How does the Eucharist show God's love and forgiveness?
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Good question.\n\nBefore Christ, to receive forgiveness of one's sins you'd have to sacrifice the lamb and eat it. Christ being the Lamb of God, has sacrificied Himself, and for this sacrifice to be complete we need to eat Him, and we do this through the Eucharist. ^_^
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At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “Take this bread. It is my body.” Then he said, “Take this and drink. This is my blood. Do this in memory of me.” \n\nCatholics believe this was the First Eucharist, that through some miracle the bread and wine actually became the body and blood of Jesus Christ.\n\nCatholics reenact the Last Supper during every Mass, where the priest, acting in place of Christ, changes the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.\n\nThis is a great sacrament of thanksgiving and unity of Catholics.\n\nWith love in Christ.
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Jesus commanded that whenever we gather in His name (like at church), we do it. It is the reminder that it was He who died for our sins, and it was His blood that washed our sin away - a way to honor His actions. There is also the promise of His return, to drink the new wine with us.
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It is a bread wafer that the priest holds up, says some magic words and it becomes the body of Christ. They also have wine which becomes the blood of Christ. The process is called transubstantiation. Then it is passed out and everyone who has gone through the first communion eats and drinks it. Whacky stuff.
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Without a doubt, true love is appreciated wherever we go. The love that can make a real difference in life is that described by the Bible writer Paul: “Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”—1 Corinthians 13:4-8.\n\nYes, “love never fails.” Love heals. Love unites. Love is shown not just by words but by unselfish actions. Love has a pure motive. Paul also wrote: “If I give all my belongings to feed others, and if I hand over my body, that I may boast, but do not have love, I am not profited at all.” If we make sacrifices or give gifts just to be seen by others, then from God’s viewpoint it is in vain.—1 Corinthians 13:3.\n\nJesus put it this way: “When you go making gifts of mercy, do not blow a trumpet ahead of you, just as the hypocrites do . . . that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, They are having their reward in full. But you, when making gifts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing.” Yes, love does not boast or brag.—Matthew 6:2, 3.\n\nWhat Is Love?\n\nOne description of love is ‘a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, a warm fondness or liking for another.’ It is a quality that moves people to work for the good of others, sometimes at great personal sacrifice. Love, as it is described in the Bible, involves both the mind and the heart. The mind, or intellect, plays a role because a person who loves does this with his eyes open, recognizing that he and other humans that he loves all have weaknesses as well as attractive qualities. The intellect is further involved since there are those whom a Christian loves—sometimes, perhaps, against his natural inclinations—because he knows from his reading of the Bible that God wants him to do so. (Matthew 5:44; 1 Corinthians 16:14) Still, love basically comes from the heart. Genuine love as it is revealed in the Bible is never merely intellectual. It entails deep sincerity and full emotional commitment.—1 Peter 1:22.\n\nPeople who are selfish at heart are rarely capable of a truly loving relationship because a person who loves is prepared to put the interests of another ahead of his own. (Philippians 2:2-4) Jesus’ words “there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving” are especially true when the giving is an act of love. (Acts 20:35) Love is a powerful bond. (Colossians 3:14) It often includes friendship, but the bonds of love are stronger than those of friendship. The romantic relationship between a husband and his wife is sometimes described as love; however, the love that the Bible encourages us to cultivate is more enduring than physical attraction. When a couple truly love each other, they remain together even if a physical relationship is no longer possible because of the infirmities of old age or because one of them is incapacitated
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I don't think that there are any levels of forgiveness.  There is a difference between the kind of forgiveness God gives and human forgiveness.  God forgets all our sins once we ask for forgivness . . . most of us humans forgive, but don't forget (and I personally don't find that to be an awful thing all of the time . . . it saves us from letting others walk all over us).  I don't think that whether a person is a christian or not affects whether we should forgive them . . . the Lord's prayer says "forgive us our tresspasses (sins,debts) as we forgive those who tresspass against us".  An important thing about this is that God forgives us WHEN we forgive others . . . this was something I didn't really understand until a week or two ago, when I was at a retreat and was lead through a process of forgiving a number of people in my life that I had forgotten I was holding grudges against.  It's interesting that this individual in England has recognized their inability to forgive and has decided not to teach any longer.  That is a good example for the rest of us.
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This is in the Catholic Religion??? I have NEVER heard of this one!\n\nWOW ya learn something new everyday!!!!\n\n\nCatholic baptism and salvation\nIn Catholic teaching, baptism plays an essential role in salvation. This teaching dates back to the teachings and practices of first century Christians, and the connection between salvation and baptism was not, on the whole, an item of major dispute until Martin Luther's teachings regarding grace. The Church teaches that "baptism is necessary for salvation" (Catechism, 1257) and entry into heaven; and therefore, a person who knowledgeably, willfully and unrepentedy rejects baptism has no hope of salvation. Three forms of baptism are acknowledged by the Church. Baptism by water refers to the traditional baptism where the individual is immersed or infused with water in the name of the Trinity.\n\nThe Church also recognizes two other forms of baptism: "baptism of blood" and "baptism of desire." Baptism of blood refers to unbaptized individuals who are martyred for the Faith, while baptism of desire refers to catechumens who die before they can be baptized. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes these two forms:\n\nThe Church has always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ. This Baptism of blood, like the desire for Baptism, brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament. (1258)\n\nFor catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament. (1259)\n\nAs for unbaptized infants, the Church is unsure of their fate; "the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God" (Catechism, 1261).
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Receiving the Eucharist is receiving the Body and Blood of Christ himself. Without it we shall perish.
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Forgiveness in its true sense is an awesome thing to practice. It not only shows character, but allow all offenses to be left and not control your life. The power to engage in forgiveness lies with Jesus. His example is one we should look at every time we are hurt or offended. He was beaten, crucified and left to die but still forgave those who did this to Him. How little it takes to forgive others who have wronged us, and how much reward there is for us when we do.
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yes.  His undying love and forgiveness continues to wash away my sins and it is His divine mercy that raises me towards Christian purity.
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Catholics have the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is the invisible forgivness of God become visible in His visible Church on earth.\n\nWhile it is correct and right to pray for forgiveness to God directly, Catholics also understand that our sin is not just against God in Heaven, but also against the Body of Christ on earth, aka the Church and its people.  Our sin turns us away from relationship with God and relationship with Church and relationship with our neighbor.\n\nSo when a Catholic goes to Reconciliation with a priest it is like having a conversation. It isn't like the laundry list of sins you see on the TV, but is just talking about our struggles, shortfalls, and sins. The priest gives advice on many things such as how to break bad habits, where to gain support to keep from sin, what Scripture is beneficial, and how to make penance.\n\nPenance is our word for where you are leading with your question. It is the idea that after you have repented which includes telling God that you have sinned and are a sinner, telling Him you know the hurt it has caused in the relationship, telling Him you are heartily sorry for your sins, and asking for the grace to never commit them again. So after repenting, and it being sincere, you are forgiven by God and you become right with God again. However, the consequences of your sins are still out in the open. We believe that although your sins are forgiven, the ultimate completion of showing your repentance is through an act of love in the likeness of Jesus Christ. This completes things just how God would like them to be.  Because He doesn't see it fit to repent and then go out into the world without a faith ACTING in love.\n\nSo penance is the love part afterwards. If you sinned by not giving the Lord your God all your heart, mind, body, and soul, then penance may be sitting down for some time to pray with the Lord.  If you sin is, as you put it, raping 5 women then there will be a penance which involves giving true love to these women you have wronged.  The priest helps us with understanding what is a good penance. Through their experience, priests will tell you they've heard everything in the book, so I'm sure they would have a better answer for the grave sin you refer to.  It is also their office to assume the role of Christ as judge of repentance as Christ gave them that power when He told His apostles that whatever sin you bind on earth is bound in Heaven and whatever sin you loose on earth is loosed in Heaven.  Christ knew His apostles and their successors weren't perfect, but that is why He gave them His Holy Spirit so that in exercising this right of office, it would be Him acting through the priest.\n\nSo in my faith we do believe that you must not only apologize to God directly, but He also desires you apologize to the Church, and to the person if it warrants. Because your sin is not within you, but becomes damaging to all those around you. Of course God will minister to those women you mentioned with a divine love and care that they deserve in their suffering. BUT God knows that by forgiving the heartfelt repentance of the one who raped them He is demonstrating to that man the ultimate love He has for Him. That although this rapist is due a penalty, God relieves it out of love for him.  God know that unless this man is released from His sin, there is NO CHANCE that this rapist will have love enough in his heart to go and tend to the wounds he has made.  By forgiving the rapist, he is now free to love with his whole self.  This is part of how the consequences of sin are repaired.\n\nIt all comes from Jesus and the ultimate love He had to conquer sin. It is imparted on us when He conquers our sin.\n\nI cannot comment on Christian faith outside of the Catholic Church. I have many friends who are Presbyterian and non-denominational. I have heard them confess their sins to me and others in spoken prayer. We will often address those sins and offer advice on ho
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No, but it helps.\n\nThe Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."\n\nWhen a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.\n\nHowever Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.\n\nWith love in Christ.
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I am in total agreement with you.  If you ever want Biblical proof of God's abiding love, just recall Jesus' parable of The Prodigal Son.  Each one of us is the Son, and God is the father.  All God wants us to do is come home, and all will be forgiven.  It's what Jesus died for--payment for the sins of the world for all time.
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I have done communion at home,,Jesus knows your heart and as long as you are doing it because your heart desires to draw close to Him I think He is happy with that..\n\nI did this on my own,,I was just saved and did not know much about communion but trust me Jesus sure does and it was awesome..I don't attend a church but that the church is in my heart,,Jesus dweals with me at all times..My focus is on Jesus and to please my Father..Jesus showed me how to do communion and I did with a piece of bread and a-little pop I had..It was such a blessing and I cryed so hard cause I felt Him so close to me. Makes me want to again..You do what you feel in your heart to do. Jesus loves you and His time with you is very special,,use the time with Him to worship Him and reverence Him..I pray for many blessings to come your way,Love your sister in Christ,Amy
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Christ did die once for all.  But he sits on the right hand of the father, continually offering that same perfect sacrifice (and Eucharist is our corporate participation in that same sacrifice - where he suffered death upon the Cross for our redemption; who made there (by his one oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious the death and sacrifice, until his coming again: For in the night in which he was betrayed, (a) he took Bread; and when he had given thanks, (b) he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, (c) this is my Body, which is given for you; Do this in remembrance of me. Likewise, after supper, (d) he took the Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for (e) this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins; Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.\n\nThis prayer from the Holy Eucharist - Book of Common Prayer - says it pretty succinctly:\n\n"AND we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness, mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant that, by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we, and all thy whole Church, may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that we, and all others who shall be partakers of this Holy Communion, may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him."\n\nEucharist MEANS "thanksgiving"....that's what offering the sacrifice of the Eucharist means....our sacrifice....joined with Jesus' on the Cross....
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Anglicans believe it is merely symbolic where as Roman Catholics believe they are actually consuming the body and blood of Christ. Go ahead and compare!\n\nRoman Catholic: \nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucharist_%28Catholic_Church%29\nhttp://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm\n\nAnglican: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Eucharistic_theology
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I couldn't find six steps - but this may help:\nHow to Make a Good Confession\n\nThe Sacrament of Reconciliation is the normative means by which a Christian avails themselves of the mercy and grace of God for the forgiveness of sins.  The two effects of confession are the sacramental forgiveness of sin through the redemption of Jesus Christ, and an increase in grace that helps renew a Christian’s soul and increase their ability to resist temptation.  In an earlier article, I dealt with answering the question of why Catholics practice confession of sins to a priest.  If you need an answer to this question, click here for an answer.  In this article I will help instruct the reader on how to make a good confession.\n\n Requirements for Confession\n\n Under normal circumstances only a baptized Catholic can receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  However, this restriction can be lifted in the case of grave circumstances (such as imminent death of a non-Catholic Christian).  For Catholics, three things are required for a valid sacramental confession.  First, the Catholic must examine his conscience honestly and thoroughly and must not withhold confession of any mortal sins (CCC 1456).  Second, the confessor must be contrite and repentant (CCC 1451). A contrite person will seek the Sacrament of Confession because he is sorry for his sins.   Love for God is the best motivation for seeking God’s forgiveness, but even if the confessor is not perfectly contrite (and seeks forgiveness out of simple fear of hell) the Sacrament of Reconciliation will still remain valid (CCC 1453).  However, if a person enters the Sacrament with the intention of committing the sin later, then this person is not sorry for his sins and the sin will not be forgiven.  Finally, the confessor must complete the penance assigned to him by the priest as soon as possible (CCC 1494). \n\nWhat to do in the Confessional\n\n 1) Wait for your turn at the Confessional, and if you have not done so examine your conscience\n\nWhether you examine your conscience at home or in the church, it is important that you honestly examine your actions since the last confession.  All mortal sins and the approximate number of times they were committed must be confessed for a valid confession.  Venial sins do not have to be confessed, but if you desire to do so you may.  If you believe your confession will last a great deal of time (in excess of fifteen minutes) it is advisable to schedule a private confession with the priest.  A private confession is a good idea for those who have either left the Church, committed a sin which requires possible counseling, or have not confessed in a long time.  If you want to know what a mortal sin is and need help examining your conscience, click here.\n\n2) Enter the Confessional and choose either a face-to-face confession or anonymous confession\n\nSince Vatican II, most parish churches allow the confessor to choose between a face-to-face or anonymous confession.  Usually, this is done by dividing the confessional room into two halves separated by a grill or curtain.  If you desire an anonymous confession simply kneel down in front of the curtain (the curtain will separate you from the priest) and the priest will begin the confession.  If you desire a face-to-face confession, simply walk around the curtain and sit in the chair opposite the priest.  Remember that you are about to confess your sins to Jesus Christ’s representative on earth.  You confess to Christ and the Church.  Your humility, honesty, and penitence should be tempered by this fact.  Also remember that confessions are absolutely confidential.  The priest will never share your sins with anyone else.  He is instructed to keep the seal of the confessional even under pain of death; so do not let your worries affect your confession.\n\n3)  The priest will begin the Confession with the prayer of the Sign of the Cross\n\nMake the sign of the cross and say, “Forgive me Father for I h