Sacrilege is not a word of law, it is an understanding of consciousness!

Sacrilege is not a word of law, it is an understanding of consciousness!

When we think of consciousness our understanding takes a wide view of just what is our requirement when it comes to respect for the holiness of God’s property?  Belief in specifics is what lies at the basis of our faith, especially the Sacraments and the very presence of Christ in the consecrated hosts we reserve in our tabernacles.  These are the very essence of who Christ is as we reverence his presence with us.  No prudent Catholic would dare to make a mockery of what the tradition regarding the existence of Jesus Christ remaining in the species of his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the consecrated host that never diminishes through time.  He is there eternally.

It is when anyone takes an unbelieving attitude towards what is sacred that the term sacrilege becomes a threat to our faith.  What we hold as sacred due to its use or protection of holiness that sometimes creates a need for our concern when others do not or will not adhere to our beliefs.  These beliefs are truth based on the Mystery of Jesus Christ’s mission on earth.  

Sacrilege consists in profaning or treating unworthily the sacraments and other liturgical actions, as well as persons, things, or places consecrated to God  Sacrilege is a grave sin especially when committed against the Eucharist, for in this sacrament the true Body of Christ is made substantially present for us.  (CCC 2120).  

Items, like a Pyx,  which is blessed to hold securely and in a reserved enclosure for consecrated hosts should also be held in a safe place when not in use.  After all, this should hold an ominous respect since it is there for transferring the Sacred Host of Christ for those unable to be at Holy Mass.  If an unexpected incident like a fire that prohibits a minister from being able to retrieve the Pyx might be a loss that one would need to secure another pyx.  But, as our house caught fire in December and my pyx was left as we were able to escape a tragedy, the pyx among many other items was untouched by flames.  In the days that followed some items were picked up and returned to me.  However, my pyx was not.   Other items in the same drawer were returned and it made me wonder why this either was overlooked or is in the hands of someone who perhaps picked it up and not knowing or caring  what it is may be using it for personal purposes.  If this is what happened it becomes a sacrilege.  

The personal  loss is this pyx was given to me by the St. Vincent de Pual group at my parish as an ordination gift.  It isn’t the personal attachment for this artifact that hurt me as much as the only people who had access to its location also do not consider the Sacrament of Holy Orders something special as I have seen over the years.  Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.”  (Lk 4: 24).  This is not to be seen as a pity party but even in “Christian families” the acceptance of clergy today is not always a “let’s party,”  because he or she (religious men and women) is living a life for God.  That unfortunately has become the manner of a deeper choice for those who are called and accept the voice of Christ.  We still must keep all of them in our prayers, even as Jesus did not condemn his unbelievers.  Neither will I.

Ralph B.Hathaway