The Eucharist is the biggest difference in protestant vs. Catholic theology. It is today, as it was for Judas and many of Jesus’ disciples, a stumbling stone for believers. We have written pretty extensively on the Eucharist and the Biblical arguments for the reality of Jesus’ Body and Blood in the Eucharist on this site, but it’s been a while since we wrote anything comprehensive on it, so I wanted to point everyone back to the main articles:
- This is the Lamb of God Who Takes Away the Sins of the World: Understanding the Eucharist
- Why Does Jesus Call Himself “Bread”?
- REFERENCE: The Real Presence (The Eucharist). This article points out the majority of the Biblical references to the Eucharist as Catholics understand it.
- Union through Communion: The Necessity of the Eucharist
- The Eucharist in the Economy of Salvation: What the Church Teaches
The Eucharist is what calls non-Catholics to join Christ’s Church – it is the center of Mass and the key Sacrament of the Church. I pray that everyone reading this one day gets to experience the power of partaking in the Eucharistic meal.
God bless,
Jay
We've spoken repeatedly on how Protestants cannot receive communion in a Catholic Church because of "deficiencies" in Protestant belief concerning the Eucharist. The Roman Catholic Church has repeatedly issued official statements saying that mere "belief in the Real Presence" (e.g. Lutheran and High Anglican doctrines of consubstantiation) at the Eucharist is insufficient to justify sharing communion with them.
If this is the case, then why does my parish give me catechetical material for children preparing to receive the Eucharist that does no more than make two passing references to "the presence of Christ in the Eucharist" in an 80 page book?
If we insist the Protestants manifest more than a faith in the Real Presence, why do we not teach our children that we have in the Eucharist more than "the presence"? I understand why we do not interrogate people at the communion lines but why do we not teach our children? Why do we deny communion to Protestants as an act of love keeping them from drinking judgement upon themselves and then allow our children to commit this very sacrilege (failing to discern the Body of the Lord)? Do we care more about Protestants than our own children? Or do we simply tell bald-faced lies when we justify denying communion to Protestants?
Now I am more than happy to teach this to my children myself. But to think that if I gave my parish the benefit of the doubt, took what they said at face value, taught my children from ther materials they handed out, and acted in general good faith - then my children would be not have a faith in the Eucharist that could justify their reception of communion.
Honestly, considering how few Protestants ask to receive communion at a Roman Catholic Church - filtering them out is straining out a gnat. Compare this to the thousands if not hundreds of thousands of children receiving a deficient catechesis and what we are swallowing is a camel.
Now I realize that WWWO is right to direct me to Mr Von Balthasar, but I notice his criticism of the "integralists" is that they elevate non-doctrinal issues to the level of doctrine. This is a doctrinal issue. Von Balthasar also points out the need to be completely uncompromising on doctrinal points yet easy going on all else.
Anyhow, as you might have guessed my first born is going through first communion preparation at my parish. I ask those who have been there and done this how do you handle these travesties? Are there good alternate materials available on the web? I seem to recall that Father Lovasik published a really good explanation of the Eucharist for children.
The next time I hear an older Catholic complain about how the young people don't know and practice their faith, I'll be tempted to respond that the children are just following in the footsteps of their parents.
I suppose as I grow more mature and more loving, I will learn how to speak like Pope John XXIII, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI and invite people to obedience with fatherly love and affection. In the meantime, they'll be smelling the rather unpleasant odor of burnt Marshwiggle to shake them out of the enchantments of the Emerald Witch.
Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for me.
Saint Joseph, protector of Jesus, pray for me.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.
Lord Jesus, help me to forgive my parish's trespasses against my son as eagerly as you forgive my own. Help me to be patient with the weaknesses and failures of my parish just as you are patient with my own weaknesses and failures.