THE PRIEST WHO TRIED TO REFUSE ME HOLY COMMUNION!
FATHER EDDIE MC GEE |
THE PRIEST PICTURED ABOVE - FATHER EDDIE MC GEE - THE PRESS OFFICER FOR THE DIOCESE OF DOWN AND CONNOR ONCE TRIED TO REFUSE ME HOLY COMMUNION!
IT HAPPENED AT THE PARISH CHURCH IN LARNE IN COUNTY ANTRIM WHERE I LIVE. A FUNERAL MASS WAS BEING HELD FOR THE DECEASED CURATE OF LARNE - A VERY YOUNG PRIEST CALLED FATHER BRIAN MC NULTY.
POOR FATHER BRIAN, A VERY YOUNG PRIEST, HAD A VERY SERIOUS HEART CONDITION AND HE DIED ON THE OPERATING TABLE WHILE UNDERGOING SURGERY.
HE HAD BEEN VERY KIND TO ME WHEN HE WAS IN LARNE AND OF COURSE i WANTED TO PAY MY RESPECTS BY ATTENDING HIS FUNERAL MASS.
THE MASS WAS CELEBRATED BY THE THEN BISHOP - PADDY WALSH.
PADDY WALSH |
FATHER EDDIE MC GEE WAS ASSISTING BISHOP WALSH.
AT COMMUNION TIME I WENT UP TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION AND FATHER MC GEE RAISED HIS HANDS AS IF TO GIVE ME A BLESSING RATHER THAN GIVE ME COMMUNION.
I CAUGHT HIS ARM IN MID AIR AND SAID TO HIM: "SONNY, I TAKE COMMUNION - NOT BLESSINGS". I THEN PUT MY HAND INTO THE CIBORIUM AND HELPED MYSELF TO THE BODY OF CHRIST.
AFTER THE MASS I SPOKE TO BISHOP WALSH AT THE PARISH PRIEST'S HOUSE AND TOLD HIM THAT IF ANY PRIEST EVER TRIED TO DO THAT TO ME AGAIN - THE PRIEST - ME - AND THE SACRED HOSTS WOULD BE ALL OVER THE FLOOR.
WALSH REPLIED: "THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN"
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST IS CHRIST'S GIFT TO US - HIS CHURCH.
PRIESTS, BISHOP AND POPES DO NOT "OWN" THE BODY OF CHRIST.
CHRIST WILL ALWAYS REFUSE TO BE A "PRISONER OF THE TABERNACLE"
ALL OF US ARE SINNERS. ALL US PRIESTS ARE SINNERS. SOMETIMES PRIESTS ARE GREATER SINNERS THAN ANYONE ELSE.
HOW CAN ONE "SINNER" HAVE THE PRIDE OR ARROGANCE TO REFUSE ANOTHER "SINNER" THE EUCHARIST OR THE SACRAMENTS.
EVEN THIS WEEK POPE FRANCIS SAID IT WAS NOT HIS ROLE TO JUDGE PEOPLE.
POPE FRANCIS |
I HOPE THAT THE WORLD'S PRIESTS AND BISHOPS WERE LISTENING TO HIM.
I HOPE EDDIE MC GEE WAS LISTENING TOO.
Bishop Pat Buckley 31.7.2013