Why Anglicans and Non-Catholics are not to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church.
After one particular Sunday Mass, I announced that anyone who had questions should meet me immediately outside the church and one question was about why Non-Catholics, and specifically Anglicans are not to receive Holy Communion during the time for holy Communion since they have a Catholic root.
The disturbing part is that it’s always announced that “the blessings of the Holy Mass is for everyone but the holy communion is for catholics who are in state of grace and have prepared themselves in a worthy manner.”
The reason is simply a matter of difference in belief. The Catholic Church is spiritually guided by “practice what you believe.” So, it’s spiritually dangerous, harmful and disrespectful; it’s sacrilegious and mockery for one to participate in that which one doesn’t believe in.
What are those beliefs?
•Catholics
Catholics believe in transubstantiation which simply means that after consecration, the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ, such that at this moment, the substance or essence of the bread and wine is changed, while its appearance remains the same. That is, Catholics believe that Jesus Christ becomes TRULY PRESENT (body, blood ,soul, and divinity) in the consecrated elements(bread and wine)(Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 1376).
This is the reason why Catholics don’t joke with the Eucharist such that the remaining ones are reserved in the tabernacle and the same Eucharistic Jesus is worshipped when exposed during the benediction or when exposed at various Catholic chapels or wherever it is exposed.
Those who receive the Eucharist unworthily or without faith, received Jesus but they have received condemnation.
Furthermore, this is why every particle of the consecrated bread is to be taken care of no matter how little it may seem. That is why even if it falls on the ground, the priest or extraordinary minister must pick it up reverently and placed in the sacred vessel. This is why Catholics kneel and ought to kneel in adoration when the Blessed Sacrament is carried along the way or during Eucharistic procession, because it is Jesus. Catholics can help me add to the list.
•Anglicans and non-catholics
Non Catholics in general do not believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, soul, body, divinity, that is, they don’t believe in transubstantiation. Some don’t have Eucharist in the circle of their belief systems, while those who do, believe differently in what the Eucharist is.
Pentecostals generally, are ‘memorialists,’ believing that the central element of the Eucharist is to remember the death of Christ and the benefits of his passion, especially the forgiveness of sins. They prefer to call it the Last Supper.
Nevertheless, Holy Communion is described in Article 28 (XXVIII) of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, which are the historic defining statements of Anglican doctrine that emerged in sixteenth-century England.
Anglican church, described the Eucharist against transubstantiation as a symbolic act, or as a more symbolic interpretation known as consubstantiation or the real presence, such that although Christ is spiritually present in the Eucharist, the bread and wine do not undergo a substantive transformation, that is, do not become the body and blood of Christ.
By implication, since the Eucharist is merely a symbol of Christ’s body and blood, the remaining bread and wine could be disposed without disposing the body and blood of Christ, and should never be reserved, nor raised nor to be adored, or used in procession, nor exposed to be adored etc.
It also means that those who receive the holy Communion without faith, or unworthily did not receive Christ and , the wicked ones are nevertheless condemned. The list goes on.
Notabene: This article states a fact of faith to answer a question and not a ridicule of any faith. Anyone who sees it as a ridicule must ask himself or herself when facts had become ridiculous. Otherwise, practice what you believe and believe what you practice or; review what you, believe and or practice.
Fr. Henry Charles Umelechi, Truth Series
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