EUCHARISTIC CALL TO CONVERSION. After a month-long break from my series on the USA Bishops’ National Eucharistic Revival document: The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, I continue with part 23. With Ash Wednesday a week and a half away, these pre-Lent days are the perfect time to reflect on the document’s next section with is entitled ‘Conversion. This 3-year revival’s goal is to enable us to better understand and celebrate our Lord’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. For past articles on this Revival, the whole document, and a free study guide, go to our parish website – stmaryrutherford.org.

REPENT! One of the two options for imposing ashes echoes what Jesus said at the start of His public ministry: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15) That is why we normally begin holy Mass with a Penitential Act (the Confiteor or Invocations imploring mercy) or the Rite of Sprinkling, which recalls the waters of Baptism which washes away all sins. It is also why, right before we receive Holy Communion, we humbly confess: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” None of these prayers, our penitential deeds, or penances are intended to be unhealthy, punitive self-incriminations; we never confess our sinfulness without also acknowledging God’s compassion, forgiveness, love and above all, His mercy!

Ideally, and by liturgical norm, we do all this under an image of Christ crucified to help us remember that Jesus already paid the price for our sins; Jesus already redeemed us; Jesus has reconciled us to God and to one another … however … we are still a ‘work-in-progress.’ We have failed to fulfill our Baptismal Promises; we do not keep the Commandments; we do not live by the Beatitudes; we have not become another Christ. Nor have we been faithful to our part of the deal we make with God each time we pray the Lord’s Prayer: do we really want Our Father in heaven to forgive us … as we forgive our brothers and sisters on earth? We pray, “lead us not into temptation” – but go there ourselves!

CONVERSION: A NEVER-ENDING PROCESS! Because of human weakness, we can never say we have reached perfection; however, we can never stop seeking our goal, which was bluntly proclaimed by Jesus: “… be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) So, with eyes and minds fixed on His Body broken for us, and His Blood poured out for us, we seek His forgiveness for our sins and His strength to avoid sinning in the future. This is also why the regular, weekly reception of the great gift of Eucharist is so crucial, so essential, so important that we are OBLIGATED to receive Holy Communion at least once a year – and to confess our sins beforehand IF we are guilty of any serious, grave or mortal sins. This is where it gets kind of ‘messy.’

TWO TYPES OF SIN. In his first Letter, an Apostle makes this interesting distinction: “All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.” (1 John 5:17) Based on this, our Catholic Faith teaches that there are two types of sins; one type we call ‘VENIAL’ sins – and the other we call the dreaded ‘MORTAL’ sins. While ALL sin damages our relationship with God and/or with one another, all sins do not rupture or break off our ability to interact with God and/or each other. Our venial sins, or everyday faults and failings, make life challenging and our interactions more difficult – but they do not destroy our ties or the bonds that unite us. Our mortal sins, unless rectified, do irreparable damage and extinguish our relationship with God and/or others! That is why there is a particular ‘medicine’ for each type of sin.

VENIAL SINS. As numerous Popes have taught, Holy Communion is NOT a prize for being sinless or a reward for good people; it is the ‘medicine’ that helps us avoid committing venial, ‘everyday’ sins – and even washes them away! So does the Penitential Act and Rite of Sprinkling at holy Mass, our own prayers for forgiveness, and our acts of mercy or charity towards others. For as yet another Apostle proclaimed: “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) Next week: what to do if we are guilty of serious, grave or ‘mortal’ sin.

With God’s love and my prayers,

Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS

EUCHARISTIC CALL TO CONVERSION. After a month-long break from my series on the USA Bishops’ National Eucharistic Revival document: The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, I continue with part 23. With Ash Wednesday a week and a half away, these pre-Lent days are the perfect time to reflect on the document’s next section with is entitled ‘Conversion. This 3-year revival’s goal is to enable us to better understand and celebrate our Lord’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. For past articles on this Revival, the whole document, and a free study guide, go to our parish website – stmaryrutherford.org.

REPENT! One of the two options for imposing ashes echoes what Jesus said at the start of His public ministry: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15) That is why we normally begin holy Mass with a Penitential Act (the Confiteor or Invocations imploring mercy) or the Rite of Sprinkling, which recalls the waters of Baptism which washes away all sins. It is also why, right before we receive Holy Communion, we humbly confess: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” None of these prayers, our penitential deeds, or penances are intended to be unhealthy, punitive self-incriminations; we never confess our sinfulness without also acknowledging God’s compassion, forgiveness, love and above all, His mercy!

Ideally, and by liturgical norm, we do all this under an image of Christ crucified to help us remember that Jesus already paid the price for our sins; Jesus already redeemed us; Jesus has reconciled us to God and to one another … however … we are still a ‘work-in-progress.’ We have failed to fulfill our Baptismal Promises; we do not keep the Commandments; we do not live by the Beatitudes; we have not become another Christ. Nor have we been faithful to our part of the deal we make with God each time we pray the Lord’s Prayer: do we really want Our Father in heaven to forgive us … as we forgive our brothers and sisters on earth? We pray, “lead us not into temptation” – but go there ourselves!

CONVERSION: A NEVER-ENDING PROCESS! Because of human weakness, we can never say we have reached perfection; however, we can never stop seeking our goal, which was bluntly proclaimed by Jesus: “… be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) So, with eyes and minds fixed on His Body broken for us, and His Blood poured out for us, we seek His forgiveness for our sins and His strength to avoid sinning in the future. This is also why the regular, weekly reception of the great gift of Eucharist is so crucial, so essential, so important that we are OBLIGATED to receive Holy Communion at least once a year – and to confess our sins beforehand IF we are guilty of any serious, grave or mortal sins. This is where it gets kind of ‘messy.’

TWO TYPES OF SIN. In his first Letter, an Apostle makes this interesting distinction: “All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.” (1 John 5:17) Based on this, our Catholic Faith teaches that there are two types of sins; one type we call ‘VENIAL’ sins – and the other we call the dreaded ‘MORTAL’ sins. While ALL sin damages our relationship with God and/or with one another, all sins do not rupture or break off our ability to interact with God and/or each other. Our venial sins, or everyday faults and failings, make life challenging and our interactions more difficult – but they do not destroy our ties or the bonds that unite us. Our mortal sins, unless rectified, do irreparable damage and extinguish our relationship with God and/or others! That is why there is a particular ‘medicine’ for each type of sin.

VENIAL SINS. As numerous Popes have taught, Holy Communion is NOT a prize for being sinless or a reward for good people; it is the ‘medicine’ that helps us avoid committing venial, ‘everyday’ sins – and even washes them away! So does the Penitential Act and Rite of Sprinkling at holy Mass, our own prayers for forgiveness, and our acts of mercy or charity towards others. For as yet another Apostle proclaimed: “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) Next week: what to do if we are guilty of serious, grave or ‘mortal’ sin.

With God’s love and my prayers,

Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS