AmericanPapist Comments
The fact that the article writer feels the need to place a dollar-value on the Eucharist betrays his sympathies.
Note that the dollar value placed on the Eucharist was required by the police (there's a blank for it on the sheriff's report). The fact that the number is so low probably reflects the meaninglessness of the question in a Catholic context. $1 probably isn't a bad valuation for a handful of unconsecrated hosts. Once consecrated, as these were, they're literally priceless—but what does the law know of consecration?
I think the parishioners' actions give a better sense of the value they really put on it, not a dollar value somebody made up on the spur of the moment.
Peace,
--Peter
Now those brave parishioners need to be on YouTube! That would be priceless. God Bless 'em!
I remember all the people after the P.Z. Myers atrocity who said that someone couldn't be arrested for stealing the Eucharist. This proves them wrong.
Is a mint condition rookie card of a hall of fame baseball player worth the value of the paper and ink it's printed with? Is a famous painting worth the cost of the canvas and paint it's made out of? Absolutely not. The Eucharist is just as priceless (indeed more so) as an irreplaceable painting and should not be valued at the cost of flour and water.
And the argument that only Catholics place such a high value on the Eucharist is bunk. Many people have no appreciation for the worth of rare baseball cards or fine paintings, but they're priced so high because of their worth to the small group of people who value them. The Eucharist shouldn't be judged any differently.
ANOTHER reason to end Communion in the Hand (YouTube video being number 1). Makes it too easy and convenient to abscond with the Sacred Host.
And today gunshots at a Florida school.
The devil is working overtime down there.
Wonder why.
I'm with you Fr. John!
And bravo to those feisty parishioners!
Psychologically disturbed or disturbed by evil spirits? I've seen many psychologically disturbed people, none of which have the desire to do what this man did. Perhaps we should get out of the modern day trap of assuming that demons do not exist, and that all abnormal behavior can be attributed to some psychosis.
Joseph, there was an incident in my parish where a man received the Host and then started crumbling it and mumbling incoherently. In this case it was obvious to everyone (included the police officers who were called) that he needed to go to the hospital for treatment rather than jail. I'm sure that most people who steal the Eucharist do not have psychological problems, but it does happen occasionally.
Good for those parishioners (and the priest). It's refreshing to see Catholics willing to defend the faith (quite literally!).
Last month I worshipped at The Brompton Oratory in London, England. The priest announced after the Gospel that only those willing to receive on the tongue would be given communion due to this very incident occurring more often in the UK.
BTW I worshipped at the mentioned Church in Florida in 2007, as an out of state visitor. I nearly leapt out of my pew with joy during the petitions. We were led in prayer..."For an end to the contraceptive mentality and the embrace of natural family planning...Let us pray to the Lord..Lord hear our prayer." It was magnificent! I had never heard that during Mass before. It took effort to refrain from clapping and shouting "Bravo!" My point? Perhaps the enemy is not pleased with the good happening in this parish.
ending communion in the hand?
c'mon john t.....
haven't you seen the young man who received communion on the tongue and stole it from the church..
please.....
if they want to steal the Blessed Sacrament, they are going to.
No communion in the hand combined with no Judas shuffle (not allowing anyone to leave immediately after communion) would probably prevent 99% of theft.
And if people want to burglarize your house, they're going to, so don't take any precautions to make it more difficult for them. Don't buy an alarm system, don't get a dog. Heck, don't even lock your door.
Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! 40 lashes with a wet spaghetti noodle!
The police report on The Smoking Gun lists the home addresses of the two men who tried to stop this guy.
I'm going to send them Christmas Cards. :)
Not only are the practices of Communion in the hand and receiving standing less respectful of the Blessed Sacrament but also make it easier for somebody who wishes to desecrate the Sacrament.
Furthermore, the report indicates that the Priest had the Hosts on a 'plate'. Had they been in a Ciborium it would have been almost impossible for the man to have grabbed several of them.
Whilst it is impossible to totally stop all desecration of the Holy Eucharist by those hell bent on it, let us at least ensure that it is made harder by reverting to the pre-Concilliar practices.
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