Why do Catholics...

[shark76z]

My Baptist friend (who once wanted to be Catholic for some reason, but desided not to) recently emailed me with the following questions:

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.
2. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?
3. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?
4. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and keel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!

How would you respond?

 

[JonNC]

My Baptist friend (who once wanted to be Catholic for some reason, but desided not to) recently emailed me with the following questions:

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.
2. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?
3. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?
4. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and keel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!

How would you respond?

I’d first ask your friend where he got his information.

Jon

 

[mark_a]

My Baptist friend (who once wanted to be Catholic for some reason, but desided not to) recently emailed me with the following questions:

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.

Maybe this person should see what his pastor would think of receiving Catholic communion.

Every Protestant pastor should cringe at the thought of one of their own receiving communion at a Catholic Church.

Having said that, I think there is some kind of exception for Protestants who do not have communion available for some reason.

 

[zz912]

My Baptist friend (who once wanted to be Catholic for some reason, but desided not to) recently emailed me with the following questions:

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.

Because it is truly the Flesh and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus present. We must treat it with utmost reverence and respect. Also St Paul tells us that any who eat of His Flesh and drink His Blood who have not discerned that it is HIM present, eats and drinks judgement on himself. Out of love and compassion for you, we don’t let you unintentionally do this to yourself if we can help it.

1. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?

As a former baptist, I can relate and wondered about this as well. But I researched and learned that we are not there to be entertained, or experience God, or learn something. We are there to give worship to God, everything else is a distant second. So the Mass is set out in a very strict manner to make sure that the worship is respectful and reverent. Fun fact, look up the works of St Justin Martyr and you will see an almost word for word description of the Mass!

1. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?

Simply, the Eucharist is more important. At the Mass we are joining the Heavenly court in worship and praise, and also become present at Calvary. We are participating in the Passover Sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Taking the Flesh and Blood of God into ourselves is the summit of the Christian faith.

1. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and keel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!

Well you could call it a 79 Datson, but it doesn’t make it one. The priest is showing respect for the altar of God, upon which the Holy Spirit comes down to change the bread and wine into Jesus’ Body and Blood.
How would you respond?

Hope this helps.

 

[WMM]

My Baptist friend (who once wanted to be Catholic for some reason, but desided not to) recently emailed me with the following questions:

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.

Because it is truly the Flesh and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus present. We must treat it with utmost reverence and respect. Also St Paul tells us that any who eat of His Flesh and drink His Blood who have not discerned that it is HIM present, eats and drinks judgement on himself. Out of love and compassion for you, we don’t let you unintentionally do this to yourself if we can help it.

1. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?

As a former baptist, I can relate and wondered about this as well. But I researched and learned that we are not there to be entertained, or experience God, or learn something. We are there to give worship to God, everything else is a distant second. So the Mass is set out in a very strict manner to make sure that the worship is respectful and reverent. Fun fact, look up the works of St Justin Martyr and you will see an almost word for word description of the Mass!

1. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?

Simply, the Eucharist is more important. At the Mass we are joining the Heavenly court in worship and praise, and also become present at Calvary. We are participating in the Passover Sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Taking the Flesh and Blood of God into ourselves is the summit of the Christian faith.

1. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and keel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!

Well you could call it a 79 Datson, but it doesn’t make it one. The priest is showing respect for the altar of God, upon which the Holy Spirit comes down to change the bread and wine into Jesus’ Body and Blood.

Hope this helps.

---

I couldn’t have said it better myself.***

 

[BernadetteM]

Why do Baptists and other protestant denominations do the same thing every Sunday, I would ask him.

Most of the protestant churches I have attended do exactly the same thing each Sunday.

They sing hymns, take a collection and listen to a sermon. At some of the mega churches they sometimes have a popular preacher to preach and also have some type of entertainment, whether is it some singing group etc.

When do the people actually worship God at these services? It is mostly listening to someone preach on his favorite subject. Very little scripture is read, maybe a verse or two and then the minister will expound on that verse.

The congregation takes very little part in the service except for the hymns and if it is an evangelical/fundamentalist church there is usually an altar call.

I recall going up almost everytime there was an altar call as it was expected of you and sometimes pressure was put upon a person to do it. This was when I was young and went with friends to there churches.

I know that many protestant churches who are liturgical, are very similar to what the Catholic Church does in worship.

Also I have never heard the Lords Prayer/Our Father said at any church other than one that is liturgical.

In my opinion these churches are quite boring as everyone is focused on a man and not on God.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[VetA]

My Baptist friend (who once wanted to be Catholic for some reason, but desided not to) recently emailed me with the following questions:

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.

because we [catholics] believe in the Real Presence of God in the Eucharist. and also receiving the Eucharist implies that one totally agrees with the teachings of the Church

1. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?

because the Mass is worship to the Lord the way which He desires to be worshiped. Mass is worship for God not for man

1. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?

first of all it is not the ‘Lord’s Supper’ it is the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and to properly concentrate the bread and wine so that it becomes the true Body and true Blood of Christ Jesus it takes some time as it is not something to be rushed through

1. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and keel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!

because it is a place of high respect in addition to containing the relics of people who are in heaven (more importantly) it is the place where ordinary bread and wine will become the Body and Blood of Jesus, it is not worshiping the altar it is worshiping God for what he will do on the altar in a few short miniuts

 

[EricFilmer]

Just to add to what has already been stated about the altar, the altar in a Catholic Church is considered a symbol of Christ, just as a crucifix is. Therefore, the reverence being displayed toward the altar is reverence for Christ. If a priest kisses a photograph of his mother, is he displaying his love for Kodak paper? Of course not. Rather, it is a display of love for his mother whose image is represented on Kodak paper. Likewise, by kissing an altar, the priest displays love for Jesus (whom the altar is a symbol of), as well as for the martyrs whose relics are contained in the altar.

The other apsects covered in this thread come into play also, such as acknowledging the altar where the miracle of transubstantiation takes place.

In your future conversations with your friend, if he happens to object to Catholic churches having altars with the relics of martyrs, you can simply point out that heaven itself has an altar, under which the martyrs reside (Revelation 6:9).

And technically, although priests bow to the altar and kiss it, they do not kneel to it. Genuflection is done to the Eucharist (and to the cross on Good Friday). If a priest appears to be kneeling to an altar, it is because he is actually genuflecting to the Eucharist present either in a nearby tabernacle or upon the altar.

 

[Goomaw]

I have a question for your friend. Why do Baptist services include just 2 or 3 verses from scripture followed by a 30 minute sermon? Almost every word of the Catholic Mass comes from the Bible, even the priest’s greeting!

 

[ALLGIRLS]

He must not be a Southern Baptist, because according to my S. Baptist father-in-law, they also have “closed communion” (as do LCMS Lutherans, and probably other denominations do, as well).

In Christ,

Ellen

 

[diggerdomer]

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.

In the Catholic understanding, believing in Jesus as an individual decision is not the fullness of faith. It involves the faith that is shared by all God’s people. The Catholic Chuch is uniified not only by what we believe, but also by our celebration of the Sacraments and our adherence to the institutional Church (i.e. communion with the Bishop of Rome aka the Pope). To “receive communion” is not understood only as a personal adherence to Christ, but also to the Church.

1. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?

Because God is pretty much the same thing day after day.

1. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?

Because the example of Christ at the Last Supper, and the ongoing practice of His disciples following his death, resurrection, and ascension.

1. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and keel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!

On one hand, because for Catholics the altar is an important symbolic reference for Christ. On another hand, because the rubrics of Catholic worship, continuous with the Apostles, requires such.

 

[Prayer_Warrior]

My Baptist friend (who once wanted to be Catholic for some reason, but desided not to) recently emailed me with the following questions:

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.
   First of all when we approach the alter of the Lord to receive Him, we are making a profession of faith. We believe that what we are receiving is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. Baptists and others are not willing to make the profession, they do not believe what they are about to receive is the Real Presence. If we were to give them the Eucharist we would be encouraging them to receive without “discerning the Body” and could bring upon them sickness or death. It is right there in Scripture (1 Cor 11:29), but Baptists probably have another explanation for what “discerning the body” means.
2. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?
   First of all, because the Catholic Church is very organized. We follow the Mass in the same way that the earliest Christians did (cf Acts 2:42). I think that the Mass is organized in such a way so that you can be more disposed to receive the grace of God. Here is a link that shows the order of the Mass and how it is reflected in scripture. See how we first repent of our sins, then with grateful hearts we give glory to the Lord, then we listen to the Word of God (again, highly organized), then we hear the homily, then a profession of faith before we receive Our Lord.
3. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?
   I suppose it would be insulting to say “Duh” to your Baptist friend. But I suppose, it isn’t their fault they don’t understand. Let’s just put it this way. The Eucharist is Jesus Christ. We must prepare our hearts and minds to receive Him. The homily is good for applying what was said in the Word to our everyday lives. But no priest (nor any Baptist preacher) can compare to Jesus.
4. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and keel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!
   The alter is the holy table where the Lord’s presence has been. We make a sign of reverence to the alter because of Jesus. As noted already, the priest genuflects to the Eucharist, not the alter. I feel rather sorry for the Baptist understanding of idolatry. I wonder if a Baptist walked by the place where Jesus was crucified, if they would kneel in reverence. Or if they came to the pillar where He was scourged, if they would kneel down and weep for what He did for us. Anyway, there is no idolatry involved. The presence of the Lord is utterly sacred, I am not sure why that is so hard for non-Catholics to grasp. Even if they don’t believe in the Real Presence, they know that we do, and yet they give us a hard time when we try to show the proper reverence.

How would you respond?

 

[choy]

My Baptist friend (who once wanted to be Catholic for some reason, but desided not to) recently emailed me with the following questions:

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.

we receive the Body and Blood of Christ when we receive the Eucharist. if someone doesn’t believe that, they can’t, because its lying to Christ. when they priest presents the host and says, “Body of Christ” and the communicant says, “Amen,” that Amen means you are affirming that you are receiving the Body of Christ. Protestants doesn’t share this belief and therefore would be a profanity to the Real Presence

so, since Protestants do not believe that the bread has become the Body of Christ, what’s stopping them from heading to the bakery to buy some bread, and to the liquor store to get a bottle of wine, and reenact the Last Supper inside their church?

if they believe in the Real Presence, why are they not Catholic?

1. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?

not all of it are the same. the readings change from day to day and so will the Homily. you cannot change the Liturgy of the Eucharist for the obvious reason, that Christ’s sacrifice is one, and you are not creating a new sacrifice, but extending its effects, so you celebrate the same sacrifice every Mass.

1. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?

why not? the most obvious answer, isn’t the Eucharist more important that the Homily?

1. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and keel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!

How would you respond?

ask the protestant, is everything that involves kissing, bowing and kneeling idolatry?

 

[rwillenborg]

My Baptist friend (who once wanted to be Catholic for some reason, but desided not to) recently emailed me with the following questions:

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.
2. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?
3. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?
4. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and keel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!

How would you respond?

Up until about the 1930s ALL denominations had closed communion rails. In other words, a Catholic couldn’t receive communion at one of these other churches either. You might want to ask your baptist friend why all the other faiths have changed, but Catholicism did not. Also, to ‘receive communion’ means, literally, that one is IN UNION. Ask your friend ‘are you in union with the Catholic Church? Are you ONE IN THINKING with with the Catholic Church?’ He or she will respond ‘No’ and you will respond ‘Of course not, so you would not want to give people the impression you are’. REceiving communion is SPEAKING with your body. With your body you are saying ‘I am in union with the church’ so, if in fact you are not, there is not reason to lie about it.

Catholics say the same thing day after day in the mass? What the heck? Every day there is are DIFFERENT hymns, a different psalm is sung, a different reading from OT, a different reading from NT, and a different reading from the gospel,a nd different prayers are offered. Isn’t reading the Bible every day doing the same thing day after day? Is that so wrong? What should they do instead? I would also ask your friend what part of the Mass he thinks should NOT be done day after day - should we chuck the reading of scripture? What about the offering? The part where we offer our prayers? The Lord’s SUpper? Honeslty, which part is your friend suggesting is unnecessary.
The church also celebrates seasons - there are feast days, and fast days, there is CHANGE throughout the year in the church.
I WOuld also argue that REAL life is the same thing day after day. I get up. I take care of the kids. I do dishes, I cook, I clean, I go to work. What is your friend expecting to change, and why can’t we do the same things day after day?

Catholics give 30 minuts for the lord’s supper and 10 for the sermon because following God’s commands is more important than what someone thinks. I don’t really understand why this would be a criticism. Shouldn’t more time be focused on the Lord rather than on an individual?

Not the idolatry thing again…actually, especially with the passing of Memorial day, this memory of my dad came back. We were in washington dc and we were at the wall which honors fallen soldiors from vietnam, where my father served. He knelt in front of that wall. He wept in front of that wall. Though he didn’t kiss it, he did press his hand to it. He SPOKE to it, saying things like ‘I’m sorry you didn’t get to make it back home.’ He SALUTED IT!! And I would LOVE for someone to tell my dad that he was idolizing a wall. He would get a kick out of it. And then he’d ask if you’re crazy, because seriously, to suggest that somehow kneeling and kissing means you think something or someone is GOD requires quite a stretch of the imagination.
What I’m trying to say is that idolatry involves actually believing INTERNALLY that this THING which is NOT GOD can do what GOD can do. And I think if you ask any priest if they think the altar will do anything for them, they will laugh in your face. Well, at least I would, but I’m not very nice.

 

[Abeyta85]

Everytime I have been to a baptist service, it feels more of a Concert, with 4 songs in the beginning, and than a long bible study, a “Communion” on the first Sunday of every month with a burned saltine cracker and grape juice. Than they play another 3 songs… and tada over!

Least that was my experience, and no I did not take the Communion, no real presence of Jesus there.

My mother in-law understood.

 

[graceandglory]

My Baptist friend (who once wanted to be Catholic for some reason, but desided not to) recently emailed me with the following questions:

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.
2. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?
3. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?
4. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and keel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!

How would you respond?

These are beautiful, heart-felt questions. You came to the right place.

 

[JonathonofOhio]

Well since your Baptist friend is looking for Biblical reasoning then lets give them some shall we?

1. Why do Catholics restrict all other denominations from receiving the Lord’s Supper? I think since we all believe in Jesus, we all should be welcomed.

“Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” - 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 - Not only does the apostle say that you shouldn’t eat and drink in an unworthy manner, but that you should not eat and drink if you do not believe. Doing so is a sin, and that is exactly what your friend would be doing since they do not believe.

2. Why do Catholics say pretty much the same thing day after day in their mass?

Granted that there are portions of the mass, such as the Lords Supper, that remain the same during each Mass, a large portion of the Mass IS different. Even so, what is wrong with some repetition?

"and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24 - Jesus Himself commanded us to repeat the Lords Supper. So we do.

Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer, and immediately after that tells us this: “I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs” (Luke 11:1-8), encouraging us to ask again and again.

Furthermore, the Mass is a celebration of the Gospel, the life of Christ, who is the Truth. The Truth does not change. So why should the Mass be different each time it is celebrated? Why would it need to be?

3. Why do Catholics give around 10 minutes for a sermon, but 30 minutes for the Lord’s Supper section of the mass?

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” - 1 Corinthians 11:26. The Lord’s Supper has been and is the most important part of the Mass. In fact, it is so important that the apostle gave specific instruction concerning it to the Corinthians.

4. Why do Catholic priests kiss, bow, and kneel to the altar? I would call that idolatry!!!

“When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed.” - Acts 21:5, so in your friend’s mind, did the apostles kneel down and pray to the water and the sand?

“But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, " Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up." - Acts 9:40 - Peter knelt down before the body of Tabitha, does this mean he worshiped Tabitha’s dead body?

“And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,” - Luke 22:41 - Jesus knelt down and prayed too.

People in the gospels knelt before Jesus (“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him…”- Mark 10:17) so since Catholics believe in the real presence of our Lord in the Eucharist, we too kneel in His presence.

Now ask your friend these questions:

Why don’t Baptists ever kneel down and pray like the Apostles did? (none have that I have seen).

Why don’t Baptists celebrate the Lords Supper like it’s described in the Bible, and do it each time they come together? Why do Baptists often times get together after their church service and eat a potluck meal, when the Apostle, in 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 clearly is upset with the Corinthians for this sort of behavior, and the fact that they are coming together and not celebrating the Lord’s Supper?

If kneeling, kissing, and bowing is idolatry (which was done all throughout the bible when praying and being in the presence of God), then wouldn’t clapping, swaying, and lifting ones hands while facing the direction of the preacher/stage also be idolatry too? Have your friend provide one example in the bible where someone was standing, clapping, swaying, and lifting their hand(s) up to the heavens while worshiping God.

Once I had a conversation with a Baptist woman, and we were discussing the modes of worship. I asked: If Jesus were to suddenly appear here and be in our presence, would you stand up and clap and dance around? Or would you fall on your knees at his feet and ask him to forgive you of your sins?

She paused for awhile, and said, “I guess a little of both…but falling on my knees would probably come first…you have a point there…” and the discussion abruptly ended.