Catie............. -- Catholic Friends Forum

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Date Posted: 19:31:16 07/16/07 Mon
Author: Neysa
Author Host/IP: user-38lcibc.dialup.mindspring.com / 209.86.73.108
Subject: Catie.............
In reply to: Catie 's message, "Question about communion." on 18:03:10 07/16/07 Mon

A Protestant can come to a Catholic Mass, but cannot take communion. Catholics believe the host is the body of Christ. His real flesh, not just a symbol. The same with the wine we believe we are drinking the blood of Christ.

As a Catholic our priest when he was ordained was given the power to turn the bread and wine into the actual body and blood of Christ.

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[> [> A quick answer and a question -- Joan, 06:14:28 07/17/07 Tue [1] (ip68-0-253-131.ri.ri.cox.net/68.0.253.131)

Protestants can't recieve Communion because they haven't recieved the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. To recieve, a baptised Protestant would have to also make his First Confession, another Sacrament. Then he would have to be Confirmed--another Sacrament. To be Confirmed, he would have to profess a belief in the Catholic religion, which would include a belief that the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ.

That's true for Catholic adults, too. If they were Baptized but hadn't recieved the other Sacraments, they can't recieve Communion at Mass.

Kids have a different order. They recieve Baptism, then (usually, but not always) Confession at about 7 yrs old, and within a few weeks they make their First Holy Communion. They are confirmed as teenagers.

I'm interested in why many Protestants feel that they should be able to fully participate in Catholic Rites. They wouldn't expect to fully participate in a Jewish or Muslim Rite, but they do expect to be able to participate in Catholic Rites. I'm thinking that it's probably because they are able, pretty much, to switch from one Protestant religion to another, even just visiting, and participate. Is that the reason?

I also wonder why they would want to recieve Communion in a Catholic Church, since doing that implies that they do believe in the real presence (that spelling doesn't look right). Why would anyone want to participate in something they don't believe in? That has always had me scratching my head. :-)

Can you give us your take on that, Catie and anyone else who reads this? I'm really curious about how Protestants feel about this, and why they feel the way they do. Tanks in advance. I would really appreciate your honest thoughts on this--even if you think they might be insulting.

Joan

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[> [> [> Re: A quick answer and a question -- Catie, 07:00:41 07/17/07 Tue [1] (h95.42.91.75.ip.alltel.net/75.91.42.95)

Joan, you make a really good point. I never looked at it that way. Here is my take on it.

I think protestants who visit a Catholic church most likely feel that any "Christian" church should be receptive of "Christians". Christ said we are one body, with many members who have their own gifts of service to him. At the last supper when Christ gave the bread and wine to the disciples he said you do this in memory of me. So as a Christian, fellowshiping with other Christians, acknowledging we are one body, receiving communion together seems the right thing to do. We are all remembering our Lord. It doesn't mean that I accept the entire doctrine of that particular faith, but that I do acknowledge Christ and feel the need to share in the partaking of his body to fulfull my Christian walk. Most protestant churches do teach if you have unconfessed sin in your life when you take it you will bring great harm to your body. That is scripture.

I remember when my Catholic friend Peg told me I couldn't partake of the communion I felt hurt. Surprised too. She tried to explain that there were other things I would have to do before recieving the sacraments. She also explained that Catholics believe that it truly becomes the blood and body once it enters the mouth. That was the part that really confused me. Because I believe when anyone receives communion they should take it as the real body and blood of Christ. I've never thought of it any other way.

This is all very interesting.

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[> [> [> [> On the Catholic Eucahrist -- Joan, 10:38:52 07/17/07 Tue [1] (ip68-0-253-131.ri.ri.cox.net/68.0.253.131)

"She also explained that Catholics believe that it truly becomes the blood and body once it enters the mouth. That was the part that really confused me. Because I believe when anyone receives communion they should take it as the real body and blood of Christ."

That's right--sort of. :-) It becomes the real body and blood of Christ when it is consecrated. That's why the Host is so special. The consecrated Host is kept in the tabernacle, and a candle is kept burning to let everyone know that the consecrated Host is stored inside.

Does your church teach that the bread and wine are the real body and blood of Jesus? I thought that most Protestant churches believe that it is symbolic. I thought that was one of the biggest sticking points against Catholic doctrine w/ most Protestant churches--they don't believe in the real presence.

Joan

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: On the Catholic Eucahrist -- Neysa, 11:28:43 07/17/07 Tue [1] (user-2inik1k.dialup.mindspring.com/165.121.80.52)

I was always taught in school that Catholics cannot take communion in a Protestant or Orthodox Church because they do not believe that it is the real presence of the body and blood of Christ. To them it is only symbolic.

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