Catholics are supposed to believe it is quite literally the body of Christ.
2007-08-01 05:23:35 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's not symbolic for Catholics - it's literal.
2007-08-01 05:28:13 · update #1
Interesting point. As a recovering Catholic I can confirm the party line of the Vatican is that you must believe that the priest can literally change bread and wine into flesh and blood by muttering some magic words over them during Mass.
The whole power of the priesthood relies on this trick and there is no room for doubt. Millions of people have been tortured and killed as heretics over past centuries for disagreeing with this.
So it is obvious that a practising Catholic who is also a vegetarian faces a dilemma.
It's a choice between eternal damnation or bad breath.
2007-08-01 05:33:48 · answer #1 · answered by brainstorm 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I am Catholic, and I do not eat meat. I have no problem with taking Communion. The physical aspect of the Eucharist is bread and wine. In every other aspect, however, we do believe that it is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. My decision not to eat flesh is a physical one. Spiritual flesh is a different matter altogether. Semantics? Maybe, but that's how I worked it out.
2007-08-01 05:38:44 · answer #2 · answered by nardhelain 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The Catholic religion is not the only religion. There are several religions that believe that they have the only right religion; that means that if they are right Catholic's go to hell for not following the supposed right religion. Wow a lot of people answered fast on this one. Catholics believe that anyone who doesn't follow their beliefs goes to hell so this is just fair.
2016-05-19 23:51:26 · answer #3 · answered by launa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's nonsense to talk about "eating Jesus" in the literal sense, as we normally use the word "eat". Taking the bread and wine at Communion is taking Jesus into our bodies in a spiritual sense, so that He can work in our lives. It can also become a ritual, but I guess that's not bad, for Jesus did ask us to "do this in remembrance of me".
2007-08-01 05:35:13 · answer #4 · answered by Malcolm 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
it is different. There are reasons someone becomes a vegetarian, to preserve the lives and if you are against animal abuse. You can eat Jesus to become one with him, he wants that. And Christians love God above all things. So if they believe God wants them to eat it, they will. After all, Jesus Christ is not animal abuse. And Jesus wants you to "eat him" if that is your belilef.
2007-08-01 05:27:58 · answer #5 · answered by Yuri ^_^ 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It is a whole wheat cracker, not meat, DUH!
Partaking in the Eucharist and communion have no connection with vegetarianism.
2007-08-01 05:28:08 · answer #6 · answered by great gig in the sky 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Firstly, your question is ridiculous and disrespectful.
Secondly, cheating on a vegetarian diet and eating meat is not a sin. Therefore, it wouldn't send anyone to hell.
Thirdly, Jesus commanded us to eat His flesh and drink His blood in order that we may have life within us. Do you heed His words?
2007-08-01 05:30:58 · answer #7 · answered by The Raven † 5 · 4⤊ 4⤋
LOL-I'm a vegetarian atheist, but I still go to church with the 'rents for x-mas (for mom-i love her and she feels good when i go). i take the communion (again-love my mom; no arguing for her special day as she is catholic)...so not only am i breaking my "vegetarianism" (if I actually bought into it), I'm blaspheming as well! woot!
2007-08-01 05:28:28 · answer #8 · answered by alia 4 · 4⤊ 3⤋
No one is forced to receive either the body or the blood during the Sacrament of Communion.
1. Holy Communion preserves the supernatural life of the soul by giving the communicant supernatural strength to resist temptation, and by weakening the power of concupiscence. It reinforces the ability of our free will to withstand the assaults of the devil. In a formal definition, the Church calls Holy Communion "an antidote by which we are preserved from grievous sins" (Council of Trent, October 11, 1551).
2. Holy Communion increases the life of grace already present by vitalizing our supernatural life and strengthening the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit we possess. To be emphasized, however, is that the main effect of Communion is not to remit sin. In fact, a person in conscious mortal sin commits a sacrilege by going to Communion.
3. Holy Communion cures the spiritual diseases of the soul by cleansing it of venial sins and the temporal punishment due to sin. No less than serving as an antidote to protect the soul from mortal sins, Communion is "an antidote by which we are freed from our daily venial sins" (Council of Trent, October 11, 1551). The remission of venial sins and of the temporal sufferings due to sin takes place immediately by reason of the acts of perfect love of God, which are awakened by the reception of the Eucharist. The extent of this remission depends on the intensity of our charity when receiving Communion.
4. Holy Communion gives us a spiritual joy in the service of Christ, in defending His cause, in performing the duties of our state of life, and in making the sacrifices required of us in imitating the life of our Savior.
On Christ's own promise, Holy Communion is a pledge of heavenly glory and of our bodily resurrection from the dead (John 6:55). St. Irenaeus (died 202) simply declared that, "when our bodies partake of the Eucharist, they are no longer corruptible as they have the hope of eternal resurrection" (Against the Heresies, IV, 18,5).
Interestingly, several years back I served alongside a vegan Eucharistic Minister and she had no problem receiving Holy Communion.
2007-08-01 05:32:54 · answer #9 · answered by Beach Saint 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Nice question, Meatbot.
2007-08-01 05:26:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋