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Why Can't Protestants Take Communion in a Catholic Church
Black Cordelias ^

Posted on 12/27/2008 2:48:02 PM PST by NYer

Q. Why can’t Protestants receive communion at the Catholic Church?

A. To protect them from Judgment.

1 Corinthians 11: 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be
guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

Since, Protestants do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist as we do, they do not discern or recognize that Jesus’ body is present under the appearance of bread and wine. We would be allowing them to eat and drink judgment upon themselves. The prohibtion is actually very charitable but, unfortunately, it is usually seen as a rejection.

Evidence of this interpretation of this passage is supported by St. Justin the Martyr :

“We call this food Eucharist; and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true…”
-Justin Martyr -FIRST APOLOGY, 66,20–(150 A.D.)

Q. Why do we call the bread “The Host”?

A. Our use of this term, to refer to the consecrated bread, comes from the Latin word hostia, which means ‘victim’. We believe that Jesus Christ is really present in the consecrated bread and wine on our altars. The mass is a re-presentation of the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Therefore, Jesus is the victim of sacrifice and we call the bread the host/victim to help us remember that it is no longer bread but the Real Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ given to us to strengthen and keep us on the journey to Heaven.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: communion; eucharist; protestant
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To: the invisib1e hand; Mad Dawg
A "spiritual" communion -- whatever that is -- is a product of one's imagination. There is nothing objective about it. What does the term even mean?

You couldn't be more wrong...Obviously you don't have a Spiritual connection with the Saviour...If you did, you'd know what it is...I've never met Mad Dawg but I know exactly what he's talking about...

Holy Communion is down to earth. And it is, because it's real.

Or, it's not spiritual, it's, fleshy???

81 posted on 12/27/2008 4:30:19 PM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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To: pepperdog
at the communicant be a baptized Christian. None are asked to show proof of their baptism nor of their church affiliation that I know of. My big giggle came when I found that my children had received communion in the Catholic Church, which was okay as they were both baptized Catholics, but had never made their first confession when they did it. Believe it on not there was no lightening strike nor thunder from the sky. I think God loves the little children and wants them fed.

Jesus does love the little children. However, as baptized Catholics, it is important that your children receive instruction. How else can they understand that the host they are recieving is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Himself.

82 posted on 12/27/2008 4:31:00 PM PST by NYer ("Run from places of sin as from a plague." - St. John Climacus)
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To: PugetSoundSoldier

So you agree with the claim:

“I think all are saved, even you. It matters not to me what you believe, God will welcome you.”?


83 posted on 12/27/2008 4:31:12 PM PST by narses (http://www.theobamadisaster.com/)
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To: pepperdog
at the communicant be a baptized Christian. None are asked to show proof of their baptism nor of their church affiliation that I know of. My big giggle came when I found that my children had received communion in the Catholic Church, which was okay as they were both baptized Catholics, but had never made their first confession when they did it. Believe it on not there was no lightening strike nor thunder from the sky. I think God loves the little children and wants them fed.

Jesus does love the little children. However, as baptized Catholics, it is important that your children receive instruction. How else can they understand that the host they are recieving is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Himself. As their parent, you will be held accountable for ensuring they were properly educated in the faith.

84 posted on 12/27/2008 4:32:47 PM PST by NYer ("Run from places of sin as from a plague." - St. John Climacus)
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Comment #85 Removed by Moderator

To: Faith65
Why are there no Bibles in the pews at Catholic Churches?

Every Catholic owns their own Bible and are free to bring it or their personal missile to every Mass. We worship God and His only begotten Son, not a book, and as part of that worship we participate in the Liturgy of the Word at every Mass. Every Catholic parish covers more of the Bible in three years than any protestant church does. I can guarantee that.

Pride goeth before a fall.

86 posted on 12/27/2008 4:34:22 PM PST by big'ol_freeper (Gen. George S. Patton to Michael Moore... American Carol: "I really like slapping you.")
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To: narses

It is not for me to decide who is saved; if a man claims a relationship with Jesus, that is between him and God. I will not judge a man on this claim. For Jesus’ own words are that it is by FAITH we are saved. It is an entirely HIDDEN relationship that cannot be demonstrated. It is by faith and faith alone.

Do you believe you can discern who is saved and who is not? Does that mean it is actions - works - that save you? That you can determine who will be saved and not simply by the kind of life they live? If so, I have several atheist, Buddhist, and Hindu friends that would put 99% of all self-professing Christians (Catholic and Protestant alike) to shame in their acts reflecting the teachings of Christ.


87 posted on 12/27/2008 4:35:50 PM PST by PugetSoundSoldier (Indignation over the sting of truth is the defense of the indefensible)
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To: Salvation
At the beginning of all Masses...

ALL Masses? I'm a lifelong Catholic and I have never seen this. Sounds nice though.

88 posted on 12/27/2008 4:36:38 PM PST by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: the invisib1e hand; Mad Dawg
A "spiritual" communion -- whatever that is -- is a product of one's imagination. There is nothing objective about it. What does the term even mean?
An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as 
if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. 

Amen.


89 posted on 12/27/2008 4:36:54 PM PST by narses (http://www.theobamadisaster.com/)
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To: Mad Dawg
On Christmas Day I was taking the sacrament to the hospital and an error in the hospital census ...
Errors of any kind in a hospital are not a good sign.
I also note that your screen name belies your true character and compassion. Bless you.
90 posted on 12/27/2008 4:37:51 PM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: lonestar
Catholics on FR bring out the worst in me because you're so insulting

And your friend isn't insulting the Church by telling you that junk and you aren't insulting the Church by repeating the gossip? Yeah, right.

91 posted on 12/27/2008 4:38:17 PM PST by Titanites
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To: Faith65
Services at other Christian denominations have readings from scripture during service but they also have Bibles in church too.

Catholics and Orthodox attend Church to worship God, not to study the Bible. Each day there are readings from Scripture at the celebration of the liturgy. We worship through prayer. Why would we need a Bible?

92 posted on 12/27/2008 4:38:31 PM PST by NYer ("Run from places of sin as from a plague." - St. John Climacus)
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To: Faith65
>> Why are there no Bibles in the pews at Catholic Churches? <<

Well over in my parish, every Catholic receives a copy of the bible upon their confirmation at age 13, and takes it with them to church from then on. Seems it would kind of be redundant to have an extra bible available for everyone since they already have one. I'm sure anyone who didn't bring their bible would be able to share one with their neighbor.

93 posted on 12/27/2008 4:38:50 PM PST by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: Iscool
Obviously you don't have a Spiritual connection with the Saviour...

OMG!!! wuddoooeyedoo!!wuddoooeyedoo!!

I must become a Protestant!

"Obviously," you don't read my posts. Been there and done that, thank you anyway.

Shalom -- and out!

94 posted on 12/27/2008 4:39:26 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (revolution is in the air.)
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To: NYer

Correct.... Symbolic. Hard for me to understand how it could be more than symbolic, though.


95 posted on 12/27/2008 4:40:11 PM PST by Brilliant
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To: Iscool
Or, it's not spiritual, it's, fleshy???

Charity, which I admit isn't my strong point, compels me to leave one last response.

What's the whole point of Christmas?

Clue: That which is pure spirit became flesh, so that we could know Him.

I'm so glad, so glad for The Church.

You are arguing to me of the benefits of being blind, and the blindness of having sight. Again, thank you, but, no.

96 posted on 12/27/2008 4:42:44 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (revolution is in the air.)
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To: lonestar
I think Catholics are stupid!

Perhaps you can explain how the Holy Spirit would lead someone to say this?

Remember, If you justify this- you can be guilty of unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit and thus send yourself to hell

97 posted on 12/27/2008 4:42:54 PM PST by stfassisi (The greatest gift God gives us is that of overcoming self"-St Francis Assisi))
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To: NYer

Protestants have open communion as Jesus told us to have, whereas Catholics have closed communion.


98 posted on 12/27/2008 4:43:15 PM PST by Mogollon (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. -- Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Titanites
you aren't insulting the Church

I was acknowledging that my intent was to be insulting.

The one thing Catholics and Protestantsa have in common---we're all sinners.

99 posted on 12/27/2008 4:44:52 PM PST by lonestar
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To: wombtotomb

In Southern Baptist theology, backsliding does not necessarily mean you are not saved. The idea of being saved is that once you accept Jesus, you are saved for all time. You might backslide, but assuming that your salvation was real in the first instance, it will not alter the fact that you are saved. On the other hand, if you backslide, you have to wonder whether you were really ever saved to begin with. Only you (and God) know whether you were earnest when you accepted Christ in the first instance. If you have doubts about whether you really accepted Christ, then you probably did not.


100 posted on 12/27/2008 4:44:52 PM PST by Brilliant
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