If we Catholics confess that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, then we ought to take the Words of Jesus seriously. He spoke at the Last Supper when he blessed the bread and wine and told them that “This is my body” and “this is my blood”. In John’s Gospel, chapter 6 Jesus had a serious dialogue with his disciples about eating his body and drinking his blood. This caused many of his followers to turn away from Jesus. Jesus did not try to clarify his words.
In the RC church we believe that through the consecration of the bread/host and the wine at Holy Mass by a duly ordained priest, a ‘transubstantiation’ takes place. Although outwardly the host and wine look the same as before, through a mysterious process called transubstantiation, it has become the body and blood of the Lord, Jesus. It is difficult for we mortals to understand and therefore believe. But, we do not charge Jesus with lying to us; rather, we believe it.
When a Catholic approaches the front of the church to receive Holy Communion, he/she is personally affirming the belief that he/she is receiving the body and blood of the Lord. Therefore it is primarily a burden upon the soul of the person receiving it, as it is also a serious violation of trust and respect for Jesus Christ when the reception of Holy Communion gives scandal to the faithful by an apparently unrepentant sinner. This is the primary reason why the bishops are discussing this subject.
Right; they can’t have it both ways. Either those supporting abortion/infanticide and perverted relationships are wrong, or it doesn’t matter. If the latter is true, then surely it can’t be so bad to sleep in late on Sundays and put your wallet away... (/s)
Absolutely.