Non-Catholic Exclusion of the Eucharist

[MT1926]

Although I am probably going to regret this, I thought a fresh set of eyes might be of some assistance in this back and forth.

He is allowed to receive Communion if He believes the Christian faith regarding His Eucharist. Communion is far from an “only me and Jesus” thing.

I’m sure you will be gentle no mater what. But the reality is that we believe receiving the Lord’s Supper while openly or secretly rejecting what the Church Teaches is profanity the Body and Blood of our Savior. We are called to one mind, one judgment and one Loaf. We are not a wide gate for everyone to interpret in their own separate ways. His body and blood cannot be manipulated, twisted or interpretated, like Scripture. It is Him.

That sounds like a proud and entitled attitude. I suggest letting him make the decission, and giving your anxiety over to Jesus. His Eucharist is a stumbling block to the carnal person.

First, let me start with I understood what RC is saying when I take the entire post into context. However, the first sentence is a little confusing when you read it closely. If someone were to only read the first sentence and not the rest of the post it can be misinterpreted that you are saying as long as he truly believes what he is taught to believe he is allowed to receive. With that being said if we do read on, you clear up any misunderstandings the reader might take with the first sentence. I had no troubles understanding that to receive communion in the Catholic Church one must be Catholic.

He is NOT allowed to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. There are very strict guidelines for that. I think you and he need to talk to a priest. God Bless, Memaw

Now I can also understand Memaw’s response to RC’s first sentence. As I said above it can be easily misinterpreted and Memaw is worried that someone might read RC’s response and get the wrong idea. That being said, I can understand why RC was offended by Memaw’s response.

RC directly followed up the first post with 2 more informative posts further defining the first post.
Thank you RC this was excellent example of the Eucharist truly becoming the Body & Blood of our Lord.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus were given His Eucharist because they first listened to Jesus interpret Scripture to them. They accepted and invited Him to stay with them. They thought they were practicing the old custom of breaking bread, but their eyes were opened and He was made fully known to Him when they took the blessed Sacrament! It was not Scripture alone, but receiving this bread in a worthy manner.

He physically vanished then! Like He physically entered through the locked door of the upper room, His body and blood moves with His Spirit! And we no longer regard Him in mere flesh, but one with the Holy Spirit. And the priest invites the Holy Spirit to bring Jesus to us in Holy Communion. And in doing so, we profess He has been sacrificed, yet lives in a resurrected and glorified body, which we Adore with His Father and their Holy Spirit.

Anyway, my point is if Memaw would have change the response to:
A positive non confrontational response:
“Agreed as long as what you mean is he has to become a believing Catholic in order to receive.”
Instead of the confrontational response:
“He is NOT allowed to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. There are very strict guidelines for that. I think you and he need to talk to a priest.”
Pretty much telling RC he is wrong and needs to see a Priest. When all he might be guilty of is making a grammatical error. Far from being a sin.

I will now gladly accept any beating you choose to throw at me.

 

[Truth_Faith13]

Hey guys. So my boyfriend of one year is a Nondenominational Evangelical Free Christian, and he feels very discriminated against by the Catholic Church because he isn’t allowed to receive Communion. How do I explain to him in a gentle way why he can’t, and convince him he isn’t being “discriminated against”? Nothing I’ve tried has worked. The fact that we believe the Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Christ is irrelevant to him. He thinks that he should be allowed to receive because he’s a Christian. I don’t know what to do or say anymore…

From a non Catholic perspective who has a great interest in Catholicism (and understanding), I think it will be very difficult to explain to him why. The only way he would understand would be if he were to investigate the Catholic Church as being true. There will of course be protestants or other non Catholics who don’t feel discriminated against but simply respect that Catholicism is different but they will not accept the reasons…if that makes sense.

To a Protestant and other non Catholics, communion is merely a symbol of Jesus’ sacrifice done in remembrance and is simply about a personal relationship with Jesus. If you have that relationship, you can take communion.

 

[rcwitness]

I’m more of a fan of the clarity of Lumen Gentium

“15. The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. (14*) For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. (15*) They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God.(16*) They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits. Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood. In all of Christ’s disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ, as one flock under one shepherd, and He prompts them to pursue this end. (17*) Mother Church never ceases to pray, hope and work that this may come about. She exhorts her children to purification and renewal so that the sign of Christ may shine more brightly over the face of the earth.”

Yes! And I admire how you keep this in your heart. I think you are a genuine seeker of His Word.

It is a comforting recognition, and still this faith in the denominations which exists and is of the Spirit of the Son, is perfected in preserving Eucharistic devotion… not as a ritual of old, but a living Manna hidden from the proud and a sentence for those who hypocritically profane.

The purpose is to Commune on Him worthily. There are two types of disobedience, which occurred when Jesus announced His sacramental meal of His Body and Blood (in John 6):

1.) Those who did not believe that “…in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily”, and He is “the Bread which came down from heaven.” They turn from accepting Him.

2.) Those who believe and stay (as Judas), but do not convert in heart. They think it is their gain to be close to Him, but they do not submit their hearts, give Him Lordship, or suffer with Him in the ministry which they take up.

Partaking of the Catholic Eucharist is taking the sins of the world on ourselves! When we Commune in Him, we become the target of all enmity of the adversary.

Romans 7

“So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.”

 

[rcwitness]

Although I am probably going to regret this, I thought a fresh set of eyes might be of some assistance in this back and forth.

First, let me start with I understood what RC is saying when I take the entire post into context. However, the first sentence is a little confusing when you read it closely. If someone were to only read the first sentence and not the rest of the post it can be misinterpreted that you are saying as long as he truly believes what he is taught to believe he is allowed to receive. With that being said if we do read on, you clear up any misunderstandings the reader might take with the first sentence. I had no troubles understanding that to receive communion in the Catholic Church one must be Catholic.

Now I can also understand Memaw’s response to RC’s first sentence. As I said above it can be easily misinterpreted and Memaw is worried that someone might read RC’s response and get the wrong idea. That being said, I can understand why RC was offended by Memaw’s response.

RC directly followed up the first post with 2 more informative posts further defining the first post.
Thank you RC this was excellent example of the Eucharist truly becoming the Body & Blood of our Lord.

Anyway, my point is if Memaw would have change the response to:
A positive non confrontational response:
“Agreed as long as what you mean is he has to become a believing Catholic in order to receive.”
Instead of the confrontational response:
“He is NOT allowed to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. There are very strict guidelines for that. I think you and he need to talk to a priest.”
Pretty much telling RC he is wrong and needs to see a Priest. When all he might be guilty of is making a grammatical error. Far from being a sin.

I will now gladly accept any beating you choose to throw at me.

Thank you so much MT! “Blessed are the peacemakers”

 

[JonNC]

They said the very same thing I did only more eloquently. God Bless, Memaw

So, you’re saying that what we believe “must no longer be regarded as opposed in a way that leads to separation.” I agree

Jon

 

[JonNC]

From a non Catholic perspective who has a great interest in Catholicism (and understanding), I think it will be very difficult to explain to him why. The only way he would understand would be if he were to investigate the Catholic Church as being true. There will of course be protestants or other non Catholics who don’t feel discriminated against but simply respect that Catholicism is different but they will not accept the reasons…if that makes sense.

**To a Protestant and other non Catholics, communion is merely a symbol of Jesus’ sacrifice done in remembrance **and is simply about a personal relationship with Jesus. If you have that relationship, you can take communion.

Speak for yourself.

Jon

 

[jlhargus]

Hey guys. So my boyfriend of one year is a Nondenominational Evangelical Free Christian, and he feels very discriminated against by the Catholic Church because he isn’t allowed to receive Communion. How do I explain to him in a gentle way why he can’t, and convince him he isn’t being “discriminated against”? Nothing I’ve tried has worked. The fact that we believe the Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Christ is irrelevant to him. He thinks that he should be allowed to receive because he’s a Christian. I don’t know what to do or say anymore…

Give him the book, “Catholicism And Fundamentalism”, by Carl Keating. You can get it on Amazon books.

 

[Memaw]

Although I am probably going to regret this, I thought a fresh set of eyes might be of some assistance in this back and forth.

First, let me start with I understood what RC is saying when I take the entire post into context. However, the first sentence is a little confusing when you read it closely. If someone were to only read the first sentence and not the rest of the post it can be misinterpreted that you are saying as long as he truly believes what he is taught to believe he is allowed to receive. With that being said if we do read on, you clear up any misunderstandings the reader might take with the first sentence. I had no troubles understanding that to receive communion in the Catholic Church one must be Catholic.

Now I can also understand Memaw’s response to RC’s first sentence. As I said above it can be easily misinterpreted and Memaw is worried that someone might read RC’s response and get the wrong idea. That being said, I can understand why RC was offended by Memaw’s response.

RC directly followed up the first post with 2 more informative posts further defining the first post.
Thank you RC this was excellent example of the Eucharist truly becoming the Body & Blood of our Lord.

Anyway, my point is if Memaw would have change the response to:
A positive non confrontational response:
“Agreed as long as what you mean is he has to become a believing Catholic in order to receive.”
Instead of the confrontational response:
“He is NOT allowed to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. There are very strict guidelines for that. I think you and he need to talk to a priest.”
Pretty much telling RC he is wrong and needs to see a Priest. When all he might be guilty of is making a grammatical error. Far from being a sin.

I will now gladly accept any beating you choose to throw at me.

My response was to his first post and I had no way of knowing what was in his mind. I wasn’t being confrontational, just trying to make a clear response. Why is one considered confrontational or having an attitude simply because we disagree with what was said. I thought this was supposed to be a discussion forum, not a read my mind forum. So many do not make a clear post, its is hard to know where they are coming from. And some are mistaken in their knowledge of the faith. I never said it was a sin but talking to a priest would make for a better understanding. There is nothing wrong with that! I advise lots to talk to a priest rather than take my word for it. He did make clear his thoughts much later on in another post and I did thank him for it. God Bless, Memaw

 

[Memaw]

So, you’re saying that what we believe “must no longer be regarded as opposed in a way that leads to separation.” I agree

Jon

I don’t think “I” said that did I?

I totally agree with Lumen Gentium. Two very important points.

"15. The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter.

In all of Christ’s disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ, as one flock under one shepherd, and He prompts them to pursue this end. (17*) Mother Church never ceases to pray, hope and work that this may come about. She exhorts her children to purification and renewal so that the sign of Christ may shine more brightly over the face of the earth." God Bless, Memaw

 

[JonNC]

I don’t think “I” said that did I?

I totally agree with Lumen Gentium. Two very important points.

"15. The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter.

In all of Christ’s disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ, as one flock under one shepherd, and He prompts them to pursue this end. (17*) Mother Church never ceases to pray, hope and work that this may come about. She exhorts her children to purification and renewal so that the sign of Christ may shine more brightly over the face of the earth." God Bless, Memaw

Quote:
Originally Posted by Memaw View Post
They said the very same thing I did only more eloquently. God Bless, Memaw

I quoted the text that you said you agree with.
Jon

 

[Memaw]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Memaw View Post
They said the very same thing I did only more eloquently. God Bless, Memaw

I quoted the text that you said you agree with.
Jon

You need to read the whole post. I have a question for you. What do you do with the Bread and grape juice left over after your communion service? God Bless, Memaw

 

[JonNC]

I didn’t say I agreed with that text, I was talking about Lumen Gentium. God Bless, Memaw

Okay

Jon

 

[rcwitness]

To a Protestant and other non Catholics, communion is merely a symbol of Jesus’ sacrifice done in remembrance and is simply about a personal relationship with Jesus. If you have that relationship, you can take communion.

How many father’s do you know that while their children live under their roof and eat at their table would not expect his children to abide by his rules?

 

[ComplineSanFran]

How many father’s do you know that while their children live under their roof and eat at their table would not expect his children to abide by his rules?

Or perhaps from a different perspective, how many fathers would set out a table for their family and refuse to let their children eat?

 

[ComplineSanFran]

You need to read the whole post. I have a question for you. What do you do with the Bread and grape juice left over after your communion service? God Bless, Memaw

Episcopalians eat every crumb of bread and drink every drop of wine.

If there is communion going out to the sick and homebound, the consecrated bread will be carried in a pyx.

In your church too?

 

[Memaw]

Episcopalians eat every crumb of bread and drink every drop of wine.

If there is communion going out to the sick and homebound, the consecrated bread will be carried in a pyx.

In your church too?

The Hosts that are not consumed during Mass are reserved in the Tabernacle in the Catholic Church.
What happens if you have more bread than received and more wine than drank. God Bless, Memaw

 

[GKC]

Episcopalians eat every crumb of bread and drink every drop of wine.

If there is communion going out to the sick and homebound, the consecrated bread will be carried in a pyx.

In your church too?

My son in law, when serving as acolyte, was occasionally called upon to be the one to consume the Blood. He was a hefty lad.

One might point out that the question only arises with respect to the consecrated elements, of course. Any remnants of the Body are placed in the tabernacle, on the rare occasion that the count was not accurate.

And, unlike our RC friends, no one not in Orders touches or distributes the consecrated elements.The usual use is made of the piscina, as one would expect.

I do not, of course, speak as an Episcopalian.

 

[Memaw]

My son in law, when serving as acolyte, was occasionally called upon to be the one to consume the Blood. He was a hefty lad.

One might point out that the question only arises with respect to the consecrated elements, of course. Any remnants of the Body are placed in the tabernacle, on the rare occasion that the count was not accurate.

And, unlike our RC friends, no one not in Orders touches or distributes the consecrated elements.The usual use is made of the piscina, as one would expect.

I do not, of course, speak as an Episcopalian.

Who do you speak as and what is Piscina? God Bless, Memaw

 

[GKC]

Who do you speak as and what is Piscina? God Bless, Memaw

Haven’t you seen me before? I’ve been around a few years.

I am a Continuing Anglican, Anglicanus-Catholicus.

A piscina is the basin used to wash the altar vessels that have contained the consecrated species. It communicates with consecrated ground, via the sacrarium.

You guys use the system too, I’ll warrant.

 

[rcwitness]

Or perhaps from a different perspective, how many fathers would set out a table for their family and refuse to let their children eat?

Let’s say the house rules are to finish your chores and wash up before meal. One child comes to the table with messy hands. The mother points for him to wash up, and he says, “I did my chores. I am entitled to eat here.”