When your right...Communion Question

[Knight4God]

OK, so been doing a research paper on Holy Communion. Determined that you Catholics are right on several points. Not convinced on everything, but I’m willing to see a form of memorial sacrifice in the Eucharist even. I think I’m more mystical/Eastern in my view of presence though. That is all, the grader at my conservative protestant seminary should have fun with it

On a side note, what is the Catholic position for cultures that don;t have access to bread and wine? Is it valid for you to do Eucharist with other elements in some cases?

 

[I_A]

Must be wheat bread and grape wine.

There are many eastern Catholic rites which I am sure you are familiar with. They are by far much less common than Latin rite parishes in the United States.

I don’t have much knowledge, but from what I’ve heard from others, if you come from an Anglican background you would most likely feel more comfortable with a western take on the liturgy.

One of my good friend’s priest converted from the Episcopalian denomination. If you PM me I can try to get his contact info to give to you.

Edit: To actually answer your question: God provides.

There have been instances in Europe where wine has been hard to come by but when you recieve one species, in the form of bread or form of wine, you recieve Jesus. So you need both at concecration because Jesus used both, but the whole community does not need to consume both species because Jesus is what looks like bread, and Jesus is what looks like wine.

Wheat and bread is pretty easy to transport so that hasn’t really been much of an issue.

By far the limiting factor isn’t the wine or bread, rather it is the lack of priests to celebrate mass.

I’m pretty ignorant and don’t know much, but this is my understanding of things, I’m sure other people here know much more than I do.

 

[Titus]

I think there are different issues in different parts of the world. In the West, the OP is definitely right to say we need priests not wheat! In **very poor **parts of Africa etc. maybe it is a problem. I would hope that the church provides them with the necessary elements.

In terms of the anglican/ catholic switchover, I would agree that you will most likely find the Latin Rite your home. But we do not know. You should certainly try out an Eastern Rite church. I know the Eastern Orthodox view the Eucharist as a mystery, but am unsure if the Eastern Rite Catholics do.

 

[Della]

Titus:

In terms of the anglican/ catholic switchover, I would agree that you will most likely find the Latin Rite your home. But we do not know. You should certainly try out an Eastern Rite church. I know the Eastern Orthodox view the Eucharist as a mystery, but am unsure if the Eastern Rite Catholics do.

We Latin rite people see the Eucharist as a mystery, too, of course. But we have a different history from the East. Western Christians had to answer the logical questions put to them by Greek and Latin skeptics who wanted explanations for everything. So, it’s not that we in the West don’t think of the Eucharist or the Holy Trinity or the Virgin Birth, etc. as mysteries, but rather that we have been forced to define these things to stand against both skeptics and heresies.

 

[Rand_Al_Thor]

I know the Eastern Orthodox view the Eucharist as a mystery, but am unsure if the Eastern Rite Catholics do.

Pax tecum!

They do. Eastern Rite Catholics are in doctrinal unity with Western Rite Catholics. So they share all the same beliefs about the Eucharist, papacy, Mary, ect.

In Christ,
Rand

 

[CRW]

OK, so been doing a research paper on Holy Communion. Determined that you Catholics are right on several points. Not convinced on everything, but I’m willing to see a form of memorial sacrifice in the Eucharist even. I think I’m more mystical/Eastern in my view of presence though. That is all, the grader at my conservative protestant seminary should have fun with it

On a side note, what is the Catholic position for cultures that don;t have access to bread and wine? Is it valid for you to do Eucharist with other elements in some cases?

The Canon states: The most holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist must be offered in bread, and in wine to which a small quantity of water is to be added.
2. The bread must be wheaten only, and recently made, so that there is no danger of corruption.
3. The wine must be natural, made from grapes of the vine, and not corrupt.

 

[kleary]

OK, so been doing a research paper on Holy Communion. Determined that you Catholics are right on several points. Not convinced on everything, but I’m willing to see a form of memorial sacrifice in the Eucharist even. I think I’m more mystical/Eastern in my view of presence though. That is all, the grader at my conservative protestant seminary should have fun with it

On a side note, what is the Catholic position for cultures that don;t have access to bread and wine? Is it valid for you to do Eucharist with other elements in some cases?

It wouldn’t happen. Any priest sent to the “culture” would also be able to bring with him or order somehow the proper elements. If not then Mass could not be offered.

Ken

 

[lak611]

To the OP, you may want to ask this question in the Eastern Christianity forum. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people, including an Orthodox priest, who are regulars on that forum.

 

[Knight4God]

Thank you for all your responses. I’ll have to go ask the EO forum. Although it sounds definite that bread and wine must be used from your position (but only one element has to be there).

Oh, and I didn’t mean to imply The Catholic Church doesn’t believe it is not a mystery at all, and I very much appreciate the Catholic emphasis on mystery and reverence in worship, something evangelicals seem to have no concept of. (being a evangelical baptist turned Anglican).

I’m just not willing yet to take a metaphysical stance (yet) on the nature of the change. One reason I am still comfortable in the Anglican church right now But I enjoy (and feel) it is important to learn from your Church also, and so do take your position seriously, hence my convinced state on a sacrificial element, something that may make me more “Anglo-Catholic” in this area.

Thanks!