Inter-Faith Series, Holy Eucharist: What is the Church’s attitude toward other Christian communities?

Question

In relation to the Holy Eucharist?

rukkiding, good point. But you forgot to consider that we must be in state of grace to receive the Eucharist. Don't you think that is logical too?

Answer 1

The Holy Eucharist is the most important of the seven sacraments because, in this and in no other sacrament, we receive the very body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. Innumerable, precious graces come to us through the reception of Holy Communion.

Communion is an intimate encounter with Christ, in which we sacramentally receive Christ into our bodies, that we may be more completely assimilated into his. "The Eucharist builds the Church," as Pope John Paul II said (Redemptor Hominis 20). It deepens unity with the Church, more fully assimilating us into Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; CCC 1396).

The Eucharist also strengthens the individual because in it Jesus himself, the Word made flesh, forgives our venial sins and gives us the strength to resist mortal sin. It is also the very channel of eternal life: Jesus himself.

In John’s gospel, Jesus summarized the reasons for receiving Communion when he said:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:53–58).

The guidelines for receiving Communion, which are issued by the U.S. bishops and published in many missalettes, explain, "We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us ‘that they may all be one’ (John 17:21).

"Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law. . . . "

Scripture is clear that partaking of the Eucharist is among the highest signs of Christian unity: "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Cor. 10:17). For this reason, it is normally impossible for non-Catholic Christians to receive Holy Communion, for to do so would be to proclaim a unity to exist that, regrettably, does not.

Another reason that many non-Catholics may not ordinarily receive Communion is for their own protection, since many reject the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Scripture warns that it is very dangerous for one not believing in the Real Presence to receive Communion: "For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died" (1 Cor. 11:29–30).

However, there are circumstances when non-Catholics may receive Communion from a Catholic priest. This is especially the case when it comes to Eastern Orthodox Christians, who share the same faith concerning the nature of the sacraments:

"Catholic ministers may licitly administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the oriental churches which do not have full Communion with the Catholic Church, if they ask on their own for the sacraments and are properly disposed. This holds also for members of other churches, which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition as the oriental churches as far as these sacraments are concerned" (CIC 844 § 3).

Christians in these churches should, of course, respect their own church’s guidelines regarding when it would be permissible for them to receive Communion in a Catholic church.

The circumstances in which Protestants are permitted to receive Communion are more limited, though it is still possible for them to do so under certain specifically defined circumstances.

Canon law explains the parameters: "If the danger of death is present or other grave necessity, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or the conference of bishops, Catholic ministers may licitly administer these sacraments to other Christians who do not have full Communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and on their own ask for it, provided they manifest Catholic faith in these sacraments and are properly disposed" (CIC 844 § 4).

It is important to remember that, under the rubrics specified above, even in those rare circumstances when non-Catholics are able to receive Communion, the same requirements apply to them as to Catholics.

Answer 2

The Church feels that Christians who are not Catholic should not receive the Eucharist since they do not believe that the host is the body of Christ and the wine his blood. However, the priest cannot stop someone from receiving unless he knows that the receiver is a public sinner. Most of the Protestants that I know of that have been receiving the Eucharist on a regular basis have converted to Catholicism.

I, frankly, don't understand the Church's reasoning. If we truly believe that the host and the wine ARE Jesus, why would we stop anyone from partaking of him?

Answer 3

The Catholic Church teaches the real Presence(as do the Orthodox church homes, Lutheran and numerous Anglican church homes.) that the Eucharist is easily Jesus not a symbolic remembrance of His Presence. The Catholic Church teaches that the bread and wine easily substitute in substance into the substance of the Crucified and Risen Christ even nevertheless the species et accidens( the chemistry,tangibles like style,appearances,etc) stay unchanged. Jesus maintains to be modern after the party of the Eucharist or Mass. in assessment to the Protestants, the Catholic Church joins the Pre Reformation church homes in keeping that the Eucharist is a presentation of the unrepeatable sacrifice of Christ's dying and Resurrection. See Catechism of the Catholic Church Article 3 I-IV paragraphs1322-1419

Answer 4

Ok. So...like what makes the "Wafer" or "Bread" "Holy", after all it is made by Mans' Hands & Man has "Original Sin" right??? Tell me this then, where in the Bible does it say that it is "Holy" and "Magical"??? U know that they didn't have "Wafers" when Christ "Instituted" the "Remembrance Ceremony" at the "Last Supper"!!! And lets not Forget, that Christ didn't do this in the "Temple" or the "Catholic church" either, rather in an "Upper Room" of a Common Believers House where the "Boys were Hiding"!!! So ...Like Who Really Cares what the "Catholic church" thinks about this, Because they are WRONG, ANY WAY U LOOK AT IT!!! John

Answer 5

the holy eucharist is"a sacrament and sacrifice"
"one must be free of mortal sin to recieve it"
i say read hebrews10:11-26...that cancels the first quote.
since im not baptized in the catholic church,im not allowed to participate in it...thats their rules,not mine.
romans 3:21-28..that clears the second one.

the bible teaches things a bit different,from that of the catholic church.
romans5
romans8
hebrews7:23-8:2...
can you see a difference?

Answer 6

rukidding,

Because if one does not discern the Body and Blood of our Lord he brings condemnation on himself. The Church cannot be a party to one committing such an act of disrespect which will condemn that person. To allow them to receive the consecrated host would be a stumbling block to faith through the sinfulness of this disrespectful act towards our Lord.

I am a PNCC priest and I am more accepting of those receiving than the Roman Catholics but I will refuse to give to anyone who does not profess the real corporeal presence of Christ in the consecrated elements.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 7

That one day all Christians will share in the one table of the Lord.

Answer 8

You're a Catholic, you should know!

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