Posted on by Kurt Bodling

koinonia in liturgy

“Consequently, every Camaldolese (as in deed every Christian) should focus their spirituality on Eucharist: ‘Each monk and the community as a whole are to orient their life in such a way that it is preparation for, and an extension of the Eucharistic action’.” [quoting from the Camaldolese Constitutions]

Hale, Robert. “Koinonia: The Privilege of Love.” in Belisle, Peter-Damian, editor. The Privilege of Love: Camaldolese Benedictine Spirituality. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2002, p. 102.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

priestly unity with Christ

“A contemplative priest will have a deep and absorbing sense of union with Christ as priest and as offering in the Eucharistic sacrifice–so much so that his Mass will be going on within him not only when he is at the altar but when he is away from it, and at many different moments during the day.”

Merton, Thomas. New Seeds of Contemplation. Introduction by Sue Monk Kidd. New York: New Directions Books, 2007, ©1961, p. 161.

This strikes me as quite congruent with the way we (some of us, anyway) say that contemplation is carried through one’s day, or that we can “pray without ceasing” by inhabiting the Jesus Prayer.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

contemplation, koinonia, liturgy

“In our spirituality, then, there is not to be an opposition between ‘liturgy’ on the one hand, and ‘contemplation’ on the other, with the former being merely communal and outward, for beginners, and the latter being solitary and truly mystical, for the advanced, or something like that. Rather, in the one Christian koinonia our contemplative life is also to be eucharistic and liturgical, and our Eucharist and liturgy are also to be contemplative.”

Hale, Robert. “Koinonia: The Privilege of Love.” in Belisle, Peter-Damian, editor. The Privilege of Love: Camaldolese Benedictine Spirituality. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2002, p. 102.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

can unbelievers commune?

“If someone cannot talk or indicate by a sign that he believes, understands, and desires the sacrament–particularly if he has wilfully [sic] neglected it–we will not give it to him just anytime he asks for it. We have been commanded not to offer the holy sacrament to unbelievers but rather to believers who can state and confess their faith. Let the others alone in their unbelief; we are guiltless because we have not been slothful in preaching, teaching, exhortation, consolation, visitation, or anything else that pertains to our ministry and office.”

Luther, Martin. “Whether One May Flee From a Deadly Plague” (1527) Luther’s Works Vol. 43. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969, page 135.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion both expresses and creates community. Practice today varies. Some err on the side of inclusion (that it creates community), some at the other end of the spectrum (that it expresses an already existing community).

Note that Luther doesn’t refer to church membership but to faith as the thing that admits one to the table of the Lord. I think that he would have to exercise godly pastoral judgement in doubtful cases. While being faithful in carrying out the many duties of his pastoral office.