Sacramental grace v. the eucharist

[Binary]

A few weeks ago, I was thinking and praying after receiving communion.

“God, I don’t fully understand this sacrament, but I trust You and the teaching of the church,” I prayed. And then it occurred to me that because of my ignorance, participating in the sacrament was an act of faith for me, which would be pleasing to God.

So then I thought, well, the eucharist is something of a mystery, which means that NOBODY can completely understand it, right? That implies that, to some degree, it’s an act of faith for everyone.

Here is my question for you: Is the “act of faith” on the part of the communicant the reason the sacramental grace is imparted to us? Or is the act of consuming the host (while in a state of grace) all that is required?

 

[japhy]

“God, I don’t fully understand this sacrament, but I trust You and the teaching of the church,” I prayed. And then it occurred to me that because of my ignorance, participating in the sacrament was an act of faith for me, which would be pleasing to God.

That’s an amazing insight, Binary, and I’m inclined to agree with you. I do a lot of reading of Church documents and theological works and what-not, but while I’m filling my brain with explanations and reasons for what we believe, at the end of the day, I have to believe what God teaches through His Church by faith. My brain must teach my soul to accept by faith what it (my brain) “understands” from reading. And I put “understands” in quotes since, as you so blithely understate, “the eucharist is something of a mystery, which means that NOBODY can completely understand it”.

Is the “act of faith” on the part of the communicant the reason the sacramental grace is imparted to us? Or is the act of consuming the host (while in a state of grace) all that is required?

That I do not know.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Is the “act of faith” on the part of the communicant the reason the sacramental grace is imparted to us? Or is the act of consuming the host (while in a state of grace) all that is required?

The reception of the Body and Blood of Christ AND the communicant’s disposition are both integral to receving the grace of the sacrament.

The better disposed we are (faith, freedom from sin, longing to receive Jesus, etc.), the more grace we receive.

If we receive with no faith, or in a state of mortal sin, no grace is received; in fact, we receive to our condemnation.

 

[Binary]

The reception of the Body and Blood of Christ AND the communicant’s disposition are both integral to receving the grace of the sacrament.

The better disposed we are (faith, freedom from sin, longing to receive Jesus, etc.), the more grace we receive.

If we receive with no faith, or in a state of mortal sin, no grace is received; in fact, we receive to our condemnation.

I see. Thanks!