Why can't I receive the Eucharist if not a church member?

Question

I would like to receive the Eucharist, I realize how important and holy it is, taking Jesus body and blood. However, I am not a member of the Catholic church, and other than watching it on EWTN, I don't attend mass. I am going to go for instruction, but classes start in the fall. It just seems strange to go to mass and leave before the Eucharist, and not take part in it. Anyway, that's what I have read and want to know of any Catholics answer to this.

Answer 1

Well, why not just go to a large urban church where you can be relatively anonymous, and then just take the Eucharist anyway?

If you're going to become a Catholic, you're going to have to understand that a lot of their rules and dogma are unfair. I once knew a little boy who was denied his First Communion because he was allergic to the ingredients of both the host and the wine, and the diocese wouldn't allow any substitutions.

Personally - I don't believe you need the permission of any authority to be one with Spirit. Can you see how the Church uses this as a way of gaining power over people?

Answer 2

Among the various dogmas of the Catholic Church there is none which rests on stronger Scriptural authority than the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, because He promised to give His Flesh as food and His Blood as drink (John vi. 48-70); because He fulfilled this promise at the Last Supper (Matt. xxvi. 20; Mark xiv. 22-24; Luke xxii. 19, 20; 1 Cor. xi. 23-25); because St. Paul declares this was the belief of the Apostolic Church (1 Cor. x. 16; xi. 27-29); because the early Fathers explicitly taught that the Eucharist was "the flesh and blood of the Incarnate Jesus" (St. Justin, Apol., i., 66); because Christ's infallible Church solemnly defined this doctrine against the Reformers of the sixteenth century. "The Holy Synod teaches . . . that in the august Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, after the consecration of the bread and wine, our Lord Jesus Christ, true God and Man, is truly, really and substantially contained under the appearance of those sensible things. ... If anyone denies that in the Sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist are contained truly, really and substantially the Body and Blood, together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ; but says that He is therein only as a sign, or a figure or virtually, let him be anathema" (Council of Trent, Sess. xiii., ch. 1, can. 1).

At the present day every Christian communion throughout the world, with the sole exception of Protestants, proclaim its belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Sacrament.

The Nestorians and Eutychians, who separated from the Catholic Church in the fifth century, admit the corporeal presence of our Lord in the Eucharist. Such also is the faith of the Greek church, which seceded from us a thousand years ago, of the Present Russian church, of the schismatic Copts, the Syrians, Chaldeans, Armenians, and, in short, of all the Oriental sects no longer in communion with the See of Rome.

Answer 3

Christians believe that the Eucharist is holy. How could you ask a priest to offer it to someone who does not accept its holiness? It would be utter sacrilege. The fact that you are going to receive instruction (which I take to mean that you plan to join the church) is not enough of a reason. You may believe in the holiness of the Eucharist on some level, but you have not yet fully joined in the community of Jesus Christ, and are therefore not prepared to accept this gift of his. What's the rush, anyway? If you plan to join the church, it's only a matter of time before you receive communion.

Answer 4

I am catholic(was..I changed) and they are VERY strict about the eucharist and most all the teachings of their church. Go to another church where all you have to be is saved and you can partake of the eucharist without becoming a member. I don't know of ANY other religious group that has as many offerings every week as the catholics do also. They send me envelopes for damn near every day of the yr. and want money for something. If I gave 10% of my income to each and every one I wouldn't even have enough to feed myself let alone pay rent, mortgage, car, insurance, phone, etc. They want ALL your money and tell you you will go to hell if you dont give it. They can go to hell. If I divide the 10% up and put part in each envelope, It wouldn't amount to a nickel in each one.

Answer 5

The rule was made because so many protestants don't understand the Nature of the Eucharist. For them, it would be a terrible sin, as they would consider worshipping of God in this form as idolatry, and therefore a sin. It sounds like you understand the difference, but still, if you're going to join the Catholic Church, you might as well get used to obeying laws meant for general purpose, even if in your particular case, they don't necessarily apply. Best be safe.

Answer 6

At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “Take this bread. It is my body.” The he said, “Take this and drink. This is my blood. Do this in memory of me.”

Catholics believe this was the First Eucharist, that through some miracle the bread and wine actually became the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Catholics reenact the Last Supper during every Mass, where the priest, acting in place of Christ, changes the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

This is a great sacrament of thanksgiving and unity of Catholics.

Anyone who does not believe in the actual presence of Christ and is not united with the Catholic faith is asked, out of respect, not to receive the Eucharist.

Catholics, out of respect for other Christian faiths, do not receive Communion in non-Catholic churches.

We pray that one day Christian unity will succeed and we will all be called to the same table.

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

If you goto a Catholic Church you can yes. I understand about joining and conversion but attending before the catechism etc you can. They do not deny the practice nor confession etc. You can always see a priest for more on this.

Answer 8

Although I'm Lutheran (the closest to Catholic) I have gone to many churches, including Catholic ones where I partook, since I am confirmed. My chuch encouraged confirmed people to partake, but later gave to any believer.

Answer 9

Why would you want to?