Salvation without the Eucharist?

[adf417]

The Catholic Church teaches that you do not necessarily have to be Catholic to be granted salvation correct? I believe the CC also states even non-Christians could be granted salvation. Does this acknowledgement by the church not automatically minimize the importance of the Holy Eucharist - our “source & summit of Christian life"?

 

[promethius]

The Catholic Church teaches that you do not necessarily have to be Catholic to be granted salvation correct? I believe the CC also states even non-Christians could be granted salvation. Does this acknowledgement by the church not automatically minimize the importance of the Holy Eucharist - our “source & summit of Christian life"?

Actually, the church teaches that only catholics will be saved, but that by the will of God people may be catholics who are not members of the church visible… though this group is, theologically speaking and in the modern day of the age of information, most likely small and in no way a sure thing (rather, it throws itself as a gamble solely on the mercy of God)

 

[opus101]

No. They are saved through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, which is the Holy Mass.The Vat. II document says this is the way they are saved “whether they know it or not”.

 

[adf417]

Actually, the church teaches that only catholics will be saved, but that by the will of God people may be catholics who are not members of the church visible… though this group is, theologically speaking and in the modern day of the age of information, most likely small and in no way a sure thing (rather, it throws itself as a gamble solely on the mercy of God)

Yes so doesn’t this minimize the importance of the Eucharist?

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Yes so doesn’t this minimize the importance of the Eucharist?

No, in a way it emphasizes it.

The ‘good thief’ on the cross was assured He would be with Jesus in paradise, even though we have no idea if said thief was baptized. Does that diminish baptism’s importance? And certainly the good thief never received the Eucharist. Does that diminish the Eucharist?

No, because the good thief was an example not of the NORM but of the EXCEPTION.

Instead of making the Eucharist or Baptism into some ‘esoteric’ rite which would diminish them into superstitions so that only the ‘action’ counted, and not the heart, the MISTAKEN idea that once . .‘I received the Catholic eucharist, therefore I am guaranteed salvation even if I murder, cheat, lie and steal for my life long and NEVER REPENT. . .’ (obviously wrong)

God shows that He has provided all for us, and that even in the rare cases (and hopefully as Scripture and the Church teach, the cases which will diminish until that great and glorious day when ALL will be members of Christ’s holy church and will live as He called us to do and will be fed forever with the Living Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, for eternity) where a person through no fault of his/her own did not have the opportunity to learn of Christ or to receive His sacraments, but rather would, if he/she had known, gladly and freely become Christian and embraced those gifts God gave us. . .in these RARE cases God will mercifully judge the heart of that person and grant them salvation DESPITE the person’s not being ABLE on earth to partake of the NORMATIVE agents God gave; the Catholic Church and the Eucharist. We call this “baptism of desire.”

If any person had a choice, “You can have a baptism in water and the Holy Spirit on earth, become Catholic, receive the Eucharist, and follow the teachings of Christ knowing that you will thus have the complete fullness of truth” OR you can live a life without knowing Christ at all, yet IF you truly try to love God with the LIMITED knowledge you have you can HOPE that God will choose in MERCY to save you anyway". . .do you think most people would say, “Oh hey, then I’ll choose the SECOND option!”

 

[dcrowmik]

Does this acknowledgement by the church not automatically minimize the importance of the Holy Eucharist - our “source & summit of Christian life"?

False. The Church mandates the faithful to receive the Eucharist. After all, Jesus tells us that he who does not eat my body or drink my blood will not have everlasting life. See more here.

 

[opus101]

Anyone from anywhere at any time in history is saved by the Eucharist, as the Mass is a participation in the Sacrifice of Calvary. The fact that non-Catholics can be saved does not minimize the importance of this one sacrifice, it actually depends on it! Christ is the “center of the universe and of history” (Pope John Paul II). All saved peoples before and after His time here on earth were/are/going to be saved through His sacrifice, which is the Eucharist, whether they knew/know about it or not.

 

[adf417]

No, in a way it emphasizes it.

If any person had a choice, “You can have a baptism in water and the Holy Spirit on earth, become Catholic, receive the Eucharist, and follow the teachings of Christ knowing that you will thus have the complete fullness of truth” OR you can live a life without knowing Christ at all, yet IF you truly try to love God with the LIMITED knowledge you have you can HOPE that God will choose in MERCY to save you anyway". . .do you think most people would say, “Oh hey, then I’ll choose the SECOND option!”

I understand your point from the “he could not possibly know any better” point of view but what about the ones that do. I’m speaking of the people who have left the church as an adult. To me leaving the church, as an adult, is not only nullifying your confirmation commitment but it is slapping it in the face.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I understand your point from the “he could not possibly know any better” point of view but what about the ones that do. I’m speaking of the people who have left the church as an adult. To me leaving the church, as an adult, is not only nullifying your confirmation commitment but it is slapping it in the face.

Maybe, but that wasn’t your original question. You didn’t ask about people who leave the church as adults,; in fact, you referenced ‘non-Christians’ in your original post. you ask if salvation without the Eucharist (which is NOT the same thing) doesn’t ‘denigrate the Eucharist’.

It does not.

 

[adf417]

Maybe, but that wasn’t your original question. You didn’t ask about people who leave the church as adults,; in fact, you referenced ‘non-Christians’ in your original post. you ask if salvation without the Eucharist (which is NOT the same thing) doesn’t ‘denigrate the Eucharist’.

It does not.

Yep, sorry I ran that rabbit.

 

[jimrob]

Jesus taught that those who love him will be saved.
He also taught: “If you love me, keep my commandments”
The Eucharist was founded at the Last Supper where Jesus commanded us to “Do this in memory of me.”

Salvation may be possible without the Eucharist, but those of us who are aware of Jesus’s teaching and commandments have no excuse for disobeying them.