My brother in law Jim said recently, \u201cI find it hard to believe that the Catholics are the only ones with the magic cookie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nOverlooking the frivolity of the language, he expresses a common misunderstanding amongst non-Catholics. I guess what he means by his statement is that he thinks that the Lord is also really present within non-Catholic Eucharists. <\/span><\/p>\nOn the same day I had an email question from a Catholic who is engaged to an Episcopalian woman who is about to convert to the Catholicism. She claims that her female woman priest in the Episcopal church also \u2018converts the bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Christ.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\nOn the one hand, it is wonderful to see non-Catholics desire a deeper and more real Eucharistic experience. On the other hand, it is confusing. Just what <\/span>do<\/span> non-Catholic Christians believe about the sacraments? Can a good Evangelical continue to deny that the sacraments are effective and also be annoyed when Catholics say that their non-Catholic sacraments are not effective? Do Evangelicals believe in the efficacy of sacraments or not? If they do, then in what way are they effective? If not, then why be annoyed at Catholic claims?<\/span><\/p>\nOf course, there are a whole range of opinions in the non-Catholic world about the Eucharist. Here\u2019s a list from the \u2018lowest\u2019 to \u2018highest\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n1. Fellowship Meal<\/span> \u2013 the Eucharist is a meaningful fellowship meal of Christians to thank God for Jesus\u2019 death.<\/span>
2 Symbolism <\/span>\u2013 the bread and wine remain symbols of Christ\u2019s body and blood and therefore his death on the cross. The Eucharist is a \u2018memorial service\u2019 with symbols<\/span>
3. <\/span>Individual Sentimentalism <\/span>\u2013 the bread and wine remain symbols of Christ\u2019s body and blood, but through the prayers and worship an individual may feel \u2018closer to Jesus\u2019. This subjective experience indicates a special gift of grace that has come through the worship.<\/span>
4. <\/span>Biological Receptionism \u2013 <\/span>the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ as the faithful individual receives them into his or her body. The transformation happens as the bread and wine are transformed into the faithful person\u2019s body and blood through the natural biological processes.<\/span>
5. <\/span>Spiritual Receptionism \u2013<\/span> the bread and wine are transformed spiritually into the Body and Blood of Christ as the faithful receive in repentant faith.<\/span>
6. <\/span>Corporate Receptionism<\/span> \u2013 the Church as the Body of Christ transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ as the whole Church (led by the minister) celebrate the Eucharist. Consecration is not limited to one moment, but is a whole action of the whole church within the whole Eucharist, and within all Eucharists. As the whole Church celebrates this action the bread and wine become the Body of Christ\u2013which is the Church<\/span>
7. <\/span>Consubstantiation \u2013 <\/span>the spiritual presence of Christ is with or next to the physical species of bread and wine.<\/span><\/p>\nIndividuals and denominations may hold to one or more of these views in various combinations. There may be other non-Catholic understandings of the Eucharist. What have I left out?<\/span><\/p>\nTo my knowledge the Catholic Church doesn\u2019t actually say what happens at a non-Catholic Eucharist. We just say what <\/span>doesn\u2019t <\/span>happen. We say what non-Catholics themselves say about their Eucharist: \u201cThis is not a Catholic Mass. Transubstantiation does not take place here.\u201d What <\/span>does<\/span> happen is an open question.<\/span><\/p>\nThe question I would put to my non-Catholic friends is, \u201cYou tell me what happens at your Eucharist. What do you believe and why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nFor more on this check out my article on the Real Presence: <\/a>
<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"My brother in law Jim said recently, \u201cI find it hard to believe that the Catholics are the only ones with the magic cookie.\u201d Overlooking the frivolity of the language, he expresses a common misunderstanding amongst non-Catholics. I guess what he means by his statement is that he thinks that the Lord is also really […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":557,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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