Paladin D Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 Just was wondering what your thoughts were on personal/private communion. Which is practiced mainly be non-Catholics. For one, my mom does this every morning. I have discussed her about the Eucharist and it's meaning. She seemed a little suprised and suspicious. I printed out two CatholicAnswers articles about the Eucharist, and who can recieve it. So far I haven't heard her comments on the articles, not sure if she read them or not. But just this morning before she went up stairs to take communion, out of nowhere she says to me... "I don't care what anybody else says, my communion ain't any less than that done by a Priest. I've felt God's presence (spiritually) when taking communion, unlike in the Mass of a Catholic Church" ...it was very much what she said almost. I didn't even reply as I went on with my business. Despite the Scriptural evidence I have given her (including the context of it), and the teachings of some of the Early Church Fathers, it's as if she just brushed it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marielapin Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 what exactly does she do? go upstairs and consecrate her own bread and wine? I've never heard of this before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 I have not heard of this before either. Many years ago I used to attend a house church (as opposed to a protestant church of a particular denomination) and we took communion in each other's houses, but always as a group of Christians together. I have not been to a church service of any denomination for a very long while now (my own personal struggle), but do pray and read my Bible, however it has never ocurred to me to take communion on my own. I always thought it was something, while intensely personal since it involves individual communion with God, was also meant to be part of sharing as a community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted October 22, 2003 Author Share Posted October 22, 2003 what exactly does she do? go upstairs and consecrate her own bread and wine? I've never heard of this before. Since most non-Catholics do not believe in the physical presence of Christ (in form of bread and wine), they can partake in private communion which has a spiritual effect (such as Christ's presence), and is just spiritual. Bread and wine remain the same, nothing changes whatsoever. More of like a "I'm doing this to remember you buy, please come Holy Spirit" type of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXpenguin21 Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 why doesn't she just go to Mass? it seems like she's making a parody of the actual sacrifice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traichuoi Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 okay, so i've never heard of this before either. but when you take the reason for communion (comm+union=community+union) it is to consecrate ourselves with Christ but also to be in communion with each other and the saints. it's not just a private matter. it is to fulfill God's greatest commandment. not only to love God but also to love ourselves as we love others. what better way to love God, ourselves, and each other than to be connected to each other through Christ's blood and flesh? ultimately, communion shouldn't be just a personal communion with God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 But just this morning before she went up stairs to take communion, out of nowhere she says to me... "I don't care what anybody else says, my communion ain't any less than that done by a Priest. I've felt God's presence (spiritually) when taking communion, unlike in the Mass of a Catholic Church" First of all, your mom is sadly mistaken if she has to "feel" anything when receiving Holy Communion. After receiving the Eucharist, it's possible to feel really dry. It happens! However, the truth and Christ's presence aren't based on feelings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted October 22, 2003 Share Posted October 22, 2003 "I've felt God's presence (spiritually) when taking communion, unlike in the Mass of a Catholic Church" If I got a penny for every time I've heard people base their faith on feelings, I'd have my college loans paid off and then some. Ever notice that? "Felt" this. "Felt" that. I didn't get a good "feeling" from Mass. I "felt" good at this church, not that one. I'm currently rereading Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross and it's interesting what he says about the "sensual" aspect of someone's faith being unreliable and faith based on such things ("in the flesh" as he puts it) is transient and really doesn't grow like faith based in the Spirit. My best friend is sort of in that boat right now. She converted to Catholicism but she says things like "part of her still being Episcopalian" and being "moved" by the Episcopalian "Eucharist" as well as the Catholic one. Of course she KNOWS what the Church teaches on "intercommunion" (i.e. it's forbidden) but disagrees with it, and has recently had struggles with the concept of transubstantiation. If she understood the True Presence, which I hope she does to the full someday, taking "communion" any other way would be unthinkable. She attends the Mass more often and is inclined to favor the "Catholic Eucharist" (of course! only Catholics HAVE the true Eucharist!) but is still trying to figure things out. I've had to be careful not to be too forceful and let her figure things out for herself (this has been a bone of contention and has caused strain in our friendship in the past -- she doesn't want me being forceful, and there are times I have to let go.) It is only through the True Physical Presence that we can most be in communion with God -- not only in Spirit but in Body as well. Anyway... just keep praying for your mom (and pray for my friend). It sounds like her comment out of the blue means she just might be feeling a little uncomfortable. But that's not a bad thing. Sometimes it's good to gently reveal when one is in error, ever so gently enough to make them a little uncomfortable. God often gently tugs on the strings of our hearts and simply wont let go. Let God move camels through needles, and mountains from here to there, and do what we can't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted October 22, 2003 Author Share Posted October 22, 2003 (edited) Thank you all for your responses. I'm not exactly sure why she does it. But from what she has said and implied, it seems to be something "spiritually powerful". God told her to do it, so...she does it. And once God tells her to do something, she rarely listens to anyone or anything else. Note: What also inspired her to start doing this, was Benny Hinn and some other "preachers". Edited October 22, 2003 by Paladin D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katholikos Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 (edited) My best friend is sort of in that boat right now. She converted to Catholicism but she says things like "part of her still being Episcopalian" and being "moved" by the Episcopalian "Eucharist" as well as the Catholic one. Of course she KNOWS what the Church teaches on "intercommunion" (i.e. it's forbidden) but disagrees with it, and has recently had struggles with the concept of transubstantiation. If she understood the True Presence, which I hope she does to the full someday, taking "communion" any other way would be unthinkable. She attends the Mass more often and is inclined to favor the "Catholic Eucharist" (of course! only Catholics HAVE the true Eucharist!) but is still trying to figure things out.It is only through the True Physical Presence that we can most be in communion with God -- not only in Spirit but in Body as well. Your friend had to assent to or say these words: 'I believe everything the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church teaches' when she became a Catholic. This oath is usually sworn in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. What would possess anyone to lie to God, in His very Sacramental Presence? Scares me to think of it. Her instructor(s) should have prevented her from becoming Catholic, unless, of course, they were deceived as well. This is sacrilege. The "time to figure things out" is before one becomes a Catholic. (No criticism of you, of course, Ash Wednesday, but of your friend. She has defrauded the Church.) Ave Cor Mariae, Katholikos Edited October 24, 2003 by Katholikos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdewolf2 Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 I had my own private communion a couple times when I was twelve. I came home from church (fundamentalist), poured a glass of milk, grabbed a couple of peanut butter cookies, went back to my room, consecrated them and then consumed them. I used the practice of intinction, of course. Later, I decided it was blasphemous (for some obscure reason since I did not believe in the Real Presence or the Priesthood back then) and asked God to forgive me for making a joke of the Lord's Supper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 Awwwwwwwwww. This is such a sad thread. It makes me feel so very sorry for our poor, confused non-Catholic Christian friends. They obviously long for "communion" with Christ, but are clueless as to how to attain that physical and spiritual union. St. Augustine was certainly correct, when he said, "Our souls are restless, until they rest in Thee." The peace that Christ gives is not a "feeling," for "the flesh is useless." It's not a state of mind. It's a state of being, when the soul is in a state of grace, for "it is the Spirit that gives life." John 6. Keep living the Truth, fellow Catholics. Paladin, I think your mom is really thinking over the things you've been presenting to her. She may want to deny it at first, but persevere in love. Pax Christi. <>< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiritual_Arsonist Posted October 26, 2003 Share Posted October 26, 2003 THOMAS A' KEMPIS: "Son, trust not thy feelings." AMEN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robyn Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 It's a state of being, when the soul is in a state of grace, for "it is the Spirit that gives life." John 6. We don't NEED the eucharist to have that Communion is union with God...eucharist or not. It's amesome! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foundsheep Posted October 27, 2003 Share Posted October 27, 2003 The euchrist makes it much more closer to the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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