On the Worthy Reception of Holy Communion, Part One

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 04-22-18 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[tired&retired]

“I look at it and see a clarion call to repentance.”

I strongly agree with you as that is a wonderful event.

[ealgeone]

Communion as witnessed in the NT.

Evangelical.

[COBOL2Java]

pelosi, kerry, kennedy supporters of baby killing all receive communion. I don’t know the names of all the others.

And you can see into their souls? Wow.

[COBOL2Java]

Pro-abort Catholic politicians, and those bishops who apparently acquiese to the blatant disregard for discipline in their respective dioceses will have to answer for their souls at the final judgement.

"The road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops" - attributed to St. John Chrysostom

Saints have flourished in corrupt times all through the Church's history. The proper response is to pray for our earthly shepherds.

[Mrs. Don-o]

So in your denomination people don't have to be baptized to receive communion?

Need they believe that "the cup of blessing which we bless, is the communion of the blood of Christ?"

If the "Rainbow Sash" people came to your church --- the self-described gay-affirming Christian group I mentioned at #8 --- they could receive?

For that matter (this is just hypothetical, since I would not want to) --- could I?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Oh. And to pick up something that was dropped a little while back:

What do the keys in Matthew 16 signify?

[ealgeone]

So in your denomination people don't have to be baptized to receive communion?

Would a Roman Catholic priest allow communion to a person on their death bed without benefit of baptism if requested?

Need they believe that "the cup of blessing which we bless, is the communion of the blood of Christ?"

If you mean the literal blood of Christ...no. For that is not what the NT teaches.

If the "Rainbow Sash" people came to your church --- the self-described gay-affirming Christian group I mentioned at #8 --- they could receive?

As probably in your church, each person has to search their heart.

My little ones wanted to participate in communion prior to their salvation. I told them they could not until they were saved.

For that matter (this is just hypothetical, since I would not want to) --- could I?

I was going to ask you the same question!

However, I have been to two RC weddings. When it came time to approach for the Eucharist, I declined.

[ealgeone]

Good grief...already answered several times.

[metmom]

So in your denomination people don't have to be baptized to receive communion?

In virtually every Christian (non-Catholic) church I've been in, communion is open to all who profess faith in Christ for salvation.

If you don't, you are asked not to partake.

It is made clear that it's an honor system and that if you partake wrongfully, that is between you and God.

Since baptism saves no one, it doesn't matter if you've been baptized or not or are a member of the denomination or not.

Here's an idea, when YOUR church starts enforcing its own rules about receiving communion, then you can go after other churches and how they do it.

Until then, it's hypocritical to grill others about their requirements for communion when we all know that Catholic priests continue to give communion to pro-abortion, pro-homosexual marriage, liberal politicians like Kerry and Pelosi, and Kennedy.

Don't hold others to standards you yourselves fail to meet.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Sorry, I must have missed it. Could you give me a sentence or two?

[ealgeone]

Search the threads.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Would a Roman Catholic priest allow communion to a person on their death bed without benefit of baptism if requested?

Since Baptism is needed to receive Holy Communion, the priest would, with the person's permission, baptize him first. If you have some water handy, it can be done in literally 4 seconds (I just timed myself). He could receive all the Last Rites (Baptism, Anointing, and Communion --- this is called "Viaticum") right there on his deathbed.

Need they believe that "the cup of blessing which we bless, is the communion of the blood of Christ?"... If you mean the literal blood of Christ...no. For that is not what the NT teaches.

My NT keeps saying "is" to mean "is." This "is" My Body. This "is" My Blood. I "am" the living bread. The bread that I give "is" my flesh for the life of the world. My flesh "is" true food and My Blood "is" read drink.

If I have misinterpreted "is" to mean "is", then the Apostle Paul makes the same mistake. He recalls that Jesus said This "is" my body, and then adds that anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.

So, if it depends on what "is" is, what does "is" mean in your NT?

If the "Rainbow Sash" people came to your church --- As probably in your church, each person has to search their heart.

In my Church, persons "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion." [Canon 915]. Each of those adjectives counts.

In the "Rainbow Sash" case I referred to, the sash itself made it "manifest" (outwardly shown) that they were affirming sodomy ("grave sin"). Plus, they were "obstinately persevering": they were warned that the rainbow sashes twisted Holy Cmmunion into a kind of vehicle for protest, and that they could only receive if they removed the sashes.

99.9% of the time, it is indeed left for the person approaching Holy Communion to examine their own conscience. As I mentioned before, I've only heard of people being turned away from Communion twice in my whole life, and both times it involved people who actually told the priest they wanted to receive in order to make a point about affirming Gay Wonderfulness.

Could professed Christians wearing an outward sign proclaiming Christian Gay Wonderfulness receive in your church?

My little ones wanted to participate in communion prior to their salvation. I told them they could not until they were saved.

Thanks for that answer, it's interesting. God bless your kids. In the Western Church, Communion is usually delayed until the Age of Reason (around 7) when the children can distinguish that what they are receiving is the real Body and Blood of Christ. It used to be older, but about 100 years ago, Pope Pius X lowered the age from 12 to 7.

In the Eastern Church (e.g. Byzantine Greek Catholics), equally validly, infants and tiny toddlers are brought up to receive Communion.

"However, I have been to two RC weddings. When it came time to approach for the Eucharist, I declined."

You did well. Thank you. I would show my sincere respect by doing the same in your church.

[Salvation]

**He could receive all the Last Rites (Baptism, Anointing, and Communion -— this is called “Viaticum”) right there on his deathbed.**

And my priest has performed another sacrament at the bedside of someone dying — marriage.

If the dying is validly baptized then they can partake of the sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I just did a User Search on ealgeone followed by a word search for key. The only "key" you've mentioned in the last several days is "donkey." (You were quoting something about coveting your neighbor's donkey.)

Livestock aside, you did not answer my question about the significance of the "keys" in Matthew 16.

Relying on the Biblical passage in Isaiah 22 about the keys being taken away from the Master of the King's Household, Shebna, and given to his replacement, the new viceroy Eliakim, I would say the keys represented his office as the King's chief officer.

That makes sense, doesn't it?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Yes, eexactly. Thank you.

[ealgeone]

>>Would a Roman Catholic priest allow communion to a person on their death bed without benefit of baptism if requested?<<

Since Baptism is needed to receive Holy Communion, the priest would, with the person's permission, baptize him first. If you have some water handy, it can be done in literally 4 seconds (I just timed myself). He could receive all the Last Rites (Baptism, Anointing, and Communion --- this is called "Viaticum") right there on his deathbed.

Except that is not NT baptism.

But let's continue to play....there's no water available.

My NT keeps saying "is" to mean "is." This "is" My Body. This "is" My Blood. I "am" the living bread. The bread that I give "is" my flesh for the life of the world. My flesh "is" true food and My Blood "is" read drink.

If I have misinterpreted "is" to mean "is", then the Apostle Paul makes the same mistake. He recalls that Jesus said This "is" my body, and then adds that anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.

So, if it depends on what "is" is, what does "is" mean in your NT?

No. If one reads the passage in context of John 6, and John 6 in the context of the overall book of John and the New Testament, one does not find a literal understanding of the passages in question.

Paul tells us why we have the Lord's Supper.

23For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

25In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NASB

In my Church, persons "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion." [Canon 915]. Each of those adjectives counts.

Rome is then being a little duplicitous then. They allow so many to partake without objection.

Does your priest go through a list of questions before each person is allowed the Eucharist?

I didn't think so.

Further, how do you know the priest you're receiving the Eucharist from is in "good standing"? Are their motives pure? Are they in sin in some capacity?

[Mrs. Don-o]

I know evangelical churches who will not admit an unbaptized person to Communion (if they know the person is unbaptized.)

Evangelical Lutheran Church, ULG 49: “All baptized persons are welcomed to communion when they are visiting in the congregations of this church”.

So I think that varies amongst evangelicals.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Saints have flourished in corrupt times all through the Church's history. The proper response is to pray for our earthly shepherds."

And don't side with the wolves.

Amen.

[ealgeone]

If they’re not baptized they’re not likely a believer in Christ.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I am angry and ashamed when the doctrines of my Church are ignored by priests who are wolves in shepherds' clothing.

I am not asking questions in order to throw shade on non-Catholic people as if my own church were a model of fidelity in this regard. It certainly is not.

I ask questions, because I seek understanding. I presume you do, too?

I would show my respect for the integrity of your church, whatever it is, by not receiving your communion. And this is how you, properly, would be asked to show respect for mine.

It's all about mutual respect.