What is the benefit of eating Jesus' flesh and blood?

[rcwitness]

The RCIA program formalized the process of entry into the Catholic Church, with new people entering at Easter.

However, prior to RCIA, individual pastors did the instruction process and when they felt the new people were ready, he gave them permission to start receiving Holy Communion.

So, interested folks should have a chat with their pastor to see what he says.

[It is possible that the pastor is under orders to follow guidance from his bishop or orders from the bureaucracy regarding RCIA … but maybe not. It’s worth starting a dialog.]

That’s cool to consider. I know it is a stumbling block for many looking to become Catholic. Why there is such a wait, that is. I see both sides of this. For one, I don’t like to think of it as just waiting. We are forming our understanding and knowledge about the deepest Sacrament we hold. It should not be viewed as a “red traffic light”, but meeting with and fellowshiping with the members of the House of God (or Body of Christ) that the Lord has appointed to preside over the meal. It is part of receiving the metaphorical bread of heaven too! But those who are genuine and mature Christians, who have done their study and exhibit a prepared frame of heart, should be considered ready to receive. Its good to hear sometimes Parish directors are given this option.

This is the answer to your question.

Yes, that was a good answer. But I like to hear personal views and insight. There are too many benefits to Our Eucharist to sum up in one sentence. In Christ, is hidden the whole treasure of wisdom!

I could be way off base here, but to me the Mass feels like a wedding of heaven and earth, God and humanity. In the Eucharist, Jesus gives Himself to each of us, and even to me personally, just as a bridegroom pledges himself to his bride. Just like a human wedding, the consummation of the marriage takes place after the ceremony, the Consummation of God wedding humanity will be at the end of time. So Mass is a foretaste of heaven for me, when I experience Jesus’ love and He gives Himself to me in an intimate friendship that conforms me to Him a little more each time I receive worthily. The fact that He is physically present is central to this,** because what groom could pledge himself without being physically present at the wedding?** The eating of His flesh is what actually accomplishes His work in me. His flesh is extraordinary food, which sustains not only my body, but strengthens grace in my soul. It also prepares me for heaven.
Sorry to ramble a bit, but my thoughts tend to play around the edges of the wonderful mystery of the Eucharist.

That is really cool! That’s what I mean, it is nice to hear personal views. You cannot ramble too much about this. We should ramble more about this I like what I bolded.

I hope Catholics share more. We should be able to express this as being prepared to give account of the faith, hope, and love we have in Our Lord.

Thanks all,
Michael

 

[JamesCaruso]

The benefit of eating Jesus’ flesh and blood was stated by Jesus:

Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.

Who needs more that that?

Some of you have talked about why it is different than receiving Jesus symbolically. The way I see this is that if it were the same, Jesus would not have insisted that we eat his flesh and blood. From His statement I gather that eating His flesh and blood has transformative power. And that’s what I need, transformative power. I need something that will make me more like Him, and less like me, or to look at it the other way around, more like the person I was meant to be. Trying to imitate Him helps. Trying to follow His will helps. But somehow I believe that since He says that it, and it alone, causes us to have life in us, it must be more powerful than anything else I can do, and in fact, I hope and believe that it will lead me to imitating Him and following His will both more closely. It’s got to be the most important miracle in this or any century, and it happens continuously around the world 24/7. Everywhere people are witnessing the miracle of the Eucharist and partaking of Jesus’ Body and Blood. Think of it!

When I was a child I wished that I had been born a contemporary of Jesus and was able to walk around with Him, listen to Him and witness His miracles. This is better! He actually becomes a part of me. This is far better!

PS-- But I still want to walk around with Him, listen to Him and witness His miracles.

 

[Brywan]

The benefit of doing what Jesus Christ commanded us to do should be benefit enough for ANYONE.

There ARE other benefits, but every Christian should be beholden to that one, if nothing else…

Agreed! One of my Protestant in-laws wanted to know what difference it made for me to be Catholic–did the sacraments give me more joy, more peace, more holiness, etc etc etc. I understand why she might be curious about that, but for me, the benefit of being Catholic, of receiving the Eucharist, is that it’s TRUE. It’s the truth. And as you said, it’s what Jesus commanded. If there were no “benefits” at all attached to the sacraments (although there are!) obedience to Christ should be reason enough…

 

[cheezey]

Agreed! One of my Protestant in-laws wanted to know what difference it made for me to be Catholic–did the sacraments give me more joy, more peace, more holiness, etc etc etc. I understand why she might be curious about that, but for me, the benefit of being Catholic, of receiving the Eucharist, is that *it’s TRUE. It’s the truth. * And as you said, it’s what Jesus commanded. If there were no “benefits” at all attached to the sacraments (although there are!) obedience to Christ should be reason enough…

I have a question. When did you first realize/appreciate/know the truth?
(I am a newbie!! Questions like these help me!!

 

[Monte_RCMS]

That was kinda confusing!
I do use the term **Breaking of Bread **to speak in biblical terms, and yes to relate to bible alone Christians. But it is still the same thing we are doing. Mass, Eucharist, Communion, Lambs Supper and Breaking the Bread are all similar terms involving the Sacrament. They each have varying specifics associated, maybe.
I would not let your anxieties to receive let you think that you are unfulfilled at this point in your journey. It is the Lord’s desire for you to be patient and have proper fellowship and formation (even if it is in humble submission to the program, if the unfortunate situation of bad catechesis is being given to you). Your heart and eyes are to be fixed on the Spirit of the Father calling you. If you are invited to a dinner, you do not rush to the table, but meet the other guests and respect the host in dinner preparations.

Michael

Writing as a life-long and fairly well-read Catholic, I can not recall ever using the expressions “Breaking of Bread” or “Lambs Supper” … ever … until we got into certain “ecumenical issues” after Vatican II.

In my opinion, those expressions take away from / detract from the mystical mystery nature of Transubstantiation.

[By the way, what also “hurt” … after Vatican II … was the relentless incessant music during Communion … deliberately creating an innovation … which the innovators said was required to create a “hubbub”.] [not making that up.]

We are supposed to be approaching the reception of [not “taking”] the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus with a certain amount of fear and trembling. This is GOD, we are talking about.

[Today, **somewhere around 2/3 of Catholics have no idea about The Real Presence. They have never been told. And they are … in many ways …not properly disposed … priests even complain to me about people chewing gum!!! while coming up to Receive Him.]

The silence of walking up to Him allowed us to prepare ourselves … to make an act of contrition. “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof” … they got rid of that, too … although now, finally, after 50 years, they finally brought that back.

We used to receive Him on our KNEES and we NEVER touched His Body and His Blood.

We received Him on our tongues, placed there by the priest, and protected by an altar boy [future priest, perhaps] holding a GOLD-plated paten in the remote case that a Consecrated Host fell.

[Not that remote a happening under the revised practices … God help us.]

Anyway … something to think about.

Recently, attended a presentation by a Ukrainian Catholic priest who described the differences in the Divine Liturgy between the Eastern rite and the post-Vatican II Latin/Roman rite.

Very interesting because the priest celebrated the Mass somewhat separated from the people and only came to the people to distribute Holy Communion … on the tongue … they seem to have escaped some of the “changes” that took place after Vatican II.