What's wrong with Catholic ritual?

Question

Catholic rituals symbolizes the Lord's supper. It's a very holy hour when Spirit of God is manifested into the bread and wine (communion). why other christians have problems with it?

I mean if only heart matters, then it should not matter what kind of ritual people have right?

I love going to Catholic church because it is so serene and peaceful. I love the old england music too. Very good lyrics.

it's not cannibalismm!!~blood of Christ is just thing spiritual protection against demonic attacks. body of christ is the Word of God that comes into our hearts.

we Catholics read the same bibles!!!!
I even read NIV! My pastors have King James and NIV!!

pagans worship spirits of animals or even random dead spirits. Catholics do not. We worship God, Jesus Christ. Hellooooo

look at John 6:55

catholics do not drink or eat human's blood or flesh... !!!!!
we use bread and wine to symbolizes Jesus' flesh and blood

john 6:55 = For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.

Answer 1

Ignorance of the Catholic faith - it's that simple. It's the most beautiful religion in the world. Also, they don't realize that the Church is not relegated to just the Vatican and priests, but WE are as much a part of it as they are - the Body of Christ. Our traditions and symbolism are passed on for almost 2,000 years - as is the wisdom throughout these past two millenia. Also, they do not believe in the Eucharist as we do - to them it's is only symbolism, and do not accept the consecration of the host as the body and blood of Christ as passed from Jesus, to Peter and the Apostles, directly down to the Pope and Priests of today.

Re: Bibles - you should be reading the New Revised Standard Bible, Catholic edition. We have additional books and there are differences between the protestant bibles and Catholic bibles - we have more 'stuff' in ours :)

They have never felt what it's like to have a whole congregation partake and speak the same prayer at the same time - the fact that you can FEEL the Holy Spirit present as a tangible entity there with us.

I absolutely love the Catholic Church and would do anything for it and for Christ. It is the true Church.

Keep the faith, keep praying, go to the Blessed Sacrament, listen to His will, not theirs. Remember, it's all about Him - He even said that if they hate Him, they will hate you also. The price He paid for me and my sins, I would do anything for him.

Answer 2

Part of this discussion revolves around what Jesus meant when he said "This is my body." The whole argument concerns what the definition of the word "is" is.

The Catholic Church teaches that the accidents (or appearance) of the bread and wine remain unchanged, but the elements miraculously become the actual body and blood of Christ. Therefore, the Catholic Church believes that Jesus was speaking literally when he said this is my body.

Many protestants point to other passages in the Gospels where Jesus speaks metaphorically. "I am the vine" for example. They point out that Jesus clearly did not literally mean that he was a plant, and apply the same logic to communion. They make it a symbolic action.

This is a short but accurate definition of the differences between Catholic and Protestant teachings. I just finished a course in Christian history in Divinity School, so much of this is very fresh in my mind. Send me a private message if you want to discuss it more.

--Addition

You need to understand that many Catholic teachings are extra-scriptural (meaning outside of scripture). So, you need to look at the teachings of the church on a particular subject, not just the Bible. Otherwise, you are acting like a Protestant.

Answer 3

Dear Diana,

It is wonderful to know your appreciation for the beauty and serenity of Catholic churches and the Mass. I agree with you that it is what is in your heart that matters!

Since there have been lots of responses to your question concerning the nature of the Catholic celebration of the Eucharist, I thought you'd like to know that there is a great source on the Internet focusing on Catholic theology called "New Advent." Here is what they say about the Eucharist:

"Jesus is both substantially present (bread and wine really become his body and blood) and supernaturally present (transubstantiation occurs by the supernatural action of God; the accidents of bread and wine remain without the substances of bread and wine).

In consuming the Eucharistic elements, the physical mechanisms of eating injure only the accidents of bread and wine. The process of consuming the host doesn't involve ripping and tearing Christ's body, despite its substantial presence. This is why the charge of cannibalism won't work.

We can still say Christ's flesh and blood are consumed sacramentally in Holy Communion because what is eaten is literally his body and blood, even if the physical action of eating affects only the accidents of bread and wine."

The Eucharist is a mystery. Faith is a Gift from God. Hope this helps, somehow!

Answer 4

Catholic ritual (Tradition with a capitol T) has been around since day one of the church. Aside from being prescribed by Jesus and by the Apostles its strongest support for comes from the fact it has exsist before the bible was even complied (the bible first came into existance in the fourth century).

The earliest churches celebrated by Tradition, and the most sacred Tradition was indeed the Eucharist. The seven sacrements are also part of our Tradition (weddings are especially beautiful and sacred). Even interepretation of difficult passages are supported by Tradition.

I am glad you find the serenity of our churches, I personally also appreciate the enviorment since you feel like you are in the presence of God. Plus I appreciate church music (I am more of a fan of the Gregorian Chants and Latin Music) but nevertheless it keeps with the sacred feel of the mass.

I strongly encourage you too stop in for a Latin rite mass (you can find these listed on the internet) or a Byzantine mass. These both preform a very beautiful and unforgetable mass. I also recommend attending an Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy (mass) its very similar to the Byzantine with some differences plus their Bible contains more books than even the Catholic one.

If you would like to know more about the Catholic, indeed early Christian church, I would recommend "On Christian Teaching (sometimes called Docutrine)" by Saint Augustine who is an early church father (4th century) its a short book with explains how the Church reads and interprets its scripture.

Answer 5

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints partake of the Sacrament every Sunday. It is a very Sacred and Reverent Ceremony. It is to help us remember the covenants that we have made at the time of Baptism, and also to remember the Great Sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us. (It is symbolic of his body and blood)

The Catholics are not the only religion who practice that ritual, and I believe that there are a few others as well that perform that ritual but not as often.

Answer 6

The Eucharist is beautiful and I'm glad you are able to recieve it. However, your statement "we use bread and wine to symbolizes Jesus' flesh and blood" is false. As a Catholic, you should believe the bread and wine are the actual blood and body of Christ, not just a symbol.

Answer 7

because while other church observe the Lord's supper, we do not think that the spirit enters the bread and wine and actually becomes the body of Christ, that is called cannibalism. we think of it as symbolic, how his body was broken for us and his blood was spilled for us. not that we are actually eating him.

P.S. do you remember reading in the Bible where Jesus condemned the Pharisees for reciting prayers (vain repetition) meaning, same words over and over? do you see and similarity there?
my advice to you would be, don't get on yahoo answer and ask a question unless you REALLY want to know what people think.

Answer 8

Nothing outright wrong with ritual, it's just that it can get to the point where that is what it is all about. Jesus removed the necessity of rituals, the sacrifices, when he was crucified. Though, in defense to the Catholics, communion is the one ritual that Jesus outright asks for as a way to remember him and the meaning of his sacrifice 'This is my body, broken for you..." It's also practiced by Christians, we just don't believe that the bread and wine (grape juice for Christians) actually become the blood and body, just that they are symbols.

Answer 9

I'm not Catholic, but my religion is almost the same as yours. And we practice this holy hour to, but in my point of view it's a little severe. Once I went in a Catholic church and i was surprised how friendly and short it takes. In my religion you don't pray for you sins, instead you pray to God to make the priest shut up so you can go home. Imagine how long it takes. Anyway ignore those people who don't see the real value of this important moment. If they are complaining than they aren't normal and they want to see what they like. I don't go to the church every day, rarely I go there, because I don't like it, but I respect it and care the proud of having this religion. Those people are the opposite of it. They're selfish and they don't respect it.This is life, don't put your mind with these guys, ignore what are they saying, their words are only hot air.
You are perfectly right in what are you saying.

Answer 10

like someone who responded to your questions said earlier "Careful not to put tradition above scripture" My church also has communion. But I think it imp not to fall for the "prettyness" of a church(or cathedral). Your right Catholic churches are peaceful and calm compared to Christians churches where they get "rilled up" in spirit. But dont you get that way when you go to a concert or sporting event? How much More the church of God?