Question:
I have a question for you. As a Catholic, when you go up for Holy Communion and the Eucharist Minister says "The Body of Christ," and you say "Amen," are you technically saying "Amen, this is the body of Christ." or "Amen, this is the body of Christ, and I believe/agree with everything the Catholic church teaches." ?
I had this conversation with a friend this weekend and I thought it was just "Amen, this is the body of Christ." She says it means that you are affiriming that you believe every single thing the Catholic church teaches and will not go against it. (this conversation came because of a conversation on the presidental race).
For me, I can not say 'Amen, i agree with everything the Catholic church teaches' because I honestly don't know everything there is to know, and I think that God knows this... so for me to be thinking that I'm agreeing to everything would be wrong. What do you think?
Can you give me sources for answers? I looked in the CCC and it kind of sounded like you are just affirming that it is the Body of Christ, but i couldn't really tell.
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Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+
Dear Cindy:
The word "Amen" comes from the Hebrew meaning "certainly". It is a statement of affirmation, agreement.
When we present ourselves for Communion (even if we did not say Amen) we are saying that we are in Communion with the Church.
To be in Communion with the Church means that we agree in faith with all the Church requires of us and that we obey all that the Church teaches and requires.
Even if you do not know all the Church's teaching, you may still honestly receive communion if you agree to agree with whatever the Church teaches that is required for you to believe.
That means that once you know what the Church teaches that is required of you, you will accept it.
Yes, this can be done in advance without knowing the details. How? Because the Church in its infallible teachings which are required for belief of all Catholics comes from God. What comes from God we can accept sight unseen because it is from God. We can trust God and His Magisterium.
You have a responsibility, however, to learn what you do not know. The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains a summary of all the teaching of the Church. It you read it, you will certainly have the information about all required teachings.
When we accept Communion we are affirming all teachings that are REQUIRED for us to believe; and also affirming that we will be loyal and obedient to the Church even on those things to which we are allowed to disagree.
There are four Levels of teaching in the Church. Level 1 and Level 2 we MUST believe and affirm. If we don't then we are not properly disposed to receive the Eucharist. Level 3 and 4 allows some disagreement under certain circumstances. But we are to obey all levels of teaching.
Bottomline: do not worry about what you do not know. Rather seek out knowledge (read the Catechism), accept and believe what you learn from the Catechism and you will be fine.
If there are any teachings to which you have no knowledge, then have the attitude of accepting all that the Church requires from you regardless.
God bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary
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