I want communion!!!! (Jesus Christ, ritual, blood, churches, scriptures)

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by Arrow

Can someone explain to me why the pope will not let me partake in communion during mass.

Elizabeth? Queen Elizabeth I? Is that you?

The Pope won't allow you to receive communion because (a) you are a heretic, (b) you have usurped control of the Church of England, and (c) you are a ******* usurping the throne that properly belongs to your cousin Mary, Queen of Scots.

If you aren't Elizabeth, you'll have to give some more information about your situation.

In general, though, the traditional churches don't practice open communion. The practice of open communion is a relatively recent one, arising from the Protestant realization that many of the reasons they splintered into hundreds of denominations were silly and inconsequential. The Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox have maintained the ancient practice that only people belonging to the unity of the Church are admitted to Communion. In fact, the ancient practice was that neither people who didn't belong to the Church, or even penitents who did, were even allowed to be present during Communion, much less receive.

So another person might ask the question, Why have so many Protestants, recognizing that the differences between them are not significant enough to prevent intercommunion, continued to maintain so many divisions among themselves?

[Muffled]

Originally Posted by Scott1

We do recognize all Christians as part of the Catholic Church.... but Communion is the foundation of our sacramental theology.... some would say the foundation of the Church... so shared Communion without true unity is out of the question.

What's the point if it's not a sacrament? I can go to my Church and receive the Body of Christ... why would I want to eat bread? Heck... if that's all we need, slap a burger on it and we'll have "communion" at McDonalds.

That sounds good to me. I think if I then celebrate communion that way Jesus will be there but in the RCC church I doubt He would pass the litmus test and therby be unwelcome.

The rquirement of RCC belief makes the RCC communion non-catholic whereas the open communion of a reformed church is catholic.

I think I will trhow in a red herring. There is a belief that communion should not be open to the unsaved (some protestants think that means Roman Catholics). I believe that communion should be open to everyone who seeks it. This of course is contrary to a belief in excommunication.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Muffled

That sounds good to me. I think if I then celebrate communion that way Jesus will be there but in the RCC church I doubt He would pass the litmus test and therby be unwelcome.

Well.... that sounds logical and well balanced.

I think I will trhow in a red herring. There is a belief that communion should not be open to the unsaved (some protestants think that means Roman Catholics). I believe that communion should be open to everyone who seeks it. This of course is contrary to a belief in excommunication.

Super!

[sojourner]

and do it without judgement or claiming that you are making a "mockery" of anything

Let me remind you:

We don't believe that any of the Protestant groups has a valid Eucharist, so communion

That's not a judgment???

Truth before unity. No exceptions.

Truth is unity.

Ecumenism does not mean that we can abandon truth...

You're right. Ecumenism means that we recognize that truth is larger than our denomination ("denomination" includes Roman Catholicism, in this case).

[sojourner]

No it is not.... and that's been my point... I would not participate in a service called "communion" and just pretend it's ok because it's only bread and doesn't mean anything.... again, why not just call everything "communion" and we'll share a pack of gum on the subway.

Might I suggest you read "Christianity Rediscovered" by Fr. Vincent Donovan. he points out that life, itself, is communion -- is Eucharist."

The bread we share certainly does have meaning. If you can't find meaning in it, then I would suffest that this is your shortcoming, and not the church's.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by sojourner

Might I suggest you read "Christianity Rediscovered" by Fr. Vincent Donovan. he points out that life, itself, is communion -- is Eucharist."

I would suggest you read "Pilgrim Fellowship Of Faith: The Church as Communion" by Joseph Cardinal Ratizinger.

[sojourner]

I'd really be interested to know just what it is that makes other expressions of the Eucharist "invalid." what does this argument boil down to?

[rheff78]

if it's not invalid to you, then so be it. But to us it is. I don't see that problem.