Why do Protestants want to receive Catholic Eucharist?

[Triciacat]

“I wonder if it causes Christ pain not to be served to those who love him and earnestly repent of their sin. It is for this reason that I cannot be Catholic; I would fear for my soul to refuse, or be party to a church who refused, to grant the Body and Blood of Christ to one who so presents him or herself.”

O+

Dear O+:



I also wonder if Christ is saddened by all the dogmatic confusion created by mankind surrounding His words concerning Holy Communion!

In John 6 we receive important instruction from Jesus concerning food and drink, both figuratively and literally.

“for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” (1 Cor.14:33)

 

[emeraldcoast]

I respect the Catholic Church’s wishes on the matter, and I do not receive the Eucharist in their church.

However, to be baptized and in a Christian assembly where the Eucharist is celebrated and Christ is present, and to know I am not welcome to receive Christ is just too painful to bear for me - so I do not attend Catholic weddings or funerals when a mass is celebrated.

I receive the Eucharist whenever I can, but only where I am welcome to do so. For me, that means in Methodist, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches, mostly.

O+

I agree with O.S.Luke except I do attend Catholic weddings, funerals and even weekly Mass at my children’s Catholic school. This is one of the most disturbing issues that I have with the Catholic Church. The Eucharist is Jesus’ invitation and who am I to deny someone that invitation.

There has been a lot of discussion about how unreasonable the Catholic church is about asking those who aren’t Catholic to not receive communion in the Catholic church. Knowing that, to Catholics, receiving communion indicates acceptance of all the teachings of Jesus passed down through the church and Protestants don’t accept them all, why do you even want to receive communion here?

The above made me chuckle a bit when I read that when Catholics receive the Eucharist this means that they except ALL the teachings of the Catholic Church. Please, we all know that this sounds fantastic but it is not the case with a very large percentage of Catholics that receive Communion each week. Shoot…what happened in the election with following the teachings of the Catholic Church?

God Bless!

 

[spoiltvictorian]

I am a Lutheran in favor of re-unification like Jon, but in the meantime I would not commune with Catholics. Nor should they with us.

Closed communion is a hot topic in my family, but it all comes down to the danger of coming to Christ’s table in the wrong way. St. Paul says the danger is real and we should take him seriously.

 

[cowgirl89]

i haven’t read all the previous posts, but i’d just thought i’d share my personal experience. long before i was even considering joining the Church, and i was quite ignorant about it(as many protestants are), i felt offended every time i would visit a Catholic church (my aunt converted to catholicism before me, so i would attend my cousins baptisms, communions, other special occasions etc…) because i couldn’t partake. it made me feel like they were saying catholic christians were “better” than protestant christians, since as a protestant u can take communion in any other church as long as you are “saved”. of course now i know a lot more- and i CANNOT wait to be confirmed and celebrate the eucharist for the first time, for the RIGHT reasons though

 

[emeraldcoast]

i haven’t read all the previous posts, but i’d just thought i’d share my personal experience. long before i was even considering joining the Church, and i was quite ignorant about it(as many protestants are), i felt offended every time i would visit a Catholic church (my aunt converted to catholicism before me, so i would attend my cousins baptisms, communions, other special occasions etc…) because i couldn’t partake. it made me feel like they were saying catholic christians were “better” than protestant christians, since as a protestant u can take communion in any other church as long as you are “saved”. of course now i know a lot more- and i CANNOT wait to be confirmed and celebrate the eucharist for the first time, for the RIGHT reasons though

Hi Cowgirl,

Please inform us Protestants what the right reasons are to receive the Lord’s Supper…Can’t wait to hear this!

 

[zagjames]

Hi Cowgirl,

Please inform us Protestants what the right reasons are to receive the Lord’s Supper…Can’t wait to hear this!

no need to be snarky…

 

[Robbinson]

When I saw this thread, my first thought was, “Because they recognize Jesus and long for Him.”

That’s why I wanted Eucharist while I was still Evangelical Protestant. But I contented myself with Eucharistic Adoration until I was received into the Church.!"

Amen. This (a recognition in my heart of the real presences of Christ in the Eucharist and a strong desire to partake in it) is indeed what prompted my serious investigation of the Catholic Church, further study and prayer. I’m in RCIA now and I look forward to the day of physical participation in the Eucharist - for now, I participate spiritually during the Mass.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[emeraldcoast]

no need to be snarky…

I am sorry for my a cynical remark. I believe that I missed the opportunity on demonstrating Christian charity to her post. It would of been better of me to remind her that many of her non-Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ also receive the body and blood of Christ at our Communion.

God Bless!

 

[SIA]

There has been a lot of discussion about how unreasonable the Catholic church is about asking those who aren’t Catholic to not receive communion in the Catholic church. Knowing that, to Catholics, receiving communion indicates acceptance of all the teachings of Jesus passed down through the church and Protestants don’t accept them all, why do you even want to receive communion here? If I were Protestant, I would not want to give scandal this way.

The few Protestants who do have a Catholic belief in the Eucharist are permitted to received in the Catholic Church if they are unable to get to their own church, feel a great need for the Eucharist, and go to the Catholic pastor for permission to do so. So why would a Protestant with access to his own church want to receive Eucharist in the Catholic church??

I have enough respect for the Orthodox churches, that, even though we have a unity of belief in the Eucharist, I know they don’t want me to receive. If I was somewhere there wasn’t a Catholic church, I might ask an Orthodox priest for permission to receive and, if he said no, I would attend divine liturgy but not receive. Do Catholics and Orthodox have more respect for church authority than Protestants?

That’s funny. I’ve never in my life heard of Protestants of any sort wanting and wishing to receive communion in the Catholic church. Not even when I was Catholic had I ever experienced that. We take communion every Sunday and sometimes during the week in my church. Nobody ever has said that they would rather try and get it from the Catholic church.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I think what cowgirl is saying is that Catholics teach that those who receive communion are expressing their ‘communion’ with the Church --acceptance of its teachings, full understanding of the Real Presence, and being free of grave sin.

Now, as we are aware, individual Catholics do receive who do not follow the above guidelines.

To which the only proper response is, “So?”
Because some Catholic people defy the teachings does not mean the teachings are wrong. It means the erring people are wrong.

So it would be rather. . .silly. . .to say, "Because some of you Catholics are receiving communion when you are in a state of grave sin, because some of you do not believe in the Real Presence, and because some of you don’t accept all the teachings of the Church. . .all of these errors being totally against what the Church teaches. . .by golly, we are going to allow OPEN COMMUNION so that any Protestant can come and receive in a state of grave sin, not believing in the Real Presence, and not accepting all the teachings of the Church. Because since SOME Catholics are ‘getting away’ with this sort of defiance, we should allow anybody who wants to defy the Church this way to ‘get communion’ too.

 

[racing59]

There has been a lot of discussion about how unreasonable the Catholic church is about asking those who aren’t Catholic to not receive communion in the Catholic church. Knowing that, to Catholics, receiving communion indicates acceptance of all the teachings of Jesus passed down through the church and Protestants don’t accept them all, why do you even want to receive communion here? If I were Protestant, I would not want to give scandal this way.

The few Protestants who do have a Catholic belief in the Eucharist are permitted to received in the Catholic Church if they are unable to get to their own church, feel a great need for the Eucharist, and go to the Catholic pastor for permission to do so. So why would a Protestant with access to his own church want to receive Eucharist in the Catholic church??

I have enough respect for the Orthodox churches, that, even though we have a unity of belief in the Eucharist, I know they don’t want me to receive. If I was somewhere there wasn’t a Catholic church, I might ask an Orthodox priest for permission to receive and, if he said no, I would attend divine liturgy but not receive. Do Catholics and Orthodox have more respect for church authority than Protestants?

I’m a protestant and I have enough respect not to receive the Eucharist. Before my wife came into the Catholic Church, we were at a Catholic funeral. Many protestants went up and receive the Eucharist even though the priest ask them not to. My wife was tempted to go up and receive,because she grew up Lutheran. She did not though out of respect and she experienced the Holy Spirit touch her face for following that respect.

 

[Reuben_J]

IIn the real world, the differences that our hierarchies and talking heads have between each other are much more profound that the differences the average folks in the pew have with each other. I notice that Catholics and Protestants alike attend basketball games together, their kids go to school with each other, they work together. When their loved ones die, they support each other and pray for each other. I held a service of anointing and healing for a school teacher the other day with a serious illness, and Protestants and Catholics alike were there.

I respect the Catholic Church’s wishes on the matter, and I do not receive the Eucharist in their church.

However, to be baptized and in a Christian assembly where the Eucharist is celebrated and Christ is present, and to know I am not welcome to receive Christ is just too painful to bear for me - so I do not attend Catholic weddings or funerals when a mass is celebrated.

I receive the Eucharist whenever I can, but only where I am welcome to do so. For me, that means in Methodist, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches, mostly.

This is an interesting discovery of the mind of Protestants on this issue.

Just three weeks ago I witnessed an interfaith marriage between a Catholic (the bride) and an Anglican (the groom). It was agreed while each party would hold onto their faith respectively; the marriage was to be solemnized at a Catholic church. What baffled me (the bride was a niece of one of our music ministry member) was the groom’s mother adamantly refused a full mass to be said but instead a blessing service to be held without the Holy Communion. The groom’s mother reason was since non-Catholics would be disallowed to receive the Holy Communion during the wedding mass, she felt it was a slight to them and decided that to be fair to all, no Holy Communion would be given.

I felt this was very childish of her to behave like that. Your sharing here sheds some light on why she behaved so. It also shows how far apart we are on our attitude towards the Holy Eucharist.

For a Catholic, this is a matter of faith. When an ordained priest invokes the Holy Spirit and says “Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you,” during the consecration we see him as literally Jesus himself and the host becomes at that vey moment his flesh and blood. It is such solemn moment that many Catholics would not even dare to open their eyes for they know that they are face to face with the Lord; and those who left their eyes opened would just stare in awe at the thought at what really happening at that very moment. When we step down the aisle to partake in the Holy Communion, it is in the knowledge that we are receiving the Lord himself, flesh and blood.

Would non-Catholics partake in the Holy Communion while not believing in this? As a Catholic I will not partake in a Protestant Communion because I don’t believe what they are doing is right. I thought this is natural disposition but I am surprised that Protestants want to receive Communion from a Catholic priest during a Catholic mass.

I suspect they could care less about the differences. While I think theological and doctrinal differences are important, again - the average person in the pew could care less.

If that it is, it shows how far the average Christians have backslide in fidelity to the church they’re baptized in.

 

[O.S.Luke]

For a Catholic, this is a matter of faith. When an ordained priest invokes the Holy Spirit and says “Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you,” during the consecration we see him as literally Jesus himself and the host becomes at that vey moment his flesh and blood. It is such solemn moment that many Catholics would not even dare to open their eyes for they know that they are face to face with the Lord; and those who left their eyes opened would just stare in awe at the thought at what really happening at that very moment. When we step down the aisle to partake in the Holy Communion, it is in the knowledge that we are receiving the Lord himself, flesh and blood.

It is a matter of faith for my communion as well, as we believe in the Real Presence, even if you believe ours isn’t “valid.” I fear and tremble as well as give thanks before the Real Christ.

Thanks for the condescension tho. You are correct - it is an interesting discovery to find out what our Christian brothers and sisters think about us.

Pax vobiscum,

O+

 

[ralphinal]

I think sometimes we read too much into the closed communion issue. It is a sacrament, and as such it has both an outward sign and an inward change of grace. The inward change on this is easy to state: we receive Jesus. However, we should not diminish the outward sign, which includes the unity of the Reception. To say that anyone can come implies a unity that does not exist.

I was at a few of family weddings earlier this year in Catholic Churches. The guests were about 50-50 Catholic to not at all three. At one, there was no communion given. At the others there was. The Priest at one mentioned communion being for Catholics only, but you could come with your arms crossed and get a blessing. At the last, it was mentioned that communion was closed. However, one of my relatives, who is CAtholic in name only and is a vocal opponant of the teaching on the Real Presence, was allowed to serve as EMHC. I was LIVID!! There were several people that I know for a fact he told beforehand that they could receive because a little “Catholic Hocus Pocus doesn’t mean anything.” The whole thing scandalized me to no end.I just wanted to vent

 

[Reuben_J]

It is a matter of faith for my communion as well, as we believe in the Real Presence, even if you believe ours isn’t “valid.” I fear and tremble as well as give thanks before the Real Christ.

Thanks for the condescension tho. You are correct - it is an interesting discovery to find out what our Christian brothers and sisters think about us.

Pax vobiscum,

O+

I think you read me wrong. My point was - I would not want to recieve Communion from a denomination which I do not believe in. I thought Protestants would do the same when they attend a Catholic mass, (unless they believe in a Catholic mass and what it entails).

I will go to Protestants funeral and wedding services if they are for my friends and relatives and especially if I am invited. It is that I will not receive their Communion because I do not believe they have it right. My differences with Protestantism does not stop me from attending their services. Likewise I would even go for Muslim funerals or weddings if necessary.

 

[Reuben_J]

I think you read me wrong. My point was - I would not want to recieve Communion from a denomination which I do not believe in.

… Not that you do not have faith in your own belief. But it is a fact that we differs in how we achieve that belief respectively. I object to your saying that I am condenscending because I was not, and would not want to anyway.

 

[O.S.Luke]

I think you read me wrong. My point was - I would not want to recieve Communion from a denomination which I do not believe in. I thought Protestants would do the same when they attend a Catholic mass, (unless they believe in a Catholic mass and what it entails).

My point is that belief, confession, repentance, and profession in Christ, and being baptized, unites us. To offer the real presence of Christ and to deny it to His people is, in my opinion, almost abusive, and at best, neglectful. It would be as to eat sustaining food in front of others who might be starving.

I understand that the Catholic Church believes the eucharist signifies doctrinal unity and oneness in belief, and I respect that. However, since Jesus served both Judas and Peter at the Last Supper with the full knowledge that one would betray him and the other would deny him, I think that belief is at best problematic. I will receive Christ at any altar if it is offered to me. The Church is on its way to perfection, but not there yet. Christ, however, is always perfect.

I will go to Protestants funeral and wedding services if they are for my friends and relatives and especially if I am invited. It is that I will not receive their Communion because I do not believe they have it right. My differences with Protestantism does not stop me from attending their services. Likewise I would even go for Muslim funerals or weddings if necessary.

If a Eucharist is celebrated at a funeral or wedding, it of course is the central action of said worship service, not the couple being married or the person being buried - which is as it should be. The pain of being denied partaking the Body and Blood of Christ is too painful to endure.

I belong to a religious order devoted to sacramental and liturgical practice and education. Part of our Rule is frequent communion. It’s just too painful for me to attend. The last time I attended a Mass was at the requiem mass of my father-in-law, a man I loved just like my own father, and I couldn’t even participate in the Mass being said in his name.

I’m sure your answer is that I’m a Protestant and that it’s all on me. I understand that. But I discerned a long time ago that were I a priest, I could not in good conscience deny the Eucharist to a baptized Christian who believed in the Real Presence - I would fear for my soul when I met my Maker if He asked me why I denied Christ to another.

Just my take. I’m sure you disagree.

O+

 

[Contarini]

There has been a lot of discussion about how unreasonable the Catholic church is about asking those who aren’t Catholic to not receive communion in the Catholic church. Knowing that, to Catholics, receiving communion indicates acceptance of all the teachings of Jesus passed down through the church and Protestants don’t accept them all, why do you even want to receive communion here? If I were Protestant, I would not want to give scandal this way.

Because we understand the Eucharist to be the body of Christ, not the body of teaching.

The few Protestants who do have a Catholic belief in the Eucharist are permitted to received in the Catholic Church if they are unable to get to their own church, feel a great need for the Eucharist, and go to the Catholic pastor for permission to do so. So why would a Protestant with access to his own church want to receive Eucharist in the Catholic church??

Because we understand the Eucharist as an act of fellowship with Christ and with one another as Christ’s Body. In my ecclesiology, if there are Christian believers in my town with whom I do not share Eucharist, then my and their participation in Christ’s Body is imperfect.

Let me make it clear that I do not complain about the Catholic stance. I understand and respect it. But you asked why Protestants would *want *to receive communion in the Catholic Church, and that’s the question I’m answering.

The same would presumably be true of your attitude to the Orthodox Church. You would, I hope and presume, *like *to receive communion from the venerable Patriarch of Constantinople and the Christians in communion with him, even though you respect their reasons for denying you this.

Edwin

 

[Contarini]

Early in the history of the church, those who held to a heresy were excommunicated (not allowed to receive the Eucharist). This indicates that accepting church teaching and receiving the Eucharist were both viewed as central to belonging to the body of Christ, the church. And that union in Eucharist indicated this unity of belief. Presumably these Christians who were separated from the church still did believe in the Eucharist so that wasn’t the criteria. They received communion in their separated group (because they were ‘in communion’ with those beliefs).

First of all, let me clarify that I understand the historical roots of the Catholic stance and respect it. My problem with it, and with post-Vatican-II Catholic ecclesiology generally, is that you guys are trying to have your cake and eat it too. In the early Church, heretics were considered wicked people on their way to hell unless they repented. They were not considered “separated brethren” who were imperfectly part of the Church and with whom a great deal of fellowship was possible. So you can’t simply apply the early Church’s stance automatically–you don’t go the whole hog.

And let me remind you that you asked why Protestants would want to receive communion in the Catholic Church. I am not questioning the coherence or logic of the Catholic stance. I’m pointing out why Protestants would like it to be different. For ecumenical Protestants, all baptized believers are part of the Church, period.

This IS the central reason Catholics have closed communion. Protestants find this difficult to get their minds around. The modern day Protestant’s concept of ‘Church’ is often that of an invisible unity of all individuals who accept Christ, regardless of denomination.

The Church certainly embraces members of more than one denomination, but it is not purely invisible either. You do not have the right to ascribe to all Protestants the conveniently untenable views that you have heard from some Protestants.

That Jesus left behind a group of apostles (and their successors to that office) with authority to teach and admit to communion isn’t something they think about.

It’s certainly something I think about.

What do you think is the central reason Catholics have closed communion??

Because we are not, in your view, members of true particular churches led by bishops in apostolic succession. That appears to be the decisive issue, given your Communion’s willingness to extend Eucharistic hospitality to the Orthodox (a willingness that is not reciprocated).

Edwin

 

[Reuben_J]

My point is that belief, confession, repentance, and profession in Christ, and being baptized, unites us. To offer the real presence of Christ and to deny it to His people is, in my opinion, almost abusive, and at best, neglectful. It would be as to eat sustaining food in front of others who might be starving.

As this involves faith / belief, communion is only for those who profess them. You can say Real Presence is found in any Eucharistic celebration but to the Catholics it is not so. Consubstantiation only happens if an ordained priest of an apostolic succession celebrates the Eucharist. Invariably only Catholics priests and those united to the Bishop of Rome qualify to do it.

It is not abusive because only the eligible can receive the Body and the Blood of Jesus. Anybody can receive Jesus, notice the difference. Even Catholics who are not in a state of grace should not receive Holy Communion, because one cannot accept the holy body of the Lord when still tainted with sins. In order that you receive Holy Communion you need to perform the Sacrament of Penance with a Catholic priest; it is not enough just to make public confession.

Yes, there is restriction for one to be able to receive Holy Communion. It is such a longing, an emptiness for not being able to receive Holy Communion. I am surprised (honestly) that non-Catholic should feel this way but some Catholics too, due to the state of their lives, are excluded from receiving Holy Communion.

But please understand that one is considered to have attended full mass even without receiving the Holy Communion because it is just part of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. A person is therefore needed to make the choice to undertake to make good their life in order to receive Holy Communion.

I understand that the Catholic Church believes the eucharist signifies doctrinal unity and oneness in belief, and I respect that. However, since Jesus served both Judas and Peter at the Last Supper with the full knowledge that one would betray him and the other would deny him, I think that belief is at best problematic. I will receive Christ at any altar if it is offered to me. The Church is on its way to perfection, but not there yet. Christ, however, is always perfect.

The analogy is flawed. At the moment of the last supper the crime was not committed yet and therefore they were still in a ‘state of grace’ if you like.

If a Eucharist is celebrated at a funeral or wedding, it of course is the central action of said worship service, not the couple being married or the person being buried - which is as it should be. The pain of being denied partaking the Body and Blood of Christ is too painful to endure.

We go to the funeral or wedding because of the person whom we want to pay respect to; if it involved the mass so be it. But as I say, I would not totally avoid them; I just don’t participate in their worship since I disagree with their belief. Similarly, I would break my fast even though I am fasting if I am invited to a friend’s banquet. I think this is just simple courtesy and respect.

I belong to a religious order devoted to sacramental and liturgical practice and education. Part of our Rule is frequent communion. It’s just too painful for me to attend. The last time I attended a Mass was at the requiem mass of my father-in-law, a man I loved just like my own father, and I couldn’t even participate in the Mass being said in his name.

I’m sure your answer is that I’m a Protestant and that it’s all on me. I understand that. But I discerned a long time ago that were I a priest, I could not in good conscience deny the Eucharist to a baptized Christian who believed in the Real Presence - I would fear for my soul when I met my Maker if He asked me why I denied Christ to another.

You seem to be an exceptional non-Catholic. I am sorry if I misunderstood you.

Actually it is not up to the priest entirely whether to administer the Sacraments or not. Though he is given leeway in making discernment toward a decision, nevertheless some Church’s rules are very clear on who should receive them and who should not, leaving the priest no choice in some circumstances.

Just my take. I’m sure you disagree.

O+

I try to understand what you’re saying, and yes, I do disagree.

God bless.