Unexpected discussion during consultation on the Father Aloysius sainthood cause

BY ADMIN, NOVEMBER 20, 2015

The following comes from a November 19 Christian Newswire press release

At Tuesday afternoon’s session of the meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the US bishops were unprepared for the reference to a so-called mystical gift which Father Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF, a priest proposed for sainthood, is said to have experienced.

During the pro-forma consultation requested by Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, there was an objection raised by one prelate who wanted a clarification about what Catholics believe about the Eucharist. The objection and the ensuing discussion caused an intensity so unexpected that the surprised President of the USCCB, Archbishop Donald Kurtz, had to delay the two other sainthood consultations until after the afternoon break.

What stumped the bishops was whether there is a “mystical grace” in which the Eucharistic presence remains intact after a person has received Holy Communion. For Catholics the Eucharist or “Holy Communion” is the actual Body and Blood of Jesus. The reaction was to a statement that Father Aloysius experienced this mystical grace, and this lead to the question, “What does this mean?”

Both Cardinal Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia, and Bishop Placido Rodriguez of Lubbock, Texas suggested their fellow bishops examine the life and writings of St. Anthony Mary Claret, canonized by the Catholic Church in 1950, especially his “Autobiography,” in which St. Anthony Mary Claret claims this same mystic grace.

More information at website: www.aloysius.com

Nov. 17, 2915 Transcript of USCCB Consultation of Canonization Causes