Msg Base:  AREA 3  - ASK FATHER (AMDG)
  Msg No: 45.  Fri  8-28-92 21:37  (NO KILL)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Drucilla Sutter
 Subject: Lord's Supper

DS|One thing I really like about the Catholic church is that they have
  |Communion every Sunday, I wish the Protestant churches would do that. The
  |Bible states, "As often as you do this, you do this in remembrance of me".
  |When I was growin up, my best friend was Catholic, Mildred Chapman and I
  |was raised in the Baptist church.  We would visit each others churches.
  |Communion in the Catholic church always was so special to me.  We have
  |communion once a month in my Baptist Church....which is so special...but I
  |do think we should do it more.  My Baptish Churches teaches we should
  |search our heart and if we have anything against anyone or any bad feeling
  |or have hurt there feeling, etc....we need to go and make amends before we
  |partake of the Lord's supper......I guess this is the same teaching in the
  |Catholic church, right?
  |    After I got married I went to Atlanta Christian Church, an
  |interdenominational church and they had communion every Sunday and my
  |husband and I loved it so much.  My husband who is dead now, was raised in
  |a Catholic  church in Argentina, South America.
  |    What all does the Catholic church teach on Communion, would like to
  |have you point of view on this.  I know the Baptist believe you should not
  |partake of the service, unless you have accepted Jesus as Lord of your
  |life and you are a Christian......if you are not a Christian, they tell
  |you not to partake of the Communion Service, is this the same in the
  |Catholic church too?         Love in Jesus, Drucilla
 
 
Dear Drucilla,
 
We teach that the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, the evening before
the Good Friday of Christ's sacrificial death on the Cross, was the
first Mass, at which Christ gave himself to his disciples under the
appearances of bread and wine.  When He said to them, "Do this in
remembrance of Me," He thereby gave them power, to do what He had
done: to take up bread and wine, and by His priestly power, to change
this material food and drink into Jesus Christ--Body, Blood, Soul,
and Divinity--to be the Food and Life of our souls.
 
This sharing of Christ's priestly power has come down to us from the
Apostles through ordination, the laying on of hands by which men
become Christ's bishops and priests.  Mass, Holy Communion and
priesthood go together.
 
Mass is said in our churches every day except Good Friday.  Holy
Communion may be received every day, or even twice a day.
 
To receive Holy Communion among us, one must be in the state of
grace.  "State of grace" is our Catholic language for the state of
rightness with God, friendship with Him, sharing in His nature
(2nd Peter 1:4), born again (John 3:3,5).
 
St. Paul taught us: "Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the
Lord will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.  A
person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the
cup.  For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body,
eats and drinks judgment for himself" (1st Cor. 11:27-29).  If a
Catholic is conscious of having committed a serious sin, he must
repent and obtain forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance through a
worthy confession.  Genuine spiritual prudence and true desire for
growth in holiness lead many to frequent confession of even small
faults and daily shortcomings.  Love, not fear, is our motive in
preparing for the coming of Christ in Holy Communion.
 
Worthy Communions are a pledge to us of eternal salvation: "Whoever
eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise
him on the last day" (John 6:54).
 
I should also say here that one is obliged to fast before Communion,
not eating or drinking anything but plain water for at least one hour
before receiving.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
 
                                        Father Mateo