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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Watered Down Catholocism in our Diocese	John	Sunday, October 10, 2010
Question: Hi, Mr Slavek - I'm becoming increasingly concerned about our diocese. Unfortunately, many priests are omitting more and more parts of the Mass (and all this is happening with the approval of our diocesan bishop!). In short, our diocese (in the name of ecumenism) is becoming increasingly liberal in its theology and practice. Eucharistic Prayer # 1 (the Roman Canon) has disappeared completely - it's no longer used. And even the other eucharistic prayers are being modified to such an extent that they no longer correspond to what's in the Roman Missal. Last night, the epiclesis was omitted entirely (however, the words of consecration were still pronounced, but most irreverently). The way things are going, it won't be long before the consecration is modified! I reiterate, all this is happening with the express permission and sanction of our bishop! I've been studying at the diocesan college (no longer a seminary as there are no longer any vocations in our diocese) and the prospect of "priestly vocation for women" and feminist liturgies are being entertained!!! I've been studying "Liturgical Foundations", and our lecturer openly and unapologetically stated that the whole concept of "the Real Presence" in the eucharist needs to be re-interpreted because the teaching/philosophy of Thomas Aquinas is now "old hat"! I am not exaggerating. Another interesting note is that our bishop has started consecrating ecclesial women and hermits (rather than traditional religious!). The other two dioceseses in our city are very orthodox and very traditional (and faithful to the magisterium of the Church). I'm physically disabled and confined to a wheelchair and my only means of travel is via wheelchair taxis - so it's a fairly lengthy journey for me to travel to one of our neighbouring dioceses each Sunday for Mass. If the worst comes to the worst and the Mass in our diocese is eroded any further (to the extent that the words of consecration are modified) would I still be receiving a valid Communion? In other words, if the consecration is omitted - or significantly modified - can those of us who are properly disposed still receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ in Holy Communion? Bear in mind that my disposition is longing to receive our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. But if the consecration changes or is omitted, would I still be receiving Jesus and the grace of the Sacrament? Please help me, and tell me what I should do in these circumstances. God bless you - JOHN
Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek Dear John, Sounds like parts of the Faith aren't just watered down, sounds like they're downright polluted. It really is frustrating to hear stories such as yours, but the Church has been facing errors and heresies right from the beginning. The Truth eventually will always win; and this is evident in that your diocese has no vocations. Sounds to me like it might to helpful for you to speak with a spiritual director to determine your ability to travel to an authentic parish, keeping in mind that if you simply are not able to travel that distance, then you face no obligation. Now on to your specific question: if there is no valid consecration, then there is no Eucharist. Don't receive, since I believe it would be a sacrilege to "imitate" the reception. The grave sin would fall on those present who know better yet still participate in this garbage. If you unexpectedly find yourself at Mass and there is an invalid consecration, you would still of course be able to make a spiritual communion, many prayerbooks have good acts of spiritual communion or you could simply make one up yourself. Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are *Extraordinary* Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Watered Down Catholocism in our Diocese

John

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Question:

Hi, Mr Slavek -

I'm becoming increasingly concerned about our diocese. Unfortunately, many priests are omitting more and more parts of the Mass (and all this is happening with the approval of our diocesan bishop!). In short, our diocese (in the name of ecumenism) is becoming increasingly liberal in its theology and practice. Eucharistic Prayer # 1 (the Roman Canon) has disappeared completely - it's no longer used. And even the other eucharistic prayers are being modified to such an extent that they no longer correspond to what's in the Roman Missal.

Last night, the epiclesis was omitted entirely (however, the words of consecration were still pronounced, but most irreverently). The way things are going, it won't be long before the consecration is modified! I reiterate, all this is happening with the express permission and sanction of our bishop!

I've been studying at the diocesan college (no longer a seminary as there are no longer any vocations in our diocese) and the prospect of "priestly vocation for women" and feminist liturgies are being entertained!!! I've been studying "Liturgical Foundations", and our lecturer openly and unapologetically stated that the whole concept of "the Real Presence" in the eucharist needs to be re-interpreted because the teaching/philosophy of Thomas Aquinas is now "old hat"! I am not exaggerating. Another interesting note is that our bishop has started consecrating ecclesial women and hermits (rather than traditional religious!).

The other two dioceseses in our city are very orthodox and very traditional (and faithful to the magisterium of the Church).

I'm physically disabled and confined to a wheelchair and my only means of travel is via wheelchair taxis - so it's a fairly lengthy journey for me to travel to one of our neighbouring dioceses each Sunday for Mass. If the worst comes to the worst and the Mass in our diocese is eroded any further (to the extent that the words of consecration are modified) would I still be receiving a valid Communion?

In other words, if the consecration is omitted - or significantly modified - can those of us who are properly disposed still receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ in Holy Communion?

Bear in mind that my disposition is longing to receive our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. But if the consecration changes or is omitted, would I still be receiving Jesus and the grace of the Sacrament? Please help me, and tell me what I should do in these circumstances.

God bless you -
JOHN

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear John,

Sounds like parts of the Faith aren't just watered down, sounds like they're downright polluted. It really is frustrating to hear stories such as yours, but the Church has been facing errors and heresies right from the beginning. The Truth eventually will always win; and this is evident in that your diocese has no vocations.

Sounds to me like it might to helpful for you to speak with a spiritual director to determine your ability to travel to an authentic parish, keeping in mind that if you simply are not able to travel that distance, then you face no obligation.

Now on to your specific question: if there is no valid consecration, then there is no Eucharist. Don't receive, since I believe it would be a sacrilege to "imitate" the reception. The grave sin would fall on those present who know better yet still participate in this garbage.

If you unexpectedly find yourself at Mass and there is an invalid consecration, you would still of course be able to make a spiritual communion, many prayerbooks have good acts of spiritual communion or you could simply make one up yourself.

Mr. Slavek

Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.