I gave a Protestant the Eucharist...

[ThatOneDudeAlex]

…and I feel awful about it! I really don’t know what to think!

I’m an EMHC at my parish, and I attend a Catholic high school. The entire school had mass today, and I distributed communion.

A good friend of mine, a Baptist, approached me in the communion line. I started to just say a blessing, but he had his hands out. He didn’t move. I wasn’t in a position to talk with him about it, so I gave it to him, and moved on.

I’m really troubled with this. The Eucharist is supposed to be received by Catholics only, as it is the true body of Christ, as our faith states, correct? This has me thinking otherwise, (which I dislike ) If any person can come and receive it, what keeps it from simply being a symbolic cracker? This didn’t mean anything to him; he doesn’t believe in the real presence.

Thanks for any help…

 

[triumphguy]

If we believe in the Real Presence, then we believe that Jesus remains Jesus in the form of the bread despite the beliefs of your friend. Never under-estimate what Jesus can do! He has already been crucified, died, opened the gates of hell for us, and risen in Glory, so I think He can handle this.

 

[PerfectTiming]

…and I feel awful about it! I really don’t know what to think!

I’m an EMHC at my parish, and I attend a Catholic high school. The entire school had mass today, and I distributed communion.

A good friend of mine, a Baptist, approached me in the communion line. I started to just say a blessing, but he had his hands out. He didn’t move. I wasn’t in a position to talk with him about it, so I gave it to him, and moved on.

I’m really troubled with this. The Eucharist is supposed to be received by Catholics only, as it is the true body of Christ, as our faith states, correct? This has me thinking otherwise, (which I dislike ) If any person can come and receive it, what keeps it from simply being a symbolic cracker? This didn’t mean anything to him; he doesn’t believe in the real presence.

Thanks for any help…

Your friend should not have received. Non-Catholics are not allowed to receive the Eucharist, and only Catholics in a state of grace (ie. no unconfessed mortal sins) may receive. You made an error in giving him the Eucharist - whether he does not believe it is of no consequence, the Eucharist truly is the Body of Christ. Just because he came up and tried to receive does not make the Real Presence any less true.

I think you are confusing being allowed to receive the Eucharist and being physically able to receive the Eucharist. There is nothing that stops non-Catholics from physically receiving the Eucharist, but they are not allowed to do so. But an EMHC or priest doesn’t always know that the individual is not a Catholic.

I will say this is grave matter on your part. You know the Real Presence, you knew your friend was not Catholic and not allowed to receive yet did so anyway.

 

[OchsFam]

…and I feel awful about it! I really don’t know what to think!

I’m an EMHC at my parish, and I attend a Catholic high school. The entire school had mass today, and I distributed communion.

A good friend of mine, a Baptist, approached me in the communion line. I started to just say a blessing, but he had his hands out. He didn’t move. I wasn’t in a position to talk with him about it, so I gave it to him, and moved on.

I’m really troubled with this. The Eucharist is supposed to be received by Catholics only, as it is the true body of Christ, as our faith states, correct? This has me thinking otherwise, (which I dislike ) If any person can come and receive it, what keeps it from simply being a symbolic cracker? This didn’t mean anything to him; he doesn’t believe in the real presence.

Thanks for any help…

Is there any hope that he was a fallen away Catholic?

The reason I ask is because for all you know he is coming back to the Church. Maybe he received reconciliation and can validly receive the Eucharist.

Maybe you know more such as he has never been Catholic or that he is a staunch anti-Catholic (which would then make it strange that he even desired to receive from a Catholic given there are several other places to go for that). I only ask because unless you are absolutely certain they should not receive, you are supposed to provide. If you are absolutely certain, you should talk to your priest on what he would recommend doing if it happens again.

Regardless, you should have talked to your friend after Mass and gotten some clarification from him as well as providing information such as receiving the Eucharist as a non-practicing Catholic could be damaging to his soul because he is saying something with his body that he does not believe. Receiving as he did is akin to adultery.

God Bless.

 

[LilHomemaker]

…and I feel awful about it! I really don’t know what to think!

I’m an EMHC at my parish, and I attend a Catholic high school. The entire school had mass today, and I distributed communion.

A good friend of mine, a Baptist, approached me in the communion line. I started to just say a blessing, but he had his hands out. He didn’t move. I wasn’t in a position to talk with him about it, so I gave it to him, and moved on.

I’m really troubled with this. The Eucharist is supposed to be received by Catholics only, as it is the true body of Christ, as our faith states, correct? This has me thinking otherwise, (which I dislike ) If any person can come and receive it, what keeps it from simply being a symbolic cracker? This didn’t mean anything to him; he doesn’t believe in the real presence.

Thanks for any help…

I would just explain the situation to your priest and go from there.

 

[lizaanne]

Alex - you need to speak with your priest about this, and ensure that he knows EXACTLY who this student is so they can be counseled that they are not allowed to receive Holy Communion if they are not a Catholic in a state of grace. Your priest also needs to ensure that all of you are re-trained to understand how to handle these situations, and that none of you are allowed to bestow a blessing on anyone. Only a priest can do that.

Oh - and go to confession.

~Liza

 

[Ron_in_minden]

Doesn’t sound like such a “good” friend to me. It appears he has contempt for you and your faith.

 

[Benadam]

Doesn’t sound like such a “good” friend to me. It appears he has contempt for you and your faith.

I was thinking this smacked of abuse, perhaps in misunderstanding but callous nevertheless.

 

[FAB]

…and I feel awful about it! I really don’t know what to think!

I’m an EMHC at my parish, and I attend a Catholic high school. The entire school had mass today, and I distributed communion.

A good friend of mine, a Baptist, approached me in the communion line. I started to just say a blessing, but he had his hands out. He didn’t move. I wasn’t in a position to talk with him about it, so I gave it to him, and moved on.

I’m really troubled with this. The Eucharist is supposed to be received by Catholics only, as it is the true body of Christ, as our faith states, correct? This has me thinking otherwise, (which I dislike ) If any person can come and receive it, what keeps it from simply being a symbolic cracker? This didn’t mean anything to him; he doesn’t believe in the real presence.

Thanks for any help…

Dear DudeAlex,
TO your friend is probebly doesn’t mean anything, but for him to recieve to body of Christ does not harm. As a deacon at funerals and weddings, I know protestants will recieve. It is something that happens because they don’t understand the signifcants ot the body and blood of Christ, and look at it as a act of rememberance.
Talk to your friend in a good mannor. Explainn to him the meaning of the Eucharist, and that he put you in a bad spot. It could prove to be a good chance for evangelization, a possible turning point in his life the look at Catholism as his faith.

Peace,
Dcn. FAB

 

[chemoangel]

Don’t worry about it. He came up there, he had his hand out, he knew what he was doing. It’s not your fault at all.

 

[Luvtosew]

I think your both probably innocent,

I was just wondering what your friend was doing at your Mass and Catholic HS.

 

[opus101]

First of all, you should never have been put in this position. The school had the grave responsibility of explaining this teaching to all of the students. That way, your friend would have known what to do, and you would not have had to make such a split-second decision.

Also, it should have been explained to you beforehand what to do in a situation like this.

I feel bad for you. Please let the priest know about it, and ask him to ensure that other EMs know what to do if such a thing happens again in the future.

Maybe God has certain plans for your friend.

 

[lizaanne]

Don’t worry about it. He came up there, he had his hand out, he knew what he was doing. It’s not your fault at all.

WRONG.

He is entrusted with holding and distributing THE BODY OF CHRIST. That is an enormous responsibility. He knows full well that what he did was wrong, otherwise he would not be here asking for help. Letting him off the hook is not going to provide the learning experience that needs to happen here, on a number of levels. The friend needs to be informed that he can’t receive, the priest needs to know this has happened, EMHC need to be properly trained, Alex needs to address this from his own personal perspective.

~Liza

 

[domandcarols]

Go to confession.
I’ll pray for you and your friend.

 

[robbie20]

You guys are acting like the two poor kids are damned to hell… Geesh I know protestants can’t have catholic eucharist but sheesh you guys are acting like we’re going through the events in Revelations…

 

[domandcarols]

You guys are acting like the two poor kids are damned to hell… Geesh I know protestants can’t have catholic eucharist but sheesh you guys are acting like we’re going through the events in Revelations…

Eucharist is the Body of Christ. It is a big deal to treat it irreverently. No one said anything about anyone being damned to hell.

 

[lizaanne]

You guys are acting like the two poor kids are damned to hell… Geesh I know protestants can’t have catholic eucharist but sheesh you guys are acting like we’re going through the events in Revelations…

He has been given a great responsibility. With great responsibility comes great accountability.

High school kids should not be EMHCs. Period. I don’t think they should be allowed in the first place, but that’s a discussion for another thread. In this case we have kids distributing Holy Communion - I think it’s wrong. Very wrong. I’m not going to go into this because I don’t want to beat Alex up over this. But this is absolutely NOT just a passing flippant issue.

~Liza

 

[opus101]

Those in charge of training EMs are at fault here. The young man was put in a situation that he should not have been in. He did try at first, but the other young man was insistent. He had to make a flash decision that he was unprepared for. He did not have time to reflect on this situation.

I really fell terrible for him, and I think he feels quite contrite himself.

So many people today falter due to poor instruction.

 

[Newsy]

Your priest also needs to ensure that all of you are re-trained to understand how to handle these situations, and that none of you are allowed to bestow a blessing on anyone. Only a priest can do that.
~Liza

I have received blessings from EMHC’s and Deacons, before I joined the Church. I was unaware that this was for Priests only. Do you have a reference for this?

Thanks

 

[PJM]

=ThatOneDudeAlex;8669103]…and I feel awful about it! I really don’t know what to think!

I’m an EMHC at my parish, and I attend a Catholic high school. The entire school had mass today, and I distributed communion.

A good friend of mine, a Baptist, approached me in the communion line. I started to just say a blessing, but he had his hands out. He didn’t move. I wasn’t in a position to talk with him about it, so I gave it to him, and moved on.

I’m really troubled with this. The Eucharist is supposed to be received by Catholics only, as it is the true body of Christ, as our faith states, correct? This has me thinking otherwise, (which I dislike ) If any person can come and receive it, what keeps it from simply being a symbolic cracker? This didn’t mean anything to him; he doesn’t believe in the real presence.

WOW!

SUPER SERIOUS ERROR IN JUDGMENT!

WHY had NOT your Teacher explained the RUKES to the CLASS?

My friend you need to discuss this with your PASTOR [not your teacher] ASAP.

And IF, IF you yourself do NOT believe in the Real Presence what are you doing as a Eucharistic Minister?

IF you’d like to learn what we believe and Why and How we can believe it send me a private message.

This is very serious stuff. PLEASE speak to your priest ASAP:thumbsup:

God Bless,
Pat
PJM on the FORUM
Thanks for any help…