Personal/private Communion?

[Anna]

I hardly need a lesson in manners, young lady.

In fact, I am trying to instill a sense of respect for the sacred in people who show none!

To admonish in this case is my Christian duty.

If we were simply dissing one another, that would be bickering.

When disrespect is being shown toward Christ's teachings, and even His Body and Blood, you can count upon the Church Militant to become defensive.

[Freaky Chik]

Don't call me young lady, it's patronising.

[Ash Wednesday]

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.)

Katholikos, yes, it's really disturbing to me how this all happened, because honestly she really did want to be wholly Catholic (she actually came to me about it, I didn't want to force her into it) and assent to all that the Church taught, and was so for a while after she converted. At least it seemed that way. I remember at the time there were concerns about her state of mind (she's an even crazier artist than I am), and I had her talk to the priest in private. He was a very good orthodox priest and I don't know what went on behind closed doors, but he seemed comfortable letting her go through with it. So whoever she was deceiving, perhaps the one person she was deceiving most was herself. I honestly don't know.

But then honestly, I don't really know if this has to do with the fact that her dad got ill shortly afterwards and died of cancer, leaving her orphaned at the age of 24 (she lost her mom at 17) -- or what... but she started hanging out with this messed up liberal Catholic schmuck who had a lot of problems of his own and seemed to entertain any questions or doubts she would have had in the first place, she went into this friendship faithful to the Church and left it completely messed up. I still feel kind of resentful towards him as he filled her head with a lot of stupid things and then their friendship fell apart because he wanted to be "more than friends or not friends at all" this was like, 2 weeks after her dad died.

So now she's got conflicts with her Catholicism -- she and I have disagree with Church issues, because I'm completely faithful to the Magesterium (at least I try to be... )

So.... argh. At the time there were concerns about her joining the Church, because those who don't know her thought she was pretty eccentric, and I sought help and advice from others and wanted to do what seemed best at the time. I think in retrospect, either she entered too prematurely, or else what happened AFTERWARDS really mixed her up. Either way this bothers me quite a bit sometimes. Sometimes I wonder if she's just too easily influenced by other people sometimes, and was influenced by me, so joining the church was just "going along with me" so to speak, but also influenced by her guy friend. God only knows. Her "nostalgia" towards the Episcopal church also surfaced when her formerly atheist brother started going back to the Episcopal church. (Though she'd be wise not to follow his example because NOW he wants to MARRY a transvestite from Malaysia he met over the internet.)

I keep praying for her and just try to be a patient friend, though at times she's been resentful towards me and has told me that she has to figure out her relationship with God on her own. I feel frustrated and helpless and at times guilty like I didn't do my job as her sponsor, but others have told me I did what I could, and should keep praying for her. The priest I go to confession with has really been a great help and comfort to me when she started throwing this "Episcopalian Eucharist" crapola at me.

I'm sure that anyone that reads the prayer requests thread might have remembered when I posted a prayer request about it last.... winter? Early spring?

*sigh*

But I can tell she's still not at peace, it's like God is still gently pulling at the strings of her heart and haunting her -- and I don't think she will find the peace she craves until her mind and will is in full communion with the Church. I ask you to pray for her also... and me.

I can tell you one thing, right now I don't see myself being a sponsor ever again. Whoever approaches me about the task will have to be REALLY REALLY CONVINCING that they truly want to be faithful Catholics.

Edited October 29, 2003 by Ash Wednesday

[Robyn]

To this, Robyn, you responded:

Then you claim it's so hard for you to "be nice"?

My, my, aren't we full of ourselves...

What criticism were you enduring?

You rolled your eyes at the John 6 quote, then basically told us that we don't know what if feels like to have Jesus in us?

But what you don't understand is that you are MOCKING the Sacrament instituted by Christ at the Last Supper, whereby he established a means of becoming present in our bodies. We've enjoyed this experience since our First Holy Communion.

We HAVE experienced God's True Presence (Physically as well as Spiritually!!!) in our bodies. HE comes to us Bodily. He gives Himself to us, Body and Soul, and our bodies and souls mingle with His Own in a Spiritual ecstacy that you would rather poke fun of than even attempt to understand and appreciate.

So, while you're trying so hard to "be nice," maybe you would care to think about what the Apostles taught to be Holy and True, and not roll your eyes around and tell us that we're clueless...Now, that would be 'nice'!

Pax Christi. <><

Anna if you are going to quote me then do it properly!!!

If you bothered to READ the post you will see that I replied to a post now DELETED by Katholikos....NOT scripture.

[nippy316]

and unless you have experienced God's presence in your own body....you have no clue...

Sorry to jump in, but us Catholics are saying exactly this: that we DO experience Jesus in our own body by consuming his body and blood! How can we experience him more fully than this?

Sorry, but we can't.

So maybe you do have no clue after all. And this will not be followed by a smiley.

[cmotherofpirl]

Recieving Communion is like childbirth: I can explain it, describe it,and define it, but until you experience it, you have no clue.

Recieving Communion is like a little child recieving a present: he is excited over the wrappings and bows and thinks its the best stuff ever made, and when he finds there a present as well, he is utterly astonished.

Recieving Communion is finding the pearl of great price.

[foundsheep]

The first time I took the eucharist, It was like the sweetest tasting thing,ulmost undiscribable taste, some people where like "it has no taste" and I said well then you need to reevaluate what your doing.

[Katholikos]

Oh, Ash Wednesday, how painful for you! You've done absolutely everything you could. You should be at peace about that, if not about your friend. You were the perfect sponsor for her -- it was she who failed, for whatever reasons. As long as we breathe, there's still hope for redemption. And you're sticking around, offering her your friendship, praying for her still. I commend you!

In situations like this, Judas comes to my mind. He was personally chosen and instructed by Our Lord Himself, and yet he betrayed Him. Jesus could not have done more, inasmuch as Judas had free will. You, too, could not have done more.

Thank you for the lengthy explanation. I hope it was therapeutic for you. Had I known the circumstances, I wouldn't have put you through that crucible again by my comments. I'm sorry. I will join you in your prayers for this very confused child of God.

Ave Cor Mariae, Jay (Katholikos)

[Ash Wednesday]

Thank you for the lengthy explanation. I hope it was therapeutic for you. Had I known the circumstances, I wouldn't have put you through that crucible again by my comments.

It's okay. :D (Hmm I was thinking of watching that movie again recently...)

I'm sorry. I will join you in your prayers for this very confused child of God.

Thank so much, that is the most anyone can do right now.

[marielapin]

Re-reading this thread brought an old memory to mind. When I was still United Methodist, our female minister had a very interesting sermon one Sunday. I listened with interest. She was describing a wedding ceremony which she had been to, where the bride and groom had Communion. Well, either she or the minister in charge of the wedding told them to bring whatever was their "special bread" and "special wine" to the wedding to consume as Communion. It turned out that the groom brought Cinnamon Toast and Coca Cola as his Communion, and the bride brought French Toast and something else (I think milk) as her wine.

At the time I thought this was one of the most sacreligious things I ever heard. The fact that she thought this was great really really frightened me. This pastor was an ex-Catholic and she always talked about the Church in a positive way, yet what she taught as truth was way off from anything Catholic (even United Methodist, I thought).

Come to think of it, this might have been one of the things that started me on my path to find a religion that taught that you can't have cinnamon toast and coca-cola as Communion (and it be okay).

[Ash Wednesday]

... the SUGAR! :blink:

[Katholikos]

I've heard of Wonder bread (!) and grape juice, and Nabisco saltine crackers (!) and grape juice, but cinnamon toast and cocoa? And French toast and milk? And the "minister" allowed it? That's Sola Scriptura in action.

Protestantism never ceases to amaze me.

Even more amazing to me was my escape from it!

Ave Cor Mariae.

[nippy316]

My United Methodist friend said they had communion with hawaiian bread because it tastes good.

Pshhh....OURS taste better!

[Anna]

He has given us Bread from Heaven......

Having all sweetness within It!!!!!!!!!!

:)

[Anna]

Anna if you are going to quote me then do it properly!!!

If you bothered to READ the post you will see that I replied to a post now DELETED by Katholikos....NOT scripture.

Ah, but I had read it in entirety Robyn, including Katholikos' defense of the Eucharist, and as I recall, I think he also quoted John 6. Perhaps he deleted it because he saw that I had already used the same verse.

If he said something that was offensive to you and caused you to roll your eyes in disrespect, then you'll have to refresh my memory, because his post was not in the least objectionable when I read it.

Is all this mellodrama by you and freaky just another attempt to avoid the REAL TOPIC of this thread? The validity of the Eucharist when consecrated by a duly ordained priest of Christ's Church, vs. the invalidity of illicit form and matter celebrated as a "mock" last supper by self-styled laymen.....

Pax Christi. <><