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newbetx
Guest
OK, I talked with the pastor of the Methodist church and while he was upset (I think he felt offended as “unworthy” but that is another subject) he did make a great suggestion. That we come forward for a blessing (arms crossed) and I’ve seen that suggestion elsewhere, too.
As to why it is wrong (notice I did not say a sin) to do so. This is in my version of the Catichist and it’s from St. Justin Martyr.
"Because this bread and wine have been made Eucharist (“eucharisted,” according to an ancient expression), "we call this food Eucharist, and no one may take part in it unless he believes that what we teach is true, has received baptism for the forgiveness of sins and new birth, and lives in keeping with what Christ taught."182
Here, tradition states that those who took communion were in fact declaring belief of the teachings of the Church. So, it IS fair to say, if one partakes in a Protestant Communion ceremony (regardless of what is in their hearts or minds), they would IMPLY the same for the Protestant teachings.
Thanks to all who tried to tell me this, but I just wasn’t getting it.
As to why it is wrong (notice I did not say a sin) to do so. This is in my version of the Catichist and it’s from St. Justin Martyr.
"Because this bread and wine have been made Eucharist (“eucharisted,” according to an ancient expression), "we call this food Eucharist, and no one may take part in it unless he believes that what we teach is true, has received baptism for the forgiveness of sins and new birth, and lives in keeping with what Christ taught."182
Here, tradition states that those who took communion were in fact declaring belief of the teachings of the Church. So, it IS fair to say, if one partakes in a Protestant Communion ceremony (regardless of what is in their hearts or minds), they would IMPLY the same for the Protestant teachings.
Thanks to all who tried to tell me this, but I just wasn’t getting it.
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newbetx
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Catholic Deacon,
Please do not be upset with or belittling to “those priests and deacons that have done a poor catechizing job for him.” These people do the best they can with the limited time they have with Candidates. The wealth of information, rules, traditions and insight of the Church is FAR too much to expect anyone to learn except over a lifetime let alone in a few months. And besides, I probably forgot or did not properly understand some of what they DID tell me. The purpose of RCIA is to get me to understand the commitment to the faith I was choosing, not a complete understanding of it.
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lizaanne
Guest
I personally would not do this either. To accept the blessing of a Methodist Minister is to say that you believe what he believes and feel his blessing is in the name of the same Jesus you belive in. It is not. Jesus Christ told us to live by his commands, the primary being EAT MY FLESH. The Methodist does not believe Jesus would truly mean this, and to my mind, they are not worshiping the same Christ.
Why is it so all out important to be a participant in this service for you? You are Catholic - you have the fullness of Faith and Truth at your very finger tips. I think the best teaching moment you could possibly have is to attend but not participate, and teach your children WHY we believe as we do, and why it is important to convey our beliefs in our actions. This could be a wonderful teaching moment for them. To participate is to blur the lines for them - and that leads to cafeteria Catholicism when one feels they can pick and choose what they do and do not believe.
And to Deacon - I have to agree with 1ke - I feel you were far too wishy-washy in your response. I too thought it to be extremely vague to the point of being useless. A yes/no question requires FIRST a yes/no answer. Then a qualifying explaination to support that response. At the first reading of your post I really had no idea what you were really telling this person.
~Liza
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jmcrae
Guest
Only do this if you think the Methodist pastor has the ability to confer a blessing upon you. I am under the impression that only ordained members of Catholic clergy have the ability to do this?
You are more than welcome.
Thank you for having a listening heart, and a willingness to learn. Our great faith is very deep, and there is always so much more to know.
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newbetx
Guest
Well, I was told this was possible on another thread with a similar situation. I still plan on asking my Priest about it before the service in a few weeks.
I’d have to thank God for not giving up on me and Kimberly Hahn for her part of “Rome, Sweet Home” for inspiring me to get off my behind and go learn… And those here that do what they can to help us, too.You are more than welcome.
Thank you for having a listening heart, and a willingness to learn. Our great faith is very deep, and there is always so much more to know.
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Thomas63116
Guest
What other Jesus would he believe in??
Personally, I feel that accepting a blessing in such a situtation would be acceptable and is in keeping with the idea that we share a bond of faith in Christ through our Baptism. In contrast, accepting communion (for Catholics at least) is a sign of complete unity of faith (including but not limited to faith about the Real Presence) which we do not share.
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LilyM
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A Jesus who didn’t really-and-truly mean it when He said ‘This is My body’ and ‘This is My blood’ for starters.What other Jesus would he believe in??
Personally, I feel that accepting a blessing in such a situtation would be acceptable and is in keeping with the idea that we share a bond of faith in Christ through our Baptism. In contrast, accepting communion (for Catholics at least) is a sign of complete unity of faith (including but not limited to faith about the Real Presence) which we do not share.
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ALLGIRLS
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Whoa! Let’s not get “more Catholic than the Pope” here
. That is NOT what the Church teaches about our separated Brethren. While they don’t have the fullness of Truth that we have, they are still worshipping the same Christ (just not in the fullest way He intended). As to whether one can accept a blessing from a Protestant pastor, I don’t know. At my church EMHC give blessings to children and adults who don’t receive the Eucharist, and I’ve heard some say they’re not supposed to do that, but I also know that as parents we are allowed to bless our own children, so I’m not sure what the difference is? But anyway, let’s not go so far as to declare nonCatholics not true Christians, when the Church clearly recognizes them as such.In Christ,
Ellen
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Thomas63116
Guest
"it remains true that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ’s body,(21) and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.(22)
Moreover, some and even very many of the significant elements and endowments which together go to build up and give life to the Church itself, can exist outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church: the written word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, and visible elements too. All of these, which come from Christ and lead back to Christ, belong by right to the one Church of Christ."
–UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism
I don’t think the Council was teaching that members of other Christian denominations believe in a “different” Jesus than the one we do.
Moreover, some and even very many of the significant elements and endowments which together go to build up and give life to the Church itself, can exist outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church: the written word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, and visible elements too. All of these, which come from Christ and lead back to Christ, belong by right to the one Church of Christ."
–UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism
I don’t think the Council was teaching that members of other Christian denominations believe in a “different” Jesus than the one we do.
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HannahLisa
Guest
I would like to point out that Methodists (and Protestants in general) invite people to receive communion regardless of denomination. Communion is for all Christians and does NOT mean that you accept all that church’s teachings. If it did, they would say you had to be part of that denomination. The only thing stopping you is the Catholic Church’s rules on it, not any Protestant rules.
I do not think the pastor at the Methodist church I attended gave blessings. If the pastor doesn’t give blessings, just stay in your seat for that part of the service.
I do not think the pastor at the Methodist church I attended gave blessings. If the pastor doesn’t give blessings, just stay in your seat for that part of the service.
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jmcrae
Guest
You have spiritual authority over your own children, but not over other people’s children, and vice versa - that’s what the difference is.
You can also give blessings to children that you are babysitting, or who are in a Church group that you are leading, where you are specifically being made responsible for the children by their parents, but it doesn’t make sense for an EMHC to “bless” a child over whom he or she has no spiritual authority.
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jmcrae
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As Catholics we are of course required to follow the rules of the Catholic Church.
I would recommend this in any case, even if he does give blessings, for the reasons I gave in my message just previous to this one.
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Thomas63116
Guest
HannahLisa has a good point. . .most mainline Protestant denominations including Methodists, ELCA Lutherans, United Church of Christ, etc. allow any baptised christian to receive communion in their church. Several of those denominations even have explicit agreements regarding sharing communion. I believe their view point is that the unity Christians share in the Lord’s Supper is more important than the differences between denominations.
Catholics, of course, see the Eucharist differently, as a sign of full unity. Therefore, we are not permitted to receive communion in another denomination nor are non-Catholics permitted to receive communion in our church.
Since Protestants have a different view, when we say we cannot receive communion in their church because we do not belong to that denomination it may seem odd to them. I think this may help explain the Methodist minister’s soemwhat negative reaction when the OP told him he could not receive communion in his church.
Catholics, of course, see the Eucharist differently, as a sign of full unity. Therefore, we are not permitted to receive communion in another denomination nor are non-Catholics permitted to receive communion in our church.
Since Protestants have a different view, when we say we cannot receive communion in their church because we do not belong to that denomination it may seem odd to them. I think this may help explain the Methodist minister’s soemwhat negative reaction when the OP told him he could not receive communion in his church.
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lizaanne
Guest
Thank you - that is exactly what I mean.
They believe in a “version” of Christ - not the Fullness of Him.
~Liza
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Smokeypt2
Guest
Hello,
I would just like to clear a couple of points up.
Communion is the symbolism of being at Our Lord’s table, it is not exclusive to any Christian belief system. Agreed, our beliefs differ slightly, however, this does not matter one bit.
It is a sign of respect, and great honor to be included at another’s service, like being at another’s dinner table, you would use the philosophy of when in Rome.
Our Father, does not care where or how you worship him, all that matters is that you do so.
All our welcome at Our Lord’s table, regardless of creed.
Kind Regards,
Sean,
I would just like to clear a couple of points up.
Communion is the symbolism of being at Our Lord’s table, it is not exclusive to any Christian belief system. Agreed, our beliefs differ slightly, however, this does not matter one bit.
It is a sign of respect, and great honor to be included at another’s service, like being at another’s dinner table, you would use the philosophy of when in Rome.
Our Father, does not care where or how you worship him, all that matters is that you do so.
All our welcome at Our Lord’s table, regardless of creed.
Kind Regards,
Sean,
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jmcrae
Guest
It matters enough that wars were fought over it, and Christians divided into thousands of different denominations instead of remaining in Christ’s Holy Catholic Church.
Then why are so many pages of the Bible (God’s Word) dedicated to telling us how the Father would like to be worshipped? Seems like a waste of very expensive vellum and ink - not to mention time - to me.
If not the Apostles’ or the Nicene Creed, then the table is not Our Lord’s, is it?
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Allegra
Guest
The Methodist pastor is not going to be offended if you do not accept their communion. You are not being rude to refuse and you certainly should, since you know it is invalid. I’m sure that a Methodist church that sponosrs community projects like this one has had many non-Methodist visitors before.
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newbetx
Guest
An update on a very OLD thread. I hope to the moderator will lock this one down.
The pastor WAS offended. He told me he new the priest at my parish and he was sure that he (the priest) would not object. Sigh. As a fall-out, the Scout Sunday service was moved to a non-communion Sunday rather than the traditional one scheduled by the Council. All is well, and much was learned.
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