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Note -- I've taken the Biblical quotes from the KJV

NOTE: this is an ecumenical thread, the rules for which can be found Ecumenical thread rules

when in doubt, only post what you are “for” and not what you are “against.”... antagonism is not tolerable

I am aware that our brothers in Christ may not share the same beliefs and I respect your faith and this thread has no aim to attack what you believe in, rather to elucidate what we in The Church believe in.

The focus is on God's word in our beliefs and if you wish to share yours (whether you be Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant or Baptist or other), that would be nice, though do remember the ecumenical thread rules ("when in doubt, only post what you are “for” and not what you are “against.”"). Hopefully we all learn more from each other and what each of us believes in (positive) rather than what we are against (negative)

At first glance it would seem to be impossible to take an ecumenical view of the various historical Christian views on this ordinance. If the pastoral blessing turns the bread and wine into pieces of Jesus’ literal body and blood, having demonstrable and startling supernatural properties, that’s a lot different from it serving as a pure memento in the manner that a Jewish Passover dinner service uses its symbolic foods.

However, as a fundie of the latter persuasion about the communion ordinance, I can definitely tell that something special has happened when in good conscience I eat and drink what I regard, and what the pastor regards, as the symbolic bread and wine. It brings to a subjective focus how Christ, though literally sacrificed once way back at Calvary, has somehow managed to penetrate me. My life is now hidden with Christ in God. It is an ineffable experience (i.e. goes beyond mortal words). It didn’t absolutely need the communion elements to bring it about, but they are quite helpful to the purpose and the Lord tells Christians to do it.

What really nails it for me is this scripture!

Mal 1:11 "11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts."

The original sacrifice was at one place only in the old testament. Here The Lord is showing a future in the world when this was written. That there are many places for this to be offered in the future. It can only make sense in the context of the Mass.Which is today.

11"For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles;"

All over the world there are churches saying this offering.

"In EVERY place incense shall be offered unto my NAME"

Now the emphasis is every Place. When I see the priest with the Incense holder with that beautiful aroma going around the the altar. This is part of the prophecy even when it is not every day the emphasis is on every place not every day done with incense. Which use to puzzle me but not now after prayer and thought. The Re-presention of the eternal offering which is Jesus who is eternal because of his divinity. It just is amazing how many levels of thinking is going on here. God is outside of his creation( The universe) which is how time and space exists. It just is amazing!

Praise Jesus!

It is interesting that you would post this now.

I had a conversation this weekend with a fellow Catholic woman regarding the Eucharist. We are both members of Catholic Daughters of the Americas and we were having a bake sale so we spent the whole day Sunday at church. Lots of time for conversation!

Allow me to offer a little background. I am a revert and when I returned to the Church I went to confession, received Communion and volunteered as a lector and EM. When filling out a form to also teach CCD, one of the questions was, “Are you married in the Church?” I wasn’t even sure what it meant and asked my priest. To my utter dismay, I learned that having been married by a Protestant minister, I was not to receive any Sacraments until my marriage was blessed by the Church.

Long story short, it was nearly 8 years before that happened and for 8 years I attended Mass without receiving.

Happily on Nov. 24th of last year, my husband and I, with our two children stood before my priest and were married.

I have resumed acting as a lector, EM and CCD teacher.

Back to the conversation....

I was saying what a joy it was to be the one who brought Communion to the handicapped and elderly in the church who could not get to the altar.

My friend said that she could never do that. I asked her why and she told me that she had never touched a consecrated Host. Though it is common practice now, she had never received the Eucharist in the hand and could never imagine helping to distribute Jesus at Mass. She felt herself to be unworthy to do so.

I wonder how many others think the same way. I thought about it later and thought that it was kind of sad that she thought that way.

Jesus was human. We know that people touched Him during his life and after His death. St. Thomas even placed his hands in the Holy Wounds of Jesus.

I had thought about starting a caucus thread about it, but now, God in His goodness has given me the opportunity to ask the question of my fellow Catholics here.

How many deny the Church their service in this way because of feeling they too are not worthy?