Receiving Communion

[DSJJ]

What is the minimum a Catholic can believe about the faith and still recieve communion every week? Is it all or nothing?

 

[ConstantineTG]

What is the minimum a Catholic can believe about the faith and still recieve communion every week? Is it all or nothing?

Why do you want to go with the minimum if you know there’s more?

 

[Gods_Peace]

Matthew Kelly went on to ask “as Catholics do we intrigue anyone by our faith”? In order to draw others into the Faith they have to see us live, love and work differently than what they see in the people around them. Does our Catholic Faith and our life of holiness contribute significantly to making us “look different” in the way we live each day? Do others experience the love of Christ in our daily actions? And do we work in a different way than others – not that we have to work longer but do we work harder (not just half-hearted), do we work without complaining?

+The more we do this the more we as Catholics will be intriguing to a world hungry for God+

 

[DSJJ]

It’s a hypothetical question.

 

[constantconvert]

To receive communion you must be Catholic and be in a state of grace.

The question of belief is a deeper one. Questions of “minimums” are little foot trails that lead to the wide road of distruction. Do you ask, how much poison can I drink and not die? Did Jesus ask, what’s the minimum I must do to redeem these people? No, rather he gave his all.

“It is sometimes claimed that dissent from the magisterium is totally compatible with being a “good Catholic,” and poses no obstacle to the reception of the Sacraments. This is a grave error…” JP II speaking to the bishops in 1987.

 

[DSJJ]

So if being a catholic in the state of grace is the only requirement then someone can be a Catholic (a person who has had the sacraments of initiation) who doesn’t believe in the Holy Spirit, doesn’t believe Jesus is God, no such thing as a pope, no magisterium, Jesus didn’t die for us, marion dogma and on and on and can still receive.

 

[DavidFilmer]

So if being a catholic in the state of grace is the only requirement then someone can be a Catholic (a person who has had the sacraments of initiation) who doesn’t believe in the Holy Spirit, doesn’t believe Jesus is God, no such thing as a pope, no magisterium, Jesus didn’t die for us, [Marian] dogma and on and on and can still receive.

As usual, it depends. What you are describing might be called a “crisis of faith.” Such a crisis is not uncommon - I have experienced such periods myself. Such a crisis alone does not disqualify us from receiving Eucharist.

The thing that matters most is not our belief, but our attitude towards our belief. We cannot make ourselves believe something. But what is our attitude about our doubts? Do we realize that these doubts are bad and are something we should seek to overcome? If so, you should receive Communion (and as frequently as possible).

Or do we think that we have finally realized that the teachings of the Church are a load of ****, and good riddance? In that case, it’s better not to receive.

As usual, it depends.

 

[constantconvert]

As usual, it depends. What you are describing might be called a “crisis of faith.” Such a crisis is not uncommon - I have experienced such periods myself. Such a crisis alone does not disqualify us from receiving Eucharist.

The thing that matters most is not our belief, but our attitude towards our belief. We cannot make ourselves believe something. But what is our attitude about our doubts? Do we realize that these doubts are bad and are something we should seek to overcome? If so, you should receive Communion (and as frequently as possible).

Or do we think that we have finally realized that the teachings of the Church are a load of ****, and good riddance? In that case, it’s better not to receive.

As usual, it depends.

Right. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble

 

[DSJJ]

I was under the impression when you receive you are making a public statement with your body that you are in full communion with the church. That you believe everything this church teaches.

 

[constantconvert]

I was under the impression when you receive you are making a public statement with your body that you are in full communion with the church. That you believe everything this church teaches.

That is definitely the ideal. As David said, if someone is having a crisis of faith they should at least be open to believing what the church teaches and acknowledge that the church k owe better than they do.

“If, of those things taught by the Church (as divinely revealed), one holds what he chooses to hold, and rejects what he chooses to reject, he no longer adheres to the teaching of the Church as an infallible guide, but to his own will. Such a one may accept other teachings of the Church, but he does so not out of divine faith, but only by a kind of opinion in accordance with his own will.” --Thomas Aquinas

 

[jpjd]

So if being a catholic in the state of grace is the only requirement then someone can be a Catholic (a person who has had the sacraments of initiation) who doesn’t believe in the Holy Spirit, doesn’t believe Jesus is God, no such thing as a pope, no magisterium, Jesus didn’t die for us, marion dogma and on and on and can still receive.

If you present yourself to receive Communion as a Catholic, but you do not believe Jesus is God and you don’t believe in the Holy Spirit, are you really in a state of grace? I would say, No, because you are mis-representing your beliefs, you are lying, and therefore not in a state of grace.

I would say that the minimum you can believe is a pretty big minimum: If you present yourself as a Catholic, you should be in union with the doctrines of the Church or working on being in union with the doctrines of the Church that you struggle with.

 

[holyghost]

I was wondering this recently too, from a different thread I was commenting in…
If someone does not really think they believe in the Real Presence, transubstantiation, but are receiving the Eucharist…is that really permitted?

 

[Ion]

So if being a catholic in the state of grace is the only requirement then someone can be a Catholic (a person who has had the sacraments of initiation) who doesn’t believe in the Holy Spirit, doesn’t believe Jesus is God, no such thing as a pope, no magisterium, Jesus didn’t die for us, marion dogma and on and on and can still receive.

What you say are mortal sins that must be washed out before taking Communion.
Why taking Communion if you don’t believe Jesus is God? This is even a greater sin.
The same if you do not believe the transsubstantiation, its mortal sin to take Communion.
Talk to your priest.
Don’t do in church anything, only to look good or please other persons.
Paul, I don’t recall exactly the letter, said that members of his church got ill or even died because they were having unconfessed mortal sins when receiving Communion.

 

[holyghost]

What you say are mortal sins that must be washed out before taking Communion.
Why taking Communion if you don’t believe Jesus is God? This is even a greater sin.
The same if you do not believe the transsubstantiation, its mortal sin to take Communion.
Talk to your priest.
Don’t do in church anything, only to look good or please other persons.
Paul, I don’t recall exactly the letter, said that members of his church got ill or even died because they were having unconfessed mortal sins when receiving Communion.

I totally agree…if someone is reciting the creed, a profession of the faith, and then receives communion while wholeheartedly denying the faith in their minds and hearts, then isn’t that a lie before God and everyone present?
I’m not saying if someone is struggling with the faith, or has human doubts that they are striving to reconcile, such as what I am going through myself, or anybody goes through. But to blatantly acknowledge that they don’t believe in something and then go ahead and do it anyway…just strikes me as careless and something I myself would want to refrain from until my discernment process brings me to a more stable place.

 

[DavidFilmer]

Why taking Communion if you don’t believe Jesus is God? This is even a greater sin.

Reception in the face of doubt (which we realize is bad and should be overcome) is not a sin. Rather, it is an act of Faith. We attend Mass and receive Communion in spite of our doubt. We do not yield to our doubt and stay home and watch TV.

Many great Saints of the Church have endured long periods (sometimes lasting years) of doubt. This is considered an ordinary component of healthy spiritual growth. But the appropriate response to doubt IS NOT to separate ourselves from the Sacramental Grace of the Church (especially the ultimate Grace of Eucharist). We ought to embrace it all the more.

Any Catholic who believes that s/he is in a State of Grace and is open to the teaching of the Church should ALWAYS receive Eucharist at each and every opportunity. A Catholic who is troubled by doubt (as opposed to one who embraces doubt) should receive as often as possible.

 

[thistle]

Reception in the face of doubt (which we realize is bad and should be overcome) is not a sin. Rather, it is an act of Faith. We attend Mass and receive Communion in spite of our doubt. We do not yield to our doubt and stay home and watch TV.

Many great Saints of the Church have endured long periods (sometimes lasting years) of doubt. This is considered an ordinary component of healthy spiritual growth. But the appropriate response to doubt IS NOT to separate ourselves from the Sacramental Grace of the Church (especially the ultimate Grace of Eucharist). We ought to embrace it all the more.

Any Catholic who believes that s/he is in a State of Grace and is open to the teaching of the Church should ALWAYS receive Eucharist at each and every opportunity. A Catholic who is troubled by doubt (as opposed to one who embraces doubt) should receive as often as possible.

I’m not saying you are wrong but wouldn’t it depend on what teachings you have doubts about?

CCC 2089 Incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. "Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him."

 

[DavidFilmer]

I’m not saying you are wrong but wouldn’t it depend on what teachings you have doubts about?

CCC 2089 Incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. "Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same

It does not matter what teachings we have doubts about, but whether our doubts are “obstinate”

1. firmly or stubbornly adhering to one’s purpose, opinion, etc.; not yielding to argument, persuasion, or entreaty.
2. characterized by inflexible persistence or an unyielding attitude; inflexibly persisted in or carried out.
   
   Dictionary.com: Obstinate (def. 1 & 2)​

I have not used this particular adjective, but I believe that I have been consistent in categorizing “doubt” in this manner.

And, besides, as another forum member pointed out, we should be in a state of Grace to receive Eucharist. A person who knowingly and “obstinately” rejects the teaching of the Church (according to the definition of dictionary.com) is rather unlikely to be in a state of Grace.

A person (who is presumably in a state of Grace) who has doubts, but is not obstinate in his opinion of those doubts (ie, is open to Catholic teaching) is still a Catholic in good standing, and should receive Eucharist at each and every opportunity.

 

[thistle]

It does not matter what teachings we have doubts about, but whether our doubts are “obstinate”

I have not used this particular adjective, but I believe that I have been consistent in categorizing “doubt” in this manner.

And, besides, as another forum member pointed out, we should be in a state of Grace to receive Eucharist. A person who knowingly and “obstinately” rejects the teaching of the Church (according to the definition of dictionary.com) is rather unlikely to be in a state of Grace.

Thanks.