Replies

I'm going to say ,"No."

"What material food produces in our bodily life, Holy Communion wonderfully achieves in our spiritual life. Communion with the flesh of the risen Christ, a flesh "given life and giving life through the Holy Spirit," preserves, increases, and renews the life of grace received at Baptism. -Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Does RC teach that the Eucharist helps a person attain eternal salvation? Is it taken daily? Does the Church require Catholics to receive holy communion at least once a year during the Easter season? Is it a mortal sin to disobey this commandment of the Church? And what about the Worship of the Eucharist? "There should be no doubt in anyone's mind " that all the faithful ought to show to this most holy sacrament the worship which is due to the true God, as has always been the custom of the Catholic Church. Nor iis it to be adored any the less because it was instituted by Christ to be eaten."- Second Vatican Council

It doesn't sound like a "No" to me, mad dawg. Lots of questions here, I know. But I truly would like to see a concrete answer, if there is one. ;)

Curious conversation with my Mom this past Sunday. I had taken her to Mass as usual and on the trip home, we were talking about her dislike of the Sunday evening service's music choices and volume. She thinks it is too loud and too much like a "rock concert". She especially dislikes it after she receives communion because she said she likes to pray and contemplate the Eucharist in peace. I asked her if she couldn't go somewhere quieter after she receives communion - like the alcove or outside the sanctuary? She responded that she prefers to stay in the sanctuary because that is where the "Holy Presence" is.

I said, "Well, didn't you just receive the host, and don't you have the real presence with you wherever you go?". She didn't answer that.

I appreciate your thoughtful response, Mad Dawg. As you may see, though, it did not do a great deal to dispel the questions. I have to agree your answer may say "No" but it sure sounds like it should be "Yes".

I said, "No." I gave a development of the answer. What more do you want?

The quote from the CCC does not say it is necessary or required. As I said, it is BEST.

Does RC teach that the Eucharist helps a person attain eternal salvation?

THAT's not the question originally asked. THAT is not fair. If you ask a question and I answer it it is not reasonable to complain because I did not answer some other question.

I meant what I said to, I think it was boatbums, but I'm not sure. "When you drive to DC do you use a car or the highway?" Do I need to develop that? I will if you like.

Does the Church require Catholics to receive holy communion at least once a year during the Easter season?

As I said, yes.

Is it a mortal sin to disobey this commandment of the Church?

The mere act is not enough to make it a mortal sin. In any event it is not a mortal sin for a non-Catholic, because a non-Catholic is properly bound by the discipline of his group, conventicle, coven, gaggle, hive, ashram, reading room, temple, dojo, or club house -- not by ours.

If someone has been told that object in his hand is a fragment of glass, there is not much blame if he casts it away. If however he has every reason to know it's a diamond, then there is probably some blame.

For it to be a mortal sin for a Catholic he would have to know it was a precept, he would have to choose without constraint to break it, he would have to have some sense of what he was doing. Neglect, ignorance, absent-mindedness, while sometimes serious in themselves, would keep that particular ommission from being mortal. You get "docked" for slugging the body in the chops only if you did it on purpose.

What ABOUT worship of the Eucharist? I hold and really believe that Jesus is truly there in every important sense. Consequently I make my profoundest bows to the exposed Sacrament, because I mean them to be made as a gesture of gratitude, love, and worship to Jesus Himself.

One reason I am grateful for His sacramental presence is that I believe He is with me always even unto the end of the age. But I cannot spend my entire life prostrated. I gotta pay the bills and argue on Free Republic!

So His sacramental presence give me an opportunity to do nothing but love Him and express my love. HERE, at last, is a place where I can press my head to the floor (with the unfortunate consequence of sticking my ample behind up in the air -- which must be a temptation to the toes of the boots of others in the room) to tell Him what He means to me. It is a kind of relief, finally to have some place where I can do what would be hugging tightly if it were my wife or my child.

BTW, my usual practice, when I go to "adore" is to make many prayers to Jesus and to pray my rosary. Then, because I think I serve Him best by cultivating my theological learning, I read in some book on theology or Philosophy. But sometimes, for a change, I will practice what we call "lectio divina". If you don't know what that is, I will happily explain. But few things beat the Word in the presence of the Word.

But, the original question was on the order of "necessary" or "required". Clearly I not only think it's good, I think it's FABULOUS! I cannot say enough about the whole experience and practice of the Mass. It is one big love song, and not only for my sweet Jesus, but, at least in my heart, for all the people worshipping with me. I want to kiss them all, by the time I'm done, especially the ones who are, um, less than entirely delighted with me.

Jesus! My loving, suffering, triumphant, and beautiful Lord! As close to me as one can get this side of paradise! Me a part of Him, He a part of me! What, before the great death which is only entry to the great Life, could be better?

But one of the things I love Him for is that HE is not bound by the Sacraments and he will have mercy on whom He will have mercy.

(Having answered this, I will go back to your earlier post.)