Catholic Communion

[Eureka]

I recently attended my boyfriend's Godson's first communion--beautiful service! When the priest offered the Eucharist to the congregation, I wasn't sure what I should do. I decided to join and I accepted the gifts. I have no Catholic background, and had no intention of performing a formal confession after accepting communion, and I have currently been struggling with the Christian faith.

Was I rude by accepting communion with the congregation? Does this behavior offend Catholics? What if I were a devout Protestant?

Thanks

E

[Beanybag]

Ex-Catholic here.. you shouldn't do that. :s

[Danieltwotwenty]

I recently attended my boyfriend's Godson's first communion--beautiful service! When the priest offered the Eucharist to the congregation, I wasn't sure what I should do. I decided to join and I accepted the gifts. I have no Catholic background, and had no intention of performing a formal confession after accepting communion, and I have currently been struggling with the Christian faith.

Was I rude by accepting communion with the congregation? Does this behavior offend Catholics? What if I were a devout Protestant?

Thanks

E

I can only speak from a Protestant perspective but no I wouldn't be offended if you wanted to join in, who knows God may have touch your heart, who am I to stand in the way of that.



Dan

[Byblos]

I recently attended my boyfriend's Godson's first communion--beautiful service! When the priest offered the Eucharist to the congregation, I wasn't sure what I should do. I decided to join and I accepted the gifts. I have no Catholic background, and had no intention of performing a formal confession after accepting communion, and I have currently been struggling with the Christian faith.

Was I rude by accepting communion with the congregation? Does this behavior offend Catholics? What if I were a devout Protestant?

Thanks

E

I can only speak from a Protestant perspective but no I wouldn't be offended if you wanted to join in, who knows God may have touch your heart, who am I to stand in the way of that.



Dan

Catholics believe in transubstantiation so when we receive communion we believe it is the body and blood of Christ. It is not a mere ritual, it is what mass is all about. If you do not believe that it is the body and blood of Christ you ought not to receive it. It is not a matter of offending anyone but Christ.

[Danieltwotwenty]

I recently attended my boyfriend's Godson's first communion--beautiful service! When the priest offered the Eucharist to the congregation, I wasn't sure what I should do. I decided to join and I accepted the gifts. I have no Catholic background, and had no intention of performing a formal confession after accepting communion, and I have currently been struggling with the Christian faith.

Was I rude by accepting communion with the congregation? Does this behavior offend Catholics? What if I were a devout Protestant?

Thanks

E

I can only speak from a Protestant perspective but no I wouldn't be offended if you wanted to join in, who knows God may have touch your heart, who am I to stand in the way of that.





Dan
Dan

Catholics believe in transubstantiation so when we receive communion we believe it is the body and blood of Christ. It is not a mere ritual, it is what mass is all about. If you do not believe that it is the body and blood of Christ you ought not to receive it. It is not a matter of offending anyone but Christ.

Like I said Byblos, a protestant wouldn't be offended.

[RickD]

[Danieltwotwenty]

Haha Ricky-boy, I messed it up, fixed now.


Dan

[Byblos]

Like I said Byblos, a protestant wouldn't be offended.

You're right. But I don't think Eureka was worried about offending Protestants.

[PaulSacramento]

I recently attended my boyfriend's Godson's first communion--beautiful service! When the priest offered the Eucharist to the congregation, I wasn't sure what I should do. I decided to join and I accepted the gifts. I have no Catholic background, and had no intention of performing a formal confession after accepting communion, and I have currently been struggling with the Christian faith.

Was I rude by accepting communion with the congregation? Does this behavior offend Catholics? What if I were a devout Protestant?

Thanks

E

Well...why did you do it?
Out of love for Christ? with an understanding that you were receiving the body of Christ or simply being part of the ceremony?
Many catholics I know don't fully understand trasnsubstantiation themselves.
The confession is what one does TO God before, to be in right mind.
And after one prays to God through Christ thanking for all God has done and continues to do for us, through Christ.
Of course by the "letter" of the rules then yes, one should confess our sins to a priest before and be of clear mind in regards what one is truly doing.
BUT Christ KNOWS Us far better than any priest, any man.
Your intentions are the key.

[Danieltwotwenty]

Like I said Byblos, a protestant wouldn't be offended.

You're right. But I don't think Eureka was worried about offending Protestants.

Facts shmacks, we can all use facts to back an argument can't we.

[Eureka]

I have not considered myself a Christian for several years, but I spent over ten years as a devout Protestant, an active member of my church, regular study of the scripture, etc. I life that I loved. Unfortunately, I gradually came to the realization that I only believed in Christ as my savior and the Bible as the Word of God because I wanted to believe those things. I miss being a part of the Church and I always feel drawn to it.

I didn't take communion to 'fit in' with the crowd; traditions like this are part of what I miss about practicing religion. It gives me a comforting and affectionate feeling, similar to what I've felt while praying in the past. Maybe it is God? I imagine that feeding my nostalgia is not a 'good' intention, but my intentions were not superficial and not meant to be hypocritical. Selfish would probably be accurate.

I don't reject the Christian religion or the possibility that God exists, but I no longer think that these dogmas are obvious above all other faiths, and I don't believe that a collection of man-written books could be inerrant.

The peaceful feeling I experience while I participate in communion does not convince me that God is reaching out to me.

Thank you for responding. And for any Catholics on this page, I sincerely apologize for any offense that resulted from my intrusion and disrespect.

E

[Byblos]

I have not considered myself a Christian for several years, but I spent over ten years as a devout Protestant, an active member of my church, regular study of the scripture, etc. I life that I loved. Unfortunately, I gradually came to the realization that I only believed in Christ as my savior and the Bible as the Word of God because I wanted to believe those things. I miss being a part of the Church and I always feel drawn to it.

I didn't take communion to 'fit in' with the crowd; traditions like this are part of what I miss about practicing religion. It gives me a comforting and affectionate feeling, similar to what I've felt while praying in the past. Maybe it is God? I imagine that feeding my nostalgia is not a 'good' intention, but my intentions were not superficial and not meant to be hypocritical. Selfish would probably be accurate.

I don't reject the Christian religion or the possibility that God exists, but I no longer think that these dogmas are obvious above all other faiths, and I don't believe that a collection of man-written books could be inerrant.

The peaceful feeling I experience while I participate in communion does not convince me that God is reaching out to me.

Thank you for responding. And for any Catholics on this page, I sincerely apologize for any offense that resulted from my intrusion and disrespect.

E

Eureka,

I think I've made it very clear that you did not offend anyone but Christ. I know your're not a believer today (agnostic, maybe?) but imagine for a moment that the Catholic Church is who she claims to be. I know this is asking a lot, especially on this board, but indulge me (everyone) for a minute and just imagine that Christ is in fact who he claimed to be, the resurrection is true, and the RCC is in fact the Church that Christ established on earth. If this is all true then it also stands to reason that what the RCC teaches is also true. About receiving communion, since you were attending a first communion ceremony then you already knew the level of importance that the Church places on such a practice, to the point that first communicants must undergo a full year of study to understand the importance of receiving communion that they indeed are receiving the body and blood of Christ. You bring condemnation onto yourself (1 Cor. 11:27-30) when you receive it and disregard all of this emphasis put on the sacrament and for selfish reasons. So it is not a matter of disrespecting anyone but yourself and Christ.

I know you don't believe in any of this and you might say well, so what? All I can say is that people often do believe some things that turn out to be false, or vice versa, they don't believe in certain things that do turn out to be true.

[jlay]

If you want to participate in mystical cannibalism, be my guest.

[Byblos]

If you want to participate in mystical cannibalism, be my guest.

With all due respect you have not a clue what you're talking about.

[jlay]

Actually Byb, I agree, (regarding the serious of receiving communion in regards to the context of Paul's rebuke to the Corinthians, not transubstantiation) I was just making a tasteless joke. Apologies if you were offended.