I am currently attending a Protestant church and take part in Holy Communion (wine and bread) at services. I attended a Catholic mass this morning and took part in the Eucharist (body and blood of Christ) Was this wrong for me to do? I'm not sure.
2007-07-29 07:43:01 · 9 answers · asked by Martie 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No, as long as you believe and have faith in your heart for one, God.
2007-07-29 07:51:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Sorry, but yes, it is wrong to receive the Holy Eucharist in the Catholic Mass unless you wholly agree with and believe what the Eucharist is all about. And if you do wholly agree with and believe that, then you're pretty much Catholic.
Here's the deal. We don't believe that Communion is wine and bread, as you appear to believe. We believe that Christ transforms the bread and wine into His True Body and True Blood. And we agree with what Scripture says that if you receive this Holy Eucharist in an unworthy way (e.g., not believing the Eucharist is really Christ), then you are taking judgment onto yourself.
Many Protestants abhor the idea that we believe the Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior, so it seems to me that they wouldn't *want* to receive it...not unlike a vegetarian facing turkey at Thanksgiving dinner and politely saying, "No, thank you..."
It's not like Catholics enjoy rejecting people -- we're actually trying to protect them from doing something that the Bible says is wrong by practicing "closed Communion."
Now, you didn't know any better, so you are not accountable for this case. But please, in the future, if you attend a Catholic Mass, do not receive the Eucharist. You can still go forward with everybody else, but cross your arms over your heart when you get to the priest (each hand at opposite shoulder) and bow. He'll give you a blessing, and then you won't be inadvertently doing anything wrong.
2007-07-29 15:36:05 · answer #2 · answered by sparki777 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Holy Communion in a Catholic Church is meant for Catholics only. Reason being, too many non-Catholic Christians are lead to believe the bread and wine are merely symbolic of the Body and Blood of Christ. Of course, Catholics believe the Eucharist to be the Body and Blood of Christ.
On another note, I noticed that when you referred to Communion from a Protestant Church, you called it the "bread and wine", but had the wherewithall to refer to Catholic Eucharist as "Body and Blood". Do you believe that th Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ, not merely symbolic of It? If so, you might want to consider conversion to Catholicism.
2007-08-01 09:57:37 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was not wrong if you didn't understand what you are doing. However, Catholic belief (as with the beliefs of all of Christianity before the 19th century, including Martin Luther) is that the bread & wine become the actual Body & Blood of our Lord Jesus. As such, if you do not believe this and have not come into communion with the Catholic Church, then you should not take communion. The Eucharist represents Catholic unity of belief. You would not want to represent that you believe in something that perhaps you don't.
If you want more information about becoming Catholic (you don't have to commit to anything), you can go to an RCIA class (Rite of Christian Intiation for Adults) at your local Catholic church (they all have them). You can study Catholic beliefs every week and see if it's something you believe in. If not, then you would not want to ever take communion in a Catholic church.
You are welcomed with open arms into any Catholic church along with anyone who wants to come in. But, please respect the beliefs of the church you are attending. This would go for any church you happen to visit. You would not intentionally go in and disrespect the beliefs of others, I am sure, so next time if you want to participate, you should walk up to the priest or server with your arms crossed over your chest and they will say a prayer or blessing for you.
God bless,
Michael
2007-07-29 14:58:50 · answer #4 · answered by Michael D 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Kind of.
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.
For more information, see the Catehism of the Catholic Church, sections 1322 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt1art3.htm
With love in Christ.
2007-07-29 22:58:38 · answer #5 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Are you Catholic? If so, we cannot receive communion in non-Catholic churches because their sacraments are not valid. If a Catholic does this, they commit idolatry. You should speak with a priest and go to confession.
If you're not Catholic then you should not recieve communion in the Catholic Church out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament. This is because we believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and do not want others to commit sin by recieving Him and not recognizing His presence.
2007-07-30 22:14:17 · answer #6 · answered by Danny H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, you made a big mistake! Protestants believe that communion is the body and blood of Christ, symbolically. Catholics believe it is the ACTUAL Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinty of Christ.
You must be Roman Catholic are incommune with the Bishop of Rome to take our communion.
I knwo may will smite me thinking that it is stupid, oh well. I have a qeustion, why would you take Communion if you don't believe in it? Taking our Communion is offensive to us, but pointless to you. :-) God bless.
2007-07-29 14:48:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That was very wrong of you to do, in fact that was sacrilegious. The LORD will forgive you, just don't do it unless you decide to become Catholic. If you decide to, the Roman Catholic Church welcomes you with open arms, all you need to do is take Adult initiation classes in order to participate in the sacraments! God bless.
2007-07-29 14:47:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
maybe...
try attending islamic ones
2007-07-29 14:46:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋