WORDS TO THE WHYS

The truth will make you odd. Flannery O’Connor

Prelatial Quotes For A Friday

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I am afraid that many baptized Catholics do not take the Eucharist seriously because they do not take sin seriously, and this is largely the fault of bad catechesis overseen by me and my brother bishops for far too long. When the Eucharist is treated casually in our liturgy, minimized in the confessional or ignored in homilies, then we should not be surprised by confusion regarding its sacredness. This is ultimately another failure in charity. Genuine charity is always filled with compassion, gentleness and truth. To love our neighbor is to desire for them to live in the sublime truth of the Mass and the real presence of our Lord. In this respect, the ministers of the faith have, perhaps, the greater responsibility for improper reception of the Eucharist. - Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/04/14/aquila-denver-eucharist-politicians-teaching-240396

There is nothing colder than a Christian who does not seek to save others. - Saint John Chrysostom.

As the bishops of the United States prepare to attend the meeting of the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ) scheduled for the month of June 2021, I wish to express my full support to the president of the USCCB, Archbishop Gómez, and the direction he has offered to the body of bishops regarding the issue of Eucharistic coherence. Archbishop Gomez has established a process that includes extensive consultation on a particular schedule. Some of my brother bishops have asked to delay the process, but this would be a failure of our responsibility pastoral care and our fellowship. It would also be in contradiction to the guidance recently provided by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I, endorse Archbishop Gomez and the leadership of the USCCB, and their commitment to provide guidance on the pastoral issues surrounding the Holy Eucharist. - Archbishop Alexander K. Sample. https://archdpdx.org/news/archbishop-sample-supports-the-usccb-discussion-on-eucharistic-coherence

If you don't behave as you believe, you will end by believing as you behave. - The Venerable Fulton J. Sheen.

We must adhere to Eucharistic coherence, that is, be conscious that [legislators] cannot receive Holy Communion and at the same time act with deeds or words against the commandments, particularly when abortion, euthanasia, and other grave crimes against life and family are encouraged. - Pope Francis, 2013 (Cardinal Jorge Borgolio).

We must not mind insulting men, if by respecting them we offend God. - Saint John Chrysostom.

Nothing would be done at all, if a man waited till he could do it so well, that no one could find fault with it. - Saint John Henry Newman, Lectures on the Present Position of Catholics in England, 1851.

Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth. - Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, 2009.

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