SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE #18 - June 16th, 2023 by Fr. Ben Daghir

[Pompeii]

SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE #18 - June 16th, 2023 by Fr. Ben Daghir

Article:
 
“What does it mean to say ‘Amen’ when the priest or extraordinary minister gives me Communion?” We know how Communion works: the priest or extraordinary minister says, “The Body of Christ” and we respond with “Amen.” But, what does that response “Amen” really mean? 

The Body of Christ (the Eucharist) is the source and summit of our faith. Everything draws its strength and meaning from it and everything is oriented toward it. The response “Amen” is an acceptance and an acknowledgement not only of the body and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist, but also the doctrines of the Catholic faith. 

That is why (for example) non-Catholics do not receive the Eucharist. You may have wondered this at weddings which are the most common places to witness this type of situation. People often ask, “Well, wouldn’t we want everyone to receive Jesus?” This is a great question and it requires a certain perspective to understand the Church’s teaching. 

Imagine a Catholic priest holding the Body of Christ in front of a non-Catholic and saying, “The Body of Christ” implying this question to the non-Catholic - “Do you believe in all the Catholic Church’s doctrine on the Trinity, scripture, sacraments, morality, the Virgin Mary, ethics, the saints, economics, social justice, sexuality, the papacy, human nature, etc.” It would be incredibly unfair to put a non-Catholic in this type of situation.

In other words, when we respond with “Amen” to “The Body of Christ” we are acknowledging that this is, in fact, the Body and Blood of Jesus and that we are in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. 

We all may have to broaden our understanding of what we are really saying when we hear “The Body of Christ.” We are accepting the truth of Catholicism in all its fullness, especially the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist - His body, blood, soul, and divinity. 

I challenge you to take some time and think about the response “Amen” to the words “The Body of Christ.” 

========================
Fr. Ben Daghir is a priest for the Diocese of Erie. He is a graduate of Elk County Catholic High School in Saint Marys, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, and St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. He considers writing one of his favorite hobbies.