CHAPTER 3: EUCHARIST IN ECUMENICAL MONASTERIES 119 groups (up to ten or twelve persons) in small dining rooms, accompanied by two monastics each. This is an important aspect of the community’s hospitality policy. 1972: The struggle for a common Eucharist Similar to Taizé, the early 1970s were decisive for Bose’s Eucharistic practice. Bose, too, has struggled to find a proper way of sharing the Eucharist acceptable to all traditions involved. Brother Enzo faced a temporary prohibition from any liturgical celebrations in his first years in Bose due to the ecumenical guests he received. This prohibition was lifted by Cardinal Pellegrino, archbishop of Turin, who agreed to act as patron of the emerging community. According to the interview with Brother BF, the community deeply longed to partake of the Eucharist together, an opportunity they did not have within the Roman Catholic Church. No priests were present among the first monastics and the local parish priest did not approve of the new monastic community. Therefore, BF explains, the community agreed to partake of the Eucharist presided by their only ordained member: Brother Daniel, a Waldensian pastor. According to BF, the community informed both the Waldensian and Roman Catholic authorities but received no response from either. Encouraged by the lack of formal disapproval - which they took for implicit permission - the community engaged in this practice for several months, until controversy in a local newspaper urged Cardinal Pellegrino to intervene. A new opportunity was established when a Catholic priest joined the community several months later. This settled the question of a common Eucharistic liturgy as the non-Catholic members were allowed to receive Communion as well. This practice exists until today, even including the Orthodox who have lived in the community over the years.284 The community treasures its current solution, which it practices discretely. However, Brother Guido, monastic of Bose but writing in his capacity as Secretary of the Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue of Piedmont – Val d’Aosta, suggests that the Italian church should reflect on the issue of Eucharistic hospitality, inspired by the documents of the 284 BF-1,10a-c. This episode plays an important role in the interview with brother BF. It will be discussed in detail in section 6.1.
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