SPLIT: Please explain Catholic communion

[gmaw1944]

If the Bible says that Jesus’ words were - “do this in remembrance of me,” is that not symbolic? Also how does the wine & bread turn into the body & blood of Christ and then not taste like flesh & blood?

We are Baptist and our son has married a Catholic (she is born again as we are. Of that I have no doubt) Their daughter is in first grade this year and Lee (daughter-in-law) wants her to go to classes and take her first communion. she goes to Christian School and is being taught Biblical tenants which conflict a great deal with the Catholic traditions as taught in the catechism.

I do not want to cause any conflict but I am concerned about the confusion that she will undoubtedly experience. When asked my comment has been it is her parent’s decision. That being said, I know she will be taught at school that our relationship with Jesus comes first and that the Bible is the only inerrant, inspired Word of God.

So right away, we have a problem. The Bible says that all have sinned (original sin) and no where does it say that baptism takes that away. But in order to make a first communion, she has to be free of original sin.

And that is just for starters. So - please help me to understand how these 2 things are not going to fill her with confusion (God is not the author of confusion according to the bible)

Maybe I need a few hours with a priest so I can ask the many questions I have. I love my daughter-in-law very much and I don’t want to hurt her in any way.

Thanks

 

[ConstantineTG]

If the Bible says that Jesus’ words were - “do this in remembrance of me,” is that not symbolic?

Read John 6 and tell me if that is symbolic.

Also how does the wine & bread turn into the body & blood of Christ and then not taste like flesh & blood?

God makes it possible so as not to offend our human senses. Also, how do you know what the Body and Blood of Christ tastes like? With whom do you compare it to? No one else here possesses a glorified body.

We are Baptist and our son has married a Catholic (she is born again as we are. Of that I have no doubt) Their daughter is in first grade this year and Lee (daughter-in-law) wants her to go to classes and take her first communion. she goes to Christian School and is being taught Biblical tenants which conflict a great deal with the Catholic traditions as taught in the catechism.

I do not want to cause any conflict but I am concerned about the confusion that she will undoubtedly experience. When asked my comment has been it is her parent’s decision. That being said, I know she will be taught at school that our relationship with Jesus comes first and that the Bible is the only inerrant, inspired Word of God.

So right away, we have a problem. The Bible says that all have sinned (original sin) and no where does it say that baptism takes that away. But in order to make a first communion, she has to be free of original sin.

The Bible says that in Baptism we die with Christ that like Christ we may be born again into a new creation. Our old self is done away with and a new self replaces the old self that is no longer slaves to sin. So baptism does away the old self and enslavement to sin, which is the removal of Original Sin. Romans 6

And that is just for starters. So - please help me to understand how these 2 things are not going to fill her with confusion (God is not the author of confusion according to the bible)

Maybe I need a few hours with a priest so I can ask the many questions I have. I love my daughter-in-law very much and I don’t want to hurt her in any way.

Thanks

A proper instructor would ensure that she is not confused. If one takes time to learn Catholic teachings, its actually makes a lot of sense. Non-Catholics don’t take that time and often lean on generalizations to make wrong assumptions of the Catholic faith.

 

[thistle]

If the Bible says that Jesus’ words were - “do this in remembrance of me,” is that not symbolic? Also how does the wine & bread turn into the body & blood of Christ and then not taste like flesh & blood?

We are Baptist and our son has married a Catholic (she is born again as we are. Of that I have no doubt) Their daughter is in first grade this year and Lee (daughter-in-law) wants her to go to classes and take her first communion. she goes to Christian School and is being taught Biblical tenants which conflict a great deal with the Catholic traditions as taught in the catechism.

I do not want to cause any conflict but I am concerned about the confusion that she will undoubtedly experience. When asked my comment has been it is her parent’s decision. That being said, I know she will be taught at school that our relationship with Jesus comes first and that the Bible is the only inerrant, inspired Word of God.

So right away, we have a problem. The Bible says that all have sinned (original sin) and no where does it say that baptism takes that away. But in order to make a first communion, she has to be free of original sin.

And that is just for starters. So - please help me to understand how these 2 things are not going to fill her with confusion (God is not the author of confusion according to the bible)

Maybe I need a few hours with a priest so I can ask the many questions I have. I love my daughter-in-law very much and I don’t want to hurt her in any way.

Thanks

socrates58.blogspot.com/2007/07/catholic-answers-for-protestant.html
catholic.com/video/biblical-evidence-for-the-real-presence
catholic.com/tracts/the-real-presence

catholic.com/magazine/articles/baptism-saves-you
catholic.com/tracts/born-again-in-baptism
catholic.com/tracts/baptismal-grace
socrates58.blogspot.com/2006/11/baptism-sacramentalism-index-page.html

 

[Jean_Anthony]

aaa

 

[1ke]

Well, of course it is problematic. The problem seems to be her attendance at a non-Catholic school. The parents are raising their child Catholic, and it certainly is confusing to have her learn things that are in opposition to the Catholic faith.

 

[Farsight001]

If the Bible says that Jesus’ words were - “do this in remembrance of me,” is that not symbolic?

I’ll just address this. What makes it symbolic? I hear the statement that it is symbolic because it is to be done in “remembrance”, but really, ask yourself - what about the word “remembrance” makes something symbolic? I’ve never heard that “remembrance” makes something just symbolic in any context before. Such an idea is foreign to the meaning of the word.

 

[fhansen]

From my understanding Baptists have attempted to simply the faith, paring things down to what they believe the bible tells us is essential. The problem is that we can’t necessarily depend on the bible to do such a thing-it was never intended for that purpose. So someone can read John chap 6 and come away with one interpretation-someone else can come away with a different one. So it becomes necessary to know the practices of the early church. And when we do so, we find that the Catholic Church’s claim to be in continuity down through the centuries with the early Church on this matter is absolutely valid.

**“Consider how contrary to the mind of God are the heterodox in regard to the grace of God which has come to us. They have no regard for charity, none for the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, none for the man in prison, the hungry or the thirsty. They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not admit that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, the flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in His graciousness, raised from the dead.”
St Ignatius of Antioch, “Letter to the Smyrnaeans”, paragraph 6. circa 80-110 A.D.

“This food we call the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ handed down to us. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink; but as Jesus Christ our Savior being incarnate by God’s Word took flesh and blood for our salvation, so also we have been taught that the food consecrated by the Word of prayer which comes from him, from which our flesh and blood are nourished by transformation, is the flesh and blood of that incarnate Jesus.”
St Justin Martyr, “First Apology”, Ch. 66, inter A.D. 148-155.

“God has therefore announced in advance that all the sacrifices offered in His name, which Jesus Christ offered, that is, in the Eucharist of the Bread and of the Chalice, which are offered by us Christians in every part of the world, are pleasing to Him.”
St Justin Martyr, “Dialogue with Trypho”, Ch. 117, circa 130-160 A.D
**
These are just a few of many such quotes that show the same attitude towards and reverence for the Eucharist as we have in today’s Catholic Church

**Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God 1for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1Pet 3:21

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. John 3:5
**
And this practice also coincides with the early fathers and how the CC has always and everywhere practiced the faith.