Eucharist vs Communion

[mfundis]

Is there any difference between Eucharist and Communion (in orthodox Catholocism)? During a committee meeting in my parish, we were asked about different problems that are going to arise from “clustering” parishes- and one supposed potential problem was “do the parishioners have the proper catechesis on the differences between Eucharist and Communion”. Communion wasn’t truly defined in that statement (i.e- we are all in communion with non-Catholic Christian and other such uses of the word) so I was left to assume that they were referring to the Eucharist…I am SO confused.

btw- I had posted a question about a month ago and I wanted to say thank you to those who answered.

Mel

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

mfundis:

Is there any difference between Eucharist and Communion (in orthodox Catholocism)? During a committee meeting in my parish, we were asked about different problems that are going to arise from “clustering” parishes- and one supposed potential problem was “do the parishioners have the proper catechesis on the differences between Eucharist and Communion”. Communion wasn’t truly defined in that statement (i.e- we are all in communion with non-Catholic Christian and other such uses of the word) so I was left to assume that they were referring to the Eucharist…I am SO confused. btw- I had posted a question about a month ago and I wanted to say thank you to those who answered. Mel

We are all Christians and Catholics in communion with one another.

We receive Holy Communion when we receive the Blessed Sacrament.

Many use the term “Eucharist” when refering to Holy Communion and also when refering to the Mass. This can be confusing.

Many Catholics do not know the difference between a **Communion Service **and Mass.

 

[mfundis]

I’m hoping that they were referring to communion as "the community of believers is in communion, but given my experience with the people who wrote the document- my fear is that they are trying to teach something a bit more sinister. (paranoid- I know) I just can’t figure out what it is. Is there some sort of heterodox thing that would differentiate communion (it wasn’t capitalized- nor prefaced by Holy) from Eucharist…or my paranoia may have gotten the best of me…

Mel

 

[stbruno]

You also hear the term, “the communion of saints.” We recite it as part of the creed and we frequently refer to it when we are part of the Benediction rite during the Divine Praises. I think this is one of the strengths of the Catholic faith. We are in communion with all the saints in heaven because of the gift of the Holy Eucharist. God is good…all the time!

 

[rwoehmke]

I think that there is more than a little confusion in how many of us use these terms. Eucharist refers to the consecrated bread and wine, our Savior’s body and blood, soul and divinity. We Celibrate the Eucharist, the Mass in which this tranformation(transubstantiation) takes place. Whether we receive these species or not, they still remain the Eucharist. On the other hand we speak of making “a first holy communion” which is an action, not the sacred species. Thus going to communion would be partaking of the Eucharist and all that action implies but the action of receiving is not the Eucharist .