| Subject: |
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The Eucharist |
| Name: |
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Tom Hassett |
| Date Posted: |
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May 26, 06 - 3:39 PM |
| Message: |
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Among the many changes in church ritual since Vatican 2 in the 1960’s is a relatively minor change called “con – celebration”. Since then, if 2 or more priests say Mass together or with their bishop, they simply say the words of offering and consecration together. Each priest repeats the words of Our Lord by saying, “this is MY body” and later, “this is the cup of MY blood” and again, “do this in memory of ME”; in unison with his fellow priests.
By this act of joint consecration they identify themselves with the living Jesus and share themselves (through Him) with each other. Later in the Mass, all those present who undergo His symbolic death (by receiving the bread and wine separately) then unite their lives with His (and with each other) when they receive the risen Jesus in Holy Communion.
What I would now suggest is that it is time for all who will receive Holy Communion together, to join the priest (or priests or bishop) in the words of consecration. We should be jointly consecrating the bread and wine, saying “my body….my blood…..in memory of me” and thereby offer ourselves with Jesus in audible union with the presiding priest. All of us, men, women and children are old enough to speak for ourselves when we offer ourselves to God in union with the Son of God. Married priests of the western and eastern church could and perhaps should lead the rest of the congregations in this co – consecration and con – celebration.
On the other hand, if a congregation were to consider saying Mass without a bishop or priest, then they should listen to a warning that St Ignatius wrote in 110 AD. He was the Bishop of Antioch who felt that he had to give the following directions to the Christian community of Smyrna (present day Izmir). They may have tried just such a procedure - Mass without a Bishop or priest.
“Let no man perform anything pertaining to the church without the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist over which the bishop presides, (upo episkopou ?ousa) or one to whom he commits it.”
(page 90, “Documents of the Christian Church”, Oxford University Press)
When all of us offer the Mass together, asking each others’ forgiveness, offering our gifts, consecrating ourselves in the bread and wine, receiving Communion under the leadership of the priest or bishop, then once again we will be a truly Catholic Church - with one Lord within us all. |
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