tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198191510592777321.post7876853175598195015..comments2023-09-18T05:46:59.633-07:00Comments on The Benedictine Lutheran: The Sacramental Quality of Reading ScriptureJayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506485333743516883noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198191510592777321.post-75728933947533746762013-05-21T19:57:09.891-07:002013-05-21T19:57:09.891-07:00For me, it is very simple. The Mass is mystical. ...For me, it is very simple. The Mass is mystical. The priest simply reaches through a "veil" and touches the Crucifixion. This is why it is called "the Sacrifice of the Mass." The Real Presence is the Real Presence -- no qualifications. It is the Life of the Church. Without it, a "church" will die. Are you familiar with the Miracles of the Eucharist? I plan to do a post on that.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15885164730613154124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198191510592777321.post-60790768818901657842013-05-21T19:41:43.058-07:002013-05-21T19:41:43.058-07:00One of my summer reading goals is to read more abo...One of my summer reading goals is to read more about the liturgy. A couple of books by Alexander Schmemann are at the top of my list, but I'll see if I can fit Hahn in. Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00506485333743516883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198191510592777321.post-67656410880201468572013-05-21T19:24:50.499-07:002013-05-21T19:24:50.499-07:00Exactly. Here I am at a loss for words... but if ...Exactly. Here I am at a loss for words... but if only Lutherans could understand the Mass. That would fix everything. I think -- because of the abuses of his time -- Luther lost his appreciation of the Mass. I became a Catholic reading <i>The Imitation of Christ</i> -- that is the tradition Luther should have had and understood in the monastery. Have you read anything by Scott Hahn? <i>The Supper of the Lamb</i>?Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15885164730613154124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198191510592777321.post-2015859201910905372013-05-21T19:00:49.205-07:002013-05-21T19:00:49.205-07:00You make some good points. One of the reasons I s...You make some good points. One of the reasons I started this blog is because I think too many Lutherans have ignored the mystical/ascetic tradition. When there is a common focus on union with God,I have a feeling that some of our human squabbles about religion will fall away. Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00506485333743516883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198191510592777321.post-9180404852795489052013-05-21T08:09:36.769-07:002013-05-21T08:09:36.769-07:00This is another great post. I think you are appro...This is another great post. I think you are approaching the concept that all Christians must become mystics. When this happens, the Church will be united.<br /><br />Speaking of the ministerial priesthood (pastoral office), we must try to understand it in its true mystical sense. (In my posts, I have tried to express this concept in terms of "levels.")<br /><br />Luther was right: we are all priests. However, we do not all have the same function in the Body, the Church. I am a woman, I am married, I am a priest. I am a woman, I am married, I cannot receive Holy Orders -- I cannot be ordained to the "ministerial priesthood" -- that is another level in the mystical world. This does not mean I am "lower" or "worse" than Father Smith -- I have a different calling. Dogs cannot be cats. Pigs cannot fly.<br /><br />I wish I could explain this better. Women can be great leaders, teachers, scholars; but they cannot preside at Eucharist and give Absolution -- they cannot be Priests. This is a special calling in the Church, and it must be confirmed by the Church.<br /><br />Men can be wonderful fathers, leaders, teachers, but they cannot give birth or nurse babies. Does this mean that they are "lower" than women?<br /><br />In the natural world and in the spiritual world, there are different functions and levels. The true mystic can see this. I will bet a nickel that if Saint Benedict were here today he could explain this very well.<br />Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15885164730613154124noreply@blogger.com