Question: Eucharist and Judgement

[ForeverJoy]

1 Cor. 11:27-29
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.​

As a almost-Convert, I’m still trying to figure a few things out. I understand that the Church forbids non-Catholics from taking Eucharist for a number of reasons, one of which is to protects people from “drinking judgment” on themselves. But what exactly is this judgement? At the time, wasn’t Paul writing this letter because the people were eating and drinking the host & wine to slake their hunger, rather than as a sacrament?

And how do you know when/if you’ve done this? It kinds sounds like death and destruction will rain down on you, if you partake unworthily. I don’t want my 10 yr old to be scared to death of the Eucharist, thinking he’ll go to hell if he takes it when he’s not supposed to, whether he realizes he has sinned or not.

 

[eightydeuce82]

1 Cor. 11:27-29
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.​

As a almost-Convert, I’m still trying to figure a few things out. I understand that the Church forbids non-Catholics from taking Eucharist for a number of reasons, one of which is to protects people from “drinking judgment” on themselves. But what exactly is this judgement? At the time, wasn’t Paul writing this letter because the people were eating and drinking the host & wine to slake their hunger, rather than as a sacrament?

And how do you know when/if you’ve done this? It kinds sounds like death and destruction will rain down on you, if you partake unworthily. I don’t want my 10 yr old to be scared to death of the Eucharist, thinking he’ll go to hell if he takes it when he’s not supposed to, whether he realizes he has sinned or not.

Blasphemy, So technically if you receive the Eucharist knowing you are in an unworthily state you have committed a mortal sin. Only takes one mortal sin to lose heaven. So the strong warning by Paul and its application today means quite a bit. Sounds harsh right? It is and its very important. Unfortunately many don’t heed this warning.

 

[eightydeuce82]

1 Cor. 11:27-29
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.​

As a almost-Convert, I’m still trying to figure a few things out. I understand that the Church forbids non-Catholics from taking Eucharist for a number of reasons, one of which is to protects people from “drinking judgment” on themselves. But what exactly is this judgement? At the time, wasn’t Paul writing this letter because the people were eating and drinking the host & wine to slake their hunger, rather than as a sacrament?

And how do you know when/if you’ve done this? It kinds sounds like death and destruction will rain down on you, if you partake unworthily. I don’t want my 10 yr old to be scared to death of the Eucharist, thinking he’ll go to hell if he takes it when he’s not supposed to, whether he realizes he has sinned or not.

Its not there to scare your young one its there because the apostles and by that right Jesus says so. If you really believe that the Host is Jesus, really, truly, Jesus our lord and savior this shouldn’t be an issue. It forces you to expose your sins to yourself and it makes sure you are hyper aware of the status of your soul. If your confessing regularly and doing an examination of yourself you will be fine. The reality is the heavens are not going to open up and rain down on you if you do receive in a bad state but are you willing to take the chance and not heed the words of the lord and chance eternal salvation?

 

[ChibiViolet]

If someone commits a mortal sin and forgets that they have committed it and then receives the Eucharist in this state, in doing so they do not commit an additional sin. Of course, if someone thinks they may have committed a mortal sin, they should try to figure out if they have by prayer and reflection before receiving the Eucharist.

 

[Brendan_64]

And how do you know when/if you’ve done this? It kinds sounds like death and destruction will rain down on you, if you partake unworthily. I don’t want my 10 yr old to be scared to death of the Eucharist, thinking he’ll go to hell if he takes it when he’s not supposed to, whether he realizes he has sinned or not.

As others have stated before this is about the connection between receiving Communion and teh state of worthiness of our souls. To receive Communion while being not in a state of grace (i.e. in a state of mortal sin) is to commit the additional sin of sacrilege.

Communion should not be something that we treat as a routine part go going to Mass, or as a ‘right’. If we are in any doubt at all that we have serious sins that we need to confess, then we should refrain from receiving Communion and go to Confession as soon as we possibly can.

It is very sad though, when we see the lack of people queueing for Confession and we compare that to the almost unanimous reception of Communion at Mass. As a people are we that sinless these days?

It would seem that the connection between the state of our souls, Confession and Holy Communion is either forgotten about, ignored, or people are genuinely ignorant. But then again how often do we hear our priests reinforce this by teaching about it from the pulpit?

As for your 10 year old, there is no need at all to frighten him. Just reinforce the need for regular Confession with him, take him to Confession at least monthly, and just reinforce to him that he should recall his sins regularly and confess these to God in an act of contrition (daily if possible). Just reinforce what it is he is receiving when he goes to Communion, and how enormous this gift is. Do that and you’ll be doing him a great service. The forgiveness of our sins by God through Confession and the enormity of the gift he gives us through the Eucharist is something that expresses his huge love for us. We should not be afraid.

 

[eightydeuce82]

As others have stated before this is about the connection between receiving Communion and teh state of worthiness of our souls. To receive Communion while being not in a state of grace (i.e. in a state of mortal sin) is to commit the additional sin of sacrilege.

Communion should not be something that we treat as a routine part go going to Mass, or as a ‘right’. If we are in any doubt at all that we have serious sins that we need to confess, then we should refrain from receiving Communion and go to Confession as soon as we possibly can.

It is very sad though, when we see the lack of people queueing for Confession and we compare that to the almost unanimous reception of Communion at Mass. As a people are we that sinless these days?

It would seem that the connection between the state of our souls, Confession and Holy Communion is either forgotten about, ignored, or people are genuinely ignorant. But then again how often do we hear our priests reinforce this by teaching about it from the pulpit?

As for your 10 year old, there is no need at all to frighten him. Just reinforce the need for regular Confession with him, take him to Confession at least monthly, and just reinforce to him that he should recall his sins regularly and confess these to God in an act of contrition (daily if possible). Just reinforce what it is he is receiving when he goes to Communion, and how enormous this gift is. Do that and you’ll be doing him a great service. The forgiveness of our sins by God through Confession and the enormity of the gift he gives us through the Eucharist is something that expresses his huge love for us. We should not be afraid.

I am a cradle Catholic…that being said my mother is not BUT she was received into the church this Easter so that is great. I attended her RCIA classes just to experience it for myself and see what they are teaching these days (horrible experience). So we were discussing confession and confessing sins and this old instructor was talking about how Pre-VaII the lines for confession were great and receiving communion the lines were small and after VATII that situation is reversed. He said it in such a way like that was a good thing! I about punched the guy. He went onto explain that most people before VAII were scrupulous and he then downplayed the role or mortal sin! aaaaand told the folks not to worry about mortal and venial! I about came unhinged. I love how the modernists always pit pre and post VATII and then look at it like pre was terrible and after was great. Perhaps he hasn’t bothered to look at the statistics and the very real crisis we are seeing in our church post! I guess more people receiving the Eucharist is a good thing but it quickly becomes a bad thing when you find out large percentages of Catholics reject church teaching and don’t believe in the real presence.

 

[LightBound]

I am a cradle Catholic…that being said my mother is not BUT she was received into the church this Easter so that is great. I attended her RCIA classes just to experience it for myself and see what they are teaching these days (horrible experience). So we were discussing confession and confessing sins and this old instructor was talking about how Pre-VaII the lines for confession were great and receiving communion the lines were small and after VATII that situation is reversed. He said it in such a way like that was a good thing! I about punched the guy. He went onto explain that most people before VAII were scrupulous and he then downplayed the role or mortal sin! aaaaand told the folks not to worry about mortal and venial! I about came unhinged. I love how the modernists always pit pre and post VATII and then look at it like pre was terrible and after was great. Perhaps he hasn’t bothered to look at the statistics and the very real crisis we are seeing in our church post! I guess more people receiving the Eucharist is a good thing but it quickly becomes a bad thing when you find out large percentages of Catholics reject church teaching and don’t believe in the real presence.

Oh please, like the Traditionalists don’t take every possible opportunity (and even create some themselves) to slam on everything they don’t care for about Catholicism and blame it on the modernists? Give me a break- you are one of the worst offenders on here!!

 

[GEddie]

Ten-year-olds, IMNAAHO, still enjoy the last of their childhood innocence.

They should not be afraid of Holy Communion, but someone older should remind them that we are not to approach the Sacrament if we know we are in sin, and to search their consciences for instances of sin.

IMNAAHO

ICXC NIKA.

 

[KKM]

I’ve been curious about something, and remember I just joined the Catholic church 4 days ago, although have been going to mass and learning about it for 3 years now, but its been made clear that remarried people are not to take the Eucharist at this point in time, until an annulment is complete. Who else is not to take the Eucharist?

 

[eightydeuce82]

I’ve been curious about something, and remember I just joined the Catholic church 4 days ago, although have been going to mass and learning about it for 3 years now, but its been made clear that remarried people are not to take the Eucharist at this point in time, until an annulment is complete. Who else is not to take the Eucharist?

Anyone who knows they are in a state of mortal sin. That encompasses many things.

I think the big one is if you disagree with the church on something that it teaches you should not receive communion. While the Eucharist IS the body of Christ you receiving it also affirm EVERYTHING the church teaches.