Category Archives: post-conciliar catechetical documents

Many Catholics find the celibacy discussion tiring not because they oppose it, but often enough because certain folk seem to overstate the case for it. Or stir up confusion in its application, be it same-sex attracted, ordained persons, or Eastern … Continue reading →

This section and the three that follow treat the subject of The Eucharist and the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Obviously, an important link, especially for the author of the document, as it was his experience of the Eucharist for the majority … Continue reading →

A few words on The Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick … 22. Jesus did not only send his disciples forth to heal the sick (cf. Matthew 10:8; Luke 9:2, 10:9); he also instituted a specific sacrament for them: the … Continue reading →

One would expect bishops to double down on the tried and true where Reconciliation is concerned. Pope Benedict devotes some attention to Some pastoral concerns. These include the usual suspects: forms and place for the sacrament, catechesis for it, and indulgences. … Continue reading →

What about a look at The Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Pope Benedict XVI offered some thoughts on Their intrinsic relationship. Let’s read. 20. The Synod Fathers rightly stated that a love for the Eucharist leads to a growing appreciation of … Continue reading →

In discussing Initiation, the ecclesial community and the family, Pope Benedict highlights the importance of First Eucharist for children. That importance is of concern and impact to the family as well as the parish community. 19. It should be kept in … Continue reading →

As hinted in section 17, The order of the sacraments of initiation remains a contested piece for contemporary Roman Catholicism. The theology is important, and the draining away of baptized persons from active faith suggest some flaws in our approach. Don’t get … Continue reading →

Three numbered sections treat briefly the links between Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, how they relate, how they are arranged in the life of the believer, and other concerns for children, youth, adults, and people arriving from other religious traditions. … Continue reading →

With this section, we begin an extended look at The Eucharist and the Sacraments. Pope Benedict devoted fourteen numbered sections to the Eucharist and the other six sacraments: how they relate and connect and support the life of faith in concert. … Continue reading →

15. The Eucharist is thus constitutive of the Church’s being and activity. This is why Christian antiquity used the same words, Corpus Christi, to designate Christ’s body born of the Virgin Mary, his eucharistic body and his ecclesial body. (Cf. Propositio 5) … Continue reading →

In paragraphs 14 and 15, Pope Benedict treated this topic: The Eucharist and the Church. So naturally, when I saw this heading for SC 14, The Eucharist, causal principle of the Church, I was reminded of one of the first proclamations … Continue reading →

After the biblical testimony to the Holy Spirit, we come to the topic of The Holy Spirit and the eucharistic celebration. Pope Benedict XVI begins here with the topic of transubstantiation. I confess a little disappointment with the Church that the … Continue reading →

Once or twice in the past week or two I’ve witnessed a few theology discussions suggesting that Catholics are rather weak and inattentive to the role of the Holy Spirit. Sure, the words of the Eucharistic Prayer consistently invoke the … Continue reading →

Today, a paragraph titled, Figura transit in veritatem. What God established for the Israelites comes to full fruition in the Eucharist. The sacrifice of the Exodus 12 lamb is a hint of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God who takes … Continue reading →

The institution of the Eucharist, and in recounting it, Pope Benedict reminds us of some important truths: 10. This leads us to reflect on the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. It took place within a ritual meal … Continue reading →