Can my Pentecostal friend recieve Catholic Communion?

[Gift_from_God]

Would my Pentecostal friend be allowed to receive Communion in the Catholic Church without converting or anything? Or would she need to go through the proper procedures first? Also, what about my non-denominational friend?

 

[Jermosh]

What do you mean by “allow”? Its more or less a honor and respect thing to be honest. But no they should not, the only other way is a bishop gives special disposition if such thing is possible.

Why would they want to?

 

[Bookcat]

Would my Pentecostal friend be allowed to receive Communion in the Catholic Church without converting or anything? Or would she need to go through the proper procedures first? Also, what about my non-denominational friend?

They may not. For not only belief in the Holy Eucharist …that it truely is Jesus is needed…which they would not share

and Communion is also a sign of communion which would not be fully present…etc

Hopefully union will be more fully realized in the future.

Here is what the US Bishops published to explain this:

usccb.org/liturgy/current/intercom.shtml

you may give it to your friends if you think it will be good.

The Eastern Orthodox are in a different situation for the share the same Eucharist etc and we are in closer communion.

 

[CMatt25]

What do you mean by “allow”? Its more or less a honor and respect thing to be honest. But no they should not, the only other way is a bishop gives special disposition if such thing is possible.

Why would they want to?

This is something I disagree with the Church on and find it so very, very sad. If we truly believe Christ is the Eucharist, whether someone fully shares the same understanding the Catholic Church teaches or not, why would He be incapable of imparting grace upon any of His children who are called to His table? I know about discerning the body and all of that. But Christ Himself did afterall tell us in Jn 6:37, “I will never turn away anyone who comes to me.” So I do think this is something other churches get right and the Catholic Church is missing the boat on. Instead of leading people to Christ, keeping them away. :bighanky:

 

[fermat]

This is something I disagree with the Church on and find it so very, very sad. If we truly believe Christ is the Eucharist, whether someone fully shares the same understanding the Catholic Church teaches or not, why would He be incapable of imparting grace upon any of His children who are called to His table? I know about discerning the body and all of that. But Christ Himself did afterall tell us in Jn 6:37, “I will never turn away anyone who comes to me.” So I do think this is something other churches get right and the Catholic Church is missing the boat on. Instead of leading people to Christ, keeping them away. :bighanky:

I used to hold same belief. I time I came to understand that it is a matter of respect for our Lord to reserve Him to those who fully believe is the real presence. How can you respect the Lord present in the Eucharist by going up in front of an entire church, receive Him publicly, only to deny Him in your heart?

If you don’t believe that the Eucharist is the flesh He gave for the light of the world, then you cannot believe that He really gave that same flesh. If you don’t believe He gave that flesh, you are denying the entire reason He came!

Asking non-Catholics (and Catholics who are not in a state of grace) to abstain from taking the Eucharist is a sign of respect for Jesus and His body. I don’t see how a Christian could want anything else.

 

[mike52ad]

I am sorry, but reception of the Eucharist is reserved to Roman Catholics in good standing with the Church. Receiving the Eucharist is a public act of worship. The “Amen” we say when we receuve the Sacred Species says that we believe that we are receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. But more than that it unites us believers. one to another. When you receive you are united through Christ to the person in front, in back and in fact with all Catholics throughout the world. We are saying YES we believe. Intercommunion on its face is a “nice idea” but it spreads the wrong word. If non Catholics can receive then we are saying by this very public act of worship that all churches are pretty much the same, and of course, they are not. Invite your friend to remain in the pew and receive Jesus in a spiritual communion. Your example will show him that you are receiving something special, not just the wafers and grape juice of a Protestant service. Remember, we have to be evangelists and sometimes we might even have to use words. Peace.

 

[CMatt25]

I used to hold same belief. I time I came to understand that it is a matter of respect for our Lord to reserve Him to those who fully believe is the real presence. How can you respect the Lord present in the Eucharist by going up in front of an entire church, receive Him publicly, only to deny Him in your heart?

If you don’t believe that the Eucharist is the flesh He gave for the light of the world, then you cannot believe that He really gave that same flesh. If you don’t believe He gave that flesh, you are denying the entire reason He came!

Asking non-Catholics (and Catholics who are not in a state of grace) to abstain from taking the Eucharist is a sign of respect for Jesus and His body. I don’t see how a Christian could want anything else.

I understand about concecrating a valid Eucharist thru priests. And not saying a Pentecostal or non-denom fits this. But there are some non-Catholics who do believe in RP. They may not believe it takes a Catholic priest to make it valid. But nonetheless I think someone who believes in RP would still be thinking in those terms if allowed to receive.

And of course Peter denied, albeit after the Last Supper, and the Lord still accepted him.

What I don’t quite understand is what you mean by someone who does not believe the Eucharist is flesh, can not believe he gave up his flesh. Plenty of Christians do so. But don’t want to turn the OP’s question into debate. The Christians in question are not welcome at His table. I just find it sad especially in light of what Christ taught us. But that’s me.

 

[CMatt25]

Invite your friend to remain in the pew and receive Jesus in a spiritual communion.

I know the Episcopal Church believes in RP but practices open Communion for all baptized Christians, baptized in the Trinitarian manner. But if a person does not want to receive, they don’t need to remain in their pew but can still approach the altar, keep their hands crossed and receive a blessing from the priest. Does our church not allow even this either?

 

[Rolltide]

This is something I disagree with the Church on and find it so very, very sad. If we truly believe Christ is the Eucharist, whether someone fully shares the same understanding the Catholic Church teaches or not, why would He be incapable of imparting grace upon any of His children who are called to His table? I know about discerning the body and all of that. But Christ Himself did afterall tell us in Jn 6:37, “I will never turn away anyone who comes to me.” So I do think this is something other churches get right and the Catholic Church is missing the boat on. Instead of leading people to Christ, keeping them away. :bighanky:

Keep in mind that receiving the Eucharist is considered SO sacred and important by Catholics that even CATHOLICS are to refrain from receiving Communion, if they happen to be in a state of mortal sin. Now of course, one of the dangers of Protestantism is that there is no sacrament of Confession. If a Protestant should be in a state of mortal sin, they have no way to remove the stain of that sin from their soul, save for an Act of Perfect Contrition, which is quite difficult to make, in all honesty, not to mention the fact that most Protestants wouldn’t even know what one was. They might not even believe that it was necessary. The early church is VERY clear on the fact that no one in a state of mortal sin should be receiving Holy Communion.

Also, if you factor in all denominations that practice closed Communion (such as the Orthodox, many Lutherans, some Baptists, and so on), the percentage of Christians that believe in this is well over 75%.

I know the Episcopal Church believes in RP but practices open Communion for all baptized Christians, baptized in the Trinitarian manner. But if a person does not want to receive, they don’t need to remain in their pew but can still approach the altar, keep their hands crossed and receive a blessing from the priest. Does our church not allow even this either?

Although you will now find this innovation in many US Catholic Churches, it’s technically not permitted for the simple fact that it’s redundant. The entire congregation receives a blessing from the priest when they are discharged from the Mass, so there is no real point to a double blessing.

 

[puzzleannie]

Would my Pentecostal friend be allowed to receive Communion in the Catholic Church without converting or anything? Or would she need to go through the proper procedures first? Also, what about my non-denominational friend?

No. bring them to see your priest who can advise them on the steps they must take to come into full communion with the Catholic Church. Communion–participation in the Eucharist which is Christ’s sacrifice for us–is both the sign and the reality of the unity Christ called for on the night before he died, so it is open only to those who embrace that communion fully.

 

[Lutheranteach]

**Your example will show him that you are receiving something special, not just the wafers and grape juice of a Protestant service. ** Remember, we have to be evangelists and sometimes we might even have to use words. Peace.

As a Lutheran, I object to this overall portrayal of protestant communion. THe ELCA believes in RP and has full communion relationship with other protestants who believe likewise: Methodist, Presbyterians, Reformed Church in America, Episcopalian, United Church of Christ, and Morovian churches. For the Lutherans, there is always confession before communion as there is corporate confession at every service and individual confession is available.

 

[Jermosh]

This is something I disagree with the Church on and find it so very, very sad. If we truly believe Christ is the Eucharist, whether someone fully shares the same understanding the Catholic Church teaches or not, why would He be incapable of imparting grace upon any of His children who are called to His table? I know about discerning the body and all of that. But Christ Himself did afterall tell us in Jn 6:37, “I will never turn away anyone who comes to me.” So I do think this is something other churches get right and the Catholic Church is missing the boat on. Instead of leading people to Christ, keeping them away. :bighanky:

Because the Church has no way of confirming that they just think its wine and a dry cracker. Yes some may know this and believe it, but its better to be safe with something is a pillar of the Church for 2000yrs.

I went through 2yrs of RCIA and I can tell you I was never preparied for Communion.

 

[SophiaLector]

What we think or how we feel about the doctrines of the Catholic Church are irrelevant to the question at hand.

No, a non-Catholic may NOT receive the Eucharist. To do so is a mortal sin, just as it would be for a Catholic who has comitted a grave sin and not been absolved.

I disagree with another poster about there being no need to receive a special blessing, however. If someone loves the Lord enough to want to receive the eucharist but knows they cannot, I see no disrespect or problem with approaching the altar of Christ and the Eucharist for a special blessing. It shows our brotherhood as Christians without disrespecting the Real Presence.

However, why does this question even come up? Do you ask simply because you don’t want to offend your Pentecostal friend or have to explain why only Catholics in a state of grace (and any who have received dispensations) may partake of the Body and Blood? Or because your Pentecostal friend loves the Lord and wants to receive?

In the case of the former, I pray for your courage and charity. In the case of the latter, I pray for theirs.