Notes from the Pastor [4]
(Please note this is an archival post that is decades old. Msgr. Awalt passed away a number of years ago.)
Let us consider a drop of water. I have already mentioned blessing yourself with water as you enter the church. Sometimes the Penitential Rite is conducted with the sprinkling of water upon the congregation, again reminding them of both baptism and as we beseech God for mercy and forgiveness. Mercy does not mean just forgiveness; rather is is also asking for God’s help and presence in our lives– in living out the vocation He has given us.
While many drops are scattered in the sprinkling, there is a single drop of water placed into the wine of the chalice just prior to the offertory prayer. The drop of water in the wine along with the bread will be consecrated into the body and blood of Christ. The drop of water is symbolic of our union with the person of Jesus (His presence) at Mass as we go to the Father. The prayer used at the mingling of water and wine is pregnant with meaning: “Through the mystery of this water and wine may we share in the divinity of Christ who humbles himself to share in our humanity.”
What an incredible journey for this little drop of water… what a journey for us as we approach the Father through Christ!
William J. Awalt
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Although the recent disclosures in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have fanned the flames of controversy about abuse by clergy in the Catholic Church, it must be admitted that the Archdiocese of Washington has suffered the most serious blunt of the scandal. One of our cardinals faces censure under a Vatican investigation and the other stepped down after criticism of his efforts to stem abuse were judged insufficient and as lacking transparency. Given the situation, Washington may be the one “hot potato” local church that no bishop will want. Unlike other archdioceses, our numbers are modest and the prominence of the church here is due to the status as the nation’s capital. There are also particular problems with this jurisdiction given that many politicians from other states and dioceses live and work here. Can the ordinary of Washington establish censures or regulations over parishioners that conflict with the rules held by their proper bishops? This is one of the reasons acknowledged why pro-abortion politicians are not refused Holy Communion in Washington. Some national bishops refuse to take such measures and others have dictated this policy to their priests. Of course, it can be argued that there is no middle-ground because a lack of a prohibition already takes sides. Cardinal McCarrick often spoke about this, saying that he did not want to force confrontations at the altar. However, matters were exasperated when he befriended the late Senator Ted Kennedy over protests from organizations like the American Life League. When challenged about it, he argued that the archdiocese and “the Church” needed these politicians to support us on other issues. While only a parish priest, my objection was that if a child is destroyed, for that human person there are no more issues. It also seemed to stand in stark contrast from the guidance given by Cardinal Ratzinger who later became Pope Benedict XVI. Under Cardinal Wuerl, the policy of not withholding Holy Communion became official. The only possible exception would be when the communicant was deliberately inciting a controversial confrontation, as with wearing pro-abortion shirts and hats in church.
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