The thieves rolled it down the pavement.
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It's incredible
The theft of a religious vessel from a St. Paul church has saddened its members, and police are seeking the public's help to find it.
The solid bronze tabernacle, which holds the Eucharist, weighs at least 50 pounds and was taken from St. Pascal Baylon Catholic Church on Conway Street, near White Bear Avenue, said Sgt. Jason Brubaker, who is investigating the case. Surveillance video showed three males leaving the church at 3:21 a.m. Friday. One was rolling the tabernacle end over end, Brubaker said.
"It's really torn the heart out of this community," the Rev. Michael Byron said Friday. "This is near to the center of our devotional life as Catholics, which is the reason we place it in such a prominent place in the church. There are many prayers mingled in with the anger and the sadness, including prayers that the perpetrators will have a change of heart."
The tabernacle is worth at least $15,000, Byron said. It's about 2 feet tall and 1 1/2 feet wide and is engraved with two angels facing a cross. The vessel holds the Eucharist outside of Mass and is kept in an alcove behind the main altar -- it's visible from the sanctuary but would not be immediately obvious when someone walks in, Byron said. - Finish reading here.
It's incredible it happened on the First Friday of September.
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Prayers in reparation for the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Oh Most Holy Trinity,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I adore Thee profoundly.
I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity
of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world,
in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and
indifferences by which He is offended.
By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I beg the conversion of poor sinners.
Amen.
May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable,
most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God
be always praised, blessed, loved, adored
and glorified in Heaven, on earth,
and under the earth,
by all the creatures of God,
and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Amen.
You ask that comments be made with charity yet this is your response to the violation suffered by me and my church??? Another example of what our world seems to lack most right now – EMPATHY.
ReplyDeleteDo you also watch the nightly news and assume that domestic violence victims somehow deserved what they got? Or that rape victims encouraged their rape by the clothes they wore? Or murder victims had it coming because of their actions leading up to the act of murder?
You appear to be familiar with Canon Law, yet I fail to see a Christian perspective in your response to this crime – perhaps you’re an academic who simply studies faith, rather than live it?
I suggest that your time would be better spent studying the Bible than Canon Law. Perhaps then you wouldn’t have been inclined to cast your stones in the direction of my church, the Church of St. Pascal Baylon (patron saint of Eucharistic congresses and Eucharistic associations).
Is it unfortunate that the building isn’t more secure? Yes. Is it unfortunate that the tabernacle wasn’t immovable? Yes. Is it unfortunate that you chose to share judgement instead of empathy? Absolutely! And fortunately for me, and my fellow parishioners, two of these can be rectified given time and financial resources
Thank you Leslie. Please accept my sincere apology for my tone here, and my lame attempt to assign blame. I posted soon after hearing the news and this was my visceral reaction. Though more or less spontaneous and thoughtless. Thank you for your good correction.
DeleteGod bless you,
Terry
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26048972/former-catholic-church-will-serve-growing-islamic-population I'm sure their new neighbors will keep their eyes out for it.
ReplyDeleteThat was my First Communion parish - heartbreaking. I thought of it in this situation and considered how a church - plain and simple like St. P's could easily be converted into a Mosque. Sad.
DeleteThe parish I grew up in, and to which I will return next week to celebrate my 50th anniversary of my graduation from 8th Grade, suffered a similar attempt a few months past. The thief so broke a window to gain entrance and tried to carry off the tabernacle. In their unsuccessful attempt they moved it mid church and the gave up. In the process they spilled consecrated hosts along the way. A few years ago they broke into my former school, closed since 2002, and cut out and carried away copper plumbing leaving behind extensive water damage. Obviously the bold actions were to get the metal to sell at a salvage yard. These crimes are being repeated throughout the U.S. In Rochester, NY two weeks ago a memorial statue placed a hundred years ago by immigrants of German descent was pried from its base and taken. No easy task considering the weight, height and bolts securing it. It seems nothing is safe, sacred, or secure. Also, apparently, salvage yards ask no questions probably paying bargain basement prices knowing full well that Joe thief does not own a tabernacle nor a large bronze statue. So, they too are compliment in the theft. It begs the question, "what is happening to our country, to our society. Vandals sacked Rome during the decline. They are now doing the same in the U.S. As the rules of civility and law deteriorate we seem to be passively watching our own decline. I do not expect vandals to understand or respect the significance of the Euchrist or the property of others. I do think that prayer can reach the most hardened heart and will pray that God's mercy will reach these vandals/thiefs before his vengeance and that they return these items. It has recently happened in similar thefts. I read about one in California last week. Same scenario. God help us all. I fear this is only a preview of what could be coming.
ReplyDeleteIt is frightening what is going on - pillaging, sacking of churches - I wonder if it is just a preview?
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