Holy Communion & Catholic Converts

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DDClark

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If you converted to Catholicism from another Christian church, how is the experience of communion different for you now?

I want to have a better understanding of this because I am not completely comfortable with how communion is done in the church I am currently attending (Protestant).

Thanks ~
 
DDClark said:
If you converted to Catholicism from another Christian church, how is the experience of communion different for you now?

I want to have a better understanding of this because I am not completely comfortable with how communion is done in the church I am currently attending (Protestant).

Thanks ~
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I came from NO religion to the Church (Catholic).

What about “communion” (which is the correct term ONLY if it’s done the “Catholic way”) in your church bugs you?
 
CalmDownWisWins said:
I came from NO religion to the Church (Catholic).

What about “communion” (which is the correct term ONLY if it’s done the “Catholic way”) in your church bugs you?
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I understand that you believe that unless I am a Catholic, I am not participating in communion. I respect your feelings. Because you converted from no religion, I don’t think you can answer my question, but I appreciate the response.

The reason I posted this thread was to learn more about how Protestant converts to the Catholic church experience communion after conversion.

I ask because I am seeking better understanding of those aspects of Catholicism I either don’t yet understand, or am “on the fence”. Communion is an area where I am on the fence.

I desire better understanding because I am seeking a permanent church home - I am experiencing a tugging in my heart - and my current belief system is beginning to change.
 
I don’t know if this would help but it might. I don’t know if you’ve heard of Steve Ray and his wife Janet? They are both converts to the Catholic Church along with their 4 children. They now have 6 grandchildren. Anyway, they said that for the first 5 years of attending Mass they’ve cried throughout the Mass. This is indeed a gift of the Holy Spirit. They felt a profound connection to Jesus in the Eucharist and that is why they felt what they felt.

No amount of teachings or Theology could’ve given them that feeling, that profound connection to Jesus. Although they did basically read themselves into the Catholic Church, it would still not amount to what they feel when they receive Jesus in the Eucharist.

Perhaps you can read about Steve’s story here. Steve also has a book out right now called Crossing The Tiber.

Something else you can ponder; When the disciples left Jesus because they could not accept such teachings of them eating the flesh of Christ, Jesus then turned to His Apostles and asked if they were also going to leave. Peter said, “To whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life.” Just imagine Peter with a puzzled look on his face. He didn’t quite understand Jesus but he was going on Faith because this is what Jesus said. So what else could Peter do but believe Him? So Peter chose to trust what Jesus said even though he couldn’t understand. So Peter and the rest of the Apostles stayed with Jesus.

So ask yourself, will you leave Jesus too? do you believe the words of Jesus Christ when he says, “he who eats my body & drinks my blood will have eternal life?” I sure hope so. You don’t have to understand transubstantiation to believe in the words that Jesus said. You just have to trust Jesus and have faith. 🙂
 
I would highly recommend to you the book “The Lamb’s Supper” by Scott Hahn, as it deals with the theology of the Eucharist and the Mass, as well as doing so from the point of view of a convert to the faith.
 
AlegreFe said:
I don’t know if this would help but it might. I don’t know if you’ve heard of Steve Ray and his wife Janet? They are both converts to the Catholic Church along with their 4 children. They now have 6 grandchildren. Anyway, they said that for the first 5 years of attending Mass they’ve cried throughout the Mass. This is indeed a gift of the Holy Spirit. They felt a profound connection to Jesus in the Eucharist and that is why they felt what they felt.

Something else you can ponder; When the disciples left Jesus because they could not accept such teachings of them eating the flesh of Christ, Jesus then turned to His Apostles and asked if they were also going to leave. Peter said, “To whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life.” Just imagine Peter with a puzzled look on his face. He didn’t quite understand Jesus but he was going on Faith because this is what Jesus said. So what else could Peter do but believe Him? So Peter chose to trust what Jesus said even though he couldn’t understand. So Peter and the rest of the Apostles stayed with Jesus.

So ask yourself, will you leave Jesus too? do you believe the words of Jesus Christ when he says, “he who eats my body & drinks my blood will have eternal life?” I sure hope so. You don’t have to understand transubstantiation to believe in the words that Jesus said. You just have to trust Jesus and have faith. 🙂
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Thank you for your response - it is helpful. I am going to look into getting a copy of Steve’s book - he says it started out as a letter to his father about his conversion.

One of the things that I’ve found comforting about the apostles is that they “didn’t get it” quite a few times (and they spent 3 years with Jesus), but they stayed and finally did.

I was raised Baptist, but stopped attending church in college. I never stopped believing or praying, but I couldn’t go back.

I’ve never accepted any religious belief as my own unless it was something I pondered and read about and prayed about. This something that has been quite annoying to my family over the years 🙂 I reading about the early church fathers/church history now.

Fast forward 15 or so years - my husband and I have been attending and visiting other Protestant denominations as well as non-denomination. I’m not finding a fit (and it’s not about not getting along with people, or radical things - it’s just not feeling as it should).

I will not leaving Jesus - but remember, I’m not Catholic. The communion I receive is from a Methodist church. But my mind is open in a way I never thought it would be 🙂
 
Rolltide said:
Also, if you want to know what the earliest Christians thought about Communion, then take a look at posts 6-14 that I made on the following thread. It’s a long read, but I think you’ll find it worthwhile:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=198602
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I did read the posts on the thread above, and I’m going to print them out. You must be an excellent teacher in “real” life 😉

I’ve read at least one Scott Hahn book, but it wasn’t the Lamb’s Supper. I’m pretty sure I can get that from my local library.

The first time I “felt” something different during communion was about 3 years ago in a Methodist church. It made me cry.

I’d grown up receiving “group communion” in the baptist church - where the bread and grape juice was passed out to the congregation, scripture was read and everyone ate the bread and drank the juice at the same time. Not something I every want to do again …

I have other questions about Catholic beliefs, but I think I want to start with the issues that are most important to me…
 
Since I came from the Episcopal Church, communion was similar to what I experience now as a Catholic. The main difference is that I now know I receive the actual physical body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ, whereas before I received him in some nebulous and undefined “spiritual” manner.

In terms of practice, I received kneeling at an altar rail in the hand as an Episcopalian and now either standing and in the hand or kneeling and on the tongue as a Catholic, depending on if I’m at a Mass in the ordinary or extraordinary form.
 
DDClark

I was a protestant for about 4 years before I became a Catholic. Before, communion was really nothing. But, now as a Catholic I realize Holy Communion is everything! It is a reason to live. To have God within you, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. What is greater than that, nothing.
 
I have just converted from a United Methodist church, and various other denominations before that.

For me, the way I feel about Communion is also the way I feel about many other things. What I had before was good and helpful. I’m thankful for my old church and the things I learned and the ways I grew there. But what I have now is SOO much better!

At my UMC, communion often felt like something tacked on to the end of the service once a month. I loved communion, but it never felt that important and something told me that it should be more important. That is one thing that got me curious about the Catholic Church. I started reading books about liturgical worship and I like the idea of communion being central to worship instead of an occasional added bonus.

So I went to Mass one week and totally fell in love with the whole thing. That first time, I knew that Catholics believed that this really was Jesus right here, but I wasn’t really sure what I thought. Somewhere along the way, I became convinced that they were right. The closer and closer I got to being fully Catholic, the more impatient I got. 😃 I couldn’t wait to be able to receive Jesus in this amazing way! And it has been better than I ever imagined. We are SOO incredibly blessed to be able to go to Mass every week and receive Jesus in the Eucharist. It is just amazing! 😃

I’m curious about your own journey and what you are uncomfortable with at your current church if you don’t mind sharing. 😃
 
I came from a United Methodist background and I liked receiving communion kneeling (even the minister would kneel). Of course in the TLM we do that but not in the NO Mass. That’s the only thing I can think of that I liked that was a bit different.
 
Thank you, Chris and Sword Brethren for taking the time to post. This is exactly the information I’m looking for. Reading about what it means and experiencing are two completely different things, and I know that unless I am Catholic, I won’t know for sure how it would feel for me.

KarenElissa, your post captures so much of what I am feeling.

I too am thankful not only for what I’ve learned so far in church and from other Christians. I also believe that without the fundamental foundation I was given as a child about Christ and redemption, I wouldn’t be able to ask these kinds of questions about the Catholic church.

I don’t know how to describe my journey, really, other than to say that I want to know the true way - to be in unity with what God wants - to see love in action through the church and everyday life.

What is missing from the church (UMC) we’ve been attending is:
1- the time and reverence with communion, the lack of community outreach/charity on an ongoing basis (I come from a social work background as well)
2- the lack of opportunity to study the Bible in a more structured setting with history as context.
3- I also have a strong desire to learn more about contemplative prayer and how to live a life that is more “virtue-filled” than “purpose-filled” (Rick Warren’s book called a “Purpose Driven Life” I can’t stand). The focus in this church is definitely purpose-driven, yet the pastor gave me a list of the works of Catholic writers and saints when I asked him about contemplative prayer.

I’ve been reading Catholic writers, learning about the church fathers, learning to use prayer beads (not the rosary, but the Jesus prayer and I’m learning to use Anglican beads), going to the local Catholic bookstore (I was surprised to discover one existed nearby because I live in the south) and talking to the folks who work there. I’ve also been watching mass on EWTN (when I’m working in my kitchen, I often have it on in the background). I’ve also been reading Catholic apologetics.

I have issues with some of the same things that many non-Catholics do, but the “real presence” is not the biggest one. It’s actually something that is making sense to me, but still foreign.

There is a fairly large Catholic Church not too far from me, and it’s my understanding that the pastor does a Bible study that is open to non-Catholics, and I want to go, but I’m also uncertain (of going alone).

I think your post indicated you have a blog or a website?
 
DDClark said:
KarenElissa, your post captures so much of what I am feeling.

I too am thankful not only for what I’ve learned so far in church and from other Christians. I also believe that without the fundamental foundation I was given as a child about Christ and redemption, I wouldn’t be able to ask these kinds of questions about the Catholic church.
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:yup: This whole faith thing is a great journey. I’m thankful for all of the places I’ve been and I’m certain that it has been God leading me through all of them. And I’m also certain that is is God who has led me into His Church.

I don’t know how to describe my journey, really, other than to say that I want to know the true way - to be in unity with what God wants - to see love in action through the church and everyday life.
I’ve been reading Catholic writers, learning about the church fathers, learning to use prayer beads (not the rosary, but the Jesus prayer and I’m learning to use Anglican beads), going to the local Catholic bookstore (I was surprised to discover one existed nearby because I live in the south) and talking to the folks who work there. I’ve also been watching mass on EWTN (when I’m working in my kitchen, I often have it on in the background). I’ve also been reading Catholic apologetics.
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All dangerous things. 😉 😃 It was very similar things that have been part of my own journey. A number of years ago I “discovered” some of the more traditional practices like observing Lent and Advent. The more of these traditional things I discovered the more I feel in love with them. They are powerful! While I didn’t know it at the time, I do think that was a big part of the journey for me.
There is a fairly large Catholic Church not too far from me, and it’s my understanding that the pastor does a Bible study that is open to non-Catholics, and I want to go, but I’m also uncertain (of going alone).
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I would encourage you to go! I know it is rather scary, a new environment, and I’m a pretty strong introvert myself. 😃 But there is no pressure! Go, explore, learn, pray, and find out where God is leading you. Everyone I’ve talked to at my parish has always been excited to answer my questions, but never pressured me in any way. Also, you may run across the term RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). It is the process by which people who have never been baptized come into the church, and often includes, for logistic reasons, people who have been baptized in another denomination. It is a great way to explore what the Catholic Church is all about, and again there is no pressure.
I think your post indicated you have a blog or a website?
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:yup: Ya, the first link down there is to my blog. Here is also a link to a series of post somewhat chronicling my journey, well the first part any way. It is quite a bit of reading, everything is still to fresh for me to be able to cut it down much! 😃 And I haven’t really organized the last three or four months of posts into a story, they are just up there as it happened.

I’ll be praying for you! :signofcross: And feel free to ask more questions! 😃
 
When I was Catholic I loved communion. As a Baptist I still love the communion. I have no different feelings now than what I had as a Catholic
 
DDClark said:
If you converted to Catholicism from another Christian church, how is the experience of communion different for you now?

I want to have a better understanding of this because I am not completely comfortable with how communion is done in the church I am currently attending (Protestant).

Thanks ~
Click to expand...
allischalmers said:
When I was Catholic I loved communion. As a Baptist I still love the communion. I have no different feelings now than what I had as a Catholic
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but you are not a Catholic convert. One could understand why you feel the way you feel though - even the OP knows this already that is why the OP wants to know the experiences from Catholic converts. 😉
 
allischalmers said:
When I was Catholic I loved communion. As a Baptist I still love the communion. I have no different feelings now than what I had as a Catholic
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Thank you for sharing -

I was raised Baptist (Southern Baptist), and my experience has been that there can be big differences from one Baptist church to another. My entire family is Baptist, and I believe that I wouldn’t be a Christian today if not for my upbringing.

The problem for me was that the 2 churches I was raised in were evangelical to the point that after I made my profession of faith, I felt that the church felt their job was done as was evidenced by their actions. The best way I can describe it was that I felt that after I was saved, I was left to find my own way. This was my experience, so I am in no way generalizing …

Are you comfortable telling me why you left Catholicism?
 
DDClark said:
If you converted to Catholicism from another Christian church, how is the experience of communion different for you now?

I want to have a better understanding of this because I am not completely comfortable with how communion is done in the church I am currently attending (Protestant).

Thanks ~
Click to expand...
I am a convert from Methodist. In the Methodist Church we believed that the bread and grape juice (no wine) were just symbols of Christ’s body and blood. Which is exactly what they were because the Methodist have no valid priest to consecrate the blood and bread. The Methodist have communion, the Lord’s Supper, once a month. As Catholics we have communion every day if we wish to receive it and are in a state of grace. When I first converted my mind had a hard time accepting that the bread and wine were really changed into the body, blood and divinity of Christ but I just kept studying and reading about it and now it is a fact that I am so sure of that I became an EMC. Welcome to the forums and I hope to hear of your conversion by Easter.👍
 
The difference is not in how I “feel” but in what I “know.” I came from a very “catholic” denomination and frequently “felt” transports of grace during communion or following confession. Grace abounds and the Holy Spirit will not limit himself to the home team.

When I came to my first Communion as a Catholic, I hoped to feel something “big.” But also I realized that it isn’t about what I feel but about what HE does. That said, after I was confirmed, I wept like a baby for a whole year every time I received Communion.

So the difference is that in the Catholic Church, I know that I am receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ according to HIS plan. I am living under the “obedience, which leads to righteousness.” (Rom 6:16)
 
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