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Why is communion celebrated differently by Catholics and Protestants?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Catholics and Protestants hold differing views as to what communion (bread and wine) really is. Catholics hold the doctrine of transubstantiation, which says that the bread and wine transform to be the actual body and blood of Jesus. Protestants have differing views amongst themselves. Some would believe in consubstantiation, meaning that the communion is both bread and wine and the body and blood at the time. Others would hold that the bread and wine is purely a symbol of Christ. Some Protestant churches also do not use wine, but instead use Grape Juice. Sometimes the actual distribution of communion may be different. This simply may be because the Catholic Church, as well as some Protestants such as Lutherans, hold the communion in a very high regard and have a very formal celebration of it. Some Protestants, such as Evangelicals, may decide to be less formal with the Eucharist or may not even give it out every week. This would be a matter of liturgy, as opposed to doctrine.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoCatholics believe the bead and wine are the LITERAL body and blood of Christ.
protestants believe it is a symbol.
Obviously Jesus words, "this is my body" should be taken symbolically because it falls within a long list of symbolic statements Christ said: "I am the bread," (John 6:41), "I am the vine," (John 15:5), "I am the door," (John 10:7,9), "I am the good shepherd, "(John 10:11,12), "You are the world the salt, (Matthew 5:13), "You are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14)
re: the wine being blood. first, God says we are not to drink blood. second, Jesus, after saying "this is my blood" in Matthew26:28 also said "I will not drink henceforth of this FRUIT OF THE VINE" in Matthew26:29, showing that the grape juice was STILL wine and had NOT been changed into blood.
Roman Catholic AnswerThe Catholic Church has consistently taught - since the time of Jesus that the Bread and Wine, from the moment of consecration cease to exist (only their "accidents", their outward appearances remain). That the entire substance of the bread turns into the substance of Jesus' Body, and the entire substance of the wine turns into the substance of His Blood.Even a casual reading of the Gospel confirms this, the sixth chapter of John, when Jesus says "This, my body" (in Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke there is not verb "to be" as the verb "to be" was taken by God as His Name when God said in Exodus: "I AM, tell the Egyptians "I AM" sent you." Jesus was wonderfully explicit saying "If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood you have no life in you.", "He who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood real drink."
Jesus' listeners took Him literally, as the Gospel points out by the fact that they "would not remain in his company any longer." And Jesus LET THEM GO. After all that time, He did NOT call them back and tell them He was using a metaphor, as He had done numerous other times in the Gospel, no, instead, He reiteratered His statement and then asked Peter if He wanted to leave to, as this was "a hard saying". St. Peter replied, "to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe; we are convinced that you are God's holy one" (John 6:67-69).
This does not fall under the Biblical prohibition of consuming animals' blood. And we are familiar with things that the accidents change but the substance remains the same, for instance water can be ice, snow, liquid, or steam, but they are all water. This is the reverse, the accidents remain the same, the substance changes: as St. Thomas Aquinas explains:
"Man cannot understand this, cannot perceive it, but a lively faith affirms that the change, which is outside the natural course of things, takes place. Under the different species, which are now signs only and not their reality, there lie hidden wonderful realities. His Body is our food, His Blood our drink."
Modern day protestants, for the most part deny all of this and see it as a time of spiritual communion with the Body and Blood of Christ, denying Our Blessed Lord's Words and Reality as the ancient Jews did.
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What are some ways Catholics disagree with Christians?
Well Catholics are Christians. Some ways they disagree with Protestants are: 1.Catholics believe you get to heaven by baptism plus faith plus works. Protestants believe you get to heaven by faith alone. 2.Catholics believe Communion is really Jesus. Protestants believe Communion is just a memorial of Jesus. However there are some Protestants that believe Communion almost like the Catholics. Lutherans for example. 3.Catholics honor saints. Protestants do not. These are some differeces. If you want to know mor but this in the address box. www.godonthe.net/evidence/catholic.htm
Taking your Holy Communion?
Catholics do not take communion, they receive communion.
Why can't unbaptized Catholics receive communion?
Until they are baptized, they are not Catholics. Only Catholics may receive communion in the Catholic Church.
What two Christian rites are important for Catholics?
The Catholics have Seven Sacraments that (Because Catholics are Christians) and they are all important. You are confusing Christian for protestant. Protestants only have two sacraments (if they call them sacraments) that would be Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Catholics view any Baptism that is administered with water in the name of the Trinity as valid, so Baptism for protestants is a valid sacrament. Holy Communion, however, is not, because they have no priesthood. But, since protestants deny that Holy Communion actually is the Body of Christ (as Our Blessed Lord Himself said repeatedly in the second half of the sixth chapter of St. John's Gospel), the only thing that it has in common with the Eucharist is the name and the outward form.
Why do Church of England churches let Catholics take communion?
The Church of England allows Catholics, and I presume others, to receive communion out of a "spirit of Ecumenism." Whilst they allow this, a Catholic should not partake of communion with any "church" which is not in communion with Rome; as to do so, is an explicit consent to the believes and teachings of said "church." Please see the link below for a full explanation as to why it is wrong for Catholics to receive communion in a Church not in communion with Rome.
Where do differences between Catholics and Protestants still causes problems?
Mainly on Marriage and Divorce laws. There are many Evangelicals ( Protestants basically in the Lutheran tradition) who are put mildly- turned off by the excessive devoltion to Mary in the Catholic Church. There are whole rafters of Hymns of Marian bent- something not done with any other saint! It can be argued that, however, that Amazing Grace is in part a musical autobiography of Saint Paul, so that trims the tanks a little ( theImproved Answer:While the above is true to a point, it barely touches the surfaces of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.1.) Catholics recognize tradition as having equal importance as scripture. Paul points this out in his 2nd letter to Timothy.2.) Protestants generally do not accept the True Presence in the Eucharist or, if they do, it is only a temporary thing. Our Lord disappears after communion.3.) Protestants do not accept the leadership of the pope.4.) Catholics recognize 7 sacraments (all biblical) while most Protestants recognize only one or two.5.) Most Protestants do not recognize the Deuterocanonical books of the Bible that are accepted by Catholics.6.) Most Protestants do not recognize the perpetual virginity of Mary.7.) While most Protestants recognize the Communion of Saints, their view of it is considerably divergent from the Catholic view.8.) Many Protestants believe that man is justified by faith alone. Catholics believe that which is in the Letter of James as well as in the Gospel of Matthew that faith and good works are required for salvation.There are many other differences but the above are probably the most distinctive.
Do all Churches do Holy Communion?
Only Christians and Catholics do.
Do Catholics drink alcohol?
Yes, and they use wine at communion.
Who can't receive the Eucharist?
In the Catholic Church non Catholics may not receive communion without a special dispensation from the Bishop. Catholics in the state of serious sin may not receive communion.
What comes to us in communion?
In communion Catholics receive the body and blood of Christ under the form of bread and wine.
Why do Catholics act reverently when they go to receive Holy Communion?
Catholics believe that communion bread has been turned into the Body of Christ during the Mass, so that is why they go up to the alter reverently.
Do other religions besides catholics take communion?
Yes, other religions that take communion are Orthodox Christianity, Protestants (Anglican, Lutheran, Baptist, Mennonites, Anabaptists, Reformed, Presbyterian, United Methodist), and Restorationists (Jehova's Witness, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventists, Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventists).
