Ignorant to the Sacraments

[mtnmikeblue]

With regards to the Sacraments of the Church. I have recently come to believe that the sacraments of the Catholic Church are vitally important, in fact I believe they are the necessary means of sanctification. My question is; can someone, say a protestant, who is ignorant to these necessary means of sanctification, can they by Gods grace, receive the same degree of sanctification without the use of the sacraments?
Can an ignorant protestant grow in Christ without receiving the “Real Presence.” Can they grow in the same degree of as a catholic who regularly receives the sacraments of the church?

 

[Barbkw]

With moral preachers, yes they can.

I listen to the protestant radio station BOTT in my area. There’s a program there called “The Bible Answer Man”.

Which, to my way of thinking, blows the Bible Alone philosophy right out of the water.

The host often gets very contentious against preachers who aren’t interpreting the Bible his way.



I often hear protestant denominations say that they are “breaking open” the Word of God and “feeding on the Word”.

 

[Barbkw]

When I was coming back to the Church I went searching online for an adult examination of conscience.

Modern orthodox Catholic adult examination of conscience lists are very specific.

How many Catholics use them, I don’t know, but I wanted to come clean and move on in my relationship with Christ and they are very very helpful.

That being said, I have heard protestant denomination preachers on the radio discuss homosexuality and abortion.

Whether or not that is being discussed in the homily within congregations depends on the preacher and the denomination.

I’ve been back to Church almost five years, I’ve yet to hear a priest talk about homosexuality in his homily. Or chastity. Or contraception.

 

[CB_Catholic]

With regards to the Sacraments of the Church. I have recently come to believe that the sacraments of the Catholic Church are vitally important, in fact I believe they are the necessary means of sanctification. My question is; can someone, say a protestant, who is ignorant to these necessary means of sanctification, can they by Gods grace, receive the same degree of sanctification without the use of the sacraments?
Can an ignorant protestant grow in Christ without receiving the “Real Presence.” Can they grow in the same degree of as a catholic who regularly receives the sacraments of the church?

The Sacraments of the Church are vitally important, I would agree. However, it is very possible for a Catholic to receive the Sacraments regularly as a matter of routine, without a true belief, or merely giveing cursory acknowledgement to them, or because that’s just we do as Catholics. Some may even receive them, especially the Eucharist, in a state of mortal sin, or in bad faith, such as a Confession where one is not truly repentant, or Confirmation just to finish up one’s religius education. The Graces are there, but is the person open to receiving them, or does he even fully receive them? This is not an uncommon position for Catholics to be in, and if they are, I would say a fully believing baptized Protestant who is committed to Christ and lives out his Christianity in the best way He can with the help of God is in a better position for spiritual growth than a lukewarm Catholic who doesn’t take his faith very seriously and receives the Sacraments in an unworthy manner. To whom much is given, more is expected.

So it is not merely that we receive them, but how we receive them that fosters our spiritual growth.

 

[Cat_Herder]

CCC # 1260
“Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery.” Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.

 

[mtnmikeblue]

The Sacraments of the Church are vitally important, I would agree. However, it is very possible for a Catholic to receive the Sacraments regularly as a matter of routine, without a true belief, or merely giveing cursory acknowledgement to them, or because that’s just we do as Catholics. Some may even receive them, especially the Eucharist, in a state of mortal sin, or in bad faith, such as a Confession where one is not truly repentant, or Confirmation just to finish up one’s religius education. The Graces are there, but is the person open to receiving them, or does he even fully receive them? This is not an uncommon position for Catholics to be in, and if they are, I would say a fully believing baptized Protestant who is committed to Christ and lives out his Christianity in the best way He can with the help of God is in a better position for spiritual growth than a lukewarm Catholic who doesn’t take his faith very seriously and receives the Sacraments in an unworthy manner. To whom much is given, more is expected.

So it is not merely that we receive them, but how we receive them that fosters our spiritual growth.

I would agree. But lets say all things are equal, the condition of both hearts are truly humble and repentant before God.
Will both be able to receive the “fullness” of God? My understanding is that if both can receive equally, and the one receives without the means of the sacraments, then wouldn’t that diminish the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist?

 

[Cat_Herder]

I would agree. But lets say all things are equal, the condition of both hearts are truly humble and repentant before God.
Will both be able to receive the “fullness” of God? My understanding is that if both can receive equally, and the one without the means of the sacraments, then wouldn’t that diminish the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist?

No, it is precisely because of Christ’s presence that receiving unworthily is so dangerous.

[BIBLEDRB]1 Cor 11:23-30[/BIBLEDRB]