Mass and Eucharist

[Stonez]

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding the purpose of the Mass.

I believe I heard that the Mass is sometimes referred to as a prayer, and we go in order to worship God. I think that the worship aspect could be more important than receiving Communion. I say this becuase I told my mom my brother left Mass before Communion and she said, “Then what is the purpose of attending if you are not going up for Communion.” (She is a non-denominational protestant BTW), and that is when I told her that full active participation in the Mass is greater than receiving the Eucharist. Since Holy Communion is a gift that Jesus graciously gave to us, and continues to do so on a daily basis.

I am thinking I may have erred in telling her this. I am looking forward to any feedback anyone throws my way.

 

[LilyM]

Well certainly the sole purpose of the Mass is not for us to receive the Eucharist. If this were the case, there wouldn’t be church law requiring us to attend Mass even if we are in mortal sin or otherwise unable to receive Communion.

Does your mother attend church or other public worship services? Does she do so only when/if they offer Communion, or does she see that there is a point to public worship apart from Communion? Then it shouldn’t be too difficult for her to understand that for the same reasons all who can attend Mass should even if they don’t receive Communion.

 

[Walking_Home]

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding the purpose of the Mass.

I believe I heard that the Mass is sometimes referred to as a prayer, and we go in order to worship God. I think that the worship aspect could be more important than receiving Communion. I say this becuase I told my mom my brother left Mass before Communion and she said, “Then what is the purpose of attending if you are not going up for Communion.” (She is a non-denominational protestant BTW), and that is when I told her that full active participation in the Mass is greater than receiving the Eucharist. Since Holy Communion is a gift that Jesus graciously gave to us, and continues to do so on a daily basis.

I am thinking I may have erred in telling her this. I am looking forward to any feedback anyone throws my way.

---

My inlaws are non-denom. Various of these families attend different worship services. I have not come across any of them saying that they attend for the purpose of receiving communion. From what I know —communion is offered on a Sunday basis in the churches they attend.

 

[puzzleannie]

Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you shall not have life within you. JOhn 6:53 this is a commandment of Christ Himself. case closed. At the Last Supper he ordained how his Body and Blood are to be communicated, in the context of the believers gathered for worship, teaching from scripture, singing psalms, the unbloody presentation of the Sacrifice of Calvary, reception of the Body and Blood, more praise and singing, and going forth to share in his suffering and spread the good news, living in unity.

 

[Walking_Home]

---

My inlaws are non-denom. Various of these families attend different worship services. I have not come across any of them saying that they attend for the purpose of receiving communion. From what I know —communion is offered on a Sunday basis in the churches they attend.

---

Just noticed—I left out the word “not”.

From what I know—communion is not offered on a Sunday basis in the churches they attend.

 

[CRW]

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding the purpose of the Mass.

I believe I heard that the Mass is sometimes referred to as a prayer, and we go in order to worship God. I think that the worship aspect could be more important than receiving Communion. I say this becuase I told my mom my brother left Mass before Communion and she said, “Then what is the purpose of attending if you are not going up for Communion.” (She is a non-denominational protestant BTW), and that is when I told her that full active participation in the Mass is greater than receiving the Eucharist. Since Holy Communion is a gift that Jesus graciously gave to us, and continues to do so on a daily basis.

I am thinking I may have erred in telling her this. I am looking forward to any feedback anyone throws my way.

Why did your brother leave? Was he Catholic? If so, he did not attend Mass if he departed prior to the Communion (Eucharist celebration), unless he had a valid reason.

Catholic’s believe that the Blessed Sacrament is the true Body and Blood of Christ. Most of the non-denomination do not. It is a symbol of Christ. As part of the Communion of Saints, we partake of the Mass, a reenactment of the sacrifice of Christ death on the Cross. If not in grave sin, we receive the Blessed Sacrament as a community, rejoicing in His resurrection and our salvation. I have read that to receive credit for Mass, one must be there from the readings to the final blessing. I think it was on the EWTN question and answer forum.

 

[Stonez]

LilyM: yes my mom and dad (formerly Catholic) go every Sunday to their church, and the one they go to gives “communion” (grape juice and bread) every single Sunday. And on occasion I go with them (after Mass of course) just to see what the pastor is talking about. This is a church that has a band with all the bells and whistles, people standing when a certain songs is played and their hands up in the air, and they bring in thousands of people each week. But for me, this type of “service” just does not feel like church. Even when I go to weekday Mass (no songs, just typical weekday Mass. Thats the best I can put it ) I feel a renewed sense of spirit even if I sometimes don’t receive Communion.

P.S. I don’t receive their “communion” when I go to protestant church.

 

[Stonez]

CRW:

My brother who is Catholic left Mass because he had to go to work, but the thing about that was he didn’t have to be there for 45 min, and it is only a 10 min drive and Mass had about 15 min left.

I may be getting a little personal but…

my brother seems to be a “cafeteria Catholic,” for example I have told him time and time again that he should go receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation because he has missed Mass. And I believe the Church says that its a mortal sin to intentionally miss when you are capable of going. And he responded, “That’s stupid.” So I have come to the realization that all I can do for him is to pray that he’ll see what he does is wrong (I hope I am not judging him) and seek forgiveness.

BTW, thanks for mentioning EWTN’s website I’ll take a look at it:thumbsup: