Is there a case for Eucharistic services?
SIR – Your recent correspondents have defended lay-led Eucharistic services on the basis that there is nothing wrong with them, but they fail to provide any reason why such services are in any way necessary. As Catholics, we are not obliged to receive Communion every week, let alone every day, and reception of the Blessed Sacrament is a privilege not a right.
If during the week there is no priest available to say Mass in a Church, that does not mean that the parishioners have to put on a “let’s pretend Mass”. Catholicism has a rich heritage of worship and praise that does not involve Communion, so why not train lay people to lead prayer rather than getting them to play-act as priests?
