Questions about the Eucharist

[ServantJohn]

My questions probably sound combative in nature, but I assure you that these have been bathed in prayer that my heart may be open to His will and guidance. I have even been asking Mary and saints for intercession if that gives you any idea of my intent.

1. What is the importance of believing in the bread and the wine becoming the actual, physical body and blood of Jesus?
2. I read somewhere that the lack of this belief is the reason those not Catholic/Orthodox are not able to partake in the Eucharist. If a protestant does believe in transubstantiation, can they take part in the Eucharist? Why or why not?
3. Why is wine not given to the congregation in the Roman Catholic Church?

 

[FightingFat]

My questions probably sound combative in nature, but I assure you that these have been bathed in prayer that my heart may be open to His will and guidance. I have even been asking Mary and saints for intercession if that gives you any idea of my intent.

1. What is the importance of believing in the bread and the wine becoming the actual, physical body and blood of Jesus?

CCC 1325 “The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit.”

CCC 1326 Finally, by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.

CCC 1327 In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: “Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.”

CCC 1358 We must therefore consider the Eucharist as:

• thanksgiving and praise to the Father;
• the sacrificial memorial of Christ and his Body;
• the presence of Christ by the power of his word and of his Spirit.

The Real Presence constitutes the fundamental theological and philosophical distinction between our Catholic faith and every other faith on earth. We believe that the utterly transcendent and all holy God becomes really and truly present for us in history through the Incarnation of His holy Word and every day thereafter in the Eucharist, in accordance with His words to us in the Gospel, St. Paul’s teaching thereafter, and as recorded by all the Early Church Fathers, and testified to through Eucharistic miracle throughout the centuries spanning Christ’s time and ours:

therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/a3.html

1. I read somewhere that the lack of this belief is the reason those not Catholic/Orthodox are not able to partake in the Eucharist. If a protestant does believe in transubstantiation, can they take part in the Eucharist? Why or why not?

This is about communion. When one joins in with the Eucharistic sacrifice, one signifies their complete union with the body of Christ, His Church on earth. Protestants, by their very nature, “protest” the authenticity of this Church, then how can they conceivably be in “communion” with it? They should not want to come to Holy Communion, because it constitutes the very essence of what they “protest” against (The Holy Catholic Church)-- but if they do, surely what clearer sign could they receive of the Holy Spirit calling them to the fullness of communion with God? They should repent and convert!

1. Why is wine not given to the congregation in the Roman Catholic Church?

It is in most Parishes (certainly here in England it is), providing there are sufficient ministers of Holy Communion. It is given under both species only for the purpose of conveying the fullness of sign however; in other words following the exact words of the Gospel. Jesus said “take eat” and “take drink”. However, Jesus is present in both species of Eucharist in body, blood, soul and divinity, and so it is not necessary to receive both species.

 

[DavidFilmer]

1. I read somewhere that the lack of this belief is the reason those not Catholic/Orthodox are not able to partake in the Eucharist. If a protestant does believe in transubstantiation, can they take part in the Eucharist? Why or why not?

It doesn’t matter if they believe in transubstantiation or not.

Eucharist is many things. One of those things is a sign of communion (and, indeed, many protestant churches call their Last Supper celebrations “communion”). Protestants are not “in communion” with the Catholic Church, and it would be improper for them to participate in a sign of communion that doesn’t actually exist.

Likewise, Catholics are not allowed to receive at a protestant communion service (even if the protestant church would allow it). We can attend, but we cannot receive. And, under ordinary circumstances, Catholics are not allowed to receive in an Orthodox church (even though we recognize and accept the Sacramental validity of their Eucharist) - again, because Catholics are not “in communion” with the Orthodox.

1. Why is wine not given to the congregation in the Roman Catholic Church?

Ever since Vatican II (1965), many (if not most) parishes offer the Cup at Sunday Mass. It is not required, but it is commonplace. In Portland, I know of only one parish that does not routinely offer the Cup on Sunday. For a small weekday Mass it is less common because there might not be someone available to administer it. During a time of widespread illness (such as a flu epidemic) most parishes will suspend the administration of the Cup for health reasons.

It does not matter if you receive the Host alone, or the Precious Blood alone, or both together. Catholics believe that Jesus is fully present (Body, Blood, Soul, Divinity, and Humanity) under both species - you can’t receive “half of Jesus” if you receive the Host alone (this doctrine is called concomotance). Likewise, you can’t receive “more Jesus” if you receive under both species (or if you consume two Hosts). So it doesn’t really matter, but the norm is to receive under both species (at least for a Sunday).

 

[pablope]

My questions probably sound combative in nature, but I assure you that these have been bathed in prayer that my heart may be open to His will and guidance. I have even been asking Mary and saints for intercession if that gives you any idea of my intent.

1. I read somewhere that the lack of this belief is the reason those not Catholic/Orthodox are not able to partake in the Eucharist. If a protestant does believe in transubstantiation, can they take part in the Eucharist? Why or why not?
2. Why is wine not given to the congregation in the Roman Catholic Church?

1. What is the importance of believing in the bread and the wine becoming the actual, physical body and blood of Jesus?

John 6 may help enlighten you here with Q1.

I will just cite one verse which I think would summarize it: John 6: 56

[SIGN]He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.[/SIGN]

To abide/remain in Christ, and Christ to abide/remain in you/us, He says eat His flesh and drink His Blood.

 

[ServantJohn]

Thank you all for your replies. I think that sufficiently answers those questions.

 

[ServantJohn]

CCC 1325 “The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit.”

CCC 1326 Finally, by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.

CCC 1327 In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: “Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.”

CCC 1358 We must therefore consider the Eucharist as:

• thanksgiving and praise to the Father;
• the sacrificial memorial of Christ and his Body;
• the presence of Christ by the power of his word and of his Spirit.

The above information does a good job of stating the Roman Catholic position but not answering my question. Thanks for the information though.

The Real Presence constitutes the fundamental theological and philosophical distinction between our Catholic faith and every other faith on earth. We believe that the utterly transcendent and all holy God becomes really and truly present for us in history through the Incarnation of His holy Word and every day thereafter in the Eucharist, in accordance with His words to us in the Gospel, St. Paul’s teaching thereafter, and as recorded by all the Early Church Fathers, and testified to through Eucharistic miracle throughout the centuries spanning Christ’s time and ours:

therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/a3.html

I guess what I was really asking is the theology behind the Eucharist. The why the bread and wine become the actual body and blood. Are their graces given through the actual body and blood that are not given through any other physical form? Is our body able to digest something spiritual from the actual body and blood of Jesus? Is their a transfer of grace that occurs when we come into contact with the actual physical body and blood.

I confess that the bread and wine becoming the actual body and blood is a strange concept to me. If I understould the spiritual importance of transubstatiation, it would make it much easier.

This is about communion. When one joins in with the Eucharistic sacrifice, one signifies their complete union with the body of Christ, His Church on earth. Protestants, by their very nature, “protest” the authenticity of this Church, then how can they conceivably be in “communion” with it? They should not want to come to Holy Communion, because it constitutes the very essence of what they “protest” against (The Holy Catholic Church)-- but if they do, surely what clearer sign could they receive of the Holy Spirit calling them to the fullness of communion with God? They should repent and convert!

I guess I shouldn’t have used the word protestant. I was not talking about someone whose Christian faith revolves around protesting against Roman Catholic doctrine and practice. I meant someone who is a non-Catholic Christian that believes in transubstantiation and beleives Roman Catholic doctrine falls within accepted parameters of orthodox doctrine, and thus feels in communion with them, but does not believe the Roman Catholic church is the only expression of Christ’s church. (No, this is not a self portrait.)

It is in most Parishes (certainly here in England it is), providing there are sufficient ministers of Holy Communion. It is given under both species only for the purpose of conveying the fullness of sign however; in other words following the exact words of the Gospel. Jesus said “take eat” and “take drink”. However, Jesus is present in both species of Eucharist in body, blood, soul and divinity, and so it is not necessary to receive both species.

Oh ok. I go to masses during the week and it’s always just the bread, so I was wondering. I don’t take part since I am not Catholic of course.

 

[FCEGM]

. . .I guess what I was really asking is the theology behind the Eucharist. The why the bread and wine become the actual body and blood. Are their graces given through the actual body and blood that are not given through any other physical form? Is our body able to digest something spiritual from the actual body and blood of Jesus? Is their a transfer of grace that occurs when we come into contact with the actual physical body and blood.

I confess that the bread and wine becoming the actual body and blood is a strange concept to me. If I understould the spiritual importance of transubstatiation, it would make it much easier.

This might be helpful to you:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=6774219&postcount=45

 

[Randy_Carson]

My questions probably sound combative in nature, but I assure you that these have been bathed in prayer that my heart may be open to His will and guidance. I have even been asking Mary and saints for intercession if that gives you any idea of my intent.

Praise God! I made a similar journey 30+ years ago…hang in there!

1. What is the importance of believing in the bread and the wine becoming the actual, physical body and blood of Jesus?

Because it is important to believe the truth.

1. I read somewhere that the lack of this belief is the reason those not Catholic/Orthodox are not able to partake in the Eucharist. If a protestant does believe in transubstantiation, can they take part in the Eucharist? Why or why not?

No, they may not receive because receiving implies a full communion (or unity) that does not actually exist.

1. Why is wine not given to the congregation in the Roman Catholic Church?

The Eucharist has been distributed under both species in every Catholic Church I have ever attended except last year when concerns about the flu epidemic caused our bishop to withhold the cup for a few months.