What would happen if a Protestant accepted the Eucharist?

[Nigel7]

they would be drinking judgment upon themselves for bearing false witness, blasphemy, and disrespect.

Or maybe it was their first mass ever and they did it out of ignorance, and then later realizing what they had done then they felt terrible about what they’d done, repented, prayed to God for His forgiveness, and then were actually drawn closer to God by the experience which then bore in them a great desire to take part in the Eucharist correctly according to the Church, and so began the process of their actually joining the Catholic Church so that they could legitimately take part in the holy sacraments and approach the table of our Lord in a manner more worthy of one participating in the supper of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Just maybe.

 

[Vico]

One cannot receive the Holy Spirit without proper disposition, and also having been validly baptized. Suppose one is properly baptized, then one also needs to have any serious sin forgiven, if any, which also requires contrition. What if a validly baptized Christian (non-Catholic and non-Orthodox of any kind) received the Holy Eucharist immediately after baptism? This one would not be subject to the Catholic laws, only the divine laws. So it comes down to the divine law: “For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself”. - 1 Corinthians 1:29

 

[EvelynEVF]

I’m with Nigel7!

I was encouraged to receive at a “very Vatican II” Church which I attended with a friend in college, since I was visiting her home over a break. I told her I wasn’t Catholic and didn’t believe as they did, but she said it was fine and I should, so I did.

And 17 years later, when I walked into Mass for the second time in my life, Jesus called out to me from the tabernacle, and the rest is history

I firmly believe that receiving Jesus illicitly in college changed me somewhere inside, and He waited for the rest of me to catch up.

I would never recommend this approach, of course, but I am convinced that Eucharist is Eucharist, whether we believe it or not, and that It/He is efficacious regardless. If receiving unworthily is blasphemy and brings destruction even in an unbeliever, then how much more it must be a blessing to those who do believe, if only in part, and receive innocently.

 

[TimothyH]

Perhaps after all, if there is no malintention, it will be good for them.

My thoughts as well. The OP stated only that they thought it was a piece of bread, not whether they were told that it was Jesus but chose to disbelieved or intentionally disrespected. .

The Eucharist is objectively the Body of Christ. I recieved the Eucharist for many years in full knowledge that I was doing so in a state of unrepentant mortal sin and all it did was draw me inexorably toward my eventualy confession of 37 years.

Remember that God is outside of time. He saw my return to him many years in the future, when all I could see was self love, and fed me and kept me safe, patiently waiting until I was ready. I shudder to think where I would be if I hadn’t receieved Jesus for all those years.

We really can’t reduce God to a biblical soundbite about eating condemnation. There is always repentance and all things are possible for God.

-Tim-

 

[Vico]

Reception of the Holy Eucharist does not give sanctifying grace but will increase sanctifying grace when already in a state of grace. So increase of sanctifying grace is not merely a matter of objective reception of body and blood of Christ.

Baltimore Catechism #3:

Q. 592. When is a Sacrament said to give, and when is it said to increase, grace in our souls?
A. A Sacrament is said to give grace when there is no grace whatever in the soul, or in other words, when the soul is in mortal sin. A Sacrament is said to increase grace when there is already grace in the soul, to which more is added by the Sacrament received.

Q. 596. Which are the Sacraments that increase sanctifying grace in our soul?
A. The Sacraments that increase sanctifying grace in our souls are: Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony; and they are called Sacraments of the living.

Q. 598. Why are Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony called Sacraments of the living?
A. Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony are called Sacraments of the living because those who receive them worthily are already living the life of grace.

Q. 599. What sin does he commit who receives the Sacraments of the living in mortal sin?
A. He who receives the Sacraments of the living in mortal sin commits a sacrilege, which is a great sin, because it is an abuse of a sacred thing.

ourladyswarriors.org/faith/bc3-13.htm

 

[Incomplete]

My thoughts as well. The OP stated only that they thought it was a piece of bread, not whether they were told that it was Jesus but chose to disbelieved or intentionally disrespected. .

The Eucharist is objectively the Body of Christ. I recieved the Eucharist for many years in full knowledge that I was doing so in a state of unrepentant mortal sin and all it did was draw me inexorably toward my eventualy confession of 37 years.

Remember that God is outside of time. He saw my return to him many years in the future, when all I could see was self love, and fed me and kept me safe, patiently waiting until I was ready. I shudder to think where I would be if I hadn’t receieved Jesus for all those years.

We really can’t reduce God to a biblical soundbite about eating condemnation. There is always repentance and all things are possible for God.

-Tim-

This reminds me of a story I read awhile ago.

A man who was not only atheist but very anti-Catholic went to a friend’s wedding. (I believe he might have even been in it, not sure.) He initially considered not participating in the wedding because of his hatred of the Church.

In the end, he decided to receive Eucharist. He did this intentionally, knowing Church teachings, doing it out of vindictiveness.

The instant he received Christ, he realized it was all true.

The next time he received Eucharist was the night he was received into the Church.

This is not to say that I don’t agree with Church teachings. I do, very much. But I also keep in mind that God can make great things come from even bad intentions.

 

[TimothyH]

These posts are interesting. I was raised as a Lutheran and attended Mass with my cradle Catholic wife for a couple of years before swimming the Tiber. The parish priest told me according to canon law, non-Catholics were not supposed to receive, but since I believed in the Real Presence and my receiving would not cause scandal I could receive.

Later I came to believe what the priest had told me was incorrect and confessed to receiving unworthily at my first confession, and the priest (a different one) tried to talk me out of confessing it as sin because I hadn’t meant any harm. Is it possible it really was ok for me to receive as a Lutheran because I believed in the Real Presence?

I believe, and am open to correction, that only the Holy Father may administer Holy Communion to a non-Catholic.

Having said that, I know that some bishops have told their priests that they cannot deny communion to anyone who presents themself.

-Tim-

 

[TimothyH]

Q. 599. What sin does he commit who receives the Sacraments of the living in mortal sin?
A. He who receives the Sacraments of the living in mortal sin commits a sacrilege, which is a great sin, because it is an abuse of a sacred thing.

Vico, sacrilege of a sacred thing was the least of my problems.

I mean this in all charity and humility Vico, really I do, but God is more patient than than a quote from the Baltimore Catechism would lead us to believe. God can raise people from the dead and he came close to doing exactly that with me. And in all fairness, I really don’t know if it was because of my reception of the Eucharist or in spite of it.

But I know God’s mercy and patience are boundless, and that conversion is more often a long process rather than an event.

Thanks be to God.

-Tim-

 

[Vico]

Vico, sacrilege of a sacred thing was the least of my problems.

I mean this in all charity and humility Vico, really I do, but God is more patient than than a quote from the Baltimore Catechism would lead us to believe. God can raise people from the dead and he came close to doing exactly that with me. And in all fairness, I really don’t know if it was because of my reception of the Eucharist or in spite of it.

But I know God’s mercy and patience are boundless, and that conversion is more often a long process rather than an event.

Thanks be to God.

-Tim-

God has more ways than the sacraments to help us in those time when we are not saved. If you were truly in a state of mortal sin, something which I cannot say nor would I presume to say such a thing, then you would not receive sanctifying grace, so it would be fair to say that if you knew you were in a state of mortal sin, that what happened was not due to reception of the Holy Eucharist. But we know that God has more ways than the sacraments to help us. Once a person is baptized validly strength is given.
CCC 1991 Justification is at the same time the acceptance of God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness (or “justice”) here means the rectitude of divine love. With justification, faith, hope, and charity are poured into our hearts, and obedience to the divine will is granted us.
Now, if at sometime later, charity is lost through voluntary grave sin, one still has the virtues of faith and hope from baptism.

From The Faith Explained, by Leo J. Trese (p. 124-127):
“… a habit bestowed upon the soul directly by God, is called a supernatural virtue… Chief among the supernatural virtues are those three which we call the theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. … These three virtues are infused into our soul along with sanctifying grace, in the sacrament of Baptism.
and (p. 128-129),
“…it is only the supernatural faith, this virtue of divine faith which is infused at baptism, that makes it possible for us to believe firmly and completely all the truths, even the most ineffable and mysterious truths, which God has revealed. Without such faith we who have reached the use of reason cannot be saved. The virtue of faith alone will save the baptized infant, but with the age of reason there must be the act of faith as well.”

“The virtue of hope is implanted in the soul of the infant at baptism, along with sanctifying grace. Even the infant, once baptized, has the virtue of hope. … With the advent of reason, the virtue must find expression in the act of hope.”
and (p. 132),
“It is of course, the virtue of charity which is infused in our soul in the sacrament of Baptism. It still remains for use, when we have reached the use of reason , to exercise that virtue, to make acts of love. It is the power to make such acts of love, easily and in a supernatural manner, that is given us in baptism.”

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

As my priest said, they would commit the sin of sacrilege, which is equivalent to spitting in Jesus’ face.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

My thoughts as well. The OP stated only that they thought it was a piece of bread, not whether they were told that it was Jesus but chose to disbelieved or intentionally disrespected. .

The Eucharist is objectively the Body of Christ. I recieved the Eucharist for many years in full knowledge that I was doing so in a state of unrepentant mortal sin and all it did was draw me inexorably toward my eventualy confession of 37 years.

Remember that God is outside of time. He saw my return to him many years in the future, when all I could see was self love, and fed me and kept me safe, patiently waiting until I was ready. I shudder to think where I would be if I hadn’t receieved Jesus for all those years.

We really can’t reduce God to a biblical soundbite about eating condemnation. There is always repentance and all things are possible for God.

-Tim-

Thank you for your response - it gives me great hope for my husband, who is basically an atheist although he is technically Catholic. He takes the Eucharist whenever he goes to church (with me and/or our sons) but I know he doesn’t believe it is really the body of Our Lord. I think he says the creed too - at least when the boys are there - although he doesn’t believe that either. I hope God will call him back home before I die! But I pray anyway!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

This reminds me of a story I read awhile ago.

A man who was not only atheist but very anti-Catholic went to a friend’s wedding. (I believe he might have even been in it, not sure.) He initially considered not participating in the wedding because of his hatred of the Church.

In the end, he decided to receive Eucharist. He did this intentionally, knowing Church teachings, doing it out of vindictiveness.

The instant he received Christ, he realized it was all true.

The next time he received Eucharist was the night he was received into the Church.

This is not to say that I don’t agree with Church teachings. I do, very much. But I also keep in mind that God can make great things come from even bad intentions.

That little story made my eyes bug out and my heart go fluttering…God is SO AWESOME!!!

:extrahappy::clapping::yup:

“The instant he received Christ, he realized it was all true.”

 

[Sacred_Heart_1]

Say a new time protestant walks into a Catholic Church, the priest didn’t know he or she was a protestant. The Protestant though that the Eucharist, or Body of Christ, was just a regular piece of bread remembered like in his or her church.

Would that protestant have his or her venial sins removed? Would that protestant become one with the Lord? Etc.

We shouldn’t bring judgment on the Protestant. Perhaps this is the act that brings them into the faith of Catholicism. God works in mysterious ways and even if only the Protestant develops a respect for the Eucharist by taking it is not a vile act. It is what is in the heart that you bring to the Lord.

 

[Incomplete]

That little story made my eyes bug out and my heart go fluttering…God is SO AWESOME!!!

:extrahappy::clapping::yup:

“The instant he received Christ, he realized it was all true.”

He is, isn’t He!

I will pray that your husband will one day have the same experience.

 

[couponfit]

Say a new time protestant walks into a Catholic Church, the priest didn’t know he or she was a protestant. The Protestant though that the Eucharist, or Body of Christ, was just a regular piece of bread remembered like in his or her church.

Would that protestant have his or her venial sins removed? Would that protestant become one with the Lord? Etc.

I don’t know! It would not be a sin as you have to know it’s a sin. Any effort a person makes to be closer to God in honesty, sincerity, and faithfulness is truly a sign of the Holy Spirit’s blessing.