Can't I just take a little bread and grape juice to not appear rude?

[BillyboyAZ]

OK. I just read that I shouldn’t recieve communion when attending church with my wife’s parents because the Church doesn’t recognize their communion as valid. The thing is, I don’t recognize it as valid either. It’s just a re-enactment of the last supper and there’s no implication of “the real presence”. Can’t I just have a little bread and some grape juice so as not to appear rude? It doesn’t mean much. Please don’t tell me this is some sort of mortal sin.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear friend,

For you to receive that little peice of bread and grape juice is to publicly give wittness to what they believe about it. Our public actions mean something. So if they think you are being rude, what a wonderful opportunity to give witness to what you DO believe about the Eucharist! The Eucharist is the living sign of His suffering and death. He’s the one who suffered and died. The least we can do is be faithful to what His Eucharist is. Friend, He is asking you to be a man and stand up for Him! My prayer is that you will.

And by the way, to deny Him in this way, knowing what you have just read, IS a mortal sin.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.