Criticism of an Archbishop: "Some Catholics Show No Faith in the Real Presence of Christ"

(Johannesburg) The South African Archbishop of Johannesburg, Buti Joseph Tlhagale, an Oblate of Mary Immaculate , better known in Germany as Hünfelder Oblaten, expressed shock at the behavior of believers before the Blessed Sacrament. Some believers would show "no faith in the real presence" of Christ, said the archbishop. Many did not even knew that you make at the Sign of the Cross with holy water entering a house of God, let alone what this act means. Or that one kneels to the tabernacle in the church before Christ, not even that, before the Lord present in the tabernacle to genuflect when entering and leaving the church. "A very sensible African archbishop," says noted historian of the Spanish Church and Catholic blogger Francisco de la Cigoña on.

The report of a sermon by Archbishop Tlhagale was published by the Fraternity de Cristo Sacerdote y Santa María Reina (Brotherhood of Christ Priest and Queen Mary). The Fraternity was canonically erected in 2009 as a religious community. It is of priests, brothers and lay people. Among its special charisms is care of the sacred liturgy as it belongs to the Extraordinary Form [Immemorial] of the Roman Rite ( see separate report ).

Archbishop Tlhagale also criticized the removal of the kneelers. Thus the faithful are impelled, almost forced to receive standing when receiving Communion. "Our churches are market places partly before and after Mass, because we banish the Blessed Sacrament to a secluded area and because we lose the awareness of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. We've given up the peace and pious atmosphere in the churches."

Therefore, the Archbishop of Johannesburg recommends returning the tabernacle back to the center of the altar and recovering the practice of genuflecting and silence in the church. He praised the priests who pray together before the altar before and after Mass. It is for the priests, says the Archbishop, to promote Eucharistic adoration and to disseminate and publish the documents of the Church on the Holy Eucharist.

Church law requires fasting at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion. "The chewing gum in your mouth during Holy Mass is just disgusting," says Archbishop Tlhagale.

The Chief Shepherd of Johannesburg also criticized the way some bring Holy Communion will put the sick. The consecrated Hosts were handed to lay people who meet on the way to the hospital, and any acquaintances or friends and hold idle conversations or go on down the road quickly to the supermarket for shopping: and all this with the Lord. If they do not reach the patient, they would simply take the Lord home instead of bringing Him back into the church.

Monsignor was Tlhagale was Archbishop of Bloemfontein 1999-2003. In 2003 Pope John Paul II appointed him the bishop of the Diocese of Johannesburg and at the same time, ad personam, Archbishop. Pope Benedict XVI. raised Johannesburg to an archdiocese in 2007. Since then, Archbishop Msgr Tlaghale has been in the South African capital.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
 Image: Santa Maria Reina
Translation: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

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