Pope Warns of 'Serpentine Secularization' in the Church

6/12/2009
Zenit News Agency (www.zenit.org)

Benedict XVI warned that a 'serpentine secularization' is penetrating the Church, manifested in 'formal and empty Eucharistic worship.'

With the Eucharist, therefore, heaven comes down to earth, the tomorrow of God descends into the present and it is as if time remains embraced by divine eternity, the Bishop of Rome explained.

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

ROME (Zenit) - Benedict XVI is warning of a "serpentine secularization" that penetrates the Church and is manifested in "formal and empty Eucharistic worship."

The Pope celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi today in Rome, presiding over Mass in the Basilica of St. John Lateran and then processing with the Blessed Sacrament to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

In his homily, the Holy Father illustrated the importance of faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, telling the thousands of pilgrims that this faith "cannot be taken for granted."

"Today there arises the risk of a serpentine secularization even within the Church, which can convert into a formal and empty Eucharistic worship, in celebrations lacking this participation from the heart that is expressed in veneration and respect for the liturgy," he cautioned.

According to the Pontiff, "the temptation is always strong to reduce prayer to superficial and hurried moments, letting oneself be carried away by earthly activities and worries."

And nevertheless, he added, the Eucharist is "the bread of eternal life of the new world that is given us today in the holy Mass, so that starting now the future world begins in us."

"With the Eucharist, therefore, heaven comes down to earth, the tomorrow of God descends into the present and it is as if time remains embraced by divine eternity," the Bishop of Rome explained.

He didn't hide his joy at being able to accompany the Blessed Sacrament along the path to St. Mary Major; he invited the faithful to raise up this prayer: "Stay with us, Christ, give to us the gift of yourself and give us the bread that nourishes us for eternal life.

"Free this world from the venom of evil, of violence and of hate, which contaminate consciences; purify it with the power of your merciful love."

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 10 of 19 Comments

Eamon Hatley-Smith
3 years ago
Re; Jim in Liverpool6/19/2009.
"I dont know what he means by 'serpentine secularization'".

The Pope is speaking of a kind of 'Following', like a line of people all walking, following the one infront of them.

Serpentine movement can be a good thing, but NOT into secularization.
Jim in Liverpool
3 years ago
I dont know what he means by 'serpentine secularization'
Ted of Windsor
3 years ago
FYI - Extraordinary Ministers, Receving Communion
Are Extraordinary Ministers allowed to receive communion at the same time as the priest?
According to On Certain Questions ...., Article 8, the extraordinary ministers are not to receive Holy Communion apart from the faithful as concelebrants do. Since concelebrants receive Holy Communion at the same time as the celebrant, extraordinary ministers are not to do so. The priest is to distribute communion to each individually. http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/LawText/Index/6/SubIndex/92/LawIndex/21
Part II, Article 8. The Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
The non-ordained faithful already collaborate with the sacred ministers in diverse pastoral situations since "This wonderful gift of the Eucharist, which is the greatest gift of all, demands that such an important mystery should be increasingly better known and its saving power more fully shared".[95]
Such liturgical service is a response to the objective needs of the faithful especially those of the sick and to those liturgical assemblies in which there are particularly large numbers of the faithful who wish to receive Holy Communion.
�1. The canonical discipline concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must be correctly applied so as to avoid generating confusion. The same discipline establishes that the ordinary minister of Holy Communion is the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon.[96] Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are those instituted as acolytes and the faithful so deputed in accordance with Canon 230, � 3.[97]
A non-ordained member of the faithful, in cases of true necessity, may be deputed by the diocesan bishop, using the appropriate form of blessing for these situation, to act as an extraordinary minister to distribute Holy Communion outside of liturgical celebrations ad actum vel ad tempus or for a more stable period. In exceptional cases or in un foreseen circumstances, the priest presiding at the liturgy may authorize such ad actum.[98]
� 2. Extraordinary ministers may distribute Holy Communion at eucharistic celebrations only when there are no ordained ministers present or when those ordained ministers present at a liturgical celebration are truly unable to distribute Holy Communion.[99] They may also exercise this function at eucharistic celebrations where there are particularly large numbers of the faithful and which would be excessively prolonged because of an insufficient number of ordained ministers to distribute Holy Communion. [100]
This function is supplementary and extraordinary [101] and must be exercised in accordance with the norm of law. It is thus useful for the diocesan bishop to issue particular norms concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which, in complete harmony with the universal law of the Church, should regulate the exercise of this function in his diocese. Such norms should provide, amongst other things, for matters such as the instruction in eucharistic doctrine of those chosen to be extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the meaning of the service they provide, the rubrics to be observed, the reverence to be shown for such an august Sacrament and instruction concerning the discipline on admission to Holy Communion.
(NB) To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches: extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants;
- association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion;
- the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass thus arbitrarily extending the concept of "a great number of the faithful". http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/14/SubIndex/0/ContentIndex/471/Start/454
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST http://www.ewtn.com:80/library/Liturgy/EXTRMIN.HTM
On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/6/SubIndex/92/ContentIndex/460/Start/454 http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/DocumentSubCategories/Index/2/SubIndex/11
Therese Bundalian
3 years ago
Thank you catholic.org for posting the words and wisdom of the blessed Pope Benedict the sixteenth. Our heaven on earth is Church!
cris
3 years ago
Before Mass, our co-parishioners are talking to each other so loud that you may think the church is a cockpit. They just pass by the Blessed Sacrament beside and near the entrance of the church without showing any outward reverence to Him. Our church has no kneelers because kneeling becomes an exception while standing during the Eucharistic Prayer is the rule. Some of communion servers are inappropriately dressed. Most of the parishioners don't even bother to bow their head before receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of them are wearing short pants in anticipation of their outdoor activities after Mass. The church becomes a drop-by area.
Michael Moore
3 years ago
The Pope is very, very insightful. We must never forget what makes us truly Catholic and sets us apart from other Christians. The Eucharist IS Communion...God in us and us in Him...and It unites us all in his love. To Sean who feels Mass has become a "filling station", unfortunately for many it is. Too many Catholics go through the motions and look at there watches. We need to ask Jesus for the Fire of the Holy Spirit. I would recommend seeking out a Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group in your area. We must all remember that Our Lord and Savior IS PRESENT with us in the tabernacle. WHAT A GIFT! The Mass is a Sacrifice but also a celebration! Amen and God Bless Everyone!!!
Mary
3 years ago
What the Pope said is probably true. I know when I go to confession there is hardly anyone ever there but at Mass the entire Church goes to Communion. I know that when I am in Church I don't feel like I am in Church - with the table replacing the altar, communion rails missing for so long, the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph now small statues in the back of the church and worst of all Jesus is pushed to the side of the church behind the singers. No wonder there is less piety shown at Communion. When I go to church I feel like I'm entering a hall NOT a church. I don't care if they want to spend less, I don't think we have to have the gorgeous churches of of old but give me back my Catholic church and Communion given out by the priest NOT by a bunch of people who don''t even dress like they are in church. They are not new changes anymore but these changes have done a lot of damage to the Church. MV
sean leslie
3 years ago
the holy father described a diocese and parishes that i have seen, where Catholics act merely as if it were a filling station; they come, they get their car tank filled with gas - perfunctorily receive the Blessed Sacrament - never smile once, and leave: just like their getting gas.
eithena
3 years ago
I said it once and i,ll say it again OUR POPE IS BRILIANT listen to his words it is the voice of the shepherd ; my sheep listen to my voice:
mark baird
3 years ago
The Eucharist is the most important Sacrament and the elevation is the time to look in adoration

Prev12 Next

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment