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John Farrar wrote:

Hello,

I found you on the C-PATS web site. I am an 18 year old Protestant who has been going to Mass for over a year and a half.

I completely believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist and I really want to take part in Holy Communion.

  • Is there anyone who can give me permission to receive the Eucharist without a formal reception into the Church?

I don't think I am ready for that, just yet, nor do I think it would go over well politically with my Episcopalian family.

Thank you!

John

  { Can anyone give me the OK to receive the Eucharist without a formal reception into the Church? }

Mike replied:

Dear John,

Thanks for your e-mail.

Your belief in the Real Presence tells me that the Lord is calling you to full communion with His Catholic Church. Any sacrifice you make for him, he will give back to you in spades!

You said:
Is there anyone who can give me permission to receive the Eucharist without a formal reception into the Church?

Sorry, No, a very good parallel that I have heard goes like this:

When a man searches and finally meets the woman of his dreams, the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, it doesn't automatically give him the right to go ahead with premarital sex. No, the marital covenant has to be sealed first.

The couple has to formally seal their marital covenant as a public witness so, want appears to be two flesh's, are now one! . . . both spiritually and legally (according to the law).

Ideally, two bodies <husband and wife> and one faith between the two.

To receive Our Blessed Lord in Communion, yet not believe in all the teachings of the Church that gave us the Real Presence, would not be honest. 

When Catholics receive the Blessed Sacrament it is a public witness that they believe all the Church teaches on issues of faith and morals. They, the recipient and the Church have a Common Union or Communion in the faith. I would study the Church's teachings more, especially where you have difficulties.

If you wish to go deeper, consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.

Hope this helps,

E-mail back if you have further questions.

Mike

John replied:

Mike,

I hear your points, but I honestly would not be able to say that I believe all the Catholic Church teaches to be Truth. I just can't believe that. I think that believing in the Real Presence and accepting the Catholic Church as being the pure source of God's truth on Earth are two different things.

You say that it wouldn't be honest to accept Christ in Holy Communion without accepting the Church that gave me the Real Presence but I don't quite see the Catholic Church as owning the idea of the Real Presence. It's an idea I find more, in Christ's Own Words, in the Holy Gospels. To put it another way, I am drawn to the Real Presence, not the Church of Rome.

Thank you for your response, though, and I would appreciate any more feedback you have!

P.S. I would love a Catechism!

John

Mike replied:

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply. We may have a situation where we will have to agree to disagree, but let me present my counterpoints:

You said:
I don't quite see the Roman Catholic Church as owning the idea of the Real Presence, It's an idea I find more, in Christ's Own Words, in the Holy Gospels.

To a point I can agree, all the Church owns, Christ really owns. We are just stewards.

You may ask,

"But Mike, What nerve does the Catholic Church have to own something that is Christ's alone?"

In Matthew 16:13-19 Christ is entrusting the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to a man. To a Man.

  • What? A Man? What is God Doing!! To a Man!! Yes!! To a Man.

But, He promises that the Holy Spirit will watch over and guide his actions and his successors actions, (See Acts 1:12-26). The Pope does not own the Church, The Pope protects, defends and safeguards the Teachings that Jesus wants us to hold on to. Jesus entrusts the Church to the Pope and his successors. If you have a problem with this you have to argue, not with me, but with God.

Read Matthew 16:13-20, Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Timothy 3:15 and Acts 1:12-26

I believe Jesus told Philip, before ascending into Heaven, it would be far better that He, Jesus, ascends to the Father than to stay on Earth.

  • What is Our Lord saying, John?

Rather than the three of us physically sitting down together today: Mike H., John F. and Jesus, there is something far better that He left for us here on Earth.

  • What did Jesus send to Peter and the Apostles that was better then Him talking here on Earth with you and me?

The answer: The Holy Spirit to guide Peter and Jesus' Church. . . . not only back then but for generations to come until His Second Coming.

My question to you:

  • How many Christian Churches claim to be the only visible Divine Church founded by Christ and also claim to be the pillar and foundation of Truth that goes all the way back to
    33 A.D.?

I will give you a hint. There is just one applicant : )

Many, many Protestants fall off their chair when I tell them that historically the Bible was written by Catholics, for Catholics, for use in the Catholic worship service or The Mass.

St. Jerome was a Catholic who translated the Bible for us by order of Pope Damasus [New Advent][Wikipedia][CatholicSaints.Info] in 393 A.D. Before then, there was no collection of books people could point to and say:

This is the Bible!

  • Did all those previous Christians go to Hell because they didn't have the Bible?

That is the illogical conclusion of Sola-Scriptura.

You said:
It's an idea I find more, in Christ's Own Words, in the Holy Gospels.

You are right, Our Lord's Words on His Real Presence in the Eucharist can be found in Holy Scriptures in John 6:51-70. In addition, all Bible Christians have three Institution Narratives on the Last Supper. These three Institution Eucharistic Narratives reflect what goes on at Holy Mass every Sunday morning in each local Catholic parish.

You said:
I am drawn to the Real Presence, not the Church of Rome..

Over time, you can't be drawn to one, without being drawn to the other.

By Early Church Fathers I mean those first followers of the disciples. They lived approximately from 33 A.D. to 850 A.D.

They are critical reading for Catholic apologists because they show the historical context of what was said and believed at that time. No, they are not the Word of God, but they give you an idea of how the very first Catholic Christians viewed the Word of God and well as other Church teachings at the time they lived.

You said:
P.S. I would love a Catechism!

I used to run a free program that sent Catechisms to seeking Protestants and non-Christians but no longer have the financial or operational means to do this anymore. Nevertheless, if you wish to go deeper, consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.

If you, or any visitor, has been helped by our work at AskACatholic.com, consider financially supporting us today.

I hope this helps,

In charity,

Mike

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