What to tell Catholic who doesn't believe in the real presence?

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Veronica97

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I have a close family member who wasn’t going to Mass but now has been faithfully going to Mass for several months. She is not going to communion however and knows she needs to go to confession before she can receive communion again (because she missed Mass for quite awhile). However, this person tells me that she’s happy just to be at Mass and pray and be part of a faith community and doesn’t really miss Communion. That tells me she must not believe in the Real Presence or she would miss it terribly. Should I say anything to this person or should I just continue to pray for her?
 
I wouldn’t be so sure that she doesn’t believe in the real presence in a willed/intentional way, it may simply be that she lacks understanding and would be glad of the fuller understanding of her catholic faith and you appreciate you help.

Alternately sin blinds us to the reality of supernatural truths as it can blind our conscience to the effects of truth and right reason, a life of regular prayer, sacramental confession, and the graces received from simply being at Holy Mass may change her understanding of this one by itself. I would gently try to clarify if I was you before I took any action on the matter one way or another.
 
If this were intellectual, I would give you the right Bible passage for her, however, that is not the case. Pray for her and gently encourage her.
 
There are also few video of the Eucharist miracle, you can google.
 
She doesn’t believe in the Real Presence but won’t receive because she knows she shouldn’t without confession? Don’t be so sure she doesn’t believe deep down in her heart. She, at the very least, respects it. Pray for her is all I can say.
 
If you can get access to it, the segment on the Eucharist and the Real Presence in Fr. Barron’s “Catholicism” series is wonderful.
 
Veronica97 said:
She is not going to communion however and ***knows she needs to go to confession ***before she can receive communion again
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I would be gentle and pray very much for her. The underlying reason may be that she has great reluctance or even fear of going to confession.
 
Maybe she’s struggling with a personal sin in her heart, and she respects the Eucharist so much, she needs to work her way through the issue to her her own satisfaction. I would pray for her, maybe make a Novena.
 
105lynne said:
She doesn’t believe in the Real Presence but won’t receive because she knows she shouldn’t without confession? Don’t be so sure she doesn’t believe deep down in her heart. She, at the very least, respects it. Pray for her is all I can say.
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She knows that she shouldn’t receive communion b/c I told her the Church teaches that if we’ve missed Mass we must go to confession before we receive the Eucharist again. She respected this.
 
Veronica97 said:
I have a close family member who wasn’t going to Mass but now has been faithfully going to Mass for several months. She is not going to communion however and knows she needs to go to confession before she can receive communion again (because she missed Mass for quite awhile). However, this person tells me that she’s happy just to be at Mass and pray and be part of a faith community and doesn’t really miss Communion. That tells me she must not believe in the Real Presence or she would miss it terribly. Should I say anything to this person or should I just continue to pray for her?
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Read chapter 6 of John in the New Testament.
 
georget said:
Maybe she’s struggling with a personal sin in her heart, and she respects the Eucharist so much, she needs to work her way through the issue to her her own satisfaction. I would pray for her, maybe make a Novena.
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🤷 I feel someone read my mind… This is the exactly same reason I don’t do it… 😦

maybe I should make a novena for my own. >.<
 
If she’s struggling with the idea, it might be worth getting her the book:

“Faith of the Early Fathers” translated and edited by Jurgens. It is very clear that the belief in the real presence was taught by the apostles and a core belief of the early Church, just as it is today.
 
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