Communion outside of Mass…
Personal Jesus.
There was a time I never minded receiving Communion outside of Mass. The reception of Communion has always been my focus at Mass, and if I couldn’t make it to Mass that day, I sometimes asked the priest if I could receive afterwards. In most cases, the priest would oblige me. Delighted, I spent a very long time in thanksgiving. I wouldn’t do this now unless I was in danger of death, hospitalized, or homebound.
Communion outside of Mass is permitted of course, for the sick and the dying, or for someone unable to attend Mass for a legitimate reason. While still young, shortly after my conversion, and living in a major metropolitan area, I could have easily traveled to several Churches in town where Mass was being celebrated. Instead, sometimes I just wanted the quiet intimacy of my private, solitary Communion. I may have missed that particular Church’s daily celebration of Mass, yet requested Communion nonetheless - my excuse - I had been ’unable’ to attend. Yes, I eventually came to recognize this as an abuse. In reality, I wanted Communion without the Mass. (I am still doing penance for this - even though I was permitted to do it.)
Father’s day-off.
I bring this up because on Mondays, my local parish priest has his day off and he doesn’t live at the rectory, but has his own house elsewhere. On days when he is absent, we usually have a Liturgy of the Word with Communion Service, conducted by a lay person. (Often the parish secretary.) Even though this is permitted, I never go, since the Eucharistic part of the Mass is unable to be celebrated. In addition I hate seeing a woman dressed in an alb presiding. Absolutely hate it - so I don’t want to be upset by attending.
If I lived in the country or in a mission field without clergy, then I would have no problem with attending a Liturgy of the Word, even on a regular basis. Since I’m in a city and can travel to other Churches, I don’t see the need for this. It seems to separate the reception of Holy Communion from the Holy Sacrifice - at least for me. Again - there is no abuse here, it is an approved alternative to the celebration of Mass in the absence of a priest.
Father doesn’t live here anymore.
So this brings up another issue: Why don’t priests live at the parish they serve? Isn’t he the pastor, the shepherd of his flock, the father of the community? Isn’t a parish a community? I get up every day and pray, do my lectio with the daily Mass readings, and then go a few blocks to attend Mass. Doesn’t the priest do likewise? Is a priest’s day off a day off from priesthood and ministry, or just from parish work? And is celebrating Mass work, or the primary expression of one’s priesthood? Granted, if the priest resided on campus, it wouldn’t be a great burden to celebrate daily Mass - or would it?
I have a friend who is a priest, and he lives in the rectory next to his parish Church, but on his day off he doesn’t celebrate Mass at all. Fortunately, another priest who lives with him does. Even when he has a cold, he will cancel his Mass and get a substitute. It’s odd to me. I never said anything to him but I always thought, ‘couldn’t you just go into Church, say Mass, excuse yourself and return to your room?’ Daily Mass is only 20 - 30 minutes out of your day - he wouldn’t even have to give a homily - so what’s the big deal?
Anyway - my parish priest will be gone again this week - this time on retreat, but thankfully he found another priest who will celebrate Mass everyday for the parish. I’ll write about all of that in a day or two - but I don’t want to spoil the surprise just now.
August 6th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Will be interested to hear how your daily Mass went…I couldn’t stand the mystery and peeked ;} I need to work on the virtue of patience.
I don’t understand why priests live apart from the parish either. It’s almost a Protestant idea. I also didn’t know any priests who had a “day off” until recently. Most took care of business and found time for themselves in between various duties. Sometimes they took time off for a retreat or a vacation. Not that priests shouldn’t get time off, but it’s kind of a new idea, at least among the priests I have known growing up.
August 6th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
I think the “priest’s day off” has come about because of the busy-ness of their daily lives, which has multiplied way beyond what it was when we were kids. Many priests say that it’s not Mass and administering the sacraments which wears them out, it’s the fund raisers, committee meetings, etc. There often isn’t any “between duties” time, unless they make it.
August 6th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Melody, another reason for the day off is priest burn-out - it is an effort to allow them some personal time. I’m not opposed to that.
Swissmissie - you are a snoop - so you know what my surprise is.:) I hope to talk to him because I know him and haven’t seen him for years.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Father takes Mondays off but at the same time carries his cell phone and is available 24/7 for emergencies plus he has his regular schedule (teaching RCIA, parish council meetings, counselling, confession, administration, breviary reading, daily hour of prayer, Adoration, etc. etc.) Many priests have been broken by a “tour of duty” at my parish - we have a lot of troublemakers.
August 7th, 2007 at 4:37 am
A few rambling thoughts on your theme. I’m convinced that priests need to reconnect with what the priesthood is really about, there may be less burn-out and stronger parishes if this were the case…
Priests are “co-workers of the episcopal order” (Catechism 1562) and the bishops “in an eminent and visible manner take the place of Christ himself, teacher, shepherd and priest, and act as his representative” (Catechism 1558).
Teachers can live some distance from their “schools”, the actions of a priest during Mass are not bound by conditions of time and spatial locality (though it amazes me that some priests DON’T want to say Mass every day, even privately on their days off), BUT can a shepherd live apart from his flock!? That is just crazy! What about the administration of the other sacraments?
Days full of meetings and committees, priests needing “indispensible” secretaries (usually women), action plans and “new” initiatives from Bishops to meet…I’m not sure the business model that dioscese run to now is appropriate (too bossy, too goal orientated, too (dare I say it) feminine).
Somewhere along the line the celebration of the sacraments, faithful liturgy and eucharistic adoration are getting left behind (well they are round here)…shouldn’t they be a priority? Surely the priest and his parish obtain their spiritual nourishmemt (and their ability to deal with the other c**p) from these sources?
August 7th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Canon Law says priests are to live in a rectory near their church, but the law can be excepted and has in many places.
Part of the problem I think is that priests were not meant to live in solitude. We have a lot of parishes around that are nothing more than glorified chapels or mission churches, not that I have a problem with a widely available mass. My belief is that if a parish can’t support 2 priests it should be consolidated.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
You certainly have friends from all “walks of life.”
I did peek, but was looking for your Adoration schedule that you mentioned over on AR (that’s my story, anyway). I don’t think you’re too far from here, but with Nativity being around the corner, I am blessed to not have to go looking for Adoration. Nativity has perpetual Adoration, so I can run over when the kids are in bed. So great to have that available.
August 8th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Terry: Who was the mystery guest? I can’t stand it anymore!
I was going to post a comment but my comment stretched out to the length of a full post so I’m going to post on this and link to you.
Excellent post.