One More Time: It's All About the Eucharist

Catholic Exchange.com ^ | August 7, 2007 | Mark Shea

[Salvation]

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	One More Time: It's All About the Eucharist

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August 7, 2007

On July 10, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church", a document stating the absolutely-not-new fact that, yes, the Church does believe it is the Church Christ founded and that other Christian bodies are right insofar as they agree and with and preserve Catholic teachings and practice and wrong insofar as they reject or add to them.

The media response was all so predictable, more like kabuki than journalism. “Reactionary” Benedict is overturning Vatican II. Church says Protestants aren’t Christian. Only Catholics are going to heaven.

It mattered not one whit that the CDF was restating the language of the Council itself, not “overturning” it. It mattered not that the Church in fact affirms that Protestants are Christian, including the ones who call the Church the Whore of Babylon. Virtually everywhere in the mainstream media, the reaction was, “How dare the Church deny that all religions are equal and are all saying the same thing?”

It all reminds me of a Catholic friend of mine who was having a rousing discussion with some Evangelical friends. His friends wanted to affirm how much Catholics and Protestants have in common. We worship the same God, affirm the same teachings of the Ten Commandments, pray the same Lord’s Prayer, read almost exactly the same Bible. “So why can’t we just ignore all that extra theological stuff, stick to the basics, and just be one big family?” they asked.

My friend replied, “Great! Let’s all hike over to Blessed Sacrament parish, worship the Eucharist in the tabernacle, and pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the Holy Souls in Purgatory!”

His friends shifted uncomfortably in their chairs. They didn’t believe any of that Catholic stuff.

Precisely—because we’re not all saying the same thing.

The recent document from the CDF says to people who don’t believe all that Catholic stuff, “You don’t believe all that Catholic stuff.” Why on earth anybody should be offended by that is beyond me.

Here’s the key to the CDF document: It’s all about the Eucharist, baby. The Church believes that the Eucharist is the actual Body and Blood of Christ and is what makes a Church a Church. Some Christian bodies (like the Orthodox) believe this as well and are properly called “Churches” in the view of the Catholic Church, even when they are not in communion with Rome. (So it’s rubbish to say that the Catholic Church says it’s the “only real Church”).

Other Christian bodies, though truly Christian, do not have a valid Eucharist, don’t pretend to, and often don’t even want to. They are often full of deeply loving, good, and profoundly Christian people who often put Catholics to shame with their faith, hope and charity. But such bodies are not Churches but “ecclesial bodies” because they lack a valid Eucharist.

If you are tempted to say, “Well, I don’t believe any of that!” I can only reply that I am mystified why it is an act of bold independence and courage for a non-Catholic to say, “I don’t believe all that Catholic stuff” but an act of stifling authoritarianism and arrogance for the Church to say, “Right. You don’t. But we do.”

 

Mark Shea is Senior Content Editor for Catholic Exchange and a weekly columnist for the National Catholic Register. You may visit his website at www.mark-shea.com check out his blog, Catholic and Enjoying It!, or purchase his books and tapes here.

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[Salvation]

For your information and discussion. A lot of comments with the article on Catholic Exchange.

[Salvation]

For your pings.

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.

[stillwaiting]

pingme....

[RobbyS]

Says it all.

[Frank Sheed]

http://www.ignatius.com/magazines/hprweb/holmes.htm

Don’t miss this, S.

[Antioch]

Mark Shea’s essay on the “no salvation outside the Church” controversy is one brilliant and crystal clear piece of writing. This finally cleared the fog for myself and my fiance in our understanding of the role of other christians in the Church. If you want to really be able to connect with protestants about this catholic dogma in a positive way, read it and memorize its points. It’s from Crisis Magazine and entitled:

“Just Exactly Where Is the Church? Unam Sanctam, Vatican II, and the Salvation of Non-Catholics”

http://www.crisismagazine.com/printerfriendly/print.php

[Salvation]

Wonderful link. Could be a separate thread.

[Mad Dawg]

Excellent article. Concise! I'm envious!

"Great! Let’s all hike over to Blessed Sacrament parish, worship the Eucharist in the tabernacle, and pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the Holy Souls in Purgatory!

ROTFLOL!

[Frank Sheed]

Thanks for your feedback! Anything that will help me speak intelligibly to my Protestant brothers and sisters is most welcome! We all do believe in Christ, Jesus and it is sad that so many in this world don’t! Think of what we could do “together” to evangelize those who don’t even believe in God?

Peace!
Frank

[Antioch]

Apparently, one can’t link to the print-friendly version. The original link below will work. Apologies

http://www.crisismagazine.com/may2007/shea.htm

[Frank Sheed]

I subscribed to Crisis for many years but got overwhelmed with too many magazines! I do like “This Rock” which is much like “Crisis” but deals more with apologetics and with Scripture. I should let you know that “Crisis” may be available strictly on-line soon which is good!

Mark Shea has written many books and I’ve read a few. He appears on EWTN, the Catholic network, from time to time in his own series. He is not only a gifted writer but a very gifted speaker.

As I read this, I am reminded of a book by Mark Brumley which I am just now finishing called “How Not to Share Your Faith.”

http://www.interx.net/~mbrumley/blogger.htm

Many of the points you see in the Shea article are amplified in this small book which is a gem. It is aimed at both Catholics and Protestants of various Confessions since the same “mistakes” are interwoven in apologetic exchanges. It has had a profound influence on me as I reflect upon my interactions.

I should say, your post has had the same effect. I agree with your view and the Spirit has given me a marvelous insight. If more Catholics could be so poignant and as truthful as Mr. Shea, Free Republic would not devolve into the “pie-throwing contests” it often resembles. It is not just sad; it is frankly scandalous at times.

Kind regards!
Frank

[Salvation]

A lot of people do that on their noon hours, however.

[Salvation]

Haven’t caught any pies yet on this thread. Great, huh?

[Antioch]

Ah... Brumley’s book is a good one. I remember one perpetually angry traditional Catholic guy at our parish got that book bought for him as a gift!

[Mad Dawg]

OH, heck, I’ve been known to do it. I was not in any way intending to diss the behavior, I was just enjoying the wonderful way it slashes through the “Heck, we all believe in Jesus, can’t we all just toss this theological stuff overboard and party together?” line of thought.

[DungeonMaster]

It’s not all about the eucharist.

[Mad Dawg]

Is TOO! Nyah!

Um, Seriously, Give some more, please? So, you wanna come over to Holy Sacrament Church with me? We got GREAT idols!

[DungeonMaster]

The article says a church is not a church without a valid eucharist as if that is the main distinction between us and you. That is not the main distinction. The claimed authority of the pope is a bigger distinction for one, in my humble opinion.

[IrishBrigade]

The claimed authority of the pope is a bigger distinction for one, in my humble opinion...

...Popes come and go, and some are better than others and are so judged by the faithful...the ‘claimed authority’ you deride proceeds from a direct line of apostolic succession that we believe in and cherish...on the other hand, the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is forever and inviolate, and is the reason for for celebrating the Mass...the symbolism evident in the Protestant communion couldn’t possible constitute a more major distinction....