Communication on August 5, 2005
| * Bishop of Incheon Issues the Directives on the Eucharistic Adoration On August 1, 2005, the Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san, Bishop of Incheon, issued the Directives on the Eucharistic Adoration for the priests in his Diocese and gave warning against the erroneous practices regarding the administration of the Holy Communion to the sick. "Although the Canon Law provides that in a case of necessity extraordinary minister of Holy Communion can bring the Most Blessed Sacrament to the sick, we cannot regard it as the case of necessity for some pastors in parishes to allow religious to do this in their place." Therefore, "Even though it takes more time, pastors and parochial vicars in parishes are supposed to personally administer the Holy Communion to the sick," Bishop Choi explained in the Directives. In regard with the Eucharistic Adoration, he recalled the can. 943 of the Code of Canon Law which stipulates that "The minister of exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament and of eucharistic benediction is a priest or deacon." He added, "There may be the exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament and eucharistic benediction either with the pyx or with the monstrance, but imposition of hands by taking the Blessed Sacrament out of the monstrance is prohibited." Regarding the moving of the Blessed Sacrament, he said, "Even the lay person who received the right to distribute the Most Blessed Sacrament as an extraordinary minister must not move the Most Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle. The opening and closing of the tabernacle should belong to only a priest or deacon." * A Special Catechism Published for the Young Catechumens in their Military Service The Military Ordinariate in Korea published a special catechism fitting for the trends and mentality of the young catechumens who are doing their military service. The catechism was titled "Closer and Closer" to show the intention to approach the youth and featured on its cover a famous young actress, who is also a Catholic. The Military Ordinariate came to publish this catechism through six-month joint work with the Future Pastoral Institute (Director: Rev. Norbertus Cha Dong-yeop). In the process, they took into consideration the extraordinary circumstances in which the young soldiers are placed and the difficulties including psychological tension, which may arise during the obligatory military service. Summarizing the Catholic doctrines into eight categories, such as God and man, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church, Liturgy in the Mass, the Sacred Scriptures, Prayer and the Sacraments, the catechism provides knowledge in the Bible and doctrines as well as the ways to put them into practice. It was published in handy size for portable convenience. The Rev. Stephen Rim Seok-hwan (Chancellor of the Military Ordinariate) said, "In compiling the catechism, we gave priority to leading the young soldiers to the faith which can permeate in their daily lives, by throwing light on the concrete realities they encounter in the military service." |