a synagogue person. You've made the rounds and found your place. Good for you. May you be blessed there.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to Bush, do you think he's really repented of anything? I guess making the effort now is better than doing nothing - or, in his case, doing nothing could be better.
Poor Fran. This is only my opinion, but I think that when we feel most unworthy to take the Eucharist is, perhaps, the time we most need its healing power.
Lindy, you are no queen, and you know it. Ask Rowan. He'll tell you.
Dear Lindy, if Bush is, just possibly, not a peacemaker, then you are free to be the Queen or Rumania as I would not in that case claim the title. Btw, I do NOT look good in a tiara and am not particularly fond of musicals, so I might not be much of a queen in any case. I believe there is a division of opinion on the issue.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't know about a round of applause, but clergy-people who encourage their congregations to vote a certain way risk their churches' tax-exempt status.
ReplyDeleteI am very close with an RC woman whose church has become increasingly, blatantly conservative in the last few years. She sits there in the pew with her teeth clenched. (But she'd rather fight than switch.) :)
Pj, I couldn't take the sermons for more than an occasional visit, or I'd be out of there. I do what I do for the sake of my grandchildren, and I'm gritting my teeth.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to fight, as one of my friends suggested, because I have no status whatsoever there, and it would surely be wasted effort. Even the RC laity have very little influence.
Rereading this reminds me to be grateful that I am in an RC parish with two (although within weeks it will be one) priests who are both great, wise and compassionate preachers.
ReplyDelete(Our deacons who preach, are a mixed bag as I mentioned yesterday when the bottom of the bag was reached.)
Of course my pastor comes from good stock. He does indeed share the surname of a favorite grandmere of mine!
He does indeed share the surname of a favorite grandmere of mine!
ReplyDeleteNot only that, he's a looker, too.
Fran, my email is not accepted at your other blog. I tried today, but I could not get in.