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Published: June 15, 2009
“Insidious secularization, even inside the Church”
Benedict XVI cautions against empty Eucharistic worship
Vatican City (CNA) -- While celebrating the feast of Corpus Christi on June 11 in front of the basilica of St. John Lateran, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged the faithful to nourish themselves with love of Christ in the Eucharist and warned of secularization within the Church.
In his homily, the Holy Father explained that, though we are inadequate due to sin, we need to nourish ourselves “from the love the Lord offers us in the Eucharistic Sacrament.”
 Noting Thursday's feast, he said, “This evening we renew our faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Such faith must not be taken for granted!” The pope went on to warn of the risk “of insidious secularization, even inside the Church” that “could translate into a formal but empty Eucharistic worship, in celebrations lacking that involvement of the heart which finds expression in veneration and respect for the liturgy.”
"There is always a strong temptation to reduce prayer to superficial and hurried moments, allowing ourselves to be overcome by earthly activities and concerns," he cautioned.
However, reminded Benedict XVI, we must remember that in the Eucharist, “heaven comes down to earth, God's tomorrow descends into the present moment and time is, as it were, embraced by divine eternity."
During the Eucharistic procession that traditionally follows the Mass, the pope prayed, "We will ask the Lord in the name of the entire city: Stay with us, Jesus, make us a gift of Yourself and give us the bread that nourishes us for eternal life. Free this world from the poison of evil, from the violence and hatred that pollute people's consciences, purify it with the power of Your merciful love."
Following Mass, the pope participated in the Eucharistic procession that traveled along Rome’s Via Merulana to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. While the Holy Father knelt in prayer in a covered vehicle before the monstrance, thousands prayed and sang along the route.
Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 12:21 AM By Dan
At Mass yesterday (Corpus Christi) the priest mentioned the Eucharist as a meal, but made no mention whatsoever of it being a sacrifice -- the sacrifice of Jesus--nor astonishingly did he mention that the consecrated bread and wine become the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ. Ånd we wonder why the faithful have so little faith.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 12:39 AM By Charles O'Connell
It's so sad how little encouragement is given to communicants for deepening their prayer lives after reception of the Sacrament: The Celebrant leaving scant time for meditation and thanksgiving, people applauding the choir, talking loudly while a few souls who have the right idea are trying to give thanksgiving to the Lord for His inestimable gift. An aid for this is available on-line at the website for the Bishop Gallegos Maternity Home (search for it), clicking on the Prayer menu item, the lower-left selection "Prayers for Holy Communion - Preparation and Thanksgiving" by Fr. W. Stephenson SJ, downloadable in PDF format, a letter-size document on 14 pages that you can print and staple together.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 4:03 AM By RIchard Flores
The sacraments are NOT a "right", but rather sacred gifts from God that MUST be respected and protected! To allow people who are obviously NOT respectful of the teachings of the church to have access to the sacraments is a grave sin. We have an sacred obligation to protect the sacraments. As such, it is sinful to allow heretics and/or blasphemers to take communion. Pro-death, pseudo-Catholics chose to drop out of fellowship with our Lord and His church by their intentional involvement with murder of the most heinous form! Each priest has a sacred obligation to refuse communion to anyone with grave sin on their soul without confession and subsequent contrite response of the sinner.
The game of "rights" in this country must end when it comes to the acceptance of the murder of babies! If the church will not defend the most vulnerable of God's children, who will? We must support the FEW bishops that have the guts to enforce the USCCB directives with respect to disallowing pro-death politicians (And any other person claiming to be Catholic but openly supporting abortion!) access to communion!
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 7:52 AM By St. Christopher
Embrace the Traditional Latin Mass, that is the way to assure orthodoxy and communion with Catholic tradition (the other pillar of the Church's belief). There will never be liturgical peace or Catholic normalcy when there is so much foolish "diversity" which was never intended by Vatican II. The future of the true Church is assured, but we may be going through many difficult years under the present "anything goes" attitudes of the Vatican and bishops conferences throughout the world. (No, Pope Benedict XVI does not do enough to stop this drive toward "securlarization" although he clearly recognizes its reality, and dangers.)
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 9:07 AM By Mark from PA
Our priest did mention in yesterday's sermon how the Eucharist was the body and blood of Christ. This is an important and vital teaching of the Church. The Pope's words here are very beautiful. Note to St. Christopher, diversity is not foolish. You ask people to embrace the Latin Mass and this is part of the diversity of the Church as most Masses in the US are celebrated in English. Our parish has Masses in English, Polish and Spanish. We have a very diverse parish, with Latinos, blacks, Asians and gays. Our parish is a rainbow of peoples and this is good.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 9:59 AM By Laurette Elsberry
A suggestion for bishops: Prepare a letter for all pastors to have read at Sunday Mass two Sundays in a row. The letter would state: No casual chatting in church - before, during, or after Mass. No gum chewing. No shorts or low cut dresses or other inappropriate wear. No arriving late or leaving early. A warning before Mass to turn off cell phones. An explanation of what is actually happening during the Consecration. No shaking hands or otherwise greeting people on the way to receive Holy Communion or on the way back. Renew this letter reading practice on a yearly basis.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 10:13 AM By Grisha
Richard Flores: OK - If you oppose re-criminalization of abortion you automatically get denied communion. On what other grounds ought it be denied. If one is pro-gay marriage? If one opposes gay marriage but favors domestic partnerships? How about if a person opposes the re-criminalization of homosexual acts? I suspect one of the reasons most bishops aren't jumping on this bandwagon is because they see a slippery slope which leads to denying communion to anyone who isn't 100% agreement with all of the public policy positions of the USCCB.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 10:41 AM By betty
Charles O'Connell, as far as applauding the choir goes, I usually boo out loud when that happens in my church. I'm trying to tell them that if they have a right to applaud, I have a right to boo. Their music is awful! Everyone shuts up when I start booing and then we have a very quiet church. Would you like to try it? Let me know.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 10:52 AM By june v
It is no wonder that the "faithful" do not understand that what they have received IS THE BODY &BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST. The priest "slaps" the Host into the communicants hand and then we see them munching away and smiling and acknowledging friends while returning to their seats. I cannot bring myself to "chomp" on the Blessed Sacrament. I still let IT dissolve in my mouth. That is among one of many things that caused me to leave the faith for too long until I finally found my beautiful Latin Mass and was at peace.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 1:12 PM By Canisius
Note to Mark PA Diversity is just homo speak so that liberals can feel better about themselves. Tell me why do you and gays in general have the need to bring attention to themselves, in of all places Mass. Since the gay lifestyle is disordered and unnatural why should gays get some kind of special recognition for living a sinful lifestyle. Is there room for adulterers in your "diverse" parish.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 1:13 PM By Dan
"I usually boo out loud when that happens in my church. I'm trying to tell them that if they have a right to applaud, I have a right to boo. Their music is awful! " I agree about half of what passes for music in the OCP hymnal is garbage; it does not inspire worship, and groups tend to butcher the good hymns that are there. My preference, however, is studied silence rather than booing. It would be nice if the pastors would request the ceasing of this needless clapping. We musicians (and I am one-- a very frustrated one) do not need the applause. It's not about us, it's about Him.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 1:33 PM By JLS
Grisha, the Church thrived and prospered in the eras where one had to prove one's faith, and otherwise not receive Holy Communion. I for one would opt to restrict Communion for any breach of doctrine ... and then let the one excommunicated prove worthy of joining Communion.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 1:47 PM By Brother Sebastian
June v. You've been blessed and have seen the light. I am happy for you. Take advantage of all the infinite spiritual graces receiveable from the Tridentine Latin Mass and the 7 Holy Sacraments insituted by Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour for the benefit of our poor souls. Pray with those whom have seen the light in praying for the conversion of those souls hidden in the shadows and darkness that they may eventually see the light. Humility, perseverence in purity of thought and action, and fervent sincere prayer kneeling before/to our loving Blessed Trinity and to our Blessed Mother opens the door for us to see the Way, the Truth, and the Light. May God Bless and Help us all!
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 2:42 PM By Life Lady
I have to agree with Flores. Diversity is fine, but we are talking about the Church. It is not a democracy, but a theocracy. There is one head of the Church, and that is Jesus Christ, with the pope as his visible head here on earth. Such nonsense as clapping, chewing on the host (NOT DONE, the sacred host is to be allowed to dissolve) talking out loud and chatting before mass, all the glad-handing when the so-called 'greeting' happens, is so much drivel that takes our attention away from the center and the whole point of the Mass: Christ truly present on the altar. I remain kneeling with my head down, and even if people try to touch me I tell them not to, I am in the middle of my adoration of Jesus truly present on the altar. Try that some times. What is needed is a return to fundamentals: the Tradentine Latin Mass. There is nothing else that can convert us all back to truly practicing our Faith. I am glad that someone is calling attention to the shallow lip-service that is going on in many of our Catholic churches. No wonder someone like Obama was elected. One more thing: if you are a eucharistic minister, turn in your title. The Eucharist is the sole responsibility of the priest. His hands alone were consecrated in the sacrament of Holy Orders to take that sacred species into their hands. That alone would cut in half the hateful denial of the True Presence. Secondly, if you are a priest, deny anyone the Holy Eucharist who publicly and privately supports abortion. There is nothing in between. No one is truly worthy to receive Him, but those who would openly defy the rights of God the Father and Son, and Holy Spirit, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, ought to never dare approach the sacred table, let alone partake of the Body and Blood of Christ. They take that on and they condemn themselves to the pit with that one act.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 4:04 PM By cjo
The Holy Father is so CORRECT....again...And it is apparent that the secularization is endemic within the Church.....And after reading the above comments, it's not just at my parish. We need to "TAKE" our Church back from those who no longer appear to have the Faith !! And pray for Pope Benedict XVI that he can bring about that change...
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 4:16 PM By Rick DeLano
If there are any readers within driving distance of St. Victor's in West Hollywood, please do come and assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Friday, June 19, at 8pm. There will be absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind, at the awesome moment of consecration, that the elements of bread and wine have become the Body and Blood of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the most beautiful thing this side of heaven, converted the world and will reconvert the world. The process has begun. How blessed are you who have never experienced the beauty, sacred majesty, and saving power of the Traditional Latin Mass---now you will have your chance!
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 4:46 PM By JLS
So, Dan, keep playing the instruments until the clapping stops.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 5:16 PM By Mark from PA
Excuse me, Canisius, "homo speak"! Where did I ever say that I felt the need to bring attention to myself at Mass? Betty, you actually boo in Church? Several weeks ago the pastor mentioned a couple who had been married 50 years and the congregation applauded. Also, our first communicants have a family Mass before they receive their first communion. The family brings up the gifts and does the readings. After communion the priest usually asks the child questions. After the child has answered, the congregation usually claps. Would you actually boo a child? The day after our first communions, the priest asked all the children who had received their first communion the day before to come up to the altar and complimented them on receiving their second communion. Again the congregation applauded these children.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 5:33 PM By Mark from PA
June, you said that you left the faith until you found the Latin Mass. So are you saying that you didn't receive communion because you didn't like the Mass in English? Rick DeLano, you speak of the saving power of the Traditional Latin Mass. The Mass in English also has saving power. At the moment of consecration in all languages, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It seems that some here seem to think that it is OK to skip Mass if they can't attend a Latin Mass. The Mass in English is just as good as the Mass in Latin and they are equally valid.
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 7:09 PM By Maggie
You all forget that there is also the EAstern CAtholic Cburches. The Byzantine Cathlic Church Liturgies are wonderful! And very sacred. I'm surprised none of you have gone there. How narrow-minded...
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Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 9:28 PM By MARKRITE
Bravo to our Holy Father for his remarks on the Feast of Corpus Christi! He speaks volumes and obviously from the deep inspiration of the Holy Spirit.And it IS happening, this secularization of the Holy Eucharist, I've noted it in varying degrees in almost every parish I've been in for over twenty years.
But I'd like to caution St. Christopher to not go overboard with relying too heavily on the T.L.M. I have personal experience within my own family of what can develop because of a rejection of the Novus Ordo mass in favor of ONLY going to the T.L.M., and believing that the Novus Ordo is either "too liberal" or outright heretical. And it belongs under the concept of being "MORE CATHOLIC THAN THE POPE." Believe me, it can be an outright danger. One of my close relative's marriages involving a family of seven children collapsed partially because of a CULT OF PERSONALITY engendered by one of these priests of the T.L.M. He believed and taught his congregation that the contemporary Catholic church suffers from 'SEDA VACANTIS'; THE CHAIR OF PETER IS VACANT. When that happens in one of these T.L.M. congregations, which CAN BE insular and exclusivist,all hell can break loose. Which is one of the reasons that Satan, I believe, pushes the concept. Better to be humble and realize that we don't have all the answers, but the Vatican, however we might view it, usually does. THANX, AND GOD BLESS ALL!!--MARKRITE
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 12:33 AM By Dan
"So, Dan, keep playing the instruments until the clapping stops." Yeah JLS, but the better we play, the more they clap, regardless of how awful the music is. What's a guy to do?
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:18 AM By Bob
What is going on here? Booing the choir? Leaving the church for years because someone "crunched" the host? Nuns not wearing legitimate habits? Have we all gone mad? Only going to Latin Mass? None of these things have anything to do with our Catholic faith. They have to do with ... who knows what! The Mass in English, Polish, Spanish, French, or what ever languages you use in your diocese (we use 29 different languages) are all valid masses. The legitimate habit of nuns were the street clothes worn as we were coming out of the dark ages. Now nuns wear street clothes of the modern era. Christians don't boo the choir in church. That is just plain un-Christian. We must always remember that the mass represents the community coming together to praise and worship. It is not a time for just quiet contemplation. It is a community event. If all you want to do is worship God in quiet and solitude, you can do that at home. When you come to church for mass, you come to be part of the community of worshipers. Read the papers of VII, then you will know what the Catholic Church is all about. It is no longer about the papers of the older Councils.
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:40 AM By Canisius
Mark PA -- Mr. Delano never said that the Novus Ordo was invalid or anything of that sort.
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 7:04 AM By Anna
I have come across so many people who are reluctant to call the Body and Blood of Christ. when speaking of receiving the cup they say "wine" and I will say no Blood of Christ. Their reply yes I know. I remind them that that is why the report Catholic do not believe in the presence of Christ. We have a miracle at every mass yet are not impressed. I pray that the younger Catholics are more fervent
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:01 AM By Canisius
Bob, I have had enough of praise, worship and community,this quickly becomes about worship of ourselves and Christ becomes completely secondary or ignored completely.
No its your side has gone mad, your side gave us sex scandals, clown masses, modern churches, and declining vocations. VII did not invalidate or suppress any of the teaching of the previous councils, nor any of the traditions held before the failed VII council.
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:41 AM By Dave N.
I often wonder what people like Anna would have said to St. Paul who spoke of eating "the bread" and drinking "the cup." I'm sure he knew too.
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 10:40 AM By Rick DeLano
Wow! Imagine my surprise to find that my invitation to Mass would be a controversial matter! I think a lot of our objectors here must sense the ground moving beneath their feet, as the Traditional Mass continues to grow throughout the world, despite, in many cases, outright disobedience to the expressed will of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in the motu proprio "Summorum Pontificum". Those who are so threatened by the Traditional Mass that they somehow think it necessary to defend the validity of the ordinary form of the Roman Rite are perhaps "acting out" their own fears that, given the choice, more and more Catholics might not accept the liturgical devastation that has been wrought since the Council? In any case, Summorum Pontificum is the law of the universal Church. May God grant all souls troubled by liturgical abuse access to the ancient and glorious Latin Mass.
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 10:51 AM By JLS
Dan, a decade and a half ago, I left my local parish; the last straw being when the aged priest lauded the choir. It had been enough that he had previously sided with feminism over St Paul, but that choir contained a voice that would sink the Bismark, would make Alfalfa of the Little Rascals sound like a great virtuoso, and rival the storm on the Sea of Gallilee ... anything was peaceful compared to that one voice. But that voluntary exile was my ticket to finding the Latin Mass, so what else can I say?
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 10:53 AM By JLS
Bob, the Mass is for us to worship, not for playtime.
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 11:10 AM By Mark from PA
I can never get enough of praise, worship or community. If some here don't like praise, worship or community then that is sad. "Your side gave us sex scandals?" You need to read about what went on in those school in Ireland BEFORE Vatican II. It was a disgrace. A lot of kids were beaten and molested long before John XXIII was Pope.
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Posted Tuesday, June 16, 2009 12:48 PM By Rick DeLano
Mark from PA makes an excellent point, regarding the temptation of many to allege that the sex scandals (or even the liturgical and theological disasters) were the result of the Council. They weren't. The roots of the disaster which has befallen us since the Council were already present, obviously, as the case of the Irish scandals demonstrate. It is true that the authors of these abominations took the Council as their opportunity to attempt to introduce them as authentic teachings of the Church- particularly the absurd notion that homosexuality is somehow to be accepted as a virtue, or that liturgy is to be degraded into a happy-time celebration of Who We Are As Church. Catholics know that the Mass is the supreme worship of the Thrice Holy God, and no amount of Spirit of Vatican II Newspeak is going to change the fact that the tide is turning.
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Posted Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:41 AM By JLS
Neither Vatican II nor pre-Vatican II cause the depravity masquerading as religion that is coming to light these days. Another new window among many is opening up right now, beginning with the recent Notre Dame University rot ... and the article is posted today on CCD: Catholic colleges promoting student jobs with abortion providers; evidently this sort of student job works better for the upper crust than the type I got carrying sides of beef from slaugherhouse to truck, or like others who work their way through college by first risking their lives for a few years in combat. This will be found to be another deeply entrenched infestation. Vatican II aims to expose this evil and is succeeding. Take the shackles off and see which ones are faithful and which ones are not. The faithful will and are reorganizing, as the imposters are outed. Faith will win out over money, as it always has. The crafty have not yet found a way to haul their cash past the Gate of St Peter.
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Posted Thursday, June 18, 2009 5:08 PM By Victoria
The older I get, the more amazed I am at how often the names most of us use to identify: GOD, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Our Crucified Lord, seem to be absent in the vocabularyof the Catholic Clergy. Even Cardinal Mahony speaks constantly of, "The Spirit" when he is talking about Our Lord; but he and so many other clergy and bishops choose not to say, HIS name. But why not say the name of Jesus Christ, unless one is afraid to say HIS Name?
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Posted Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:57 PM By JLS
You are right on, Victoria: There is one name above all names, and that is Jesus Christ.
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Posted Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:20 PM By Anne T.
Maggie, that is a good idea. I have gone to a Byzantine Catholic Mass at least three times, even though I am Latin rite. I also use the chotki
(Jesus Prayer rope) sometimes, and have icons along with statues. I know many other Latin Rite Catholics who have done the same. It depends on the area -- if they are available. We appreciate any reverent Mass.
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Posted Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:46 PM By Anne T.
Dan, you might have an announcement during the bulletin or right after the Mass before the last hymn that the choir members are singing for the Lord and not for the applause, and that the Congregation should refrain from clapping.
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Posted Friday, June 19, 2009 10:37 AM By JLS
Icons, statues, Rosary beads, chotki ... and would you believe, some Catholics even have Bibles.
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Posted Sunday, June 21, 2009 12:45 PM By Abeca Christian
Laurette Elsberry I agree with your post, I also think that priests should lead people to receive our Lord by mouth not by hand. I see too many abuses there. When children are doing their first communion, they are encouraged to receive by hand, that is truly a big abuse in all our parishes now a days! If we can't fix that then we can't expect people to dress appropriately for Mass either. It is sad that many good priests are conforming to these abuses as well and it kinda makes me lose some respect because I look to them to lead their parish and bring us to holiness/reverence and salvation in Christ with love and grace!
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