Links + Resources
"The True Meaning of Communion"
[http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/audio_library/ram_2004/848/848_040528d.ram]
Appearing on the Chicago Public radio program, Eight Forty-Eight, listen to Edward Foley share his thoughts on the sacrament of Communion against the backdrop of Cardinal Francis George asking all Chicago-area pastors to deny Communion to gay Catholics wearing rainbow sashes. (requires RealAudio)
"Deciphering the Da Vinci Code"
[http://speakingoffaith.org/programs/davinci/index.shtml]
A Speaking of Faith program that assembles a basic picture of what really happened in the fluid early years of Christianity. Theologians Bernadette Brooten and Luke Timothy Johnson discuss the formation of the early texts that were included in the Bible and explain why many modern Christians hold an erroneous views of women in the early Church, including Mary Magdalene.
1 Corinthians
[http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/communion/1corinthians.shtml]
Text of Biblical passage in which can be found the language most often used in traditional Communion rituals.
Articles Discussing Holy Communion
» "The Abuse of Power" by Edward Foley
» "Catholics at Communion: The Church Born Around the Table" by Edward Foley
» "The Sacrifice of Mass and Our Call to Mission by Edward Foley
» "Can Politics Be a Litmus Test for Communion?" by Cathy Lynn Grossman of USA Today
"Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion — General Principles"
[http://catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=6041&longdesc]
Text of a confidential letter sent by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Bishop Wilton Gregory in June 2004 on the issue of politicians who favor abortion rights.
"Interim Reflections of the Task Force on Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians"
[http://www.usccb.org/bishops/taskforce.shtml]
A series of reports issued by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops emphasizing that the denial of Communion must be the last resort and that "such decisions rest with the individual bishop."
Dura-Europos
[http://www.le.ac.uk/archaeology/stj/dura.htm]
Site that explains the importance of this ancient city in which archaeological excavations have uncovered a painted synagogue and an early Christian house church.
Justin Martyr
[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.i.html]
Provides a brief introduction to this early Christian historian and philosopher, and links to a number of important texts he wrote.
Transubstantiation
[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05573a.htm#3]
A Roman Catholic explanation and background of this complex concept.
The Canons of the Fourth Lateran Council, 1215
[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/lateran4.html]
Complete texts of the documents that came out of this important ecumenical council.
Quam Singulari
[http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius10/p10quam.htm]
The 1910 decree issued by Pope Pius X on the sacraments of First Communion.
Documents of the Second Vatican Council
[http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/index.htm]
Complete texts of the constitutions, decrees, and encyclicals that came out of this modernizing force in the Catholic Church.
