Is Christ Spiritually Present in Protestant Communion? (POLL)

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Christ may be present in the room “where two or three are gathered …” but he is not in the Protestant Communion.
 
I didn’t vote because I was unsure of the question.

When you say “spiritually” present, is that the same as “really” present? I could be off base as I am not a theologian, but I get the impressing that Christ is “spiritually” present when two or three are gathered, and “really” present (body, blood, soul, divinity) in the Catholic (or Orthodox) Eucharist. Am I analyzing this too much?

-PTP
 
I said yes. I believe he has to be present spiritually since Scripture says that unless you eat the body and blood you have no life in you. Since they are our separated brethren, since they have life, they have to have the body and blood in some manner? I honestly don’t know. But that is why I voted the way I voted. I am probably wrong. But either way, the need to bring our separated brethren to the fullness of truth is not lessened in any way.
 
I voted as “spiritually present” because I saw the difference in what Catholics speak of as “the Real Presence” of Christ in the eucharist as compared to the protestant view of “spiritually present” in the Lord’s Supper (Communion).

Doctrinally, I would say there is a difference.
 
Well, as far as the Church is concerned the answer is no, except for where Anglican Bishops have been consecrated by Old Catholic or Orthodox Bishops (or priests ordained by these bishops).

Otherwise

CCC 1400
Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, “have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders.” It is for this reason that, for the Catholic Church, Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible. However these ecclesial communities, "when they commemorate the Lord’s death and resurrection in the Holy Supper . . . profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and await his coming in glory."

(My BOLD)
 
Although interestingly I did read a book once where a Brethern member (no belief in any presence) did confide to another protestant,
‘despite what our church teaches I do feel joined to the lord in a special way through the breaking of the bread’ …
 
Well, as a Lutheran, we all believed in a less-defined bodily presence of Christ in the Eucharist than that of Catholics. I believed our God was there and I still believe that. Though this does kind of conflict with Catholicism as being the fullness of the faith. I don’t know. I voted yes, Jesus is there.
 
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MariaG:
I said yes. I believe he has to be present spiritually since Scripture says that unless you eat the body and blood you have no life in you. Since they are our separated brethren, since they have life, they have to have the body and blood in some manner? I honestly don’t know. But that is why I voted the way I voted. I am probably wrong. But either way, the need to bring our separated brethren to the fullness of truth is not lessened in any way.
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Another book I read by a convert from the Cof E said

‘Our Lord may be present in the lord’s supper in protestant Churches. But in the Catholic Church you can be sure he is present.’
 
No, if when you asked if Christ is present in a Protestant communion …you mean the “REAL PRESENCE” as in our Catholic Communion Host. The answer is ,"No!"

Why? The Protestant ministers have not been ordained by a valid Bishop. ( A Bishop that traces his linage back to St. Peter and the other Apostles - all Bishops). The Bishop lays hands on a new Priest giving him the keys to God’s Kingdom with certain offices. One of the things a Priest can do is to preside at Mass, and to have a valid Consecration ( allowing the Body and Blood of Jesus to Transubstantiate.)

Only a valid Priest, who has had the hands of a Bishop laid on him can consecrate the Hosts!
Sure, the spirit of Jesus may be in a gathering, BUT, transubtantiation doesn’t take place. Did you know that after the Protestant “communion” they throw away the remaining bread or crackers. Doesn’t sound like it was a big deal, huh? Hey, they know.
 
You forgot to include a “None of the above” choice. The answer is, Yes, but without the offered qualifiers.
 
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posted by Exporter
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No, if when you asked if Christ is present in a Protestant communion …you mean the “REAL PRESENCE” as in our Catholic Communion Host. The answer is ,"No!"

The question was not do they have the Real Presence but some sort or form of spiritual presence**.** **
 
Yes he is. It is important to realize that protestants are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Wherever there are 2 gathered, Christ is present.
 
So rememebr from the poll above,

Imatation IS the greatest form of flatery!

When the protestants imatate our Eucharist, they pay us the greatest form of flatery. Just like when little kids imatate their parents with housework or jobs. Someday though, kids do grow up and get real jobs or do real housework. We have a hope that someday protestants will come home to the body of Christ, His Catholic Church of which He is the head. Many do come home each year. Praise God.:bowdown2:
 
I believe Christ is spiritually present when 2 or more people gather to receive the Lord’s Supper/Communion, (whether at home or in church, whereever 2 or more gather in Christ’s Name) in the Protestant church. It is not the same thing as transubstantiation but in remembrance of His death and resurrection and Jesus is spiritually present when a gathering of people meets to partake of the communion.
 
Disucssion seems to be splitting into present ‘in’ and present’at’.
 
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Malachi4U:
So rememebr from the poll above,

Imatation IS the greatest form of flatery!

When the protestants imatate our Eucharist, they pay us the greatest form of flatery. Just like when little kids imatate their parents with housework or jobs. Someday though, kids do grow up and get real jobs or do real housework. We have a hope that someday protestants will come home to the body of Christ, His Catholic Church of which He is the head. Many do come home each year. Praise God.:bowdown2:
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I am not sure if you honestly realize how elitest you sound. “Imatation IS the greatest form of flatery!” You make it sound as if all the other churches in the world look up to the great and mighty Catholic church. I say great and mighty very loosly I might add. Catholics are no better than any other Christian sect, and I honestly wish everyone on here who thought otherwise would get a clue. You have to understand that even if you think your way is the ‘Only Way’, it isn’t.

As far as “We have a hope that someday protestants will come home to the body of Christ, His Catholic Church of which He is the head.” Christ is the head of all CHRISTian churches and as I said above, the Catholic way is not the only way to Christ. I came on these forums to try and get a better understanding of the Catholic faith purely from an interest in it, not with any intentions of converting to it. After reading many things on here I sincerely feel sorry for those wishing to convert to such an elitest group of Christians.
 
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Ashley:
I am not sure if you honestly realize how elitest you sound. “Imatation IS the greatest form of flatery!” You make it sound as if all the other churches in the world look up to the great and mighty Catholic church. I say great and mighty very loosly I might add. Catholics are no better than any other Christian sect, and I honestly wish everyone on here who thought otherwise would get a clue. You have to understand that even if you think your way is the ‘Only Way’, it isn’t.

As far as “We have a hope that someday protestants will come home to the body of Christ, His Catholic Church of which He is the head.” Christ is the head of all CHRISTian churches and as I said above, the Catholic way is not the only way to Christ. I came on these forums to try and get a better understanding of the Catholic faith purely from an interest in it, not with any intentions of converting to it. After reading many things on here I sincerely feel sorry for those wishing to convert to such an elitest group of Christians.
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Catechism of the Catholic Church

817 In fact, “in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church - for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame.” The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ’s Body - here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism - do not occur without human sin:
Code: 
Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and unity, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believers.
818 “However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers. . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.”

819 “Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth” are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: “the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements.” Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him, and are in themselves calls to “Catholic unity.”
 
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Ashley:
After reading many things on here I sincerely feel sorry for those wishing to convert to such an elitest group of Christians.
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Ashley- try not to be too harsh. Most Catholics aren’t so bad. In fact, some of my best friends are Catholic.
 
In the mass we believe that Christ is present in 4 ways:
In the Eucharist
In the Priest (persona christi)
In the body of believers
In the word

to me, it seems plausible that Christ is indeed present spiritually in the word and in the body of believers.
However, Christ’s presence is not in the ministry nor the communion elements.
 
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