Take communion only if

[Anneymay]

I just have to ask a question that has plagued me for many many years regarding the rules of getting ready and/or being worthy to take Holy Communion.

Where in scripture does Jesus say, do this in memory of my…if? If you are Catholic. If you have been to confession and so on.

It is my understanding that our Father sent Jesus for all people. I have never seen anywhere in scripture where Jesus ever turned anyone away. He did infact seek out to help the town prostitute, tax collectors and so on because He said that the well people don’t need a doctor. So, why would communion only be for the few that are catholic and not everyone? Doesn’t this rule make a division between Jesus and man because the catholics “corner the market” on who is worthy to take communion?

 

[thedavidwilson]

I just have to ask a question that has plagued me for many many years regarding the rules of getting ready and/or being worthy to take Holy Communion.

Where in scripture does Jesus say, do this in memory of my…if? If you are Catholic. If you have been to confession and so on.

It is my understanding that our Father sent Jesus for all people. I have never seen anywhere in scripture where Jesus ever turned anyone away. He did infact seek out to help the town prostitute, tax collectors and so on because He said that the well people don’t need a doctor. So, why would communion only be for the few that are catholic and not everyone? Doesn’t this rule make a division between Jesus and man because the catholics “corner the market” on who is worthy to take communion?

The Catholic Church does not turn anyone away either, they welcome everyone. It is the individual that turns away from the Church and God’s love. Being in Communion with the Church and God is an act of the will of the individual. Jesus did welcome prostitutes, just as the Catholic Church does, but they did not continue to be prostitutes after their conversions; if they did, then by definition, they did not convert.

So the Catholic Church does welcome everyone, but there is an act of will required of the individual; a conversion that makes them in communion with the Body of Christ, the Catholic Church.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I just have to ask a question that has plagued me for many many years regarding the rules of getting ready and/or being worthy to take Holy Communion.

Where in scripture does Jesus say, do this in memory of my…if? If you are Catholic. If you have been to confession and so on.

It is my understanding that our Father sent Jesus for all people. I have never seen anywhere in scripture where Jesus ever turned anyone away. He did infact seek out to help the town prostitute, tax collectors and so on because He said that the well people don’t need a doctor. So, why would communion only be for the few that are catholic and not everyone? Doesn’t this rule make a division between Jesus and man because the catholics “corner the market” on who is worthy to take communion?

Dear friend:

It is not the Catholics who ‘deny’ communion’; it is the Protestants who by breaking away in protest have removed themselves.

Are the protestants now coming back in repentence, ready to ‘sin no more’ and to rejoin the Church? Remember, when Jesus allowed people to ‘come to him’, it was with the proviso that in coming to Him, they were not to **keep on sinning. ** Jesus offered forgiveness but you had to take up your cross and follow Him, not just stay wallowed in your sin.

Any Protestant who truly believes in the Real Presence of the Catholic Eucharist is more than welcome to become Catholic in order to participate. The Catholic Church is open to ANYBODY who wishes to join us. Just as Jesus was open to anybody who wished to follow Him.

 

[Lycorth]

Indeed. Like our Lord said, you do not put old wine into new wineskins, or else you will burst the new wineskins. Common sense alone tells us that you don’t put something clean into something dirty; you don’t put on dirty clothes when you get out of the shower and you don’t put your dinner onto dirty plates. You use clean vessels for your food and clean clothes for your body - the same goes for the Eucharist. You must be clean (which implies a number of things, such as being Catholic and being free of mortal sin, etc) or else you dishonor the Lord and invite sin upon yourself.

If there were no rules in place, one can only imagine the abuse of the Eucharist that would happen. Christ would hardly be thought of when Communion hosts are handed out like candy to anyone who wants one. With no firm belief in the Real Presence to assent to, no requirements of faith one must meet, the Eucharist becomes meaningless.

Besides, the Catholics didn’t “corner the market”, we were the market; the Church came first, then others broke away. That doesn’t give them the right to take the Lord’s sacraments away from the Church He intended us to have and pervert them.

 

[Victorious]

Where in scripture does Jesus say, do this in memory of my…if? If you are Catholic. If you have been to confession and so on.

It is my understanding that our Father sent Jesus for all people. I have never seen anywhere in scripture where Jesus ever turned anyone away. He did infact seek out to help the town prostitute, tax collectors and so on because He said that the well people don’t need a doctor. So, why would communion only be for the few that are catholic and not everyone? Doesn’t this rule make a division between Jesus and man because the catholics “corner the market” on who is worthy to take communion?

You’ve only got part of the picture. God does want to save all men; but we are not entitled to dictate the terms under which we will accept His mercy. Yes, Jesus came for the tax collectors and prostitutes; but they did not get to go on being tax collectors and prostitutes. 1 John 2:1-6:

My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Furthermore, the Holy Eucharist is not a symbol, but the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. Yes, you have to be an observing, believing Catholic who accepts all the teachings of the Church to receive it. 1 Corinthians 11:29:

For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.

And the Catholic church is not an exclusive club. Anyone who is willing to accept that she is the true Church, and all that she teaches, may enter. What’s stopping you?

 

[stuart12]

And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, This do in remembrance of Me, Luke 22:19 this is My body; and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, This is My blood; and gave it to them alone.’ (St. Justin, First Apology)

 

[whatischarity]

It is my understanding that our Father sent Jesus for all people. I have never seen anywhere in scripture where Jesus ever turned anyone away. He did infact seek out to help the town prostitute, tax collectors and so on because He said that the well people don’t need a doctor. So, why would communion only be for the few that are catholic and not everyone? Doesn’t this rule make a division between Jesus and man because the catholics “corner the market” on who is worthy to take communion?

Jesus did indeed come to save all mankind and for this reason He has been pictured as the Good Shepherd. After accepting Jesus as Redeemer through faith the next step is to be born again through water and the Holy Spirit to join His flock. Then the trouble begins since there are so many Christian organizations with various slants on the teachings of Christ. The Roman Catholic understanding of Holy Communion is significantly different than may other Christian denominations. To participate in the fundamental act of Roman Catholic worship it is necesary for the individual to assent to the beliefs of that Church. Now if your belief in what Holy Communion mirrors the belief of the Roman Catholic Church, why not join? By joining, you still are not worthy to receive Holy Communion since no one is worthy but Jesus still wants to share His Body and Blood with mankind through this sacrament because that is how He is which is really cool. Still, to do this one must meet some requirements similarly to the parable in the New Testament in which the necessity of wearing the wedding garment is very graphically illustrated since the guest that spurned wear one so insulted the host that the guest was bound and thrown out into the street.

Imagine life if there were only one Christian church! Unfortunately that is not the case and so questions like yours are possible. We still hope for the day when there is one flock and one Shepherd. Until then, people have to decide for themselves. I know a good choice!

 

[CMatt25]

I just have to ask a question that has plagued me for many many years regarding the rules of getting ready and/or being worthy to take Holy Communion.

Where in scripture does Jesus say, do this in memory of my…if? If you are Catholic. If you have been to confession and so on.

It is my understanding that our Father sent Jesus for all people. I have never seen anywhere in scripture where Jesus ever turned anyone away. He did infact seek out to help the town prostitute, tax collectors and so on because He said that the well people don’t need a doctor. So, why would communion only be for the few that are catholic and not everyone? Doesn’t this rule make a division between Jesus and man because the catholics “corner the market” on who is worthy to take communion?

Hi Anneymay, I’ll take tons of negative feedback on this but so be it. As a Catholic I couldn’t agree more.

Here’s the reason you never saw Jesus turning away. Because He told us He didn’t!

Jn 6:37 Everyone whom my Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me

So it just breaks my heart to see us not opening Communion to all. As the prayer just before Communion says, Lord I am not worthy to receive but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Yet we deny those who are called by His Father to come to Him.

And yes everyone I understand and am not ignorant as to what the Church teaches. But I still find this one of the saddest things about our Church.

 

[stuart12]

Hi Anneymay, I’ll take tons of negative feedback on this but so be it. As a Catholic I couldn’t agree more.

Here’s the reason you never saw Jesus turning away. Because He told us He didn’t!

Jn 6:37 Everyone whom my Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me

So it just breaks my heart to see us not opening Communion to all. As the prayer just before Communion says, Lord I am not worthy to receive but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Yet we deny those who are called by His Father to come to Him.

And yes everyone I understand and am not ignorant as to what the Church teaches. But I still find this one of the saddest things about our Church.

Our Lord turns no one away from receiving Him, those who are unable to receive turn away from Him. Anyone can enter the Church, no one is barred. Those who can’t receive (even though they are Catholic) can’t because they have commited a mortal sin (or their own free will) and are unrepentent. Anyone can repent and turn to the Lord.

 

[CMatt25]

Our Lord turns no one away from receiving Him, those who are unable to receive turn away from Him. Anyone can enter the Church, no one is barred. Those who can’t receive (even though they are Catholic) can’t because they have commited a mortal sin (or their own free will) and are unrepentent. Anyone can repent and turn to the Lord.

I didn’t say our Lord does. But our Church representing our Lord attempts to turn away from receiving, those called to Him. Who needs Him more than the sinner afterall? But that’s neither here nor there. We will never agree on this and I am not interested in debating it. And as I said I understand what the Church says about it. Peace.

 

[rwoehmke]

Hi Anneymay, I’ll take tons of negative feedback on this but so be it. As a Catholic I couldn’t agree more.
Jn 6:37 Everyone whom my Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me
So it just breaks my heart to see us not opening Communion to all. As the prayer just before Communion says, Lord I am not worthy to receive but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Coming to Jesus implies a little more than walking up to the communion rail or whatever. It means joining his Church and being baptized. Don’t feel bad because non-Catholics cannot receive our Lord in communion, they are those who refuse to join the Church he founded. Its na self inflicted problem.

 

[ProVobis]

I didn’t say our Lord does. But our Church representing our Lord attempts to turn away from receiving, those called to Him. Who needs Him more than the sinner afterall? But that’s neither here nor there. We will never agree on this and I am not interested in debating it. And as I said I understand what the Church says about it. Peace.

What have you got against St. Paul whose epistles Christians try to accept? Why do we bother with those readings at the same Eucharist where Christ gives Himself to us, sacramentally and spiritually? And what’s wrong with Spiritual Communion, which the Council of Trent taught was second best to inappropriate reception of the sacrament?

 

[CDNowak]

[BIBLEDRB]Mt 7:6[/BIBLEDRB]
[BIBLEDRB]1 Cor 11:26-29[/BIBLEDRB]

If they are called, let them come, but they must only enter through the narrow gate.

 

[CMatt25]

What have you got against St. Paul?

I’m not debating but since you asked a question. Nothing. If you’re talking about Paul saying we receive unworthily by not discerning, not all agree in a physical presence but I think most baptized Christians probably discern Christ sacrificed His body and blood for us. I know that’s not good enough for you not to deny someone. But it’s enough for me not to. God bless and peace.

 

[Victorious]

So it just breaks my heart to see us not opening Communion to all. As the prayer just before Communion says, Lord I am not worthy to receive but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Yet we deny those who are called by His Father to come to Him.

And yes everyone I understand and am not ignorant as to what the Church teaches. But I still find this one of the saddest things about our Church.

Communion is a sign of, and requires, unity – unity with Christ and with His Bride, the Church. This unity does not exist in the case of non-Catholics. The dichotomy between Christ and His Church is a false one.

And we do not deny those who are called by His Father to come to Him. Anyone may join the Catholic Church. What you would have the Church do is accommodate people who want to remain wedded to their own errors and who will not accept salvation except on their own terms. For the Church to do that would be a betrayal of her mission.

If, as you say, you are not ignorant of what the Church teaches, then the only alternative explanation for your point of view is that you refuse to believe what she teaches. That only increases your blameworthiness.

 

[jmcrae]

I just have to ask a question that has plagued me for many many years regarding the rules of getting ready and/or being worthy to take Holy Communion.

Where in scripture does Jesus say, do this in memory of my…if? If you are Catholic. If you have been to confession and so on.

It is my understanding that our Father sent Jesus for all people. I have never seen anywhere in scripture where Jesus ever turned anyone away. He did infact seek out to help the town prostitute, tax collectors and so on because He said that the well people don’t need a doctor. So, why would communion only be for the few that are catholic and not everyone? Doesn’t this rule make a division between Jesus and man because the catholics “corner the market” on who is worthy to take communion?

It was Jesus who said, If you are in a dispute with your brother, leave your gift on the Altar, go back to your brother, and reconcile with him, before making your offering. So, yes, Jesus said, (in different words) Go to Confession (also known as Reconciliation, or being reconciled), before partaking of the Sacrifice of the Altar which is Holy Communion.

At the Last Supper, it was the founding members of the Catholic Church who were given the authority to “Do this in remembrance of Me.” There were no non-Catholics present there.

The Catholic Church does not turn anyone away. Anyone can become a Catholic - prostitutes, tax collectors, and even Pharisees - but it is assumed that they have all repented, and are no longer living in sin. Jesus never told any tax collector or prostitute to go ahead and continue in their sins - He said, “you are forgiven. Now, go and sin no more.”

 

[jmcrae]

I didn’t say our Lord does. But our Church representing our Lord attempts to turn away from receiving, those called to Him. Who needs Him more than the sinner afterall? But that’s neither here nor there. We will never agree on this and I am not interested in debating it. And as I said I understand what the Church says about it. Peace.

The Confessional is right there, next to the Altar. There is nothing stopping a Catholic from entering the Confessional, receiving Christ’s forgiveness for his sins, and being able to receive Holy Communion.

It is a little more challenging for a non-Catholic, because understanding and conversion of heart are necessary, and these things take time, but no one is ever turned away.

 

[Aramis]

It should be noted that canon law permits the Orthodox to receive, licitly, if their own praxis permits. This has been allowed for since 1917… but until the 1984 revised CIC, few were aware of this. (The implication is that, like a palsied limb, the Orthodox are part of the church’s body, but one that acts on its own in imperfect union to the body as a whole.)

 

[CMatt25]

The Confessional is right there, next to the Altar. There is nothing stopping a Catholic from entering the Confessional, receiving Christ’s forgiveness for his sins, and being able to receive Holy Communion.

It is a little more challenging for a non-Catholic, because understanding and conversion of heart are necessary, and these things take time, but no one is ever turned away.

Better yet His forgiveness is not limited to only the confessional next to the altar. God is right there with us 24/7, wherever a Catholic or non-Catholic is. It’s not challenging to receive Christ’s forgiveness unless you make it so. He already met the challenge for us, paid the ultimate price, and overcame death by His Resurrection. Peace.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Better yet His forgiveness is not limited to only the confessional next to the altar. God is right there with us 24/7, wherever a Catholic or non-Catholic is. It’s not challenging to receive Christ’s forgiveness unless you make it so. He already met the challenge for us, paid the ultimate price, and overcame death by His Resurrection. Peace.

Why are you attempting to raise up a false idea that Catholics ‘limit’ God’s forgiveness ‘only to the confessional’ while God ‘forgives’ outside and everywhere 24/7?

If you haven’t forgotten, Catholic Christian teaching is that confession of mortal sins is the norm but that if that cannot be met, one may make an act of Perfect Contrition. Of course, that is made with the idea that as soon as possible one then proceeds to sacramental confession.

Your statements imply that Catholic teaching ‘impedes’ us from receiving Christ’s forgiveness because WE have ‘made it too challenging’ with our ‘insistence’ on confession. . .but you’re a Catholic yourself. . .you really should know better.

I say this with respect and certainly not wishing to in any way ‘turn’ someone from the true faith. . .

But seriously. . .Christ warned us about ‘lukewarm’ people --and many of today’s upholders of the "gospel of relativism’ are lukewarm.

Make your yes ‘yes’ and your no ‘no.’ If you believe the Catholic faith you need to believe–and uphold–all of it. No picking and choosing, no backbiting, no "I’m a Catholic but I believe it’s not all ‘right’.

If you do not believe the ‘whole faith’ you put yourself in danger, not because ‘I’ say so but because God Himself says so. Don’t wind up with the goats bleating that “I expelled demons in your name, Jesus” while He tells you that He never knew you. Don’t you think those goats were pretty ‘damn’ sure that they ‘had it right’ even though they went about picking and choosing and ignoring things like actually doing what Christ told them to do and instead decided to only ‘pick and choose’ what THEY wanted? They wanted the glamor and glitz and the ‘look at me’, not the hard work and never being ‘recognized’. They wanted to be looked on as the ‘powerful ones’, the ‘smart ones’, not the quiet and obedient ones.