The mental image of Jesus partaking in communion is pretty intense. That would be self-cannibalization!

I am catholic, so let me try to explain to you why one cannot just walk into the church whether you are catholic or not and receive the sacrament. I was baptized in the Catholic Church at the age of seven. I did not receive the first Holy Communion till I was 15yrs old; the reason being that I had not gone through the necessary order to receive that sacrament. There are three main Sacraments in the Catholic Church which are important to the faith. The first is that of holy baptism, administered at any age. The second, that of Holy Communion administered after one has attended a series of doctrine or catechism classes and prepared their body and soul to partake in the ceremony. I attended a 4months class where we were taught the scriptures and what the sacrament itself meant. These four months consisted of intense meditation, prayer, confession and contrition for sins. Upon completion of the process I received my first holy communion which was one the most important spiritual day of my life. The administration of the very first Holy Communion is a special day in the church. It marks another beginning in one's journey in Christ. The proceedings are different on that day and the individuals receiving the Holy Communion will wear white, accompanied by parents and godparents etc. The last sacrament which is that of confirmation is considered the baptism by the Holy Spirit. All these sacraments are linked with the Christ's journey and teachings which I cannot explore in this post.

I think the lady who gave the announcement was not clear enough. Being baptized catholic does not make you automatically qualified to receive that sacrament. The sacrament is only offered age seven and upwards, because it is considered the age of reason in Catholicism. Taking Holy Communion is a conscious act requiring belief in the fundamental dogmas of the faith. Anyone who has not gone through the process leading up to the first Holy communion to prepare themselves for it with the help of the priests, parents, Sunday school teachers and all cannot decide on their own to walk down the church aisle, to receive it.

I have not taken communion in 3yrs on the occasions which I have been at Sunday services. The reason being I have not been to confession in a long while, being contrite through prayers for my sins etc. Rather than partaking in such a ritual which is sacred while feeling quite spiritualy disconnected on the inside, I usually opt out. That's just my personal reason. It's not enough for one to say they have admitted to Jesus being their personal Savior. One has to show responsibility towards their faith and at the moment I admit I am lacking in that responsibility. (Thanks for reading this far lol! Oufff, I did not set out to write this mush so pardon me for the long post!)

I have been to many different churches at the invitation of friends. When I decide to fellowship with people for whatever reason, l leave their church with what waters my faith and not what will be cause for disconnect and judgment. Religion is full of discrepancies and can be complicated enough I think. We all subscribe to different forms of Christianism that’s why we have so many different churches. It takes more effort to make connections with our faith than it is to high light those differences. Having grown up in Africa all my life, I’ll be first to tell you that the catholic service in Cameroon is quite different from America’s except for the universal procedures and so is the Baptist, Presbyterian, Protestant, Methodist service etc. It would be very easy to label many things “tacky and inappropriate” when I go to these different churches but by virtue of not learning about the central tenets, procedures and all the like before visiting their church, I leave my judgments aside or make it a point to ask or inquire about certain things I that stood out during the service. I hope you understand this post isn't written in malice but through it, I hope I have shed some light into as aspect of my faith you did not understand.

Kikenileda-your comment wasn't written in malice, but Olga's blog certainly was. It was very kind of you to take the time to give her a detailed response, but it won't change her views in the slightest.

Olga, one could rationally ask "Is that what Jesus would do?", of a single aspect or two of EVERY different variation of organized Christianity. I'm pretty sure that Jesus would not perpetuate inflammatory questions ["is catholicism not a part of Christianity?"]-perhaps you are much younger than myself, and do not remember that Protestants and Catholics were still KILLING each other over the hateful question you've posted, in the 1980's.

I myself wanted to be a missionary when I was a child. I still have a very strong faith in God's love, and I still close all prayers with 'In the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Amen."

But due to the very UN 'Christ Like' behaviors of yourself and many judgemental others, when people ask me now, "Are you a Christian?", I tell them "No." The word has come to symbolize people like yourself, who get into petty pissing matches with other believers over whose interpretation and practice of the Lord's teachings is 'right'. To imply that christians who do things differently than yourself aren't "real" christians is wrong.

No matter what, I'm sure Jesus wouldn't go to someones funeral and then come away to proclaim the mourners customs as "A bit tacky and inappropriate." Ugh.

@ dizedd, maybe you misunderstood, but my post was not malicious. I am trying to understand if Catholics/Catholicism is not a part of Christianity. If they are considered to be Christians, then if a person is a Christian, they should be able to participate in receiving the Holy Sacrament. I think it is beliefs such as this that keeps the Christian community divided. Many of the beliefs/traditions are not based on the scripture, they are based on man's interpretation of it.

@kikenileda: I understand that this is a sacred event but I guess what I am trying to understand is how can someone determine that you are worthy of taking communion. I thought Jesus said as often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me. I've always thought taking Holy Sacrament was to bring you closer to Jesus. As it relates to confession, that's a whole different issue at a different time.

As it relates to things I think are tacky and inappropriate, I have been to churches where they print what people give in their church bulletin. I think that is very inappropriate. I also think churches that take multiple offerings throughout the service is tacky. Those are MY OPINIONS! Some people may not agree with what I feel is tacky and inappropriate, but that's was my take on it.

Hello Olga.
My point exactly is, any one can receive the sacrament. But as I said it is a conscious act and one that involves you going through the necessary process to receive it. I cannot take a friend to church and have them receive it without them knowing the fundamental meanings and teachings that constitute the symbolic gesture.

There is no exam to pass, no one tells u if u are worthy of it but yourself. But the Sunday school classes and other stuff allows you to make that decision. But successfully completing the process are given the green light at which you chose to refuse to go ahead with it for whatever reason. But through the process one gets to question, reflect and decide whether they want to do it. It is only obligatory that one is given the opportunity to understand why they are doing such, and to spiritual prepare themselves for the whole process leading up to their first communion. It makes u not take the gesture for granted. To me, the process leading up to my first holy communion brought me closer to Jesus than showing up on that day and taking it. That's why I don't take it when I go to church on Sundays anymore. I remember how I felt spiritually the day I first received it and because I have not invested enough in my faith lately, that guilt that keeps from taking part in such a holy process thus holding me accountable.

The gesture itself is empty without understanding, accepting and living the theology that comes with it. U don't necessary take it because Jesus said it should be done in memory of him. You take it as a symbolic gesture of you accepting Jesus to live within you, a repentant soul. But if I am not striving to be repentant and making an effort to be worthy of Him, then I become a hypocrite accepting Him to walk beside me and help me.

Christianity simply means followers of Christ, nothing more nothing less. I could create my own church today and consider myself christian because I subscribe to Christ's teachings NOT everybody's interpretation of Christ's teachings!! U and I both know, that interpretations of the teachings are done differently and there is no way that such could ever be universal.

So then, religion becomes a buffet, you pick what u and only u believes will best bring u closer to God and ur fellow brothers and sisters, the rest of what u can't comprehend is left to tolerance. Just cuz all the dishes on the table do not taste the same is no reason why they shouldn't be. It is by that, we become united at the dinner table not by virtue of everyone eating the same thing but accepting that everyone can have what suits them.