Can the Eucharist be compared to sex?

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I know it seems like a stretch, but I feel as though there are very real theological similarities between the two.

The idea is, the Eucharist physically, spritually unites one with God and others, just as sex unites one with another person and God.

I hope this isn’t some kinda heresy or whatever, I just think the similarities are somewhat uncanny.
 
Yes and no.

“Yes” in that marriage and the sexual union is a symbol of the union God desires to share with us in the Eucharist but “no” in that God, Himself, is not sexual.
You would love “Theology of the Body” by Pope John Paul II or “Marriage and the Eucharist” which is an audio presentation by Christopher West.
 
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Zahmir:
I know it seems like a stretch, but I feel as though there are very real theological similarities between the two.

The idea is, the Eucharist physically, spritually unites one with God and others, just as sex unites one with another person and God.

I hope this isn’t some kinda heresy or whatever, I just think the similarities are somewhat uncanny.
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This is a very good observation. The Church is filled with this type of sexual - if that is what you want to call it - symbolism and this is one of those moments. One could legitimately say that the grace given in the reception of communion is the same grace given in the reception of the marital act in that both have a focus on preservation. The Holy Eucharist in preserving one in the faith and strengthining their resolve to fight against temptation and the marital act to preserve a couple in thier marriage and fight the temptation to violate their vows.

Also, the marital act is a renewing of the marital covenant between the spouses just as the Holy Eucharist is a renewal of the marital covenant between Christ and His Church.

If you look carefully in the liturgical actions of the Church through the whole of the liturgical year you will see more and more the marital symbolism that is in all of our rites and symbolism.
 
this is an interesting post. as an earlier poster said, read some of christopher west’s stuff. he goes into this in great detail. it’s interesting that you came up with this on your own. God chose to reveal something special to your heart and you should feel blessed.

it’s interesting becuase I once compaired it to NFP. I committed a serious sin and was not able to go to confession for a couple of weeks. I had to obstain from the Eucharest during this time. I would go up and receive a blessing, but could not take the hoast. it was almot like lying down next to my husband during the fertil time of my cycle and deciding to not make love. it’s difficult and I sometimes can’t wait until we can be together again. it was the same with communion. once I did go to confession, it was like taking a hot bath and the next day, I RAN down the isle to receive Jesus because I had missed Him TERRABLY!!! just the same way I go rushing into my husband’s arms after a period of abstonance.
 
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SueKrum:
this is an interesting post. as an earlier poster said, read some of christopher west’s stuff. he goes into this in great detail. it’s interesting that you came up with this on your own. God chose to reveal something special to your heart and you should feel blessed.

it’s interesting becuase I once compaired it to NFP. I committed a serious sin and was not able to go to confession for a couple of weeks. I had to obstain from the Eucharest during this time. I would go up and receive a blessing, but could not take the hoast. it was almot like lying down next to my husband during the fertil time of my cycle and deciding to not make love. it’s difficult and I sometimes can’t wait until we can be together again. it was the same with communion. once I did go to confession, it was like taking a hot bath and the next day, I RAN down the isle to receive Jesus because I had missed Him TERRABLY!!! just the same way I go rushing into my husband’s arms after a period of abstonance.
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Lucky guy
 
I second/third/fourth the Christopher West recommendation. 🙂
 
This comparison of reception of the Eucharist with marital love is also a good explanation of why we do not have open communion in the Catholic Church. Just as husbands and wives do not share themselves in bed with any and all friends and acquaintances “in a spirit of openness and community”, or whatever, so too the Church can not invite to share in Holy Communion with non-Catholics under most circumstances, but only with those who have made a sacramental committment to the Church just as spouses have made a sacramental committment to each other.
 
Not sex per se, but marital love. Scripture presents the love of Christ for his Church as a bridegroom’s love for his bride (e.g. Song of Songs, Revelation). In a marriage, sexual union is the ultimate expression of that marital love; it is the time when the spouses become “one flesh” and consummate the marriage, making it indissoluble.

Much the same happens at Communion. We are present at the marriage supper of the Lamb, and our Communion ratifies our covenant with him. We too, in a manner of speaking become “one flesh”.
 
This is so great to read without sounding sacrilegious. I believe God gave us many great gifts…some more than others. I would tend to believe union with God (ecstasy) is no different than full union with the man you love…in ALL of its implications.

That is why they had to get rid of the statue of St Theresa Of Avila because it looked too erotic…
Code: 
http://www.ascension-research.org/images/avila-2.jpg        http://www.ascension-research.org/images/torch-s.gif
"We need no wings to go in search of Him, but have only to find a place
where we can be alone - and look upon Him present within us."

Saint Teresa of Avila******
 
Very interesting thread … and I agree with what has been said. In addition I’d like to share something I once heard about the catecumens of the early Church. They were dismissed from the Eucharistic celebration before the Breaking of the Bread–much as today’s RCIA catecumens are dismissed before the Profession of Faith. The reason for this was not just because these early catecumens were not yet prepared to receive the Body of Christ but also because the Faithful realized the intimacy of receiving Jesus as being far too intimate for “observers” to witness.
 
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