For Catholics, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made fully present on the Altar by the words of consecration said validly by an ordained priest or bishop.
7
votes
1answer
55 views
Why is the Eucharist referred to as «ἀναίμακτον θυσίαν» in consideration of “transubstantiation”?
If indeed transubstantiation occurs, and the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ, why does John of Damascus1 (as an example) refer to the Eucharist as «ἀναίμακτον θυσίαν», "a ...
5
votes
1answer
52 views
How do Aquinas and Hooker differ in their doctrine on communion?
In The Screwtape Letters (1942), C. S. Lewis records the words of the devil Screwtape on church shopping and factionalism (letter 16):
The real fun is working up hatred between those who say ...
6
votes
2answers
118 views
Why do Catholics believe that it is a priest's blessing that transforms the elements into the body and blood of Christ?
I understand that Catholicism teaches the doctrine of transubstantiation, that is, that the bread and wine of the Eucharist are transformed into the literal body and blood of Christ. This apparently ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
Is Thomas More's reading of “This is my body” a literal one by modern standards?
Thomas More, whose birthday it is today (7 February),
was a strong defender of Catholic eucharistic theology.
In his Answer to a poisoned book (1533),
a reply to a Zwinglian
tract probably written
by ...
7
votes
1answer
107 views
Why do LDS use water and leavened bread in communion when the Jews used wine and unleavened bread?
I recently read somewhere that in the LDS observance of communion, water and leavened bread is used. The practice of communion comes from the Jewish Passover ceremony where wine and unleavened bread ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Confirmation- How? When? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are the steps to become Confirmed in the Catholic church?
So I am a Christian who was baptized in a Catholic church. I am currently a senior in High School and ...
3
votes
1answer
70 views
What is the basis for the Catholic practice of only the priest drinking from the common cup during communion?
I've heard from a number of people that in most Catholic churches, only the priest drinks from the common cup in communion. Is this true?
Assuming it is true, what is the basis for this teaching?
7
votes
1answer
88 views
Who did Jesus intend to take communion?
I believe the tradition of communion stems from the last supper Jesus had with his disciples. Jesus had the last supper with just his 12 disciples, not all of his followers. Does this mean that only ...
8
votes
1answer
550 views
What is the basis for the practice of Intinction (the dipping of the bread into wine during the Eucharist)?
I understand that Catholics and Methodists employ the practice of Intinction, that is, the dipping of the bread into the wine during the Eucharist.
In my experience, the bread and the wine are always ...
4
votes
2answers
62 views
Is there any theological reason for not drinking the communion wine?
So, when serving communion, I notice that there is a significant number of people who will eat the bread, but not drink the wine. (Note, I'm not talking intinction here - rather they eat the bread, ...
3
votes
1answer
88 views
Do all churches celebrate communion in the same order (bread-first, wine-second)?
So, originally, I was going to ask, why do Anglicans serve the bread first, then the wine. The answer, however, is that it really seems to be the order in Scripture, for as 1 Corinthians 11 says:
...
3
votes
2answers
186 views
Why do some churches eat leavened bread and wine for the Lord's Supper?
Why is it that many denominations partake of leavened bread and wine during the Lord's Supper when the bread and wine of the original Supper was unleavened? The Passover coincides with the start of ...
2
votes
1answer
64 views
Why do some denominations wash feet before taking communion?
Why is it that some denominations follow the ordinance of humility as described in John 13 while others do not? What reason is there for not performing the foot washing ceremony before partaking in ...
6
votes
2answers
416 views
Reformed Theology, Pentecostalism, and Charismatic Movement on The Holy Spirit
To a first degree approximation, is the following correct?
Reformed Theology: Spiritual gifts ceased after the apostolic age. The gifts were important to setup the initial church, but after the ...
12
votes
1answer
137 views
How do Catholics support transubstantiation?
As I understand it, the doctrine of transubstantiation maintains that bread and wine literally* become the body and blood of Christ...yet it is impossible to detect this. That is, they do not ...
5
votes
1answer
115 views
Who in the fourth century had milk instead of wine at communion?
While reading up on intinction I found a reference to an early practice of using milk instead of wine at communion. This was condemned in a decree of 340AD by Pope Saint Julius I:
For we have ...
5
votes
1answer
189 views
How common is intinction in the Catholic Church?
Intinction at communion is "the practice of dipping the bread in the cup and partaking the elements simultaneously".
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) at their 2012 General Assembly narrowly ...
-1
votes
2answers
342 views
What's the Protestants' view on the purpose of sacraments?
Once an orthodox priest told me that Protestants themselves don't know what they need the sacraments for. He said that since they deny the doctrine of transubstantiation and have separated themselves ...
6
votes
2answers
199 views
Is communion service at the rail vs. in the pews a function of denomination or church size?
In the small baptist churches I've been a part of, (and the LDS service I attended), the communion elements are served to worshippers in the pews. In my Episcopal church, everybody comes up to the ...
3
votes
2answers
154 views
Why do some Catholics file up for commmunion?
My wife was telling me about how in Spain, it's common practice to just go up to receive communion pretty much at random whereas in my experience I've always filed up (even when I was in Germany for ...
7
votes
2answers
100 views
Exodus 29 and Communion
Today, while reading Exodus, I noticed a possible link between communion as defined in the New Testament, and priests eating the flesh of sacrifices as mentioned in the Torah. I haven't studied this ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Do Catholic children near death recieve the Eucharist as Viaticum
Canon law says that anointing of the sick is to be done to someone having attained the age of reason, same as reception of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance.
However, as "Food for the ...
2
votes
3answers
181 views
Which traditions practice paedocommunion?
What specific traditions (or denominations inside a tradition) currently practice paedocommunion?
Are there any that practice paedocommunion but not paedobaptism?
Are there any that historically ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
Eucharist as a definition of the Church in any early universal councils before the 1054 split?
Was it stated in any one of the universal councils before the schism in 1054 that the One Universal Church is defined by Eucharist? I mean a statement that if the Eucharist is not practiced in a ...
-1
votes
3answers
207 views
Why the Eucharist is never mentioned in the book of Hebrews? [closed]
Do I miss something here? Why the Eucharist is never mentioned in such a detailed book as the book of Hebrews?
10
votes
2answers
2k views
Do Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate communion?
Do Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate the Lord's Supper/communion?
If so what are their beliefs about the nature of the Sacrament? Do they believe in Transubstantiation or some variant of symbolism? Is ...
5
votes
2answers
321 views
What did Jesus mean when He said we must “eat His flesh and drink His blood”?
In John 6, Jesus states that unless we eat His flesh and drink His blood, we have no life in us.
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of
the Son of Man and drink ...
10
votes
2answers
102 views
Is Communion still Communion under only the species of wine?
I was reading in the Youcat that
Communion only under the species of bread is also a full communion with Christ
I was always under the impression that both the bread and the wine when ...
8
votes
3answers
708 views
What does it mean that John's Gospel does not have an account of the institution of the Eucharist?
I'm preparing a class on the institution of the Eucharist and my text says
"The Gospel of John includes no mention of the institution of the Eucharist"
it goes on to give the account, for ...
9
votes
3answers
163 views
Distributing the bread before consecrating the wine
Martin Luther's Deutsche Messe was first celebrated on October 29, 1525, and the text was published the following year. I was surprised to see that for the consecration and distribution of the ...
3
votes
1answer
307 views
What does “communion of saints” mean in the Apostle's Creed?
The original text can be found on wikipedia.
Near the end of the creed, there is this phrase:
I believe in... the communion of saints...
What does this exactly mean? I understand that communion ...
5
votes
1answer
67 views
What are the ordinances Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 11:2?
What are the ordinances Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 11:2?
1 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV)
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I ...
13
votes
2answers
606 views
Why does communion frequency vary in different denominations?
Different churches celebrate the Eucharist (Communion, Lord's Supper, ...) with different frequency. At one extreme, Catholic and high Anglican churches tend to celebrate it at least daily. Many ...
7
votes
2answers
277 views
What do Lutherans mean when they talk about the Real Presence in the Eucharist?
The Lutheran Church is one of several denominations that teach the Real Presence, but they don't all understand it the same way. The Lutheran understanding differs significantly from the Orthodox and ...
3
votes
3answers
117 views
What do Orthodox Christians mean when they talk about the Real Presence in the Eucharist?
The Orthodox Church is one of several denominations that teach the Real Presence, but they don't all have the same understanding of this doctrine. What is the Orthodox understanding?
9
votes
3answers
2k views
Why is bread and wine used to represent the body and blood of Christ?
I don't know about other churches, but in the Catholic church you have communion, in which you receive the body and blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine. Why was bread and wine chosen to ...
15
votes
2answers
768 views
What is the Biblical basis for withholding communion from believers who are unbaptized?
My home church has a policy of asking non-believers not to participate in communion, but never asks if a believer has yet been baptized.
I have visited or attended several other churches where ...
22
votes
7answers
2k views
As a protestant, may I participate in the Eucharist (Communion) when visiting a Catholic church?
I think the title sums it up. I'm a protestant Christian, and have many Catholic friends. When I visit their churches, is it permissible for me to participate in the Eucharist/Communion ceremony by ...
10
votes
1answer
224 views
What do Catholics mean when they talk about the Real Presence in the Eucharist?
The Catholic Church is one of several denominations that teach the Real Presence, but they don't all have the same understanding of this doctrine. What is the Catholic understanding?
7
votes
3answers
241 views
Concerning fasting, and the Communion
Now, once, I was fasting. I was destined to fast for three weeks. Now the church that I went to had Communion once every month, and it happened that my second last Sunday of fasting was my church's ...
