Syllabus of Errors surprises most Christians. After joint communion with Lutherans last fall, a two-thirds majority of the German bishops’ conference adopted a proposal to allow Protestant spouses of Catholics to receive Communion, but the pope stays with tradition in the Syllabus of Errors. Yahoo News

“The Syllabus of Errors, issued by Pope Pius IX in 1864, is still in full force where

the Roman Church can enforce its will.  The hierarchy in the United States plays down this Syllabus, and for many years has conducted a subtle campaign designed to hide many of its distinctive doctrines and so to gain favor with the American public.  Listed here are its claims in plain language:

15.  “No man is free to embrace and profess that religion which he believes to be true, guided by the light of reason.”

17.  “The eternal salvation of any out of the true church of Christ is not even to be hoped for.”

18.  “Protestantism is not another and diversified form of the one true Christian religion in which it is possible to please God equally as in the Catholic Church.”

24.  “The Church has the power of employing force, and (of exercising) direct and indirect temporal power.”

37.  “No national Church can be instituted in a state of division and separation from the authority of the Roman Pontiff.”

42.  “In legal conflict between Powers (Civil and Ecclesiastical) the Ecclesiastical Law prevails.”

45.  “The direction of Public Schools in which the youth of Christian states are brought up…neither can nor ought to be assumed by the Civil Authority alone.”

48.  “Catholics cannot approve of a system of education for youth apart from the Catholic faith, and disjoined from the authority of the Church.”

54.  “Kings and Princes [including, of course, Presidents, Prime Ministers, etc.] are not only not exempt from the jurisdiction of the Church, but are subordinate to the Church in litigated questions of jurisdiction.”

55.  “The Church ought to be in union with the State, and the State with the Church.”

“Let no one say that this Syllabus of Errors belongs to a former age and that it is not to be taken seriously.  Even today it forms a part of the ordination vows of every Roman Catholic priest in the world.” (Roman Catholicism, Loraine Boettner, Presbyterian & Reformed Publ Co, p. 24-26).

Returning to the title re Communion, it is Catholic teaching that the priest’s blessing changes the bread into the literal body of Christ, and that if one does not believe it, he is damned. So consider–

A Roman Miracle! 

A pretty maid, a Protestant, was to a Catholic wed;
To love all Bible truths and tales, quite early she’d been bred,
It sorely grieved her husband’s heart that she would not comply,
And join the Mother Church of Rome and heretics deny.

So day by day he flattered her, but still she saw no good
Would ever come from bowing down to idols made of wood.
The Mass, the host, the miracles, were made but to deceive;
And transubstantiation, too, she’d never dare believe.

He went to see his clergyman and told him his sad tale.
“My wife is an unbeliever, sir; you can perhaps prevail;
For all your Romish miracles my wife has strong aversion,
To really work a miracle may lead her to conversion.”

The priest went with the gentleman — he thought to gain a prize.
He said “I will convert her, sir, and open both her eyes.”
So when they came into the house, the husband loudly cried,
“The priest has come to dine with us!” “He’s welcome” she replied.

And when, at last, the meal was o’er, the priest at once began,
To teach his hostess all about the sinful state of man:
The greatness of our Saviour’s love, which Christians can’t deny.
To give Himself a sacrifice and for our sins to die.

“I will return tomorrow, lass, prepare some bread and wine;
The sacramental miracle will stop your soul’s decline.”
“I’ll bake the bread, ” the lady said. “You may” he did reply.
“And when you’ve seen this miracle, convinced you’ll be, say I.”

The priest did come accordingly, the bread and wine did bless.
The lady asked, “Sir, is it changed?” The priest answered, “Yes”.
It’s changed from common bread and wine to truly flesh and blood;
Begorra, lass, this power of mine has changed it into God!”

So having blessed the bread and wine, to eat they did prepare.
The lady said unto the priest, “I warn you to take care”,
For half an ounce of arsenic was mixed right in the batter,
But since you have its nature changed, it cannot really matter.”

The priest was struck real dumb — he looked as pale as death.
The bread and wine fell from his hands and he did gasp for breath.
“Bring me my horse!” the priest cried. “This is a cursed home!”
The lady replied, “Begone: t’is you who shares the curse of Rome.”

The husband, too, he sat surprised, and not a word did say.
At length he spoke, “My dear, ” said he, “the priest has run away;
To gulp such mummery and tripe, I’m not for sure, quite able;
I’ll go with you and we’ll renounce this Roman Catholic fable.”

Author Unknown