The Real Presence Explained: Shedding Light on the Catholic Eucharist - ep 042

Julie South [00:00:03]:
Have you ever wondered why it is that only Catholics are allowed to receive communion during a catholic mass? This is something that sets Catholicism apart from other christian denominations and can cause angst among friends and family when it comes to going to church. To understand the Catholic why behind the Catholic what we first need to understand the core catholic beliefs that underpin Holy Communion. Today, we answer the question, why can't my protestant friend come to Mass with me and take Holy Communion just like I do? Peace be with you, and welcome to your catholic corner. I'm Julie south and you are listening to episode 42. Your Catholic Corner is the weekly podcast where we explore the beauty and the traditions of the catholic faith. We shine a light on the wise that go with the whats of Catholicism. One question at a time, one tradition at a time. You can listen to your catholic corner@yourcatholiccorner.com I'm your show host, Julie south.

Julie South [00:01:17]:
When I first started my personal journey of exploration of God, of Jesus and Catholicism back in 2006, I loved that the Catholic Church is rooted in centuries of history and tradition. All of this history and tradition gave me the feeling that I was standing on something solid that had stood the test of time. But I felt like I was always asking, why or how come? Why do Catholics do this? What's the meaning behind that? Here on your catholic corner, we answer the questions on why Catholics do what they do so that you can better understand them yourself. Just one question at a time in plain, simple English. Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, whether you've only just heard of that man called Jesus, you're new to Catholicism or you're a cradle catholic, your catholic corner explores these meaningful traditions and rituals. Just one tradition and one ritual at a time. In each episode, we'll look at some of the biblical foundations. We'll explore catholic church teachings around them and will shine a light on all that's beautiful within the catholic faith and the Catholic Church so you can hopefully understand and appreciate it better in your heart as well.

Julie South [00:02:59]:
Today we're answering the question, why can't my protestant friend come to Mass with me and take communion just like I do? Well, that's a great question, and sadly, I'm sure it has caused much angst and debate in many families and friendships over the years with many different people. Firstly, though anyone can go to Mass, Catholics and non Catholics, you don't have to be catholic to attend a catholic mass. I remember attending a beautiful mass celebrated by Bishop Steve Lowen Hamilton to show solidarity as New Zealanders and to honour the Muslims who had lost their lives in Christchurch back in 2019. That was probably the most powerful and memorable mass that I've ever attended. So please, if you're listening to this and you're not catholic, please know that you are welcome to attend a catholic mass at any catholic church. When everyone stands in line to receive Holy Communion, you're welcome to receive a blessing. Instead, join the queue along with everyone else. And when you get to the front of the line, put your arm across your chest, you'll be blessed.

Julie South [00:04:21]:
Before I became Catholic, I loved that part of the mass. I loved being blessed, and I hope you do, too. So just because you're not Catholic doesn't mean that you can't attend a mass. Now back to the question of why can't your non catholic friend receive Holy Communion in a catholic church? Well, holy Communion, or the Eucharist is a very important ritual within the Catholic Church such that it has its very own sacrament. What's a sacrament? Well, put simply, a sacrament is a spiritual, special religious ritual instituted by Jesus and conducted within the church. The Eucharist, Holy Communion, involves receiving or eating bread and drinking wine that the priest has blessed, has consecrated during mass. The catholic belief is that the bread and wine, through priestly consecration, through transubstantiation, becomes the body and blood of Jesus himself. That's pretty much the crux of the difference and why only Catholics can receive communion in the Catholic Church.

Julie South [00:05:29]:
It's about belief. Other christian traditions see Holy Communion, the body and the blood, as being symbolic only. But that's not so for us Catholics. For us, it's real. I just said that. To Catholics, receiving Holy Communion is a big thing. But it's more than being just a big thing. It's a very big thing.

Julie South [00:06:04]:
It's, as I said, the crux of the reason why only Catholics can receive communion within the Catholic Church. It's because we see Holy Communion as joining us Catholics with the real presence of Christ. Now, that's capital r, capital p and capital c, the real presence of Christ. For Catholics, taking communion is seen as the ultimate way to be united with Jesus. Therefore, only those who truly believe this are considered ready to receive it. And the second reason? It goes back to reason number one. It's because Holy Communion represents the unity and the oneness of the catholic faith. The word communion itself means unity.

Julie South [00:06:54]:
Since non Catholics are not fully united with the Catholic Church's beliefs, one of them being that the Eucharist is truly Jesus, not just symbolic of him, they're typically not allowed to receive communion. And a third reason, again, which goes back to reason number one, is that Catholics are probably are properly prepared to receive Jesus in this way. We get that it's important that we've been to confession, that we've reconciled ourselves back with the church, that we get confession and reconciliation, and we've spent time in prayer beforehand, again, because we truly believe that we are partaking of Jesus when we receive Holy Communion. It's not just symbolic of him, it is the real presence of him. Now, none of these reasons are meant to exclude or judge others. They're there to maintain the sacred meaning of Holy Communion according to catholic teaching, which is that Holy Communion is partaking of the real presence of Jesus, not just a symbol of him, but the real him. The Catholic Church respects other christian beliefs and traditions, but reserves holy communion for those who the catholic faith, who truly believe that they're receiving the real presence of Jesus and who are properly prepared in all that that means. Okay, so you might be wondering, where does it say all of this in the Bible? Duly in the Bible, there's no specific mention or reference of only Catholics being allowed to take holy communion.

Julie South [00:08:58]:
As I said just now, the Catholic Church teaches that during the consecration of bread and wine that they become the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ through the process called transubstantiation. And as I just said, us Catholics believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This means that we believe the bread and wine have truly become the body and blood of Jesus. We're not talking just symbolism here, which is what many other christian traditions think, that at this point in their church service, the wine and the bread are merely symbols of Jesus body and Jesus blood. It's this truly become the body and blood of Jesus belief that is supported in the Bible. In John, in chapter 651 through 58, Jesus speaks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Other christian denominations have different views on the Eucharist. For example, some protestant denominations view the bread and the wine as symbols representing the body and blood of Jesus, while others believe in it being the spiritual presence of Christ during the sacrament.

Julie South [00:10:19]:
As you can see, different christian traditions have different beliefs and practices. I've just referred to John, chapter six, verses 51 to 58. Now, here are three other mentions in the Bible about the body and blood of Jesus being real, which is what us Catholics are aligned to, not symbolic. In Mark, in chapter 14, verses 22 through 24, this passage describes Jesus establishment of the ordinance of communion, where Jesus explains how the bread and wine connect to his body and his blood. Then we have in Luke in chapter 22, verses 19 and 20, Jesus instructs his disciples to partake in communion in remembrance of him, referring to the bread as his body and the cup as the new covenant in his blood. And then in one corinthians chapter eleven, verses 23 through 26, the apostle Paul provides instructions on how to participate in the Lord's supper, emphasising the remembrance of Christ's sacrifice. So we do have references back to the Bible that support why us Catholics do what we do there and believe what we believe. I hope you found all this interesting and helpful.

Julie South [00:12:06]:
I hope this podcast helps you understand just a teeny tiny, incy wincy dinky little bit better, the wonderful word of God and the catholic faith. You can send me your questions that you'd like answered to me@yourcatholiccorner.com connect because I would love to answer them or it for you. Thank you for getting this far. Can I ask you to do God and me a huge favour? Please? If you enjoyed today's show, can you help me spread God's word about your catholic? All you have to do is tell three of your friends and family about this podcast so they can hopefully benefit and learn as well. Letting them know about it is really easy. Just invite them to visit yourcatholiccorner.com where they can subscribe and follow the show from there. It's free, it doesn't cost anything. Thank you.

Julie South [00:13:04]:
Wherever you are, I pray that God's glass of love overflows in your heart and your life, and that when you're ready, you're able to accept God's invitation to you to join him to share in Holy Communion this week at your local parish. And finally, I'd like to say thank you to the parishioners of the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton, New Zealand, who helped me bring this podcast to you today. This is Julie south signing off until next week. Peace be with you. God bless.