Talking to Husband about the Eucharist

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AngelRose81

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This may not be the right place to post this, so please move it if it isn’t.

Anyway…

My husband (who is Protestant) and myself (being confirmed at Easter Vigil) have been discussing aspects of the Catholic faith a lot lately. Last night I was explaining to him about the Eucharist…things like why only Catholics are allowed to recieve and we discussed Eucharistic Adoration, since I went the other day. He says he understands why only Catholics are allowed to recieve but he still sees it as just a symbol and when we were talking about Eucharistic Adoration he said “So you’re worshiping bread”. It really upset me that he said that. I kept saying NO. That’s JESUS!!! Anyway, is there a book or website or article I can show him that discusses this in more detail? I’ve quoted scripture to him and shown him scripture but that doesn’t seem to be enough. Does anyone have any suggestions?? Thanks so much!!
 
I’d begin with John chapter 6.

The catholic.com tracts - free right on this website - are very good.

Many books written by converts (might be helpful to know what BRAND of Protestant your DH is to make more specific suggestions…)

Of course, the Holy Father’s latest writings on the Eucharist are simply beautiful! You can find them at www.vatican.va
 
Scott Hahn wrote a great book called the Lamb’s Supper about the mass, with special emphasis on the Eucharist. As you probably know, Scott Hahn was formerly Protestant, so he incorporates special explanations that are particularly interesting to Protestants.
 
If your husband is a Christian, the best thing he could do would be to prayerfully meditate on the scripture readings involving the Eucharist. The entire 6th chapter of John’s gospel, including what led up to the Eucharistic discourse, the institution narratives, especially that given in 1-Corinthians by Paul, who warns his flock to take the words literally, the appearance of Jesus to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Then he might profit from Rod Bennet’s short book, “Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words.”
 
kage_ar said:
I’d begin with John chapter 6.

(might be helpful to know what BRAND of Protestant your DH is to make more specific suggestions…)

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I tried that and he thinks that it is still just a symbol.

He is United Methodist but his family raised him like the old Evangelical Bretheren Church, which he said was similar to Baptist before it merged with the Methodist to form the UMC. Hope that helps.
 
I would also ask him to read some of the earliest writings on The Eucharist…from the Early Church Fathers. These were the people who were taught DIRECTLY by the Apostles. They believed in the Real Presence.

It has been my experience that when one points out to one of our seperated brethren that the Catholic Church practices and believes exactly like the FIRST CHRISTIANS practiced and believed it makes a strong impression.

I will keep you both in my prayers…and welcome home to Rome!
 
Thanks so much for your responses. They are great and have given me lots of information to use, not just with him but with anyone who may ask. Thanks again, you all are great!!!

👍
 
As a very logical person, I can understand how your husband would insist that Eucharistic adoration is akin to idol worship.

Think about it: IF (and this is a hypothetical sort of if) the Eucharist is simply a symbol, then Eucharistic adoration makes no sense whatsoever. Put yourself in his shoes. Suppose he has to go away for business, and gives you a stuffed animal to cuddle with while he is gone. You might look at it and feel special, or even cuddle it to get comfortable- but you would never dream of having a relationship with it.

Now let’s mix it up a little more, and remember I’m just making this up to illustrate a point. Your husband tells you that he will actually be present as this stuffed animal, between 10pm and 6am as long as he is away, in the same way Jesus is present in the Eucharist. You think this is crazy talk, but he insists so much that he has you convinced, sort of, that he isn’t making this up. You might snuggle that stuffed animal a little closer, but still no relationship. This is probably as far as your husband’s understanding of the Real Presence goes.

One step further, and you begin believing in your heart of hearts that your husband really and truly is present in that stuffed animal the same way Jesus is present in the Eucharist. You would probably treat that animal differently, talk to it, kiss it- really have a relationship with it, because it IS your husband while he can’t be with you. This final scenario is where you are with the Eucharist.

My point is this: in order to make any progress, God has to give your husband, and hubby has to accept, the grace to get to that third stage of knowing in his heart of hearts that the Eucharist transcends all logic so that Jesus can be truly present to us in the form of bread and wine.
 
Another thought, begin it as an historical research project. Study the ECFs, the earliest Christian writings, study secular documents from the 1st century - try to see what the earliest dates you can find for the belief in symbolic “communion” and the earliest belief in the Real Presence.

Really dig into history together…
 
vluvski said:
As a very logical person, I can understand how your husband would insist that Eucharistic adoration is akin to idol worship.
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That is a lot of why he thinks they way he does sometimes. He is a VERY logical person. He’s an attorney so I guess that may be part of it. 🙂

I just really want him to understand my beliefs so that he doesn’t call me an idol worshiper or something to the effect one day. I’m afraid that the influence that his parents have on him might cause that. They are very good “bible-believing” Baptists. I just want to make sure he knows what I do in case they ever confront him about it. And also, I just basically want him to fully understand my beliefs. That’s the main thing.
 
ok - this might help…ask him to read the book The Four Witnesses by Rod Bennet. If he is a lawyer and used to logical thinking this may help him understand that to NOT believe in the Real Presence is to be out of step with what the FIRST Christians believed…
 
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