This comment clearly show the difference between protestant worship and Catholic worship. For the Protestant the summit of worship is prayer. For the Catholic the summit of worship is the Eucharist.
I reprint the following from Askfather.net.
The Most Blessed Eucharist must always be treated with all the adoration and creature-like submission which is rendered to God. If non-Catholics do not believe that the Eucharist is God Himself, let them sneer, or deride, or cast smug aspersions upon us for our "foolish beliefs." But let them do so sitting down, in the pew, at Communion time.
There are not found wanting many a foolish Catholic who for the sake of "niceness" might wish to water down the rule of closed Communion. "But what if they feel pain?" "My neighbor loves Communion time in her church and she felt we shunned her." "What's the big deal, as long as someone loves Jesus?" "I think we have so many rules, and rules exclude and divide."
The response is: "and your point is?"
To be quite frank and blunt about it, separation from the one, Catholic Church of Jesus Christ is a sinful condition (not saying the people are bad, but such separation is completely opposed to the mind of Christ). When people come face to face with a sinful condition, they are supposed to feel pain and hurt. But the pain and hurt are not inflicted by the big, bad, mean Church (facetiously meant). They are inflicted by the conscience, which knows that the division of Christianity is a sinful state of affairs.
This is the "tough love part" of Christianity we are dealing with. As Catholics and Christians of all denominations face the Communion issue, there has to be a realization that understanding and trust are based upon the truth. The truth is that the Catholic doctrine and understanding of the Most Holy Eucharist are irreconcilably different than most non-Catholic beliefs. For us, Communion is not just union with Jesus. Communion also makes a powerful, public testimonial about our relationship to the Catholic Church. Communion is the outward sign that one has joined the Church, firmly confesses the Catholic Faith, and is prepared to act in accord with this Faith and submit their behavior before the judgement of the Church for moral formation (confession, penance, etc.).
All the hugging, kissing, and sweet comments that we make to each other at ecumenical gatherings cannot suppress this truth or make it go away. To do so is to live in fantasy and dysfunction. The practical, concrete result of this truth for a non-Catholic is, "oh, since I can't presently accept those conditions, I need to be honest about my non-compliance and remain seated while Communion is going on at the Catholic Mass."...
http://www.askfather.net/discus/messages/874458/2112.html
Laudetur Iesus Christus.... In aeturnum. Amen
**This comment clearly show the difference between protestant worship and Catholic worship. For the Protestant the summit of worship is prayer. For the Catholic the summit of worship is the Eucharist. **
Great post!
And so many former Catholics who attend Protestant Churches leave and wonder why they feel to empty and unfilled. The Eucharist is the reason!!
May they always know they may return to the Catholic Church. We welcome them back with arms open wide!