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dougfreed
Guest
Can I being a believer in Christ, administer The Eucharist or as I call it Communion at my dinner table or anywhere for that matter?
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Um, no. You cannot.
Perhaps you would like to check out the section on the Eucharist in the Catechism of the Catholic Church? I think it will make things much more clear for you.
Perhaps you would like to check out the section on the Eucharist in the Catechism of the Catholic Church? I think it will make things much more clear for you.
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ralphinal
Guest
We never see anyone actually do this in Scripture save those who were either with Christ or taught by them. Logically, there must be a reason for that. If you will look at the Didache, it calls for someone who is the presidor or priest.
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Cristiano
Guest
Yes and No.
If you think of the Eucharist as the sacrament instituted by Christ than you cannot because I assume that you are not a priest and so you cannot confect the Eucharist. The same goes for Communion as in sharing in Jesus’ divinity because he is not really present in the bread.
If you think of the word “eucharist” simply as in “thanksgiving” as in saying grace for what you have you can call it that way, but it would be confusing. When it comes to communion it is the same thing, you can try to achieve a spiritual communion with Christ and the other Christians through prayer, but it is not the same level of Communion that a Catholic can reach when he receives the Host in a worthy manner.
The bottom line is that you can call it whatever you want, but you have to understand that it is not the Sacrament.
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dougfreed
Guest
I totally agree that meal time Grace and Communion are totally different. Did Christ himself not say do this in remembrance of me. He did not say you must have a title or qualification did he?
I know folks don’t care for snipits but I can’t put whole books on here.
It says in
Acts 2:46-47
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
(from New International Version)
1 Cor 11:23-34
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
(from New International Version)
I know folks don’t care for snipits but I can’t put whole books on here.
It says in
Acts 2:46-47
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
(from New International Version)
1 Cor 11:23-34
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
(from New International Version)
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ralphinal
Guest
At the same time, it does not say that just anyone can do it, either. The only people at the Last Supper were the 12. In fact, can you show us where ALL Christians have the authority or ability?
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Robert_in_SD
Guest
I’m not sure I understand your question?
(1) Are you asking if Catholics believe the power to confect the Eucharist lies in every christian?
(2) Or are you asking if we believe that the real presence of Jesus Christ is there in the eucharist objectively, such that He is real and present even for those christians who do not accept the doctrine of Real Presence?
I would answer question (1) in the negative. Unless you are a validly ordained priest of Jesus Christ, you cannot confect the eucharist at your dinner table, or anywhere.
As to (2), I would say that as a practicing Catholic I believe that Jesus Christ is objectively made real and present in the eucharist, under the appearance of bread and wine. So if you were to receive the consecrated bread and wine from a Catholic (or Orthodox) priest and somehow smuggle thenm home to consume at your dinner table (or anywhere), then you would be consuming the real body and blood of Jesus Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine.
Does one of these answer your original question?
Peace,
-Robert
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Publisher
Guest
For Friends, the answer would be that each and every meal has the opportunity to take on sacramental importance…each meal can be a time of spiritual nourishment as we share with one another and inwardly take Christ into ourselves as we recongnize he is Truly Present among us.
Since Friends do not believe anyone can mediate or “confect” his Presence for us and each of us share in his priesthood to approach him through grace, we can Meet with Him Who is Present among us at any time.
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bpbasilphx
Guest
Can I being a believer in Christ, administer The Eucharist or as I call it Communion at my dinner table or anywhere for that matter?
**It requires being at least a Presbyter/Priest of the Aposotlic Succession to accomplish the Mystery of Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist.
Otherwise, as the fathers put it, the communion of heretics is the food of devils.
So, in short answer, no.**
**It requires being at least a Presbyter/Priest of the Aposotlic Succession to accomplish the Mystery of Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist.
Otherwise, as the fathers put it, the communion of heretics is the food of devils.
So, in short answer, no.**
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Let’s think about it.
It has been 2000 years (or so) since St. Paul wrote about this, yes?
So. . .is there a Church which can trace itself back those 2000 years and show a 2000 year tradition in which they 'met at home, broke the bread, and the bread was Christ and they thus 'administered the Eucharist at table or wherever?"
Or is there a Church which can trace itself back those 2000 years and show a 2000 year tradition in which what was written in Scripture was likewise discussed, and taught, ‘orally’ as a “Tradition” such that they trace themselves back to the apostles and can show an unbroken record of those who were taught by the apostles, and then taught this teaching to others, who taught it to others, etc?
In the absence of a group which can show that it was taught, authentically, by the apostles, (who not only ‘predated’ Scripture but whose oral teaching was the basis of Catholicism for 300 plus years) that it was perfectly kosher (pardon the expression) for any Christian to 'administer the Eucharist at the dinner table. . .I’ll stick with the group that does have apostolic succession and teaches with authority.
It has been 2000 years (or so) since St. Paul wrote about this, yes?
So. . .is there a Church which can trace itself back those 2000 years and show a 2000 year tradition in which they 'met at home, broke the bread, and the bread was Christ and they thus 'administered the Eucharist at table or wherever?"
Or is there a Church which can trace itself back those 2000 years and show a 2000 year tradition in which what was written in Scripture was likewise discussed, and taught, ‘orally’ as a “Tradition” such that they trace themselves back to the apostles and can show an unbroken record of those who were taught by the apostles, and then taught this teaching to others, who taught it to others, etc?
In the absence of a group which can show that it was taught, authentically, by the apostles, (who not only ‘predated’ Scripture but whose oral teaching was the basis of Catholicism for 300 plus years) that it was perfectly kosher (pardon the expression) for any Christian to 'administer the Eucharist at the dinner table. . .I’ll stick with the group that does have apostolic succession and teaches with authority.
dougfreed,
Your profile doesn’t say to which church you belong, but since you call the Eucharist “communion”, my guess is you are protestant. As a Lutheran, and without getting into the validity of our clergy (Catholics believe our clergy is not valid, we think it is), we believe that a rightly called and ordained pastor or priest is required. So no, since I am not ordained, I cannot celebrate the Eucharist.
Jon
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dougfreed
Guest
If I understand right The Eucharist is at Passover or Easter as some call it, and Communion is always. Right or Wrong?
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ralphinal
Guest
NOt in Catholic understanding. It is always Eucharist. Communion is “slang.” The actual sacrament is that of the Eucharist (which means thanksgiving).
While I wouldn’t characterize the term Holy Communion as slang, like Ralph does, your statement is not Lutheran understanding either. Lutherans also use “Sacrament of the Altar”. In any case, I have read some of the Lutheran / Catholic dialogues of the last few decades where they intentionally use the three terms interchangeably.
Jon
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emeraldcoast
Guest
Hi Ralph,
When did the word “Communion” become slang? Has the wording of children making their “First Communion” changed? TIA!
God Bless!
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ralphinal
Guest
That is why I put it in quotes. It is the common term but not the official. It is like confession and Penance.
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emeraldcoast
Guest
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Ruthie
Guest
“This **is **my body. This is the new covenant in my blood.” He didn’t say “this is the memory of my body and blood.” He said for us to eat His body and drink His blood, in remembrance of Him. This is not the only place He tells us to eat His flesh and drink His blood. See John 6. Note that many of His disciples left Him because this is a “hard saying.” Do you think they’d have left if He was only speaking symbolically?
Absolutely. We are eating Him; participating in His death, His paschal sacrifice, which continues until His return.
Paul is quite specific here. To receive unworthily is sinning against the **body and blood **of the Lord, not against Him, or His teachings, or His resurrection, but against His body and blood.
Again, Paul is specific. “Recognizing the **body **of the Lord.”
This passage only confirms my belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
God bless you,
Ruthie
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rinnie
Guest
The only way in my Church the RCC that a person can give communion is (at church after the Priest gives communion he has special people who have the authority to give it to the sick etc.)
Another wards they take the communion after Church to people who are shut in, sick etc. But this communion is the same that the Priest gave to us that same Sunday. Hope you understand what I am saying. They are called Eucharist Ministers.
Another wards they take the communion after Church to people who are shut in, sick etc. But this communion is the same that the Priest gave to us that same Sunday. Hope you understand what I am saying. They are called Eucharist Ministers.
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Just one clarification, Rinnie --and no offense since the term you used was in ‘vogue’ for quite some time, but it is an incorrect term.
The only proper “Eucharistic Minister” is a priest.
Lay people who operate under the parameters you described are more properly termed either:
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (EME) or
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC).
The emphasis is on the “extraordinary”. Only a priest is an ‘ordinary’ Eucharistic Minister (no qualification needed).
God bless!
The only proper “Eucharistic Minister” is a priest.
Lay people who operate under the parameters you described are more properly termed either:
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (EME) or
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC).
The emphasis is on the “extraordinary”. Only a priest is an ‘ordinary’ Eucharistic Minister (no qualification needed).
God bless!
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