Wednesday, October 20, 2004
JOHN ALLEN'S COMMENTS ON THE POPE AND THE EUCHARIST
A reader reminded me that I hadn't yet read John Allen's column from last week. The first item on his mind is the recent Papal statement on the Eucharist. He offers this bit of analysis:
Again, while asking that Catholics make a special point of reaching out to the poor of the developing world during this Eucharistic year, John Paul writes:
“We mustn't deceive ourselves: it’s from our reciprocal love and, in particular, from the concern we have for those in need that we will be recognized as true disciples of Christ (Jn 13:35; Mt 25:31-46). This is the criterion on the basis of which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations will be confirmed.”
In terms of papal speech, this is fairly explosive stuff. John Paul is suggesting that the “authenticity” of the Eucharist, a word historically reserved to proper execution of the rubrics, actually refers to how worship translates into social concern. (By the way, it’s not that the pope is a sloppy celebrant; he calls on priests to perform the rites with fidelity in his letter. The point, however, is that following rules is not enough to make the Eucharistic celebration “authentic” in the deepest sense).
If the Eucharist is dependent for authenticity on the social gospel, where does that leave a parishioner who is trying to determine if the Mass he is attending has gotten so far off the rubrics track that he is wondering if it is valid? Even if it is valid in terms of rubrics, it may not be valid in terms of the social response of the priest?--of the parish?--of the specific parishioner who is in attendance?--of the Church in general? Once again the Pope has managed to blur and confuse the doctrine that he is trying to maintain and elucidate. This altruistic qualification of a sacrament is not reflected in any of our written documents. It is ambiguous in the extreme.
