Anglican and 39 Articles

[pablope]

Yes and No.

Okay…why NO? If not…and you do not agree with the OHCA…then are you not just then defining what the church is for yourself?

 

[LoveMercyGrace]

Thank you for the link on repentance.and for your (name removed by moderator)ut. God Bless.

Thank you for this further information. Andrewstx in post 15, as well as GKC, had mentioned the relative position of the 39 Articles in various Anglican bodies. They mentioned that in the Episcopal Church, these had been relegated to the status of “historical document.” The Reformed Episcopal Church is a different organisation, which says, “The Reformed Episcopal Church vigorously holds to the plain understanding of the 39 Articles of Religion of the English Reformation and adopted them as the doctrinal standard of the Church at her founding.” Perhaps that explains the reference to Article XXIX.

The Episcopal Church’s website says, “It goes by several names: Holy Communion, the Eucharist (which literally means “thanksgiving”), mass. But whatever it’s called, this is the family meal for Christians and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. As such, all persons who have been baptized, and are therefore part of the extended family that is the Church, are welcome to receive the bread and wine, and be in communion with God and each other.” So it sounds as if had you gone to an Episcopal Church, as opposed to a Reformed Episcopal Church, your baptism alone would have made you a welcome communicant at Holy Communion.

The Anglican church I go to has yet a different affiliation than the REC, but it, too, required my studying the catechism and being confirmed by the Bishop before taking communion, though it accepted my Lutheran baptism as valid.

It is hard to understand why some would need confirmation by an REC bishop to commune while others don’t, and obviously they didn’t give you a satisfactory explanation. I can’t think of one myself. I do know that at both the Lutheran church I formerly attended and at the Anglican church, they stressed a right understanding of what happens at communion.

Coming from a Roman Catholic background, perhaps the REC church wants to be sure you understand the differences in belief before partaking of communion. In my church, knowledge of the catechism must be demonstrated prior to confirmation, and in it we learn that the Body and Blood of Christ are spiritually taken and received. Article XXVIII also states, “Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.” Articles XXV, XXVIII, XXIX, XXX, and XXXI give other differences between Anglican and Catholic understandings of this sacrament.

Perhaps the REC is more careful about instruction prior to communion for those coming from the Roman Catholic church due to there being such a great difference in understanding what Holy Communion is and does. Still, I think if confirmation before communion is a rule for one, it should be a rule for all. I would ask the REC church you attend for clarification on this matter.

Auricular confession to a priest is not part of Anglican teaching so far as I know. Article XXXV declares the Books of Homilies to be an explication of Christian doctrine, and instructive in piety and morals. There is a homily on “Repentance, and of True Reconciliation unto God” with a lot of good information that can be found on the subject, especially in part 2. anglicanlibrary.org/homilies/bk2hom20.htm

While there is no specified duty to confess to a priest, confession to God and acknowledging our faults one to another are part of our duty. Also, as the homily points out, “I doe not say, but that if any doe finde themselues troubled in conscience, they may repayre to their learned Curate or Pastour, or to some other godly learned man, and shew the trouble and doubt of their conscience to them, that they may receiue at their hand the comfortable salue of GODS word: but it is against the true Christian libertie, that any man should bee bound to the numbring of his sinnes, as it hath beene vsed heretofore in the time of blindnesse and ignorance.”

 

[LoveMercyGrace]

OP wants to share…

I woke up one morning with very strong feeling to call a Catholic priest.
One after another church I called, and it is early Saturday morning, so no answers.
Until the last one. A man answered and said “come!”

There in the church was a retired, kind, understanding Priest who showed me into the confessional. After talking quite a while, telling my life story it seemed and many tissues used, he handed me the Act of Contrition to say. I realized at that moment I had
made my confessions and He absolved me of all sins.

Christ was right there showing me, a sinner, such merciful grace and love.
I received the Holy Eucharist that evening at Vigil.
journeying back home to the Catholic Church.

 

[GKC]

OP wants to share…

I woke up one morning with very strong feeling to call a Catholic priest.
One after another church I called, and it is early Saturday morning, so no answers.
Until the last one. A man answered and said “come!”

There in the church was a retired, kind, understanding Priest who showed me into the confessional. After talking quite a while, telling my life story it seemed and many tissues used, he handed me the Act of Contrition to say. I realized at that moment I had
made my confessions and He absolved me of all sins.

Christ was right there showing me, a sinner, such merciful grace and love.
I received the Holy Eucharist that evening at Vigil.
journeying back home to the Catholic Church.

Good.

GKC

 

[Izdaari]

As previously mentioned, the 39 Articles are considered historic documents and are not necessarily normative: there is no requirement that any Anglican or Episcopalian subscribe to them.

It is normal Episcopalian practice for all baptized Christians to be welcome at our communion tables. This includes Catholics… though Catholics will normally refrain because their own church forbids it, if I understand correctly.

 

[GKC]

As previously mentioned, the 39 Articles are considered historic documents and are not necessarily normative: there is no requirement that any Anglican or Episcopalian subscribe to them.

It is normal Episcopalian practice for all baptized Christians to be welcome at our communion tables. This includes Catholics… though Catholics will normally refrain because their own church forbids it, if I understand correctly.

Except in the sense that I discussed it, with respect to the Subscription Act.

GKC

 

[jrtrent]

As previously mentioned, the 39 Articles are considered historic documents and are not necessarily normative: there is no requirement that any Anglican or Episcopalian subscribe to them.

Also as previously mentioned, I don’t think you’d find that the Reformed Episcopal Church, which is what the OP visited, shares your viewpoint. A few quotes from their website:

“The Reformed Episcopal Church vigorously holds to the plain understanding of the 39 Articles of Religion of the English Reformation and adopted them as the doctrinal standard of the Church at her founding.”

“The Reformed Episcopal Church recognizes the 39 Articles as one of their formularies.”

“It is recognized that the 39 Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Ordinal establish the limits of Anglican faith and practice.”

In any event, it sounds as though the OP has found a welcoming church to attend and is returning to Catholicism.