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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Holy Communion in other Denominations santiago Monday, October 25, 2010

Question:

Hello brother. My question is regarding holy eucharist in other denominations like evangelical christians, pentecostals, baptists, etc.

They claim they too receive communion. Is there 'communion' the same as ours where Jesus is truly present? Is it consecrated like in the catholic church? Thanks. God Bless.



Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Santiago:

Protestants and Anglicans do not have the Eucharist, they have a piece of bread. In order to confect the Eucharist one must have valid Holy Orders. Protestant denominations do not have valid Holy Orders. Catholic and Orthodox, and a few other schismatic Churches do have valid Holy Orders and thus their Eucharist is valid.

These groups without valid Holy Orders do have a communion, but that communion of bread and wine (or grape juice) is only symbolic. The bread and wine remain just bread and wine. They believe that in communion Jesus is spiritually present in the assembly. Jesus is indeed with them in spirit. Jesus said "where two or more of you are gathered together, I am among you." Thus, Jesus is with them in the assembly regardless of whether or not they celebrate communion.

For most of these Protestant denominations Communion is not a Sacrament at all, but an "Ordinance". That means that they, such as the Baptists and Pentecostals, celebrate the "Lord's Supper" out of obedience since Jesus said we are to do that. But with the Baptist and similar groups they do not believe that the Lord's Supper confers any Sacrament grace. The same is true with their view of Baptism -- it is an ordinance rather than a Sacrament.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary


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