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SYNOD-EUCHARIST May-10-2004 (920 words) xxxi
Vatican's synod outline takes aim at rules on reception of Communion
By John Thavis
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The recent debate over liturgical abuses and reception of Communion by dissenting Catholics is about to be taken to a global level as the church prepares for the 2005 Synod of Bishops.
The synod's topic is the Eucharist. In recent days, bishops around the world have received a Vatican-prepared thematic outline that focuses in large part on the rules that govern celebration of the Eucharist -- including who should and who should not receive Communion.
The 75-page outline, called the "lineamenta," has not been released publicly by the Vatican. Catholic News Service obtained a copy of the document in early May.
The outline emphasizes the sacramental and liturgical norms against shared Communion with most non-Catholics. It repeatedly makes the point that the church does not have the power to give Communion to Catholics living in grave sin, to those "teaching error" or to "persons living an immoral life."
Although the Eucharist is a sacrament of unity, it presupposes "unity in the faith" for those who would share in its reception, the document said. In that sense, people should not receive Communion in a "casual, routine manner," it said.
"Communion can be received only in union with the whole church, after overcoming any separation because of religion or morality," it said.
The outline did not explicitly address the question of denying Communion to those in opposition to key church teachings. Instead, it framed the question in terms borrowed from the early Christian writings of the Didache: "If one is holy, come; if one is not, repent."
The document warned of the potential abuses of "liturgical creativity." It reviewed the church's rules on such matters as the breaking of the eucharistic bread, the sacred vessels used in Mass, the need for "dignified" music, and placement of the tabernacle, altar and even the celebrant's chair.
One of the biggest concerns voiced by the outline is that many Catholics may see the Eucharist as simply a "fraternal meal" instead of the sacrament of Christ's continuing presence. This would be a "grave error," it said.
"There are indications in eucharistic catechesis and practice of an overemphasis on a single aspect, e.g., on the Eucharist as meal, on the baptismal common priesthood, on the sufficiency of a Liturgy of the Word only and on ecumenical practices at Mass which are contrary to the faith and discipline of the church," it said.
In a section of questions designed to provoke reflection and a written response by bishops, the document again focused on abuses. It asked:
-- What are the negative aspects in eucharistic worship, and what is the cause of such a "disorienting situation" for the faithful?
-- "In an attempt to be personal and avant-garde, do priests manifest any attitudes in their celebration of the Mass which are explicitly or implicitly contrary to the liturgical norms?"
-- Do the faithful display a casual approach to receiving Communion?
-- Do Catholics adequately understand the difference between the Mass and other liturgies presided over by lay people? Do they distinguish enough between ordained and nonordained ministers?
-- Do some elements in eucharistic liturgies lead to "a diminished regard for the real presence" of Christ in the Eucharist?
-- How are the norms of inter-Communion applied?
-- How is confusion avoided regarding the mystery of the Blessed Sacrament in ecumenical and interreligious meetings?
-- What steps are taken in inculturation to prevent "peculiar and strange practices" in liturgy?
Some at the Vatican see the upcoming synod as the third step in a process of restoring liturgical order to eucharistic celebrations. The first step was Pope John Paul II's encyclical on the Eucharist in 2003. The second was the document on liturgical abuses, released by the Vatican in late April.
Some observers thought it was unusual for an encyclical to precede a Synod of Bishops on the same topic. But Vatican sources said the synod is expected to give wider resonance to the earlier encyclical and the document on abuses.
"The bishops will represent the episcopacy of the world, and it's important that they be heard as speaking with a single voice on these issues," said one source. He said the synod could be expected to do this in language that is generally positive and pastoral.
The formal theme of the synod is "The Eucharist: Source and Culmination of the Life and Mission of the Church." The outline included lengthy sections explaining the theology of the Eucharist, drawing heavily from the pope's recent encyclical as well as early church writers.
The Eucharist must be understood as "spiritual nourishment" that strengthens the mission of every member of the church, it said. It is "the spiritual food of the soul, the antidote for sin, the beginning of future glory and the fountain of holiness," it said.
The document said liturgy and catechesis should help Catholics better understand the mystery of the Eucharist -- which is a problem in an age marked by a "denial of mystery," it said.
The outline asked bishops to supply statistics on daily and weekly Mass attendance and to list ways in which the church's teaching on the Eucharist is being deepened in their dioceses. In effect, it said, the bishops are being asked to take "pastoral inventory" on all things related to the Eucharist.
The Vatican asked the bishops to return their response before the end of the year. The responses will provide the basis for a working document for the synod, scheduled for Oct. 2-29, 2005.
END
Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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