Receiving the Eucharist

[CarrieMG]

If a person clearly states she does not believe in the Real Presence, but then goes forward to receive The Holy Eucharist, has she committed a sin? Should I feel a responsibility to “admonish the sinner?” This is a big debate in my family in which I am viewed as being “legalistic like the Pharisees” and need to realize I cannot “know or name” what is sin for another person. Opinions and advice please.

 

[Lisa4Catholics]

Yes she or he is sinning and comitting a sacrilige:nope: You are to admonish the sinner,you are protecting the Lord and the persons soul.That is NOT Legalism it is an article of faith that as Catholics we are supposed to believe.Look up Eucharistic miracles and see if they will read up on the and pray for them.The Eucharist is central to our faith,it is sad that so many do not believe.:crying:

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

I had someone going to mass with me that had been away for a while and before we went in, I asked her nicely to please not disrespect the Blessed Sacrament by presenting herself after having gone agnostic for a time. She understood, then took advantage of confession which was available before mass.



I would just tell this person nicely that if they don’t believe in the Real Presence, then to please not disrespect it by receiving it and to consider talking to a priest in confession on the matter.

It is important to seek answers when our thoughts are not aligned with church teaching. We have to trust that the Holy Spirit is working through the teaching institution - the Magisterium - or there is a conflict. One cannot profess trust in the Holy Spirit then not trust that He is guiding the Magisterium.

Know, Obey, Understand - and in this order. Notice that “understand” does not come before “obey”. Understanding is not a prerequisite for obeying. In fact, sometimes the Lord will not give us understanding for a time in order to test our fidelity. Do we pass the test?

 

[TeriGator]

Absolutely! This can put the individual in grave danger, in fact. As St. Paul said:

1 Corinthians 11:29
For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

CarrieMG:

If a person clearly states she does not believe in the Real Presence, but then goes forward to receive The Holy Eucharist, has she committed a sin? Should I feel a responsibility to “admonish the sinner?” This is a big debate in my family in which I am viewed as being “legalistic like the Pharisees” and need to realize I cannot “know or name” what is sin for another person. Opinions and advice please.

You don’t need to. St. Paul and the Church do it for you. Yes it is improper to approach the Sacraments when one does not believe and says so in public. When done intentionally it would be sinful to do so, as one is not in the proper disposition to receive the Sacraments.

 

[m134e5]

Br. Rich SFO:

You don’t need to. St. Paul and the Church do it for you. Yes it is improper to approach the Sacraments when one does not believe and says so in public. When done intentionally it would be sinful to do so, as one is not in the proper disposition to receive the Sacraments.

It is improper to approach the Sacraments when you do not belive in them- whether you display that publically or privately- they’re more than just a public statement. Also, one of the spiritual works of mercy is to instruct the ignorant. Even if a person receives the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin unintentionally, it still is a sacrilige, although since the person doing it isn’t aware of it, so probably isn’t held accountable for it.

 

[surfinpure]

It is most definitely a sin, and she needs to be admonished. If it were a sin merely against herself, you wouldn’t have the same responsibility to bring it up; but this is a sin against the Body and Blood of Christ.

As for not being able to “know or name” what is sin for another person, this is not Catholic teaching, this is moral relativism. Sin is sin is sin.