Is the Eucharist 'required' for Salvation? Please Help...

[fred_conty]

In recent discussions regarding our faith with my evangelical daughter (former Catholic now married to an evangelical youth minister) about the ‘fullness’ of our faith and the ways the sacraments give us the opportunity to experience Christ at a much deeper level, she responds with, “All she/they care about/need is what the bible says they need to be saved, i.e. by accepting God’s free grace with faith, and living out that faith”. (Their particular demonination believes in faith and works…) When I asked her to read John 6:5x where Christ talks about “unless you eat…drink… …you have no life in you”, as well as “everlasting life”, She questioned me that “Doesn’t that seem to imply these actions are required for salvation?”, which of course they do not accept.

I have always believed we are saved thru baptism, accepting God’s grace and living out our faith. I believe that the Eucharist was instituted by Christ to physically/supernaturally experience his grace, but not a requirement for salvation. T/F? What does the Chursch teach on this? Any references?

Your thoughts are most appreciated.

The Catechism state:
847
Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.

This applies to many many Protestants, who are not aware of the full gospel, or their mind is so blocked that they do not recognize it even tho they read it. Wrong training is worse than no training.

The mind can’t hear when the emotions are shouting.

This would exempt them from the sacraments because of their sincerity and lack of knowledge.

Obviously those who know the true meaning and importance of the sacraments, then this is a different situation.

Just a thought about what can happen, as so many “verts” have had happened to them.

What I have said so far is addressed to Catholics

If I were to discuss this with someone else, I would work on trying to help them to accept the reality of the Eucharist. For they need this to help them become one with our Saviour who IS salvation. For the Eucharist is not only our heavenly food that should change us, but
is the body wounded, and the bood shed, for many, applied today in the Mass. We touch his cross at each celebration of the Mass thru his offering of his body and blood again presented. And we offer with the priest the spotless lamb of God, his body and blood, for the sins of the world as well as our own.

In that, we are complete at the altar, for heaven has touched us and we have touched heaven.
“I am the bread that has come down from heaven.”

They have the altar call when the altar is in our church.
They accept Jesus only once when they could receive Jesus every day from the altar.

The miracle of miracles is waiting to be discovered.
The real love story has not been understood.

 

[congabongo]

Beautifully put, Fred! Very inspiring for me.

 

[highrigger1]

The Catechism state:
847
Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.

This applies to many many Protestants, who are not aware of the full gospel, or their mind is so blocked that they do not recognize it even tho they read it. Wrong training is worse than no training.

The mind can’t hear when the emotions are shouting.

This would exempt them from the sacraments because of their sincerity and lack of knowledge.

Obviously those who know the true meaning and importance of the sacraments, then this is a different situation.

Just a thought about what can happen, as so many “verts” have had happened to them.

What I have said so far is addressed to Catholics

If I were to discuss this with someone else, I would work on trying to help them to accept the reality of the Eucharist.

fred,

My church accepts the real spritual presence of Christ but to make the eucharist a requirement seems to go too far. You are saying once in ones life is acceptable?
Scripture does not say it is required for salvation.

Peace, John R

 

[Uzziah1]

While we Catholics are morally required to access God through His “preferred conduit” to salvation, the Church with its Eucharist, BECAUSE this is God’s “preferred conduit,” it is NOT true that a Catholic who has not received Communion can not be saved.

 

[Della]

While we Catholics are morally required to access God through His “preferred conduit” to salvation, the Church with its Eucharist, BECAUSE this is God’s “preferred conduit,” it is NOT true that a Catholic who has not received Communion can not be saved.

Yes, because not everyone has access to the Eucharist nor can everyone receive. God is not unjust–so I agree and affirm your statement.

Catholics who can receive are obligated to receive once a year during Easter–but that’s it. No one is obliged to receive every Sunday or at every Mass.

Also, while not all Catholics can receive (for various reasons) all Catholics are required to believe what the Church teaches about the Eucharist. It is baptism that inititiates one as a Christian, not communion. Therefore baptism (as taught by the Church–in water or blood or by desire) is what is required for salvation.