Warned From Communion

Emersit enim, fratres dilectissimi, novum genus cladis; et, quasi parum persecutionis procella saevierit, accessit ad cumulum sub misericordiae titulo malum fallens et blanda pernicies. Contra Evangelii vigorem, contra Domini ac Dei legem temeritate quorumdam laxatur incautis communicatio, irrita et falsa pax, periculosa dantibus et nihil accipientibus profutura. Non quaerunt sanitatis patientiam, nec veram de satisfactione medicinam. Poenitentia de pectoribus excussa est, gravissimi extremique delicti memoria sublata est. Operiuntur morientium vulnera, et plaga lethalis altis et profundis visceribus infixa, dissimulato dolore, contegitur. A diaboli aris revertentes, ad sanctum Domini sordidis et infectis nidore manibus accedunt. Mortiferos idolorum cibos adhuc pene ructantes, exhalantibus etiam nunc scelus suum faucibus et contagia funesta redolentibus, Domini corpus invadunt, quando occurrat Scriptura divina, et clamet et dicat: Omnis mundus manducabit carnem, et anima quaecumque manducaverit ex carne sacrificii salutaris quod est Domini, et immunditia ipsius super ipsum est, peribit anima illa de populo suo. Apostolus item testetur et dicat: Non potestis calicem Domini bibere et calicem daemoniorum, non potestis mensae Domini communicare et mensae daemoniorum. Idem contumacibus et pervicacibus comminatur et denuntiat dicens: Quicumque ederit panem aut biberit calicem Domini indigne, reus erit corporis et sanguinis Domini. Sanctus Cyprianus, Liber De Lapsis Source: Migne PL 4.478a-479a

Moreover, beloved brethren, a new type of devastation has arisen, and as if the storm of persecution had raged too little there has been added to the heap, under the name of mercy, a duplicitous evil and an alluring ruin. In opposition to the vigour of the Gospel, in opposition to the law of the Lord and God, by the temerity of some, communion is relaxed to reckless folk, which is a vain and false peace, dangerous to those who grant it and giving nothing for the future to those who receive it. They do not seek patience for health, nor the true medicine of satisfaction. Penitence is driven out of their hearts and the memory of their very grave and extreme sin is borne away. The wounds of the dying are covered up, and the deadly blow planted in the deep and furthest entrails is concealed by a dissimulated sorrow. Returning from the altars of the devil, with hands filthy and reeking with a stench, they draw near to the holy place of the Lord. Yet almost belching forth the fatal idol-meats, and even with mouths breathing forth their crime and stinking of the mortal contact, they rush toward the body of the Lord, though sacred Scripture runs against them, and cries out and says, 'Everyone who is clean shall eat of the flesh, and whichever soul eats of the flesh of the saving sacrifice, which is the Lord's, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.' 1 The Apostle also gives witness and says, 'You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils, you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of devils.' 2 He threatens and denounces the insolent and stubborn, saying, 'He who eats the bread and drinks from the cup of the Lord unworthily, is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.' 3 Saint Cyprian of Carthage, On The Lapsed 1 Levit 7.20 2 1 Cor 10.21 3 1 Cor 11.27