- 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?
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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.