Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

You likely recall the horrific shooting that killed two children and wounded a dozen or so others which took place at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis this last August while the students from its Catholic school were attending Mass in the church. What you might not realize is that because of that terrible act there was no Mass in that church building for a little over three months afterwards. The attack which shed the blood of so many innocents in what should be a sacred space, was so evil and contrary to God and His goodness, that the Church leaders decided there needed to be a Rite of Reparation at the location before Masses could begin again. A Rite of Reparation is a formal liturgical service that is performed to restore a church building or other sacred object that has been desecrated or profaned. A sacred thing (something specifically set aside for God) is profaned or desecrated when grave violence or grave evil is done to it or with it. This is also called sacrilege. Other examples might be using the chalice to physically strike or kill someone, or acts of vandalism, or indecent acts committed in a church. Sometimes those profaned items are physically destroyed and new ones are blessed, other times something like a Rite of Reparation will take place. Either way, we recognize that one act of sacrilege has many ramifications, affecting many different people. Those sins are extremely harmful to the community and must be taken very seriously.
 

Another act of sacrilege is when anyone receives the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin (Cf. CCC 1415, 1385; see also 1 Cor. 11:27-29). This sacrilege or profanation is not against a church building or sacred vessel, but against the Lord himself and is extremely serious, damaging one's soul and causing greater separation from God. “Mortal sin results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace … If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell” CCC 1861. Receiving the Eucharist before that repentance and forgiveness has occurred is an attack on Christ; forcing Him to carry the cross again by demanding He do what you want, instead of you humbly following His will for you. Just like a sacred item that has been profaned could not be used again for Mass until a Rite of Reparation has taken place, so that profaned soul could not receive the grace of the Eucharist until it is restored through the sacrament of confession and absolution. And just as those other examples of sacrilege affect entire communities, so too is the entire community greatly harmed whenever one person receives the Eucharist with unconfessed mortal sin on their soul. It is not a private thing that only affects the individual, but its repercussions will damage relationships and wound the unity of love that is meant to be in the Church. Please take this teaching seriously. Go to confession regularly; especially during Lent, and especially if you have committed a grave sin.

 

Peace in Christ,
Father Timothy