The Individual and the Group

[Jamie1001]

I’m new to CAF, so pardon my errors and lapses. I’m moved to respond to a post I read elsewhere about not taking the Eucharist. I, too, am not receiving Eucharist. The reason I’m not is because I’m not yet in accord with the Catholic faith. I’ve been a Catholic only one year, but I still wrestle with it. My question, however, is not about that, it’s about the effects of not taking Eucharist with everyone else, which happens at every single mass. The frequency of the Eucharist is disturbing. I guess I don’t really like taking the Eucharist. It strikes me as unsanitary and unnecessary. And it’s such a “groupie” thing to do, I feel as though I’m doing something wrong when I do not docilely follow along with the crowd, but instead follow my own conscience. How do you cope with going-it-alone feelings of isolation and alienation, which appear exceedingly UN-welcome in Catholicism?

 

[Zabby]

Well, I always believed that it was common practice for people who didn’t receive communion to go to the front with their arms crossed over their chest and receive a blessing. At least, that’s how it’s worked at every church I’ve been too.

Now not wanting to receive strikes me as kind of odd, but I’m sure you have valid reasons for it. It’s a tricky thing to get right, receiving the host and all. Although it’s anything but unnecessary. It’s the spiritual food that our souls live off of. It’s the source and summit of our Catholic faith. It’s Jesus there with you, and I don’t see how it’s unsanitary unless you’re talking about drinking out of the same chalice as others, but you get over that when you think about how it’s Jesus, and how awesome the sacrament is.

But seriously, don’t worry about what other people think about you not receiving because it’s not about what they think of you, it’s between you and God, and when you’re ready to take his body and blood, you will.

 

[Trishie]

Jamie it isn’t a groupie thing to receive Communion, we are meant to be united with Christ as brothers and sisters.

“The Eucharistic Sacrifice is the source and summit of the whole of the Church’s worship and of Christian life. The faithful participate more fully in the sacrament of thanksgiving, propitiation, petition and praise not only when they wholeheartedly offer the sacred Victim, and in it themselves to the Father with the priest, but also when they receive this same Victim sacramentally.” [Vatican 2 documents]

I could undertand you might feel uncomfortable in receiving from the chalice, but don’t get what is unsanitary about receiving the host. However you may find these sorts of reservations common to other areas of you life.

“It is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; for the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst.” [John 6:32-33, 35]

“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I in him…anyone who eats this bread will live forever.” [John 6:56, 58]

For “Jesus took some bread, and when He had said the blessing He broke it and gave it to His disciples. ‘Take it and eat,’ He said ‘this is My body.’ Then He took a cup, and when He had returned thanks, He gave it to them. ‘Drink all of you from this,’ He said, for this is My blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” [Matthew 26:26-28]

“The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ, and the bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ. The fact that there is only one loaf means that, though there are many of us, we form a single body.” [1Corinthians 10:15-18] “Now in Christ Jesus, you that used to be so very far apart from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For He is the peace between us.” [Ephesians 2:13-14]

God’s gift of redemption and Jesus’ heart-gift
Jesus, although we are often complacent regarding this gift of Your highest creative imagination, the Eucharist is Your heart-gift to humanity throughout time. You grant it for our spiritual nourishment and for our intimate communion with God, with Catholics throughout the ages and the nations, and with all saints in Heaven.

In the Mass You offer Yourself to God in reparation, thanksgiving, petition and praise on behalf of everyone who ever lives. I ask You, with the Holy Spirit, with the intercession of Your Mother, of all saints and angels, and of all souls, to offer the Mass for all persons in the highest way intended by God.

Thank You Jesus for this gift of Eucharist that is offered for everyone, even those who know nothing of this gift! The Eucharistic offering is never an isolated event or the prayer of any one person, but of all people. Therefore, in the Eucharist, I say ‘Amen’ to all Your hopes and dreams for everyone and everything that You intend in time and eternity.

The Mass is the only banquet to which one may invite countless souls from around the world throughout time. I invite the Angels of dear ones and of each other person living and in Purgatory, to share fully in the Eucharist as they proclaim ‘Amen’ to all the hopes and dreams that God has for each of these souls.

I wish my life to be a celebration of this heart-gift of Jesus who loves us each so much. For Jesus, Bread of Life, You are my pearl beyond price. I offer this pearl to the Father for each soul entrusted to me, and for all persons.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m new to CAF, so pardon my errors and lapses. I’m moved to respond to a post I read elsewhere about not taking the Eucharist. I, too, am not receiving Eucharist. The reason I’m not is because I’m not yet in accord with the Catholic faith. I’ve been a Catholic only one year, but I still wrestle with it. My question, however, is not about that, it’s about the effects of not taking Eucharist with everyone else, which happens at every single mass. The frequency of the Eucharist is disturbing. I guess I don’t really like taking the Eucharist. It strikes me as unsanitary and unnecessary. And it’s such a “groupie” thing to do, I feel as though I’m doing something wrong when I do not docilely follow along with the crowd, but instead follow my own conscience. How do you cope with going-it-alone feelings of isolation and alienation, which appear exceedingly UN-welcome in Catholicism?

I might recomend this. Go to Mass on Sunday as usual, but you do not have to receive Holy Communion, you do however have to attend Sunday Mass, or Saturday evening for Sunday. Then make a special trip on Wednesday morning noon for a weekday Mass and receive Holy communion with the smaller number of people and usually without the Chalice being offered to the laity.

 

[FickleFreckled]

Jamie, have you considered talking about your concerns with a priest? You’re not in this by yourself. You’re new to the faith and maybe your other concerns are keeping you from getting over this hump. The Eucharist is pivotal to the Catholic faith; it’s what it’s all about. It’s the most important thing that will strengthen your faith and draw you closer to God. That having been said, there are probably quite a few people at Mass who shouldn’t be going to Communion but do it anyway because they don’t want to stand out. You have the courage to stick to your convictions and that’s a wonderful thing. And anyone who says they don’t struggle deeply with their faith, or with Catholicism, at some point, is either not being honest or just hasn’t hit that point yet. Some people struggle all the time; the struggle can be proof of faith, too. God bless your journey!

 

[MomblessedX3]

I didn’t understand the Eucharist when I was younger and it seemed strange and I can see you do described it “like a ‘groupie’ thing,”

I suggest that you get some reading material and do some research regarding Catholic beliefs on the Eucharist. Once you fully understand it I can promise you that you will want to be first in line to receive it.

Recently I had to deny myself from recieving and I can’t even begin to tell you how hard that was for me and how special it is to be able to receive.

I urge you to do some research…you are denying yourself something precious. I am sure that many people on this forum can direct you to some things to read to help you understand.

God Bless to you in your journey.

 

[Jamie1001]

Many, many thanks to all who replied. I particularly appreciate your words of encouragement and support as I continue my journey deeper and deeper into the Catholic faith. As I wrote earlier, I am new to Catholicism. I still feel very new, very rough, very raw, even after two years in RCIA and another year as a fledgling Catholic. I was baptized, confirmed, and raised in the Episcopal tradition, but nothing quite prepared me for the challenge of the Catholic Eucharist. I like the idea very much of attending Sunday mass and receiving the Host but not the Chalice, followed by attending a weekday mass and also receiving the Host not the Chalice. This I can do anonymously, leaving the struggle to be worked out spiritually, possibly over a longer time than this impatient guy would like. I cannot return to the Episcopal Church because I’m deeply attracted to Catholic mysticism (Oneness with the Divine); to Jesus; to Mary, the Mother of God; and to the Holy Spirit, through which Oneness with Being, with the Absolute, with God occurs. But I’m so deeply flawed as a human being, so unworthy, I could devote every single day and night of the rest of my life and still be unworthy. I’m strongly attracted to monasticism, to the Cathusians, as a way to approach God, but this cannot be. The most I can hope for is to be a Benedictine oblate, which is available nearby. It’s very difficult to be a Catholic and to be a good Christian. I struggle almost every day with the evil one, but I seek only peace and oneness with the Divine. God bless you all for writing! Any further thoughts will also be deeply appreciated. Jamie