- In Chapter Four, what did you find most helpful or enlightening?
- What do you think is most challenging about it for others? Why?
- Describe a time when a misunderstanding about the Eucharist or a related Church teaching hindered someone’s spiritual growth. Did Jesus redeem that situation? What have you learned from it?
This entry was posted
on Friday, August 1st, 2003 at 1:00 am and is filed under Ecclesia de Eucharistia.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
December 22nd, 2006 at 1:02 pm
Communion with the Triune God and communion among the faithful.
The Eucharist thus appears as the culmination of all the sacraments in perfecting our communion with God the Father by identification with His Only Begotten Son through the working of the Holy Spirit.
Lesson #3
Learning that the Catholic Church is really working to reunite all the peoples of the world. That we are all God’s Children that race, religion, national origin, etc. doesn’t mean a thing. It is the responsibility of every Catholic to spread the Word of God to all, letting the knowledge that they can join in communion with the faithful of Christ. The Gift of God’s Son to us in the Eucharist is a gift of knowledge we can give to others. the importance of this knowledge in them will prayerfully lead them to God and the True Church.
Those of the Catholic faith that disrespect God by partaking in the sacrament of the Eucharist, just to take it are to me only hurting themselves and when the day of judgment comes if they have not repented their sin will be judged for that disrespect.
Before I was reinstalled to the sacraments I would go up with my arms crossed across my chest, doing so with complete respect for the Son of God. Then the first time I was able to receive the Eucharist I was filled with such joy and my soul was healed. Trying to explain to others that the bread and wine ARE the Body and Blood of Christ, and that after study and excepting the faith they are going to be so blessed with the Gift of the son of God, that in receiving we are in communion with all the faithful and with the Trinity.
Dearest God the Father in Heaven I pray that You grant to each member of the faithful the words that are needed to prove to others the truth of the Eucharist.
In Your Name I Pray.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
CHAPTER 4
Question 1. The explanations of communion, the different examples clarified several issujes for me. I am sure I was taught these issues as a child but had not thought about it conciously for years. Entering into Mass with a “pre-existing” unity with God and the Church - confessing sin - being free from the blockages sin brings - being totally open to communion - this is very enlightning.
Question 2. One challenging issue we are having in Canada right now is the dispute allowing Roman Catholic MP’s who publically supported Abortion, Same Sex Marriage, etc. by voting yes to still have the right to receive Eucharist. Some of our bishops have publically stated they are blatenly going against Church teaching - and they are.
Question 3 - Years ago I had a friend who aborted her baby, she had no spiritual or practical support or direction at that time. She stopped going to Mass and receiving the sacraments because she later realized the gravity of her action. Yes, Jesus redeemed the situation. Through the actions of a friend, she was introduced to a compassionate and understanding priest, provided reconcilliation and the spiritual baptism of her aborted child. This woman struggled for years with severe depression, endless prescription drugs and numerous doctors. One meeting with the priest, and the merciful forgiveness of Jesus and she was healed. No more doctors, drugs or depression. What have I learned from this, never underestimate the mercy and love of The Father and his healing graces!
November 14th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
I found the fact that there is a special sacrament for me to partake in if I feel in need of reconciling my sin. I think that even if the sin seems not so grave, one should speak to a priest about it. The scripture states that we cannot be united with God so long as we continue in sin (this doesn’t mean He doesn’t search for and woo us back to His fold, but that we must be reconciled to Him to experience His joy again). This is new to me as I have tried often to overcome my sin by doing ‘good Christian’ things (which doesn’t work, by the way). Perhaps that is also challenging for others, too…to be introspective/take time out of the busyness and really take a look at the state of our souls.
I have had many experiences when those in leadership were participating in sexual sin while looking very Godly on the outside. But God looks at the heart and I have hoped that Jesus did change them. I had to leave the church, though as I needed to be where people were being honest about their humanity and sincerely repentful. So….I can just hope that Jesus’ redeemed them, I don’t know. However, He did change me and their problems moved me to a wonderful Christian community, which has blessed me tremendously.
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 am
In Chapter Four, what did you find most helpful or enlightening?
It was enlightening form met to learn that the Church does allow non-Catholics to receive communion under special circumstances. These special circumstances come into effect when there is an issue that would affect that non-Catholic individual’s salvation. The intention is that the sacrament would be given to a person in grave spiritual need and whose eternal salvation was in question. Of course the saving of a soul is of utmost importance. The recipient still needs to recognize the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It is important to note that communion is given to an individual it is not given to the non-Catholic in order to bring about intercommunion between that person’s denomination and the Church.
What do you think is most challenging about it for others? Why?
I don’t think this particular teaching is much of a problem for Catholics. It is easy to understand that saving someone’s soul is of supreme importance. We really couldn’t call ourselves Christians if we denied a person salvation when they expressed a desire for it. I think the problem is found not in the “special” circumstances but in the normal circumstances when it is not appropriate for a non-Catholic to receive communion. I think that our natural instinct is to want to include everyone in the Eucharistic celebration, but the truth is we are not united with those outside the Church. Pope John Paul II put it well when he said, “The path toward full unity can only be undertaken in truth.”
Describe a time when a misunderstanding about the Eucharist or a related Church teaching hindered someone’s spiritual growth. Did Jesus redeem that situation? What have you learned from it?
I can say that as a cradle Catholic I did not grow up with the proper appreciation of the real presence in the Eucharist. I don’t blame anyone but myself for my poor catechesis; it was my own stubborn refusal to explore my faith. I do believe that Jesus kept working on me because I always have had an appreciation for the Mass and a desire to have it as part of my life. I have learned that I am not alone and there are many people who just don’t know the treasure we have in the Church.
November 27th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
I found most helpful the expansion of the idea that the Eucharist, though it both creates and expresses communion, PRESUPPOSES that communion exists. To truly participate in the sacrament, we must be united in both the visible and invisible “dimensions.” Though not a new idea to me, the exposition of this whole idea was very helpful.
Most challenging for others might be that non-Catholics cannot, under usual circumstances, join us in receiving the Eucharist at Mass. The somewhat “subjective” circumstances under which they might be legitimately allowed to receive Communion might also be difficult concepts.
I once had an RCIA inquirer who (unbeknownst to me) was receiving the Eucharist at weekday Masses. The pastor kindly told him that he should not be coming up to receive until after he had entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. This person asked me about this, asked if I could explain this concept to him (and I had not yet read this document!). Communion was very important to this individual; he had once challenged the Church’s position that “Christ is not present in Protestant communion service,” as he put it. Christ indeed “redeemed this situation” by giving me the words and him the ears to hear - I explained the Church’s whole idea of the fullness of communion, our assent to the fullness of her teaching, etc. He thanked me for helping him see that by waiting until he KNEW what he was assenting to more fully, by not receiving until he was truly in full communion, he could benefit. He later told me that he felt that Christ was very much present when he made a spiritual communion during our receiving of the Eucharist, and that his longing for the whole Christ was increased. Praise God.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
1)It is enlightening to realize that under special circumstances that Catholic ministers will administer the sacraments of the Eucharist to Christians who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church but who desire to receive the sacrament. The salvation of the person’s soul is considered to be the highest priority; the person would also display the faith which the church teaches with respect to the sacrament .
2)For Christian people it shouldn’t be a challenge for someone under special circumstances, for example someone very ill, to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist. The whole world is meant to be one family in Jesus. Jesus came to bring all of us “into the circle”. Those who believe should share all things in common.
3)The Cathechism of the Catholic Church rightly stipulates that anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving the Eucharist. Recently our Bishop was charged with possessing child pornography; his case is now waiting to be heard in the courts. The Bishop resigned before the charges reached the media. This was a tragedy for the Diocese and community; it created distruct, suspicion, and second guessing in this diocese and the whole church. Now this week we installed a new bishop in our diocese. His homily began by acknowledging the pain the diocese had experienced the last few months; he said the Lord has called him and invited him to participate in His ministry of healing and called him to be a vehicle for His reconciliation. So with the help of God’s grace, we trust we will “rise again.” God is with us.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
1. In chapter 4, I learned that to partake in the Eucharistic sacrifice, we must be both united in the visible and invisible dimensions of the Eucharist. This inter-relationship between the visible and invisible elements makes us call the Church, “the Sacrament of Salvation”-because the Church is the provider of truth, provider of sacraments, and also provider of apostolic priesthood and hence provides Salvation.
2 The most challenging thing learned in this chapter is when the Church uses Code of Canon Law to take a stand on who should be admitted to the Eucharistic Communion. The Church in its concern for the whole community must take a stand against visible conduct that is contrary to Christian morality. This does not reflect very well with human person and especially those not spiritualy mature; like the unbaptized, those who refuse to believe that the Eucharist is Christ,and those who deliberately and conscientiously refuse to be in communion with the pope and the apostolic priesthood.
3. Some years ago my wife and I collided because having been brought up in the Catholic Church, we had differences when she shifted to one of the Pentecostal Churches within our residential area. She started preaching to me how in the Catholic Church there is no Salvation. I defended my Catholic faith to the last. She was so bitter when she persuded me to accompany her to thier Sunday Service and I refused to go fwith her. Our marriage almost broke up. I prayed for her but to no avail up to today. This has made me thirst for learning more of Catechism of the Catholic Church and more prayers until something happens (PUSH). She has changed Churches about three times. I am very sure Jesus will redeem the situation very soon as I have started seeing the signs of wanting to come back.
March 15th, 2010 at 9:04 am
1. What was most enlightening was the fact that non-Catholics under special circumstances were able to receive the Eucharist only if they recognize the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The emphasis that their salvation is the highest priority and of utmost importance and takes precedence over every rule is also enlightening. Baptised Non-Catholics are accepted into the Catholic faith by going through the Rite of Acceptance through a special ceremony where they profess the Creed in front of the community. This is a very special moment for them and for us Catholics too when we see that our brothers and sisters have the desire to be united with Christ’s body, the church.
2. I know of a Protestant pastor who believes that Jesus is present in the bread and wine and during his spiritual sessions, he says the same prayers as our priests… “on the night before he suffered and died, Jesus took the bread, broke it, gave thanks and said, ‘this is my body broken for you, take eat, do it in remembrance of me’, he does the same for the wine. Then the bread and wine (grape juice) is passed round for all who attend to partake. I’m not sure if this is what we call in union with our Catholic church. When I do attend his sessions, I also partake in this communion. Is this wrong for me to partake? My parish priest says it is but I don’t think it is since the pastor believes that it is truly the body and blood of Christ. Perhaps someone can enlighten me on this.
3. I have not come across anything of this nature personally but reading what my fellow Catholics have shared in this forum makes me stand in awe at the marvelous wonders our God can do. It is really heartening to know their struggles they go through and how God never fails to make good out of a situation gone bad.
March 15th, 2010 at 10:42 am
You ask an important question, Joanna, in answer #2. First, no matter what the Protestant pastor believes and proclaims, Jesus is NOT physically present — body and blood — in the bread and wine of his communion service, although it is very possible that Jesus is spiritually present in the communion service itself. There has been no transformation — transubstantiation — of the bread and wine.
The Protestant pastor is not in union with the apostolic priesthood of the Catholic Church, i.e., the uninterruted line from St. Peter and the other first Apostles to our current-today clergy. By belonging to a denomination that separated itself from the Pope and the Catholic Church (the original Church), he did not receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders, nor was it from a bishop who is aligned with the Pope. Therefore, he is performing a prayer service that any of us laity could provide. It’s like we do in the Catholic Church when there is no priest available: A deacon can and, in the absence of a deacon, a lay person can hold a communion service. In Catholic communion services, the Eucharist that was consecrated by a priest who received Holy Orders is used; the Eucharist is never successfully consecrated by anyone who does not have the Sacrament of Holy Orders empowering him. Look up the meaning of “in persona Christi” to understand more about this.
It is wrong for a Catholic to receive non-consecrated communion when it implies that the Catholic believes it to be the same as the Eucharist, for this is a false witness: It conveys to the Protestants in the service that Holy Orders are not necessary for transubstantiation, that unity with the Pope and the whole Catholic Church is not what we enter into when receiving the Eucharist, and that there is no disunity where in fact there is. It also conveys that the Catholic Church is wrong in stating that there is a difference between Eucharist and Protestant communion services.
Lastly, I’d like to point out the reason the Eucharist comes to us in the form of wine and not grape juice. Bread and wine is what Jesus used in the Last Supper; he did not use grape juice. The Catholic Mass is a more accurate, fuller revisiting of the Last Supper than other communion services. The blood of Christ that becomes available at Catholic Mass is always made from grapes and fermented into wine because this is what Jesus used. When the priest says the prayers consecrating the bread and wine, which transforms them into the body and blood of Jesus, it is not in fact the priest doing it. It is Jesus doing it through the mouth and hands of the priest (the priest is “in persona Christi”), connected to the original, real Last Supper, which is what the Sacrament of Holy Orders makes do-able.
July 4th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
1. That someone who truly believes in the true presence of Jesus can not be denied His Body and Blood. Under special circumstances, where a non Catholic loses their spouse may receive Holy Communion at the funeral Mass. At my dad’s funeral Mass my brother and his family wanted to receive communion and they are lutheran. The priest did not want to and I wasn’t in agreement either, but from what I read it is acceptable.
2. I feel most others just see it as a symbol and see it as bread and wine, in fact most just call it that. I have noticed that people find it hard to say the Body and Blood of Christ. I think your faith must be very strong.
3. I know someone who is all fact and science and has a hard time with anything not in black and white; for instance the Bible was wrote by just men, not inspired by Our Lord. I pray for an increase of faith for him every day. I know that the lack of or non existance of faith among our fellow man has increased mine and I pray that the Lord will work thru me to bring others to Him.