Edward Pentin pases on a strange story from the papal visit. It’s from Giuseppe Caffulli’s article “Liturgical Crisis at Nazareth Mass”.

Only about 1,000 people received Communion at the huge papal Mass at Mount Precipice in Nazareth last week. That means roughly 44,000 couldn’t — because shortly before dawn thieves stole the pyxes holding all those hosts (which weren’t yet consecrated).

Father Ricardo Bustos, guardian of the Franciscan Convent of the Annunciation in Nazareth, is quoted at Terrasanta.net explaining what happened:

“Since dawn many items necessary for liturgical celebration had been taken to the white tent set up as the sacristy by the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land, along with many pyxes (containers in which consecrated hosts are stored) and pottery made especially by local artisans for the Pope’s visit. About 120 pyxes were stolen, but security didn’t even notice.”

How could this happen? “The friars simply didn’t imagine that any theft would have taken place in advance,” says the website.

Father Ricardo said that the theft wasn’t about money, but the craving for mementos of the Pope’s visit.