like a dry, weary land without water. — Psalm 63:2b, Morning Prayer, Sunday, Week 1
Two weekends ago my parish anointed the sick at the 5 pm evening Mass. We normally reserve the front pew for those who find it too demanding to get to communion. We keep space so those in scooters or wheelchairs can sit with their families close to the front as well, seating to the north and south of the altar is moveable chairs instead of pews. The ministers of the Eucharist know to come to people sitting, bringing both the Body and the Blood.
At this Mass, though, we needed more space yet, so an entire wing was set aside for those who were to be anointed, chairs spaced widely so the priests could move through for the sacrament. When it came time for communion, there was a bit of a scramble, but a minister quickly came through and distributed the Body. But the cup did not follow.
One of the ministers of the cup noticed and when her line vanished, walked to the other side and gave the cup to the first row. Sitting across the altar from the scene, I realize that almost everyone was leaning toward the minister as she gave the cup to the first person in the row, hoping she would come to them. Yearning with their whole selves for the living God. Do they believe in the real presence? I don't need a CARA survey to tell me, their posture gave it away. Their souls are thirsting for God, the living God.
A perceived nonchalant attitude toward receiving the sacrament attributed to Catholics' failure to grasp and assent the doctrine of the real presence is a common trope in some corners of the Catholic web. I wonder how much of this is seeing what they think the data show. According to CARA, more than 90% of those who attend Mass weekly believe what the receive is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. Numbers drop to 2/3 of those who attend at least once a month, but not weekly. But... if you look closely at the demographics, about 80% of the congregation at a given Mass are there every week, and that roughly 85% of the adults in the congregation believe as the Church does. Not that "about half" or "two-thirds" that gets cited in these screeds. The people in the pews know, don't school them. The real question isn't about the Real Presence, it's about why people aren't coming through the door in the first place.
No comments:
Post a Comment