Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day

[shelton]

Can someone please explain what this really means? What of the faithful who do not partake in the Eucharist ?

Regards

 

[PJM]

This is a Allegorical statement; a teaching, a Lesson.

Because Catholic Holy Communion Really is the Body. Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Himself [GOD], their can be no greater good; no greater source of Grace; and hence Catholic Holy Communion is the the most advantageous thing one can do worthily and regularly [as often as is possible] for one can do to merit their salvation .

The teaching is FAR more a road map to salvation than a hard promise which it is not, as salvation is highly conditional.

FROM OUR CATECHISM:
1324 The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” “The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.” [sacrifice]

1327 In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: “Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.”

To be sure: Catholic Holy Communion is actually and really receiving OUR GOD. There can be no better, no more compelling reason to be Catholic. Amen!

Pray very much, God Bless you,
Patrick

 

[shelton]

Thanks Patrick - so does that mean those receiving Holy Communion are more likely to see the Kingdom of God (heaven) compared to those who do not? Obviously to receive Communion, we must be in a state of Grace with no mortal sin, hence one could say we must be as holy as possible.
Regards

 

[Mary_Ellen]

What of the faithful who do not partake in the Eucharist ?

@shelton,
The quote does not speak of those who do not partake of the Eucharist, it neither condemns nor commends them in any way.

 

[De_Maria]

Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day

Can someone please explain what this really means?

Well, the Eucharist is the fulfillment of the Manna which God gave the Israelites when they complained that they were starving in the desert. The Israelites ate the Manna for 40 years. This sustained their bodies.

The Eucharist is spiritual food which sustains our faith and our soul. Its not about eating it once for all time, but about partaking in communion with our Lord for our entire life. If we do so, we will be blessed with eternal life.

What of the faithful who do not partake in the Eucharist ?

Well, if they refuse or reject the Eucharist, in what way are they faithful?

And if they do not partake because they are in a state of sin, they need to repent and get back to a state of grace, in order that they may again partake. But if they don’t want to repent or if they don’t believe in confession, in what way are they faithful?

Here’s what our Lord says about those who refuse to attend the Mass and thus reject the Eucharist.

Hebrews 10:25 We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.

26 If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who rejects the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace? 30 We know the one who said:

“Vengeance is mine; I will repay,”
and again:

“The Lord will judge his people.”
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Can someone please explain what this really means? What of the faithful who do not partake in the Eucharist ?

Because you used “do not partake” instead of “cannot partake” I will assume you are not speaking of those who live in very remote places with little or no access to a Priest.

There are two reasons why a Catholic would not partake of the Eucharist.

First, they have not observed the Eucharistic fast. I’d hope this is an occasional thing, that the person is not always eating just prior to Mass. If they are, perhaps they can find Mass at a different time, maybe very early Sunday or Saturday evening.

The other is that they are aware of grave sin and have not made a Sacramental Confession. In that case the person is to go to Confession as soon as possible, call your priest, schedule a time, ask if he will hear your Confession after Mass in the Sacristy. A Catholic is never advised to just live for a long time in a state of unconfessed grave sin. In fact, if we die in unrepentant mortal sin, we will not have eternal life but be damned to eternal death.

Remember, it is a Precept of the Church to receive Holy Communion at least once per year during the Easter Season (again, aside from those living in very remote areas where it is impossible because of no Priest).

 

[steve-b]

Can someone please explain what this really means? What of the faithful who do not partake in the Eucharist ?

Regards

Consider the following.

in 2 parts

While this following scripture from Hebrews, doesn’t mention
• Mass
• Sunday
• Eucharist
• Mortal sin for deliberately missing Mass

We see what is being described. What they are doing when they meet, and what Day it is that they meet. There is disastrous consequences for that person who deliberately fails to meet on “the Day” once they become knowledgeable of the truth.

IOW, based on the consequences mentioned, this is not a suggestion to do, but a command to do……or else

Heb 10: (all emphasis mine) Heb 10:19-31 RSVCE - A Call to Persevere - Therefore, - Bible Gateway
19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment,and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace?30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Unpacking that
The sanctuary = the altar

deliberate Failure to meet on the Day, is already a sin with huge consequences
“the Day” = the LORD’S DAY / Sunday/ the Day Our Lord Resurrected
“sacrifice for sin”, & “blood of the covenant” = the words Our Lord spoke instituting the
Eucharist
Matthew 26:28 , Mt 26:28 RSVCE - for this is my blood of the covenant, - Bible Gateway
Mark 14:24 , Mark 14:24 RSVCE - And he said to them, “This is my - Bible Gateway

to be continued

 

[steve-b]

Can someone please explain what this really means? What of the faithful who do not partake in the Eucharist ?

Regards

Continued

i.e. They are celebrating the Mass. Those who deliberately fail to celebrate Mass (the Eucharist) on Sunday after being given the knowledge of truth,
◦ no longer remains for Them, a sacrifice for sin
◦ They Spurn the Son of God
◦ They outrage the spirit of grace
◦ a fearful prospect of judgement awaits Them
◦ and a fury of fire will consume these adversaries
That’s NOT a suggestion to attend Mass on Sunday, It’s a command
It’s NOT a venial sin to deliberately miss Mass on Sunday but a mortal sin

the consequences mentioned DESCRIBE HELL for one who dies in mortal sin

 

[shelton]

Thanks for all the replies. What of our Christian Protestant brothers and sisters - who do not even believe in the Holy Eucharist! ?

Regards

 

[Zaccheus]

Thanks for all the replies. What of our Christian Protestant brothers and sisters - who do not even believe in the Holy Eucharist! ?

Regards

If you honestly don’t believe that the command is from God (and your disbelief is not the result of deliberate refusal to learn nor intentional evasion of knowledge) then the principle of “Invincible Ignorance” applies.
You can’t reasonably be expected to obey a command that you don’t know you’ve been given, or that was given by someone you are convinced has no authority to give you commands.

 

[Vico]

Can someone please explain what this really means? What of the faithful who do not partake in the Eucharist ?

Regards

Per Catholic teaching salvation requires a state of sanctifying grace at death, which may be obtained though baptism of water, blood, or desire. The sacraments are gifts to the worthy to strengthen us against sin.

John 6

59 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and died. He that eateth this bread, shall live for ever.

St. John Chrysostom comments in Homily 46 on the Gospel of John:

The bread of life.

He calls Himself, the bread of life, because He maintains our life both which is and which is to be, and says, Whosoever shall eat of this bread shall live for ever. By bread He means here either His saving doctrines and the faith which is in Him, or His own Body; for both nerve the soul. Yet in another place He said, If a man hear My saying, he shall never taste of death. John 8:51 And they were offended; here they had no such feeling perhaps, because they yet respected Him on account of the loaves which had been made.

http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/240146.htm

 

[steve-b]

Thanks for all the replies. What of our Christian Protestant brothers and sisters - who do not even believe in the Holy Eucharist! ?

Regards

The Bread of Life discourse sums up what Our Lord desires for us

Jn 6:
[54] Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. [55] He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.

Consider at the end of the world, the resurrection of the dead happens to everyone. However some rise to glory, as Jesus said, the rest don’t. They descend to hell.

What is the Bread of Life all about? The Eucharist. Those who don’t partake have no life in them. The life spoken of is sanctifying grace. If one is not in sanctifying grace at the end of their life they don’t go to heaven.

Note also the consequences in post 7&8 in Hebrews for deliberately missing mass, i.e. the Eucharist on Sunday.

 

[De_Maria]

Thanks for all the replies. What of our Christian Protestant brothers and sisters - who do not even believe in the Holy Eucharist! ?

Regards

I’m of the opinion that they will be judged according to their works.

The Sacraments are pre-judgment events.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Whenever we appear before the altar to receive a Sacrament, God looks into our heart and judges whether we believe or whether we don’t.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Since they refuse the Sacraments, then they will be judged in the after life, in accordance with their works:

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

We will be judged also. But we have the added advantage of being members of the Judge’s household. Of having the same Mom. The same Dad. Of having tons of brothers and sisters who went before us and have been interceding for us. And by receiving the Sacraments regularly, we ensure that we have remained in good graces.

The one thing I do worry about with regards to our separated brethren, is that they don’t gather with us.

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

and God doesn’t like that:

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.