48 PART ONE: INTRODUCTION as members of an Ecclesial Community or Church not in full communion with the Catholic Church.121 Current law and regulations, therefore, do not reflect on Eucharistic sharing as part of an ecumenical process, but merely as part of the individual pastoral situation. Is, therefore, an interpretation that justifies ecumenical interests as motivation for Eucharistic sharing possible? A reflection on the regulations is needed, starting from the principles of Vatican II and by considering practical experiences in the life of the church. It is the creative tension of which Tavard speaks that may show potential for accepting the Eucharist as a means for the restoration of Christian unity (Unitatis Redintegratio) or viaticum along the ecumenical path (Pope Francis). Current norms and their application, including Mit Christus gehen, do not engage with this creative tension. This study investigates some contexts that do – in explicit or implicit ways – in order to look for ways to include this perspective in rethinking the question of Eucharistic hospitality (be it in the case of mixed marriages or other ecumenical contexts). As I have argued, this should depart from the conviction that it truly is an ecumenical issue that concerns the whole church and not ‘merely’ a pastoral one affecting isolated individuals. Exploring new impulses: The paths of Taizé and Bose Accepting this challenge brings us to mostly uncharted territory. Despite the fact that in many countries the (unauthorized) practice of Eucharistic hospitality for explicitly ecumenical reasons is widespread, it still lacks proper (academic) reflection. Now that Pope Francis has reopened and authorized the theological debate on this point, such evaluation should take place in order to learn from it. In the debates surrounding Mit Christus gehen, one such case was often mentioned: the case of Brother Roger, founder and first Prior of the Taizé community and Reformed pastor until his violent death in 2005. Section 3.2 speaks in more detail about the community and its practice of Eucharistic hospitality, which was endorsed by the local bishop in the early 1970s. The occasion especially referred to in the discussions took place in 2005. During the funeral Mass of Pope John Paul II, Brother Roger was witnessed receiving Communion from the hands of then CDF prefect Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI). 121 Wijlens, 365.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTk4NDMw