Notwithstanding Pope Benedict XVI's personal endorsement of eucharistic adoration and the sporadic restoration of the practice in the archdiocese of Boston and elsewhere, it is difficult to speak favorably about the devotion today.This is a surprising attack on the practice of Eucharistic Adoration which has become so popular, especially among young people. Normally one would expect liberal theologians to write against traditionalism in the liturgy of the ordinary form of the Mass, or against the freeing-up of the extraordinary form, but characterising Eucharistic Adoration as a "step backward" is something of an extreme position given the widespread popularity of this devotion in parishes and the warm encouragement given to it by Pope John Paul, Pope Benedict, and every Vatican Dicastery that has spoken about the promotion of vocations, the new evangelisation, or generally about the growth of faith in the young.
Now that most Catholics are literate and even well-educated, the Mass is in the language of the people (i.e, the vernacular), and its rituals are relatively easy to understand and follow, there is little or no need for extraneous eucharistic devotions. The Mass itself provides all that a Catholic needs sacramentally and spiritually.
Eucharistic adoration, perpetual or not, is a doctrinal, theological, and spiritual step backward, not forward.
Are we to believe that Pope Benedict is taking a step backward here?
I thought that opposition to the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was now more or less finished, but it seems that liberal theologians persist in their attacks on one of the most unambiguous expressions of Catholic faith in the Holy Eucharist.
12 comments:
With all due respect, Father McBrien sounds more like an Anglican minister than a Catholic priest. "Those who do not learn the lessons of history are condemned to repreat them." Perhaps a reading of Saint Edmund Campion's life might be helpful to Father; I shall pray for him.
In brief, then, just more examples of patronising, liberal doublethink designed to prize open the hearts of the Faithful to dubious motives.
It's saddening, shocking and sobering to hear a Priest speak against Eucharistic Adoration in such a way.
As for the old argument about the Mass being in the vernacular to reflect changing levels of education, etc., this still makes no logical sense. The Tridentine Rite involves far more concentration, thought, meditation and reflection - and hence more use of our God-given intellectual functions - than the N.O.
Surely, if people are better educated then there is less need to have rituals that are 'relatively easy to understand and follow'. If we've all suddenly become so very clever then we can surely exercise our brains enough to be able to attend a Mass that is not in the vernacular.
Why do we term people who attack the heart of the Catholic faith and Practice as 'liberal' and not use the correct term, heretic? Calvin had more right to be called a Catholic than these contemporary so called liberals.
Does McB smoke crack? I'm serious.
So according to him I'm wasting two hours a week doing this? Appart from recieving Communion those are the two most peaceful hours a week I get!
I guess he never fell in love with anyone. You look at someone you love. He looks back at you. There's nothing to be said. What can be more perfect than that?
Yes Father, an unfortunate but not unexpected diatribe from Fr. McBrien. It is reminiscent of much of the post-Vatican II mockery of popular devotions and the resulting decline in these over the past 40+ years. The impression given was that these devotions were for simple, unlettered people, but now with Vatican II we were more ‘grown up’ and didn’t need these pious practices any more.
Rosary and Benediction, Holy Hours, Processions, Novenas, Exposition etc. were all ridiculed as “the stuff of children” – not to be engaged in by ‘adult’ Catholics. We Irish came in for much of the ‘blame’ for this - though the Italians and Spanish got their share also. The simple faith of the people became the “faith of the simple” – not what ‘mature and educated’ Catholics should cling to.
Well we have seen the fruits of all of this these many years since with empty churches and widespread lapsing. Maybe our ‘simple’ forefathers knew something we had forgotten – that faith requires humility; that pride goes before a fall; that God confounds the mighty and chooses the weak – and that we are all children of God.
We have a perpetual adoration chapel at my parish and its great, you can just show up anytime. I've shown up at every odd hour God invented, and there's always been someone there, and there's always a multitude of young people there. Fr McBrien is gravely mistaken, thats all I have to say.
I have 'attended' Eucharistic Adoration in the past,as a duty etc but only since beginning to pray the Rosary on a daily basis have I felt personally inclined to do so. I really do not understand exactly what it is I am doing but the attraction is within me. I even practice it at home,even though I obviously have no access to the blessed sacrament there.I cannot believe people would be against such a beautiful action,unless it's the devil stirring things up.
Eucharistic adoration is so spiritually uplifting how can anyone say that there is no longer a need for it.
I would certainly question the fact that 'most Catholics are literate and even well-educated', many are still merely highly technologically competent barbarians who more than ever need to be taught their faith.
It is ignorance of our faith that allows people to say that Mass needs to be in the vernacular and that the rituals are easy to follow.
It is not for us to understand God but to adore Him as His creatures and to do His work, however pitifully that may be.
Thank God for Eucharistic Adoration, when else can you sit in silence with the Son of God and just be yourself.
Somewhere in Vatican history, concern from the Pope about the value of the adoration to actually receiving the Blessed Sacrament was laid down in very clear terms.
What is wrong with Benediction after Mass. Too long an exposure to the Blessed Sacrament, could be,-well, a wrong way to come to God. I would say a long exposure to the sacrifice on the cross is a more spiritually correct, and rewarding. To confront the Blessed Sacrament then in a short spell say at Benediction will establish truthfull interaction with God
I’m one of those young people who are apparently going backward (sigh). I don't know where this particular Father’s going, but I know I don't want to walk on his road. God help us.
I will follow my Holy Father in adoring the Lord.
Thank God there is none of that kind of thinking in the Diocese of Paisley. The cathedral has Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every day (except Sunday).
I am more impressed with the comments than the ideas of this 'priest'. If we are all so well educated then a little bit of intellectual exercise learning the latin of the mass would not go amiss. It's not that hard .I learned it aged six and still remember it now . I know many people native english speakers who show little understanding of the goings on at mass,and thats in their own vernacular. With all due respect to fr.McBrien what pray explain could possibly be wrong with getting down on your knees before your god and creator. He is indulging in intellectual arrogance at the level of luther,calvin and knox and in due course he will have to answer to his maker. Maybe though he will engage the lord in an intellectual discussion? Wouldn't bet on who will win. God help the poor soul he still hasn't realised that he and his 'trendy' pals have caused untold damage to the church over the past 40 odd years. They have lost the war. Christ has sent us another 'saviour' in Benedict XIV a man of true intellectual rigour and holiness. AMDG
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