• CHERYL G. CRUZ
A penitential procession to the Adoration Chapel of San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City is set tomorrow, Jan. 6, after a vigil mass at 5:15 p.m., for its re-opening and renewal of blessing.
Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon, in a “Decree for the Reparation of Offence Against the Holy Eucharist” issued after the theft Dec. 30 and recovery the following day of the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament from the Chapel, said that fasting or abstinence should be offered by the faithful Jan. 5.
“Together with our thanksgiving for the safe return of sacred species, we are still called to restore and repair the spiritual harm caused by such actions. Considering the seriousness of the offense, I hereby impose public penances…whereby the performance of works of religion and acts of piety are required of Christ’s faithful of San Sebastian Parish in atonement for the desecration caused to the sacrament,” Buzon stressed.
He said the theft of the consecrated host and the monstrance which contains it for public adoration “is considered a grave sin and a grave offense of desecration and sacrilege…against the Real Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist”, hence the need for atonements.
These include additional penitential prayers and that the parishioners of San Sebastian Cathedral avail of the sacrament of confession to be offered during the Holy Hour at the Cathedral at 6 p.m. Jan. 4, and fasting or abstinence be offered by the faithful Jan. 5.
“These penalties are to be remitted on Saturday, Jan. 6, the eve of the Solemnity of the Epiphany. The remission shall be done during the Eucharistic celebration at 5:15 p.m., it will be concluded with a penitential procession to the Adoration Chapel for its re-opening and renewal of its blessing,” Buzon said, adding the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for adoration shall resume the following day, Jan. 7.
He also ordered all parishes and churches with adoration chapels to evaluate and enhance the security features of their facilities to prevent similar untoward incidents. “They are to ensure that the Blessed Sacrament is not left unattended for even a brief period of time.”
He noted that as per the Decree of the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship on Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass in 1973, “if a period of uninterrupted exposition is not possible because of too few worshippers, the Blessed Sacrament may be replaced in the tabernacle”.
He said that while the “host and the monstrance were found early morning the next day (Dec. 31) in front of the Cathedral with no apparent damage or signs of tampering…we face this sorrowful event with humility and as an occasion to learn and grow in our faith.”
Buzon also said he hopes the person/s who have committed such acts have hopefully realized the gravity of their sin, adding that by their acts, they became automatically excommunicated. “They are asked to seek recourse from the Church to be granted absolution and restored to full communion with the mystical Body of Christ.” | CGC
