Catholics Would u go to church w\o the real presence teaching Eucharist

[Padres1969]

No, I’m not sure I would go to church without the Eucharist. After all, we can worship God anywhere at any time without it.

A lot of people think that way, which is why many mainline churches are losing members–apart from the whole “I’m spiritual but not religious” idea that so many tout these days.

When Israel held worship services they gathered because they would hear the word of God, but also they were all related to one another. Gathering together was a reaffirmation of their identity as a people. Jesus intended that same fellowship among people of every nation in the partaking of his body and blood–which makes us all one people–relating us to one another in his real presence.

Without that the full relationship Jesus intended is lost. People no longer have the kind of cohesion Jesus intended us to have with one another. When the Protestants denied the real presence they severed that connection, dividing Christians into the spiritual “haves” and the “have nots”. Well, the “have nots” have strayed a great deal from one another, “each man going his own way,” as Scripture says.

So no, Bible reading, a sermon, a few prayers, and singing a few hymns is nice, but it’s not the full connection that Christ intended, and without that, there is no real family in Christ, but a fragmented gathering of disparate people who all just happen to believe the same things because they want to.

Two issues with this contention… The RCC in the west is similarly losing members like Mainline Protestant faiths at similar rates. And second, many of the mainline faiths similarly believe and profess the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist as well.

In fact the churches doing the best to retain their members of late are churches that don’t teach the real presence for what it’s worth.

 

[7_Sorrows]

No.

It is the source and summit of our faith.

 

[Della]

Two issues with this contention… The RCC in the west is similarly losing members like Mainline Protestant faiths at similar rates. And second, many of the mainline faiths similarly believe and profess the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist as well.

Well, statistics alone can’t tell us why churches are losing members–there are many factors involved. As I also wrote in my post, many Catholics have been poorly catechized regarding the Real Presence, and many are enamored by the mores and beliefs of the surrounding society. But, there’s a renaissance in orthodoxy amongst Catholics that, hopefully, will see people returning and/or gaining new members.

In fact the churches doing the best to retain their members of late are churches that don’t teach the real presence for what it’s worth.

Actually, such churches have a huge turnover in membership. When people who like that kind of worship/fellowship grow tired of one such church they move on to another–church shopping to find one that better suits their likes/desires.

 

[DeniseNY]

Thank you for telling me that I’ve just been ridiculously dumb all these years. I was just waiting for someone from the Internet to tell me so!

(You realize that your wording is incredibly arrogant and “loaded,” right?)

There’s a lot of this kind of thing going around CAFlately.

 

[Ernie07]

Catholics are taught the “the real presence” communion Eucharist.

Would u go to church w/o this teaching?

As a Catholic I would answer this question by saying that without the Eucharist there is no church. As mentioned before, the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. It’s kind of like asking if you would still be a Christian if there was no Jesus. Kind of doesn’t make sense if you follow my logic. The Church and the Eucharist are inseparable.

There are thousands of churches every Sunday performing this ceremony without any “real evidence” or result.

I think you misunderstand the Mass as it is not a “ceremony”. In layperson’s terms I’d describe the Mass as a reenactment of The Last Supper. We simply do as Jesus did and taught. The evidence is Jesus’ own words at The Last Supper coupled with Jesus’ Bread from Heaven discourse in John 6. The early Church (when there wasn’t any denominations, just a single Christian Church) believed in the Eucharist and in the Mass. It’s just a historical fact.

Catholics simply do as has been done by Christians since 33 A.D. That’s as much “real evidence” as we need. And just so you know the Mass is said not just every Sunday, but every day throughout the world!! It is just as Malachi prophesied, “…and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering”. Jesus is that pure offering!! What an awesome blessing and opportunity Catholics have to experience on a daily basis!!

Catholic Belief and faith do not require evidence of spirituality impartation

If I understand you correctly, I think I agree. I don’t have a physical communication with God like I do with people I interact with, but I have faith in all that the Catholic Church teaches. I believe this because of the promise Jesus made to protect His Church. And I believe that Jesus did make that promise because both the Bible and church historical records tell me so. And I believe in the Bible and the historical records because there is enough proof (via validity tests of documents of antiquity) that they are valid. Catholicism is actually a very rationale belief system although faith plays a huge role for sure.

Non Catholics recognized this ceremony as a symbol

Some do, but not all. Only the Catholic Church believes in the Real Presence and transubstantiation though.

I hope this helps. I’m answering your questions assuming you are truly curious, but even if your questions are “loaded” as some may suggest I’d answer you anyway. The reason being that the truth is so fun and fulfilling to defend! If I can plant even one seed that blossoms into someone becoming a Catholic then what a blessing that is!!

God bless!

-Ernie-

 

[Whalljim]

Catholics are taught the “the real presence” communion Eucharist.

Would u go to church w/o this teaching?

There are thousands of churches every Sunday performing this ceremony without any “real evidence” or result.

Catholic Belief and faith do not require evidence of spirituality impartation

Non Catholics recognized this ceremony as a symbol

Nope. The Real Presence is what keeps me Catholic. Its truth keeps me bound to the Church. If it wasn’t for the real presence I’d find a denomination that is easier.

 

[Padres1969]

Some do, but not all. Only the Catholic Church believes in the Real Presence and transubstantiation though.

God bless!

-Ernie-

Actually that’s not entirely true either. There are some Anglicans and other non-Catholics who also believe in transubstantiation too.

 

[JMM1957]

Actually that’s not entirely true either. There are some Anglicans and other non-Catholics who also believe in transubstantiation too.

What other non-Catholics believe the Eucharist to be exactly like the Catholics believe?

 

[Ernie07]

Actually that’s not entirely true either. There are some Anglicans and other non-Catholics who also believe in transubstantiation too.

Ah OK, I thought article 28 clearly stated that Anglicans don’t believe in transubstantiation. I didn’t realize that some Anglicans don’t follow their own articles of faith. Weird.

What non-Catholics believe in transubstantiation?

Thanks.

-Ernie-

 

[Padres1969]

Ah OK, I thought article 28 clearly stated that Anglicans don’t believe in transubstantiation. I didn’t realize that some Anglicans don’t follow their own articles of faith. Weird.

What non-Catholics believe in transubstantiation?

Thanks.

-Ernie-

Well the 39 articles are not authoritative on Anglicans so they’re not a “statement of faith” in the manner you’re suggesting. Many in the Anglo-Catholic branch of Anglicanism believe in transubstantiation today in the Post-Oxford Movement world. Given that while Anglicans do affirm the real presence we don’t really have a teaching on what specific mechanism that real presence utilizes and officially just label it a mystery.

Other non-Roman/Eastern Catholics who believe in transubstantiation I can recall of the top of my head would be Old Catholics and Polish National Catholics. And of course the Orthodox believe in a concept identical to transubstantiation though they don’t call it as such.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

Not proud to admit this but no I wouldn’t as I am currently finding it very difficult to go to church. I would probably stick to private prayer or find a faith community that works for me.

I have seen this with my non Catholic friends who have lapsed when they couldnt find a church home and had nothing to motivate them to go to church

 

[Vico]

Not proud to admit this but no I wouldn’t as I am currently finding it very difficult to go to church. I would probably stick to private prayer or find a faith community that works for me.

I have seen this with my non Catholic friends who have lapsed when they couldnt find a church home and had nothing to motivate them to go to church

Have any of them practiced the Catholic faith after doing that?

 

[Duane1966]

Ah OK, I thought article 28 clearly stated that Anglicans don’t believe in transubstantiation. I didn’t realize that some Anglicans don’t follow their own articles of faith. Weird.

What non-Catholics believe in transubstantiation?

Thanks.

-Ernie-

There are also pockets of independant Lutheran churches that believe in Transubtantiaton.

 

[Duane1966]

In fact the churches doing the best to retain their members of late are churches that don’t teach the real presence for what it’s worth.

I believe it was on the radio program Kresta in the Afternoon, some time within the last half year, had the results of a recent study that found parishes in Canada that are faithfully teaching **what the CC proclaims in her catechism, **are flourishing. The ones where it is obvious that the parish priest doesn’t believe in some parts of the CC’s teaching, whether it be her teaching on birth control, or divorce and remarriage, or homosexuality…etc., are dying.

 

[Peebo]

I came from a Pentecostal church into the Catholic church specifically for two reasons…the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist…and the authority of the Catholic church given to St.Peter by Christ…for me to now attend a church that doesn’t believe in the real presence would be like turning my back on Jesus Christ…I could never do that…there are many Catholics who have left the church and who now attend Pentecostal and other Protestant denominations that do not believe in the real presence…the only reason I can see why these ex Catholics would now deny the real presence of Christ for just a symbol is that they were so poorly catechized and had no understanding of the Catholic faith…sadly this is still happening.

 

[zab]

Catholics are taught the “the real presence” communion Eucharist.

Would u go to church w/o this teaching?

There are thousands of churches every Sunday performing this ceremony without any “real evidence” or result.

Catholic Belief and faith do not require evidence of spirituality impartation

Non Catholics recognized this ceremony as a symbol

It is the teaching of Jesus that we follow. It was Jesus who taught us about his real presence in the Eucharist. usccb.org/bible/john/6/
I’d like to think that I would still go to church if I did not know the Catholic Faith because I would hope that I would still have a longing to know God and to be closer to God as well as having the need to join others in prayer. We also know and believe that where two or three are gathered in Jesus name, He is there in their midst. Yes, Jesus is present in other Christian Churches as well. But we Catholics are blessed because the Catholic Church has the fullness of Faith. We have Jesus’ Presence in a way that appeals to the senses of sight taste and touch that can be consumed, taking the bread of life within us as food for our souls.

Yes, I’d like to think that I would still go to Church if I were not of the Catholic faith (The Catholic Church would not be the Catholic Church if it did not teach the real presence.) But then I would probably be more likely to skip a few Sundays now and then.

 

[Padres1969]

I believe it was on the radio program Kresta in the Afternoon, some time within the last half year, had the results of a recent study that found parishes in Canada that are faithfully teaching **what the CC proclaims in her catechism, **are flourishing. The ones where it is obvious that the parish priest doesn’t believe in some parts of the CC’s teaching, whether it be her teaching on birth control, or divorce and remarriage, or homosexuality…etc., are dying.

I wasn’t referring to just Catholic parishes. But your statistic among Catholics in Canada is interesting.

 

[giuseppeTO]

Your last sentence is wrong FYI. Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, and others believe in the real presence as well. Catholics are not alone in that belief.

Orthodox perhaps, but most certainly NOT the Lutherans or Anglicans. The Lutherans believe in a consubstantial presence, which is NOT the Real Presence of the Catholic faith. The Anglicans believe in a symbolic presence, which is the only thing that they can achieve, as Pope Leo XIII infallibly declared their orders invalid (for that very reason) and they therefore lack the priestly power to confect the Blessed Sacrament. If you read “Cranmer’s Godly Order” by Michael Davis, you will see very clearly what is taught in the Anglican Church and it is not the Real Presence (even though they may refer to it as such). The bread and the wine may be disposed of after their service in whichever way the presbyter/vicar decides.

 

[Padres1969]

Orthodox perhaps, but most certainly NOT the Lutherans or Anglicans. The Lutherans believe in a consubstantial presence, which is NOT the Real Presence of the Catholic faith. The Anglicans believe in a symbolic presence, which is the only thing that they can achieve, as Pope Leo XIII infallibly declared their orders invalid (for that very reason) and they therefore lack the priestly power to confect the Blessed Sacrament. If you read “Cranmer’s Godly Order” by Michael Davis, you will see very clearly what is taught in the Anglican Church and it is not the Real Presence (even though they may refer to it as such). The bread and the wine may be disposed of after their service in whichever way the presbyter/vicar decides.

Incorrect. Lutherans and Anglicans both believe in the actual Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Not merely a symbolic presence like say Baptists.

Lutherans believe in the “Sacramental Union”… not consubstantiation. And that Christ is truly and substantially present in, with and under the forms of the bread and wine and that communicants are eating and drinking the holy body and blood of Christ Himself as well as the bread and wine.

Anglicans also believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but prefer to leave the actual mechanism of transformation of the bread and wine a sacred mystery (not unlike the Orthodox view in that regard). As such some Anglicans believe in transubstantiation, some consubstantiation, some sacramental union, some pneumatic presence, and some like myself choose to leave it as a mystery. And as for Pope Leo, since we reject both papal authority and papal infallibility… he can declare what he likes but it has no bearing on Anglican Eucharist. But to the extent Anglican leadership felt Apostolicae Curae deserved a response, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York responded in Saepius Officio. And while Cranmer may have had his views, his views were not definitive on Anglicanism contemporaneously, or subsequently.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Yes, I would, because I want to worship God. Plenty of non-Catholics who do not believe in the Eucharist go to church every Sunday, and sometimes more often if services are available, because they want to worship God. They love God as much as I do, and often even more.

1/2 of my family belongs to a Protestant denomination, and I can say without reservation that most of them serve God with all their being. My grandparents lived for the Lord. They lived holy lives, and never missed church without a good reason. They also went to Bible studies and prayer meetings, supported their missions, gave to charities, etc.

I think it’s wrong when people accuse some non-Catholics of only going to church for the music, etc. I am sure that can happen, but I think passing such a general judgement on people is wrong. We can’t read souls. After all, how many times do we hear other Catholics wanting to leave their parishes because they don’t feel spiritually fulfilled, because they don’t like the music, or the priest is too liberal, or people are too traditional, so-called liturgical abuse, or whatever. And we tell them that’s fine. The non-Catholics could accuse us of the same principal, and they would be right.

Any way, I’ve had my say. God knows the heart.