Catholic Position
¶1393 Holy Communion separates us from
sin. The body of Christ we receive in Holy Communion is “given up for
us,” and the blood we drink “shed for the many for the forgiveness of
sins.” For this reason the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without
at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from
future sins: For as often as we eat this bread and drink the cup, we
proclaim the death of the Lord. If we proclaim the Lord’s death, we
proclaim the forgiveness of sins. If, as often as his blood is poured
out, it is poured for the forgiveness of sins, I should always receive
it, so that it may always forgive my sins. Because I always sin, I
should always have a remedy.
¶1395 By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist
preserves us from future mortal sins. The more we share the life of
Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to
break away from him by mortal sin. The Eucharist is not ordered to the
forgiveness of mortal sins – that is proper to the sacrament of
Reconciliation. The Eucharist is properly the sacrament of those who
are in full communion with the Church.
Scripture Says
1 John 1:7
…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Revelation 1:5
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the
first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Commentary
Look to Jesus for your salvation and not to a piece of bread.