Sacrifice or Holy Communion?

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What is more important for each Catholic to experience?

To be present at the re-presenation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to His Father for the propitiation of our endless stream of sins at the Mass, -OR- consuming **His Body, Blood, Soul **and Divinity?

Put another way, for example, would it be preferable to receive Holy Communion at a communion service where His ultimate sacrifice is not re-presentated, -OR- would it be preferable to attend the Mass where His Sacrifice is re-presented, but not receive Holy Communion because you absent-mindedly consumed a glass of milk before heading off to church?

Talk about a difficult hypothetical…
 
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Crusader:
What is more important for each Catholic to experience?

To be present at the re-presenation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to His Father for the propitiation of our endless stream of sins at the Mass, -OR- consuming **His Body, Blood, Soul **and Divinity?

Put another way, for example, would it be preferable to receive Holy Communion at a communion service where His ultimate sacrifice is not re-presentated, -OR- would it be preferable to attend the Mass where His Sacrifice is re-presented, but not receive Holy Communion because you absent-mindedly consumed a glass of milk before heading off to church?

Talk about a difficult hypothetical…
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Personally, I cannot see going to a communion service if I can go to Mass instead. Nor can I see a situation where I would be able to receive Holy Communion in a communion service and not at a Mass. As I understand, the one hour fast is before receiving, not before the beginning of Mass. If I consume a glass of milk before heading off for church, It would be at least an hour before Communion is distributed. (Of course, I like to get there a bit early, but even those who don’t walk in until the processional has started usually have to travel a few minutes to get to the church.

Why else would I prefer the Mass? That is where the Eucharist is confected.

John
 
“But the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice is wholly directed toward the intimate union of the faithful with Christ through communion.” - CCC 1382

It really depends what you mean by “more important,” but our reception of the Eucharist is kind of the consummation of our attention and worship of the sacrament, so actual reception seems to me the most important part. Cf. the Catechism, articles 1391-1401. Still, the ideal situation is that this would occur within Mass. But I think the preference is somewhat comparable to the importance of taking Communion to the sick and over and above simply allowing them their “spiritual communion” by watching a TV Mass, for example.
 
Fortunately we usually get to go to Mass AND receive Communion - the best of all possible worlds!
 
For me, receiving Holy Communion lets me join with Jesus’ Sacrifice So in its completest form, it is a mutual both or incomplete.
 
The Church requires us to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. The Church also requires us to receive Holy Communion at least once per year.

Do the math.

Yes, both is preferable.
 
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DrCat:
Personally, I cannot see going to a communion service if I can go to Mass instead. Nor can I see a situation where I would be able to receive Holy Communion in a communion service and not at a Mass. As I understand, the one hour fast is before receiving, not before the beginning of Mass. If I consume a glass of milk before heading off for church, It would be at least an hour before Communion is distributed. (Of course, I like to get there a bit early, but even those who don’t walk in until the processional has started usually have to travel a few minutes to get to the church.

Why else would I prefer the Mass? That is where the Eucharist is confected.

John
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You didn’t answer the question.

Try again if you like
 
joegrabowski said:
“But the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice is wholly directed toward the intimate union of the faithful with Christ through communion.” - CCC 1382

It really depends what you mean by “more important,” but our reception of the Eucharist is kind of the consummation of our attention and worship of the sacrament, so actual reception seems to me the most important part. Cf. the Catechism, articles 1391-1401. Still, the ideal situation is that this would occur within Mass. But I think the preference is somewhat comparable to the importance of taking Communion to the sick and over and above simply allowing them their “spiritual communion” by watching a TV Mass, for example.
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Interesting viewpoint…

I’m not sure what I would pick with this terribly difficult (and unfair) hypothetical.

I suppose one could say that with His Sacrifice, no one has a chance at eternal life, yet there are no doubt some that realize eternal life (some protestants or jews for instance) without ever receiving Holy Communion in the Catholic Church…
 
No contest. Attending Mass. Why? Participation in Mass is required on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, communion is not. Obedience is better than sacrifice. (Of course, in your hyothetical either/ or obedience is sacrifice)
 
T.A.Stobie:
For me, receiving Holy Communion lets me join with Jesus’ Sacrifice So in its completest form, it is a mutual both or incomplete.
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One can receive Holy Communion at a communion service…

The re-presentation of His Sacrifice occurs only at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass…
 
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pnewton:
No contest. Attending Mass. Why? Participation in Mass is required on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, communion is not. Obedience is better than sacrifice. (Of course, in your hyothetical either/ or obedience is sacrifice)
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Excellent point.

In the past, Catholics would only receive Holy Communion a few times a year, while they still attended Mass each Sunday…
 
joegrabowski said:
“But the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice is wholly directed toward the intimate union of the faithful with Christ through communion.” - CCC 1382

It really depends what you mean by “more important,” but our reception of the Eucharist is kind of the consummation of our attention and worship of the sacrament, so actual reception seems to me the most important part. Cf. the Catechism, articles 1391-1401. Still, the ideal situation is that this would occur within Mass. But I think the preference is somewhat comparable to the importance of taking Communion to the sick and over and above simply allowing them their “spiritual communion” by watching a TV Mass, for example.
Click to expand...

It’s Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice that gives man eternal life, not consuming Holy Communion – not matter how divine that privilidge is.
 
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Crusader:
You didn’t answer the question.

Try again if you like
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Ah, but you didn’t read the first line.
Personally, I cannot see going to a communion service if I can go to Mass instead.
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In other words, Mass wins hands down.

John
 
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Crusader:
It’s Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice that gives man eternal life, not consuming Holy Communion – not matter how divine that privilidge is.
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Crusader, as you pointed out in a previous post, some Protestants and Jews certainly achieve eternal life having never gone to Mass ORr recieved Holy Communion. The necessity of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary and its once-and-for-all affect of achieving our salvation is not in dispute. God does not limit Himself to the Sacraments for the disposal of His graces and salvation, even though (as we know) all graces flow through the Church in some way, and the Eucharist is the source and summit of this. What we seem to be arguing is whether it is better for the sanctification and edification of an individual to attend Mass or to recieve the Eucharist. I would say the latter, since the grace-effect of that Sacrament is completed by our worthy reception in Communion. Ideally, this would take place in the context of the Mass, which is our obligation.

STRICTLY speaking, the saving effect of the Eucharist can find a person whether he goes to Mass or not, whether he recieves communion or not. But one needs only to read John 6 to know how adamant Jesus was about the physical consumption of His Body and Blood, and the necessity of this for our sharing in the Divine Life. Our obligation to attain Mass notwithstanding, I would think that a baptized person should find it a HIGHER necessity to dispose himself to worthily recieve the Eucharist as regularly as possible.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crusader
*You didn’t answer the question.

Try again if you like*

Ah, but you didn’t read the first line.

**I did indeed. You failed to answer my question. Instead, you offered your own option.
**
Quote:
Personally, I cannot see going to a communion service if I can go to Mass instead.
In other words, Mass wins hands down.

**That’s axiomatic, but that’s not what I asked. Re-read #1 and try again.

**
 
Not a “difficult hypothetical” at all, pnewton’s got it right in one:
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pnewton:
No contest. Attending Mass. Why? Participation in Mass is required on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, communion is not.
Click to expand...
 
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tee_eff_em:
Not a “difficult hypothetical” at all, pnewton’s got it right in one:
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It’s an unfair question, but I think pnewton is seeing things rather clearly.
 
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