VERITATEM IN CARITATE: Philadelphia Cardinal Rigali: One Must Believe What the Church Teaches to Receive Communion

Episcopal Motto: Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades - formerly of the Diocese of Harrisburg

The personal motto of a prelate has always been intended to represent his personal spirituality and theologically-based philosophy of life. Bishop Rhoades' episcopal motto, VERITATEM IN CARITATE, translates into English as "Truth in Charity." As rector of Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, he steadfastly encouraged future priests to always be faithful in proclaiming and living the truth of the Gospel in charity.
The words of this motto are found in Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, “let us proclaim the truth in charity and grow to the full maturity of Christ the head” (4:15).
The Second Vatican Council stated, “Christ continually provides in his body, that is, in the Church, for gifts of ministries through which, by his power, we serve each other unto salvation so that, carrying out the truth in charity, we may through all things grow unto him who is our head” (Lumen Gentium 7).
The Second Vatican Council also stated, “All Christians are earnestly to speak the truth in charity and join with all peace-loving people in pleading for peace and trying to bring it about” (Gaudium et Spes 78).

Friday, June 20, 2008

Philadelphia Cardinal Rigali: One Must Believe What the Church Teaches to Receive Communion

Now this is a true Prince of the Church! You must read this article: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08062003.html.

Here are some of his awesome quotes:

"St. Justin in the second century tells us: 'The only people who are to go to Communion are people who believe everything we believe'. So it's a question of our faith."

"We have to accept the teachings on the body of Christ and we have to accept the teaching of the body of Christ, which is the Church, on other things to be fully worthy," he said.

Cardinal Rigali added that "obviously the Church has an obligation to safeguard the Eucharist against abuses."

"To be in the state of grace you must embrace what the Church embraces, you have to embrace the faith of the Church, and you're not free to receive the Eucharist if you don't embrace the faith of the Church. This is St. Paul, this is St. Justin, this is the whole history of the Church."

Why is this so hard for certain well-known church leaders to understand? Why don't they teach this to their people? Why do they permit scandal among the faithful who see pro-abortion politicians receive the Eucharist? Doesn't this make them wonder why only 57% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist? (Sacraments Today: Belief and Practice among US. Catholics - CARA 2008)

It's not terribly surprising that so many Catholics see Senators Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, and Christopher Dodd receive the Holy Eucharist and say to themselves, "Well, I guess the Catholic Church really doesn't believe that the Eucharist is Jesus Christ if it allows people who strongly support the killing of the unborn to receive too!"

It not so much a matter of denying people their perceived "right" to receive, as much as it is a matter of protecting the sanctity of the sacraments of the Church which were instituted by Jesus Himself!