Effects of No Eucharist?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lukelion
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Lukelion

Guest
I am having trouble edifying what the Eucharist does for me. I would like to hear your testimony of what the Eucharist does for you personally.
What are some of the "side effects"if you do not participate in valid Eucharist?
What are the specific graces you feel you receive from Communion?
Just what exactly are our separated brethren missing out on?
Thank you,
Lukelion
 
One word for me…PEACE…it’s not a feeling it is a state of being. Very hard to describe, but so easy to feel the difference! Isn’t that the promise made to us by Christ. Seek and you will find, is it peaceful searching for something you’ve lost or can’t find in the first place? Compare that to how you mentally and physically feel when you finally found those lost keys, or that perfect pair of shoes you’ve been searching for. Is there a peaceful feeling after you’ve found what you were searching for. Over simplified I know, but yet it is still Peace!!!
 
Hm… I wouldn’t say the purpose of receiving the Eucharist is to make you feel good… or a spiritual high.

But this is when I was most… affected… by receiving the eucharist:

I had just went to the confession, and… it was a hard one. Afterwards, I felt so joyous and so… grateful and alive. I was walking back to my room, and… then I felt almost… an emptiness in my heart, like all my sin had pushed God out of my heart and with my sin forgiven… there was a gigantic hole there. I knew right away that I was desiring the Eucharist, not mentally, or physically, but spiritually desiring the Eucharist. It’s a wonderful feeling, to DESIRE the Eucharist. Anyway… the Mass was very… beautiful… (though I might be biased, considering my condition). After I received the Eucharist, it was like… I was whole again, like I was calling God back into my life, saying… “I want you, Lord. I desire to be close to you.”

Anyway. I wouldn’t say every experience is quite that… profound. But wehenver I receive the Eucharist now, I do feel a genuine… calling of Jesus back into my life. I go to Mass almost everyday because… I do desire for Him.
 
Great question. For myself, the Eucharist gives me the graces to help me overcome temptation. It can’t imagine my life without it anymore.
 
40.png
Lukelion:
I am having trouble edifying what the Eucharist does for me. I would like to hear your testimony of what the Eucharist does for you personally.
What are some of the "side effects"if you do not participate in valid Eucharist?
What are the specific graces you feel you receive from Communion?
Just what exactly are our separated brethren missing out on?
Thank you,
Lukelion
Click to expand...
The effect of receiving th Eucharist gives us an increase of sanctifying grace and unites us as one with Christ. It is spiritual food for the soul and stregthens and fortifies the soul agtainst the temptations of life.

Thats the best way I can describe it. Without it I think life would be pretty bleak.
 
I use to receive communion every Sunday. Due to mortal sin I don’t receive anymore. The only difference I have noticed is that NOW I’m the one that has to move my legs to people can get by.

I remember someone teaching me that the Eucharist was food for the soul. I believe that and because I can NOT see my soul… I figured that’s why I couldn’t see the affect of the Eucharist in my life. Maybe it was like invisible food for my invisible soul… I’ve never felt any benefit from it.

However; I respect and believe that the Eucharist is holy and should only be taken only when in grace.
 
Sustenance. On EWTN Radio one day I heard a priest say that there will be no Eucharist in Heaven, for we will be filled. While on earth, Eucharist is sustaining us until we (hopefully) spend eternity with Him.
 
40.png
Jonah:
I use to receive communion every Sunday. Due to mortal sin I don’t receive anymore. The only difference I have noticed is that NOW I’m the one that has to move my legs to people can get by.

I remember someone teaching me that the Eucharist was food for the soul. I believe that and because I can NOT see my soul… I figured that’s why I couldn’t see the affect of the Eucharist in my life. Maybe it was like invisible food for my invisible soul… I’ve never felt any benefit from it.

However; I respect and believe that the Eucharist is holy and should only be taken only when in grace.
Click to expand...
Remember, we don’t have to FEEL anything when we receive the Eucharist. We make an act of faith that Jesus is coming to us, and we are supposed to have prepared ourselves with prayer. We don’t want the “seed” to fall on hard ground; prayer cultivates the “soil” of our soul so that the Lord can impart his grace to us when we receive.

Over the years I have not watched closely for the effects of the Eucharist on my soul, but I know that He is changing me in many ways. My two big problems were anxiety and impatience, and He has taken care of these. And, he always calls us closer and has more good things to give us. That is why I love the Mass, and the great gift of Himself, the Eucharist.
 
For the past year, I have been nearly a daily communicant. I can’t tell you how awesome it feels! The grace, the peace the freedom I feel from temptation is unbelievable. In fact, when I cannot receive, I am bereft and empty until I can attend once again. I gain strength in sharing my faith with others. I feel that others just by my example have come to understand how important the sacraments are. If I can bring one more person to heaven because of my example…through the grace I receive from daily communion…I will die a happy person!

Try it!
As Fr.Corapi says… all those who have not received the Holy Eucharist may still get to heaven through the mercy of God…but we know for sure because Jesus told us that He is the bread of life, He who comes to me shall have eternal life. Why would we deny ourselves the opportunity to this gift freely given to us through the sacrifice of our Redeemer? It is foolish. So receive the Lord fully. Praise God always!
 
Strength to resist temptation. Increase in charity and patience. An awareness of being spiritually alive: energized and, well, aware of Christ, of faith, I don’t know how to describe it.

For some time, when I attended near-daily Mass at the univ. chapel, I even felt the tug of a calling… (It has evolved into something a bit different than what it started as, but that’s another topic. 😉 )

If I am away from the Eucharist, I become weak and lukewarm, and nose-dive into a mess of sin… :eek: I would be one of those lost sheep without Him! “There but for the grace of God go I.” (I know a Protestant said this, but it totally applies.)
 
Thank you all for your replies.
So, to summarize:
Each host is like another brick in the interior castle, which makes you stronger. You can’t measure your results physically, except by feelings, which are not always reliable. It’s your faith that would give you any measurable results. (Like any believers miracle).
Is this a clear articulation?

Lukelion
 
I feel complete when I receive the Eucharist. It is the most important part of my life. On days when I’m not able to receive I make a spiritual communion but it is not quite the same. I’m eager to receive the Lord in the Eucharist every day.
 
My youngest son was dx with Celiac Disease nearly 5 years ago. He’s coming up on his first Communion and I still haven’t figured out what we’ll do. If the Church doesn’t decide to let go of the whole ‘recipe’ idea at some point, he’ll go his whole life without ever receiving Communion. I feel like Jesus’s intentions are being ignored and the ‘recipe’ is being given more importance in this issue.
 
 
Thanks for the links. As I was looking them over it occurred to me that the whole business of being concerned with the ‘recipe’ is really the problem. Why all the focus on a recipe? I think the church is misguided in placing so much importance on the recipe of the bread. I plan to plug along being Catholic, raising my three kids to be Catholic, but I’m really disappointed in the Church’s stance on this issue. I read through the other posts in this thread and the gushing over receiving Communion. Isn’t it kind of cruel to deny Celiacs a blessed rice cracker host? Jesus didn’t say if the bread doesn’t contain gluten… it’s not my body. I read Mathew about two weeks ago and got a real sense of how much Jesus was looking out for us, cared for us and wanted us to be healthy and happy. I started thinking then, that there’s no way He’d look at a Celiac and say…“You can have the wine, the bread’s for the rest of us.” I think this issue comes down to Jesus’s intentions, not a recipe. I’m 36 and this is the first crisis of faith I’ve ever had. Not one other thing has ever really tripped me up like this. 😦
I think reading all the other posts in this thread has me down too. For my son’s sake, I wish the Church would stop being afraid to include rice crackers as hosts. If God can be in a wheat cracker, he can be in a rice cracker. He’s not limited to a recipe.
 
40.png
jennifer101:
Thanks for the links. As I was looking them over it occurred to me that the whole business of being concerned with the ‘recipe’ is really the problem. Why all the focus on a recipe? I think the church is misguided in placing so much importance on the recipe of the bread. I plan to plug along being Catholic, raising my three kids to be Catholic, but I’m really disappointed in the Church’s stance on this issue. I read through the other posts in this thread and the gushing over receiving Communion. Isn’t it kind of cruel to deny Celiacs a blessed rice cracker host? Jesus didn’t say if the bread doesn’t contain gluten… it’s not my body. I read Mathew about two weeks ago and got a real sense of how much Jesus was looking out for us, cared for us and wanted us to be healthy and happy. I started thinking then, that there’s no way He’d look at a Celiac and say…“You can have the wine, the bread’s for the rest of us.” I think this issue comes down to Jesus’s intentions, not a recipe. I’m 36 and this is the first crisis of faith I’ve ever had. Not one other thing has ever really tripped me up like this. 😦
I think reading all the other posts in this thread has me down too. For my son’s sake, I wish the Church would stop being afraid to include rice crackers as hosts. If God can be in a wheat cracker, he can be in a rice cracker. He’s not limited to a recipe.
Click to expand...
I understand your last sentence, and I do agree with the reasoning,…but it is a matter of obedience.

Wouldn’t it be okay to focus on the wonderful gift of Jesus in the Eucharist that enables Him to be present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in a drop of the Wine, as well as in a particle of the Bread?

Peace,

Dorothy
 
I will be obedient to the Church on this matter, while waiting for them to fully understand that we’re all invited to the supper and not just for drinks. I believe the Church need to consider Mathew 15 10-20. I also consider all of Mathew 23 as Jesus showing us common sense in matters just like this one. You can’t neglect mercy, justice and faith when making rules. Another clear message about providing for others is in Mathew 25 31-46. You know, all through the bible, Jesus clearly distinguishes between food and drink. Clearly, Celiacs are being denied the bread no matter how much the Church wants us to believe the wine should be enough. It’s not. Most important is the message (as I understood it) in Mathew 12 1-8. “I desire Mercy, and not sacrifice”. Isn’t it an unnecessary sacrifice Celiacs are being forced to endure by being denied participation in breaking bread together? I think so. I stand by my original thought which was, we were all invited to the supper, not just for drinks. There is an unfair, unreasonable, fear motivated decision by the Church that is focussing on the WRONG thing. There is nothing in the bible that supports using a specific recipe for the host. Jesus would prefer mercy to sacrifice. Celiacs are not a genetic accident that God didn’t forsee. Obviously, they’re here to test those who would confuse Jesus’s intentions. So far, I think the Church is failing the test. They need to re-evaluate the intention of the Commandment and make the proper meal for Catholic Celiacs and get over this idea that a recipe is more important than the Love and bonding that occurs when we participate together… not just push the Celiacs to the side to drink from their gluten free cup of wine in rejections from the dinner table.
 
40.png
jennifer101:
not just push the Celiacs to the side to drink from their gluten free cup of wine in rejections from the dinner table.
Click to expand...
The consecrated wine contains the fullness of the Body and Blood of our Lord, so there is no “pushing to the side” as you say. Make sure your priest is apprised of the situation–I bet he will work to accomodate your son.

To the OP–since my “reconversion” I’ve been going to Mass more often during the week, recieving the Eucharist more often than before. I have noticed that I’m nicer, more happy, less prone to sin and sinful thoughts. When I recieve the Eucharist more frequently, I really notice the grace that God gives me to better do His will. I’m not trying to say the Eucharist is a magic pill, but it is spiritual food for my soul and I definitely notice a difference.
 
jennifer101:

I would just like to say, the church doesn’t change the wine and replace it with grape juice for those who are alcholics. Those who are just don’t receive the blood of christ. Your son could receive one form and not the other. He would still be in full communion with the church.

palmas85 said " Without it I think life would be pretty bleak." You are very correct, I have for all basically left the church, when I was struggling, but still receiving the troubles where difficult, but now without the body of christ, yes, life is pretty bleak.

scared
 
It still remains, why can’t they just let the Celiacs have a host with no gluten? The Church is responsible for making this an issue, not the Celiacs (or parents of Celiacs). You should feed your guest accordingly. Especially if an inheritable auto immune disease is dictating the dietary restriction. The focus of the Church is on the recipe rather than on the commandment to “do this in memory of me.” Celiacs are NOT breaking bread with the Catholic Church. They have been told to have the wine only or risk an auto immune response with a “low gluten” host. The Church has been wrong before, and it’s wrong now. I am obedient to the current rules. I think comparing alcoholics to Celiacs is inaccurate. It’s easy for those who don’t have Celiac Disease to rationalize the response Celiacs should have to being denied Communion with the group. It’s easy to suggest a child receiving First Communion with his peers can just go to the side and have a sip of the wine out of his own, separate cup. The reality is, the current rules cause a separation within the Catholic community. This refusal to accommodate Celiacs with a rice Host because of “tradition” is exactly what Jesus condemned. How can the Church not see that? Mercy trumps tradition. The Catholic community at large should NOT be making the recipe for a Host the sticking point of Communion. That alone shows how wrong this all is. Gluten does NOT need to be in the Host to make it valid. Jesus handed down a Commandment- not a recipe. Traditions can be changed. The Commandment cannot. They’re messing with the Commandment. They’ll be accountable for THAT… not for changing the recipe.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top