Catholic Eucharist Question

[xochestrada]

My Fiance keeps asking me why Baptists (which he is) can not receive Catholic communion. Dos anyone know if he can or can’t? He was baptized Baptist and after they are baptized they can receive communion. They do not have a First Holy Communion like we do. Can somebody please explain this? Thank You!

 

[Little_Mary]

Catholics believe that the real body and blood of Our Lord is present at the Mass after the bread and wine are consecrated - it is known as the Real Presence. Because we believe that it IS God and not just a symbol, the Church is very protective of it. Only Catholics who believe in the Real Presence should partake - this protectiveness is out of respect to the presence of Jesus at the Mass.

 

[StratusRose]

Non-Catholics cannot receive communion because they do not believe that the Eucharist is the true body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. Protestant denomonations believe the Eucharist is a symbol. Also when we receive communion we are saying that we accept everything the Catholic Church teaches. Asking Protestants not to participate in communion is not an act of snobbery or pretention (as I used to think when I was Methodist) but it is because we take it SO seriously that is cannot be given to those who do not believe it is truely Jesus.

 

[Didi]

Since you and your fiance are not yet married, you are hopefully taking pre-marital classes to learn about the sacrament of marriage. You have not yet stood before a priest, made your vows to each other in front of your Church family, or consummated your relationship (hopefully).

When we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, we receive Him Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. When we receive communion and the priest says “Body of Christ,” we say “Amen,” meaning “Yes, I agree that this is the Body of Christ.”

Like marriage, which is also a sacrament, one’s First Communion is received after instruction, then you stand before the congregation and publicly state that you believe you are receiving Jesus, then you “consummate” your relationship with Jesus by receiving His flesh in Holy Communion.

Neither Holy Matrimony nor Holy Communion should be taken lightly.

 

[aria13]

Not all Protestant faiths are taught that Holy Communion is not the true body and blood…and only symbols. Some of the synods of the Lutheran church teach that it is the TRUE body and blood of Christ. So, if as a Lutheran, I believe this is true…shouldn’t I be able to partake? Many Lutheran churches allow all believers in Christ to partake in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, I find that loving and open armed. I still find the Mass rather cold, and unloving on this. Christ never turned anyone away from His table.

Just my thoughts and reflections.

 

[MrS]

aria13:

Not all Protestant faiths are taught that Holy Communion is not the true body and blood…and only symbols. Some of the synods of the Lutheran church teach that it is the TRUE body and blood of Christ. So, if as a Lutheran, I believe this is true…shouldn’t I be able to partake? Many Lutheran churches allow all believers in Christ to partake in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, I find that loving and open armed. I still find the Mass rather cold, and unloving on this. **Christ never turned anyone away from His table. **

Just my thoughts and reflections.

That may be true… but those who come to His table in an unworthy manner, and who do not believe that Jesus is present as defined/explained by the Catholic Church, are “…guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord…” a serious, serious sin as stated by Paul in Corinthians.

Further, it requires a valid ordination (succession back to the Apostles) to confect the Eucharist. Said valid ordination DOES NOT exist outside the Catholic church… whether a Lutheran or Medodist etc believe it does or not.

 

[mercygate]

aria13:

Not all Protestant faiths are taught that Holy Communion is not the true body and blood…and only symbols. Some of the synods of the Lutheran church teach that it is the TRUE body and blood of Christ. So, if as a Lutheran, I believe this is true…shouldn’t I be able to partake? Many Lutheran churches allow all believers in Christ to partake in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, I find that loving and open armed. I still find the Mass rather cold, and unloving on this. Christ never turned anyone away from His table.

Just my thoughts and reflections.

Part of what we mean when we say “Amen” to the words: “The Body of Christ,” before receiving the Blessed Sacrament is : “I believe all that the Catholic Church professes and teaches.”

A cornerstone of our faith is faith in the Christ-given, God-breathed ministry of our bishops working in communion with one another and in communion with the See of Peter.

Belief in the Real Presence is only one point upon which admission to communion rests. Those who deny the authority of the Church, because of our “high” doctrine of Who the Church IS, cannot be said to be in communion with the Church. The Eucharist is a sign of actual unity.

I am not sure what you meant about Christ never turning anyone away from his table. All are called to come to Christ in his Church; nobody who comes with an open and docile heart, fully accepting Our Lord in his Church, would be turned away. A period of formation is required, but we receive with open arms people who have led lives that would inarguably be considered appallingly sinful!

 

[thistle]

mercygate:

Part of what we mean when we say “Amen” to the words: “The Body of Christ,” before receiving the Blessed Sacrament is : “I believe all that the Catholic Church professes and teaches.”

A cornerstone of our faith is faith in the Christ-given, God-breathed ministry of our bishops working in communion with one another and in communion with the See of Peter.

Belief in the Real Presence is only one point upon which admission to communion rests. Those who deny the authority of the Church, because of our “high” doctrine of Who the Church IS, cannot be said to be in communion with the Church. The Eucharist is a sign of actual unity.

I am not sure what you meant about Christ never turning anyone away from his table. All are called to come to Christ in his Church; nobody who comes with an open and docile heart, fully accepting Our Lord in his Church, would be turned away. A period of formation is required, but we receive with open arms people who have led lives that would inarguably be considered appallingly sinful!

I agree with you and part of the formation would be going through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is not enough to believe in the real presence of Christ but you have to be in a state of grace to receive the Eucharist.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

As Mr S was getting to…other P churches do not accept the sacrament of Holy Orders, the primacy of the Pope, since only those with Holy Orders can confect the Eucharist. So other Chirsitians who are not in union with Rome cannot have communion with Rome

 

[John666]

xochestrada:

My Fiance keeps asking me why Baptists (which he is) can not receive Catholic communion. Dos anyone know if he can or can’t? He was baptized Baptist and after they are baptized they can receive communion. They do not have a First Holy Communion like we do. Can somebody please explain this? Thank You!

Hello xochestrada,

Welcome to the forums!

To simply state an answer to your question. Baptist are not in full communion with the Catholic Church. Communion being the key word.

I believe it was a student of Dr. Scott Hahn who told him that she explained it this way to her friend. Why she, “can not receive Catholic communion”. (This quote is not word for word.)

“It is like not having marital relations (sexualy) before marriage. You have to get to know each other, marriage preparation, etc…, get married AND THEN … consumate the marriage. After making a “Profession of faith” (believing ALL the Church teaches, being in full communion with the Catholic Church, after taking training, etc.), receiving Christ in the Blessed Sacrament (Holy Communion) you are consumating your relationship with Christ AND His Church.”

Just one way I heard it explained.

Here are a couple other threads that might help you,

Episcopal

Communion In a Protestant Church… ( http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/misc/multipage.gif 1 2 )

Good question.

God bless you,

Joe

p.s. Remeber also, any Catholic who has fallen from grace should not receive.

 

[mercygate]

thistle:

I agree with you and part of the formation would be going through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is not enough to believe in the real presence of Christ but you have to be in a state of grace to receive the Eucharist.

Duh! You are correct. Thank you for clarifying what I said; I didn’t express it well. What I meant was that all are welcome to take instruction come into the Church. We do not turn people away who come to the Church with the appropriate disposition.