Anglicans/Episcopals: Communion Etiquette Question

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Hey everyone, I am Catholic, but my best friend is a (lapsed) Anglican. She is 5 months pregnant, and will be attending services on Christmas Eve. She asked me how she can avoid taking the wine during communion. Being Catholic, I said “just walk by and don’t take it.” Apparently, at Anglican services they still do it the old Catholic way, with the communion rail (which I think is awesome, and would love to see brought back). Any advice? I think I would just say to touch it to her lips and not actually swallow anything.

She is a very scrupulous pregnant woman… I often say I am going to break into her house and steal all her pregnancy books!

Any other thoughts from someone who knows how these services work?

Thanks!!
 
pkdsquared said:
Hey everyone, I am Catholic, but my best friend is a (lapsed) Anglican. She is 5 months pregnant, and will be attending services on Christmas Eve. She asked me how she can avoid taking the wine during communion. Being Catholic, I said “just walk by and don’t take it.” Apparently, at Anglican services they still do it the old Catholic way, with the communion rail (which I think is awesome, and would love to see brought back). Any advice? I think I would just say to touch it to her lips and not actually swallow anything.

She is a very scrupulous pregnant woman… I often say I am going to break into her house and steal all her pregnancy books!

Any other thoughts from someone who knows how these services work?

Thanks!!
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I would think that, having received the Body, she might rise and leave the rail. I’ve certainly seen that done. Or, she could cross her arms, St. Andrews Cross-fashion, after receiving the Body, which is generally a sign that she will not receive. I do the former, if such an occasion arose (not that I can imagine one).

GKC
 
I don’t like the taste of wine in particular so as a Catholic I rarely have sipped from the cup. I do what you said and return to my seat.

But I once asked an Episcopal priest since all baptized in the Trinity and called to receive are welcome to receive there, what should I do if I ever attended a service at his church and did not want to receive the wine? And he said it is not uncommon for someone to come forward and choose not to receive either the bread or wine or both.

And as GKC referred to, the priest told me in that case to simply cross my hands over my chest which would indicate to the Communion minister I would like a short blessing prayer instead of the wine. Or in this particular TEC church they also have a more informal service where the Communicants pass the bread and wine to each other as they stand around the rail. In that case he said to do the same and the person next to me would know to go on to the person after me. Or that it was also infomal enough at that service where I could just tell the person next to me ahead of time to bypass me when it was time for the cup.
 
Thanks everyone. I told her your advice, and hopefully it won’t be a problem.
 
pkdsquared said:
Hey everyone, I am Catholic, but my best friend is a (lapsed) Anglican. She is 5 months pregnant, and will be attending services on Christmas Eve. She asked me how she can avoid taking the wine during communion. Being Catholic, I said “just walk by and don’t take it.” Apparently, at Anglican services they still do it the old Catholic way, with the communion rail (which I think is awesome, and would love to see brought back). Any advice? I think I would just say to touch it to her lips and not actually swallow anything.

She is a very scrupulous pregnant woman… I often say I am going to break into her house and steal all her pregnancy books!

Any other thoughts from someone who knows how these services work?

Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Communion in one kind is considered permissible in every Episcopal parish I’ve been part of. We always offer Communion in both kinds, and people normally receive in both kinds, but you always get some who don’t receive. When I was a lay Eucharistic minister in my parish in NJ there would be quite a few who didn’t receive the Cup–some of them would just kiss the chalice (actually the guy who did this most often was a former Catholic–I’m not sure whether he learned this custom in the Catholic Church or not).
 
Yep
GKC said:
I would think that, having received the Body, she might rise and leave the rail. I’ve certainly seen that done. Or, she could cross her arms, St. Andrews Cross-fashion, after receiving the Body, which is generally a sign that she will not receive. I do the former, if such an occasion arose (not that I can imagine one).

GKC
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CMatt25 said:
But I once asked an Episcopal priest since all baptized in the Trinity and called to receive are welcome to receive there, what should I do if I ever attended a service at his church and did not want to receive the wine? And he said it is not uncommon for someone to come forward and choose not to receive either the bread or wine or both.
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I just wanted to point out that while the Episcopalian Church allows all baptized persons to receive communion, it is my understanding that it is considered at minimum a venial sin for a Catholic to receive in a Church that is not in communion with the Catholic Church.

Why? Because we are therefore, stating by receiving from them, that we are in union with their belief that Jesus really only meant for it to be as a symbol of His Body and Blood and not actually turned into the Body and Blood of Christ through the consecration.

The same way it is wrong for a non-Catholic to take the Eucharist in our Church it is wrong for a Catholic to take communion in a Church that does not hold the Real Presence to be the truth.
 
I just wanted to add, if she doesn’t want to get up and walk away, then she can cross her arms as others mentioned to not receive.
 
You couldn’t possibly be more incorrect. Catholicism doesn’t prohibit Catholics from taking communion in an Anglican parish because Anglican believe in a symbolic-only view of the Eucharist. This is absurd. Anglicans believe in the real presence of the Eucharist. That is a no-brainer. It is illicit for one thing, in Catholic eyes. Secondly Holy Communion is the ultimate sign of unity of faith, theology, morals, and Church. Anglicans are outside the Church of Rome and the Catholic Church claims, via Apostolicae Curae, that the Anglicans don’t have valid orders. The Catholic Church also disagrees with Anglicans on some theological matters. It’s about the illicit nature of the Eucharist in Anglicanism, not a symbolic claim by Anglicans that angers Catholicism.

I would encourage you to read the Book of Common Prayer and other books about Anglicanism before making statements that Anglicans don’t believe in the real presence.
heart4home said:
I just wanted to point out that while the Episcopalian Church allows all baptized persons to receive communion, it is my understanding that it is considered at minimum a venial sin for a Catholic to receive in a Church that is not in communion with the Catholic Church.

Why? Because we are therefore, stating by receiving from them, that we are in union with their belief that Jesus really only meant for it to be as a symbol of His Body and Blood and not actually turned into the Body and Blood of Christ through the consecration.

The same way it is wrong for a non-Catholic to take the Eucharist in our Church it is wrong for a Catholic to take communion in a Church that does not hold the Real Presence to be the truth.
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gurneyhalleck1 said:
You couldn’t possibly be more incorrect. Catholicism doesn’t prohibit Catholics from taking communion in an Anglican parish because Anglican believe in a symbolic-only view of the Eucharist. This is absurd. Anglicans believe in the real presence of the Eucharist. That is a no-brainer. It is illicit for one thing, in Catholic eyes. Secondly Holy Communion is the ultimate sign of unity of faith, theology, morals, and Church. Anglicans are outside the Church of Rome and the Catholic Church claims, via Apostolicae Curae, that the Anglicans don’t have valid orders. The Catholic Church also disagrees with Anglicans on some theological matters. It’s about the illicit nature of the Eucharist in Anglicanism, not a symbolic claim by Anglicans that angers Catholicism.

I would encourage you to read the Book of Common Prayer and other books about Anglicanism before making statements that Anglicans don’t believe in the real presence.
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I have the Book of Common Prayer. I received it as a gift when I was confirmed at the Age of 11. I was taught that while Christ was indeed present with us at the Table, it was more the idea that it was because Christ promised to be with us, when ever we gathered together to celebrate the breaking of bread. My teachings were that most of the Anglican Church does not believe in Transubstantiation.

The majority of the Anglican Church is not in Full Communion with the Catholic Church and therefore Episcopalians or Anglicans are not suppossed to receive Communion in the Catholic Church, which also means that Catholics are not suppossed to receive Communion in the Anglican Church. While some Anglican Churches have chosen to come under the Pope’s leadership while still being allowed to retain some of their Anglican Rite liturgy, that is the exception not the majority of Episcopal Churches.
 
Officially the Eastern Orthodox do not subscribe to the term “transubstantiation” either as a means to describe the Real Presence. Transubstantiation was an Aristotlean scholastic term. The Anglicans reject an official embrace of transubstantiation. The 39 Articles condemn it outright but keep in mind the 39 Articles are only normative in the Church of England and many provinces/dioceses/parishes do not accept the Articles as necessary or even true. Anglo-Catholics especially reject the Articles. Most Anglo-Catholics I know have absolutely no problem whatsoever accepting transubstantiation as a great term to define the R.P. The groups that don’t tend to be the evangelicals who lean toward a Genevan Calvinist model really.

Anglicans are not forbidden to take communion in Catholic parishes. It is the Catholic Church that forbids Anglicans to do so. And Anglicans, out of respect, comply and do not partake of your Sacrament. My rector and I were talking the other day about this. He told me he has visited Catholic parishes on many occasions and that he wishes greatly that he could go up and share communion with Catholics. His son is at West Point Military Academy and he visits a Catholic parish daily for Mass. He told the priest that he’d like to take communion, that he was an Anglican, that his father is an Anglican priest. The Catholic priest, rightly, told my rector’s son, “sorry, you may not.” Catholics have too many differences with Anglicans and historical divergence as well as an unwillingness to accept Anglican orders so they forbid Anglicans. Anglicans, however, would not forbid you from taking communion at their church. If you attended an Anglican church tomorrow, you’d be welcomed to the altar to experience the Sacrament. 🙂

Anglicans believe in the Real Presence but choose not to define the HOW of it, just that it is what Christ said it is: His Body and Blood. Queen Elizabeth I, who did a GREAT DEAL to define modern Anglicanism, believed in the Real Presence of the Eucharist but chose not to define “how” Jesus made Himself manifest in the Sacrament. She is famous for this saying about the Eucharist:

***Christ was the word that spake it.
He took the bread and break it;
And what his words did make it
That I believe and take it. ***
heart4home said:
I have the Book of Common Prayer. I received it as a gift when I was confirmed at the Age of 11. I was taught that while Christ was indeed present with us at the Table, it was more the idea that it was because Christ promised to be with us, when ever we gathered together to celebrate the breaking of bread. My teachings were that most of the Anglican Church does not believe in Transubstantiation.

The majority of the Anglican Church is not in Full Communion with the Catholic Church and therefore Episcopalians or Anglicans are not suppossed to receive Communion in the Catholic Church, which also means that Catholics are not suppossed to receive Communion in the Anglican Church. While some Anglican Churches have chosen to come under the Pope’s leadership while still being allowed to retain some of their Anglican Rite liturgy, that is the exception not the majority of Episcopal Churches.
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gurneyhalleck1 said:
Officially the Eastern Orthodox do not subscribe to the term “transubstantiation” either as a means to describe the Real Presence. Transubstantiation was an Aristotlean scholastic term. The Anglicans reject an official embrace of transubstantiation. The 39 Articles condemn it outright but keep in mind the 39 Articles are only normative in the Church of England and many provinces/dioceses/parishes do not accept the Articles as necessary or even true. Anglo-Catholics especially reject the Articles. Most Anglo-Catholics I know have absolutely no problem whatsoever accepting transubstantiation as a great term to define the R.P. The groups that don’t tend to be the evangelicals who lean toward a Genevan Calvinist model really.

Anglicans are not forbidden to take communion in Catholic parishes. It is the Catholic Church that forbids Anglicans to do so. And Anglicans, out of respect, comply and do not partake of your Sacrament. My rector and I were talking the other day about this. He told me he has visited Catholic parishes on many occasions and that he wishes greatly that he could go up and share communion with Catholics. His son is at West Point Military Academy and he visits a Catholic parish daily for Mass. He told the priest that he’d like to take communion, that he was an Anglican, that his father is an Anglican priest. The Catholic priest, rightly, told my rector’s son, “sorry, you may not.” Catholics have too many differences with Anglicans and historical divergence as well as an unwillingness to accept Anglican orders so they forbid Anglicans. Anglicans, however, would not forbid you from taking communion at their church. If you attended an Anglican church tomorrow, you’d be welcomed to the altar to experience the Sacrament. 🙂

Anglicans believe in the Real Presence but choose not to define the HOW of it, just that it is what Christ said it is: His Body and Blood. Queen Elizabeth I, who did a GREAT DEAL to define modern Anglicanism, believed in the Real Presence of the Eucharist but chose not to define “how” Jesus made Himself manifest in the Sacrament. She is famous for this saying about the Eucharist:

***Christ was the word that spake it.
He took the bread and break it;
And what his words did make it
That I believe and take it. ***
Click to expand...
Yep.

GKC
 
As a non-Catholic going to a Catholic Mass, she should not take Holy Communion.
 
Anglicans, however, would not forbid you from taking communion at their church. If you attended an Anglican church tomorrow, you’d be welcomed to the altar to experience the Sacrament
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As I said in my OP, I am very well aware that Anglicans allow any baptized person to share in the communion and receive.

I was baptized and confirmed in the Anglican Church before I converted. My teachings were obviously a bit different than yours. Again, it seems as is often the case that it is one of those, depends on where you received and who taught your confirmation classes, as to what you will understand to be true.

I said it was my understanding that it is a sin for a Catholic to take Communion in a Church that is not in Full Communion with the Catholic Church. Obviously that sin would only be directed to a Catholic, and not the Anglican.
 
Correct on the last statement. Anglicans allow Catholics to commune with them. They recognize Catholic orders as valid and holy whereas Catholics do not reciprocate in their views. Anglicans do not commune in a Catholic parish.

Where were your teachings different from mine? I’m not sure what you mean…🙂
heart4home said:
As I said in my OP, I am very well aware that Anglicans allow any baptized person to share in the communion and receive.

I was baptized and confirmed in the Anglican Church before I converted. My teachings were obviously a bit different than yours. Again, it seems as is often the case that it is one of those, depends on where you received and who taught your confirmation classes, as to what you will understand to be true.

I said it was my understanding that it is a sin for a Catholic to take Communion in a Church that is not in Full Communion with the Catholic Church. Obviously that sin would only be directed to a Catholic, and not the Anglican.
Click to expand...
 
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