Communion at Protestant churches

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Grace_Seeker said:
Greg, I didn’t think you were saying that protestants and catholics can’t celebrate our common faith (though I suppose some would object to my use of that term even). I understood you were talking specifically about the sacrament of Holy Communion, the Eucharist, as was I in the examples I related. There are many, many more times, that I join with my Catholic brothers and sisters in ecumenical services. We have several every year. But those that I mentioned were in fact Communion services, and as I said, one with the written permission of the bishop – one who was usually very strict about such things, but for some reason agreed with us. Maybe the fact that it did NOT involve clergy, so that it really wasn’t a communion service from the Protestant point of view either, but was more of a “love feast” made the difference.
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If there were no clergy involved, it could not have been the Eucharist and would not have been Holy Communion in the Catholic sense. It also could not have been a Sacrament in the Catholic sense. I also noticed the line about offering the elements in the name of the Trinity; as it reads, thats not part of the usual Eucharistic prayer, another reason I think this was something different. Its possible there is some misunderstanding there. I have witnessed interfaith ‘meals’ which were not Eucharist when I was in college. I didn’t really like them, because of the potential confusion for some. They would however, be a completely different matter than giving a general invitation for non-catholics to present themselves for Holy Communion.

MarysRoses
 
MarysRoses said:
If there were no clergy involved, it could not have been the Eucharist and would not have been Holy Communion in the Catholic sense. It also could not have been a Sacrament in the Catholic sense. I also noticed the line about offering the elements in the name of the Trinity; as it reads, thats not part of the usual Eucharistic prayer, another reason I think this was something different. Its possible there is some misunderstanding there. I have witnessed interfaith ‘meals’ which were not Eucharist when I was in college. I didn’t really like them, because of the potential confusion for some. They would however, be a completely different matter than giving a general invitation for non-catholics to present themselves for Holy Communion.

MarysRoses
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Actually, laypeople can give out communion at prayer services if directed by a member of a clergy (e.g. gone that day). The hosts are pre-blessed and the layperson is just a EM handing out the hosts in the priest’s absence (these are also happening more and more in rural areas where priests can rarely make it to churches).
 
NewUlm1976_2000 said:
Actually, laypeople can give out communion at prayer services if directed by a member of a clergy (e.g. gone that day). The hosts are pre-blessed and the layperson is just a EM handing out the hosts in the priest’s absence (these are also happening more and more in rural areas where priests can rarely make it to churches).
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yes, but this was not a catholic service. Grace seeker refered to 'offering the elements" which does not happen at a Catholic communion service outside of mass. Grace seeker also said it wasn’t a communion service by protestant definitions either.

MarysRoses
 
MarysRoses said:
If there were no clergy involved, it could not have been the Eucharist and would not have been Holy Communion in the Catholic sense. It also could not have been a Sacrament in the Catholic sense.
MarysRoses
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Yes. I am aware of that. The same would be true in all protestant communions that I am familiar with (except the Disciples of Christ). College was long enough ago, that it took some time for a few of the details to come back to me. We usually had a Christmas communion service served by the Chaplain, but the Catholic students couldn’t participate, so we wrote the bishop who us permission to do the service this other way. Even, now after searching my memory, details are still hazy, so perhaps we ought not to use that as an example. And I suppose the other two examples of independent thinking priests, who had more of an ecumenical spirit than the Vatican.
 
I have a question-
While DH and I were engaged, I attended service with him, before we attended Mass. When I realized it was “Communion” Sunday, I went and hid in the restroom. When I came back, DH had saved the cracker for me (I got back just in time for them to hand out the juice).
I “took” “communion”, but I never felt right about it. When he and I discussed it on our way to Mass, he told me that him saving “communion” for me was a political statement about his feelings regarding my stance as a Christian. Apparently, only those who have received Jesus and their personal Lord and Savior were to receive. And he and MIL had been going round and round as to the stance of Catholics as Christians. I told him “Thanks, but next time (if there is a next time)… NO.”
This was a few months back, but I am feeling like, perhaps I need to confess this? Thoughts?
 
Something that seems a little strange to me, the part about the AoG communion service where they weren’t supposed to receive it if they felt they were unworthy. I have also heard about JW communion services where this wording is used. I have to ask, why? If it’s not the real presence of the Lord, if it’s just a rememberance, why should it matter if you are unworthy or not? And also, unlike catholics who go to confession to bring ourselves into a state of grace to receive communion, how does a protestant put themselves in a worthy position to receive?

It all seems like a strange little dance that protestants play, pretending to do what catholics do, pretending to have what catholics have in the real presence. IMO, were I ever to be in the position, I wouldn’t think twice about not taking it. I’d have to ask why bother when I can get the real thing?
 
thomasf said:
Something that seems a little strange to me, the part about the AoG communion service where they weren’t supposed to receive it if they felt they were unworthy. I have also heard about JW communion services where this wording is used. I have to ask, why? If it’s not the real presence of the Lord, if it’s just a rememberance, why should it matter if you are unworthy or not? And also, unlike catholics who go to confession to bring ourselves into a state of grace to receive communion, how does a protestant put themselves in a worthy position to receive?

It all seems like a strange little dance that protestants play, pretending to do what catholics do, pretending to have what catholics have in the real presence. IMO, were I ever to be in the position, I wouldn’t think twice about not taking it. I’d have to ask why bother when I can get the real thing?
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Is this something you are just musing over aloud, or are you interested in understanding the “strange little dance” from the POV of those dancing it?
 
1st: 🙂 Good evening Pastor Grace Seeker!! May I introduce myslef? I am the Friendly Neighborhood Methodist here at CAF, & I warn you, (if:) Pastor O S Luke hasn’t all ready), that I will probably sound more Anglican that UMC at times…

2nd: I think that the truth is, from my POV, that this is an important subject to discuss, because there are a lot of variations of belief & it can be no end of confusing for all of us.
That said, I have come (on my own) to the decision that I can no longer be a part of communion as celebrated in non-Methodist churches, because I am not comfortable (God won’t let me be comfortable!) with partaking at my Baptist relatives’ churches. They really do think and say, that its "just juice & bread[crackers], & I don’t believe that. I do believe in the Real Presence.
I just don’t (& my Catholic brothers & sisters here know this!)–I just don’t believe that Catholics are the only ones who have the Real Presence.

Having tossed:p that in the mix…
 
Grace_Seeker said:
Is this something you are just musing over aloud, or are you interested in understanding the “strange little dance” from the POV of those dancing it?
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Sure, I’d like to hear someone try to explain it.
 
Greg_Dent said:
I have often heard that Protestants should not receive holy Communion at Catholic Mass, and totaly agree that they should not…But is it permissable for us Catholics to participate in Protestant communion services???
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I realize that I am a sort of “in your face” type of guy, but seriously, why would any Catholic ‘want’ to waste their time to visit a protestant church or partake of their “crackers and grape juice”? We have the Holy Eucharist, the Body & Blood of Christ with his Real Presence. As an ex-baptist now a Catholic convert, I would be afraid I would insult God by entering a protestant church since I have proven to know the truth.

It’s a mockery the way baptists in my area do communion. They serve Welch’s grape juice and stale crackers or smashed white sandwich bread for crying out loud. But I do hold out hope for them as I realize they do not know any better and their ignorance may be their salvation.
 
Harsalter said:
I realize that I am a sort of “in your face” type of guy, but seriously, why would any Catholic ‘want’ to waste their time to visit a protestant church or partake of their “crackers and grape juice”? We have the Holy Eucharist, the Body & Blood of Christ with his Real Presence. As an ex-baptist now a Catholic convert, I would be afraid I would insult God by entering a protestant church since I have proven to know the truth.

It’s a mockery the way baptists in my area do communion. They serve Welch’s grape juice and stale crackers or smashed white sandwich bread for crying out loud. But I do hold out hope for them as I realize they do not know any better and their ignorance may be their salvation.
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I agree that the Baptist version of communion is a far cry from the True Presence in the mass, especially with the Welch’s and crackers, but I have family members who are still Protestants and live far away. (I just converted this last Easter.) If I go to visit them, it wouldn’t be wasting my time to attend their church. That’s not saying I would partake any more if communion were being served, but it would damage relationships if I simply refused to go with them any more. Next time I visit I’ll try to find an anticipatory mass offered Saturday night so I can still go to church with my family on Sunday morning.
 
Harsalter said:
I realize that I am a sort of “in your face” type of guy, but seriously, why would any Catholic ‘want’ to waste their time to visit a protestant church or partake of their “crackers and grape juice”? We have the Holy Eucharist, the Body & Blood of Christ with his Real Presence. As an ex-baptist now a Catholic convert, I would be afraid I would insult God by entering a protestant church since I have proven to know the truth.

It’s a mockery the way baptists in my area do communion. They serve Welch’s grape juice and stale crackers or smashed white sandwich bread for crying out loud. But I do hold out hope for them as I realize they do not know any better and their ignorance may be their salvation.
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As an ex-Baptist, do you today feel that you were wasting your time and insulting God by all the time you previously spent worshipping in a Baptist church? And even if you are of that opinion today, it doesn’t follow it would be a waste of time for all others. Indeed given the breadth of God’s love and grace and variety of ways he works in this world, I suspect that there are many things that are a "waste’ to some, that are a blessing to others.
 
dthurmond said:
Is this information in the Bible?..What is the name of the book the Canon and is it in the book stores? I have the Holy Bible, but…does the Catholic church have a different Bible?
:confused:
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“Canon law” is a reference to the Code of Canon Law, which is the Catholic Church’s set of guidelines (to put it simply). It is not part of the Bible (and I don’t think you could buy a copy at a bookstore). However, it is available online - just google “code of canon law”.

And yes, Catholics do have a different canon of Scripture than Protestants. The Catholic Bible has 73 books (as determined in the 4th century). During the “reformation” Martin Luther dropped 7 books from the Bible, and all Protestant denominations afterward followed his example, which is why Protestant bibles only have 66 books. Most bookstores will carry Catholic Bibles (e.g., The New American Bible, The (New) Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition, Douay-Rheims).
 
Grace_Seeker said:
As an ex-Baptist, do you today feel that you were wasting your time and insulting God by all the time you previously spent worshipping in a Baptist church? And even if you are of that opinion today, it doesn’t follow it would be a waste of time for all others. Indeed given the breadth of God’s love and grace and variety of ways he works in this world, I suspect that there are many things that are a "waste’ to some, that are a blessing to others.
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As a convert myself, I will answer for most of us that left other denominations for the Catholic Church that we received much in our Protestants churches and are very grateful for everything and everyone who helped us along the way from those churches. We have many benefactors there and ought to be thankful to God for their witness and holy lives.

Of course, converts often go through a time of divesting themselves of all that came before. The negatives can outweigh the positives from past experience. It’s a rather common thing no matter what new affiliation converts have come into be it the Catholic Church or any other.

What is really at issue here is validity of the Eucharist for Catholics. We cannot compromise our beliefs by receiving in a Protestant communion service. It goes against our most basic beliefs. It’s that simple, and profound, an issue for us. 🙂
 
Grace_Seeker said:
The position has been well stated here. And, as a protestant pastor, I want to say that though I may disagree with your conclusions, I can actually respect it and do not wish to argue against it. (At least not at this time.😛 ) Yet I do remain curious about a few events in my person life with respect to communion in the Catholic church.

Given the teachings of the Catholic church, why would it be that on more than one occassion I have been invited to participate in the sharing of communion with Catholic priests? Why, when I was not even yet ordained, but merely a college student, did the bishop of the diocese actually issue a letter to the catholic student body at our university saying that it was permissible for them to participate in our campus-wide Christmas communion service, with the only caveat that we offer the elements in the name of the Holy Trinity, “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”? Why, at my first church, was I approached by the local Catholic congregation to see if I was willing to continue the tradition of a joint Christmas Even communion service between the two congregations? (Which, btw, we did.)
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I note that most replies have been concerned with whether it was allowed by the Catholic Church to participate in the Eucharist of a non-Catholic Church. I speak from the other side of the question.

In the Christian Reformed Church of which I formerly a member it was the practice that all who were not members of the local congregation were to request permission to partake. Generally this was granted. In the service itself there was what was known as a “fencing of the table” in which those who were living in known sin were warned from partaking. In the Episcopal Church to which I now belong it is customary to welcome all who have been baptised in the name of the triune God to partake. In Reformed theology the elements are generally viewed as simple bread and wine in which Christ becomes spiritually present through faith. In the Elizabethan settlement the same general position as held in Reformed Churches was espoused for the Church of England with language which was such as to permit holding of various views regarding the nature of the elements. This is generally the position of all members of the Anglican Communion.

I do not wish to encourage any to violate their conscience on such matters, but if you happen to attend an Episcopal Church and have been baptised in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, feel free to partake.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
I have a question-
While DH and I were engaged, I attended service with him, before we attended Mass. When I realized it was “Communion” Sunday, I went and hid in the restroom. When I came back, DH had saved the cracker for me (I got back just in time for them to hand out the juice).
I “took” “communion”, but I never felt right about it. When he and I discussed it on our way to Mass, he told me that him saving “communion” for me was a political statement about his feelings regarding my stance as a Christian. Apparently, only those who have received Jesus and their personal Lord and Savior were to receive. And he and MIL had been going round and round as to the stance of Catholics as Christians. I told him “Thanks, but next time (if there is a next time)… NO.”
This was a few months back, but I am feeling like, perhaps I need to confess this? Thoughts?
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You were right to tell your dh you would no longer participate in non-Catholic communion services by receiving their communion, so you did good there. 🙂

I can understand how you felt under pressure to receive communion when you dh had held back a wafer for you, and so will your confessor. Whenever we are coerced into doing something we are not a culpable of sin. I know the coercion wasn’t strong or violent, but it was coercion just the same. That is an issue you might want to discuss with your dh, as well.

But, by all means confess it, and feel free to ask your confessor for his advise as to how to deal with such situations in the future, if it happens again. 😉
 
John_Calvin said:
I do not wish to encourage any to violate their conscience on such matters, but if you happen to attend an Episcopal Church and have been baptised in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, feel free to partake.
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And for many Protestants your invitation would be fine. But, it is not right for Catholics because it isn’t a mere matter of conscience for us, but of mortal sin. And I’m sure you wouldn’t want anyone to commit a mortal sin in order to “feel at home” at a Protestant church. 🙂
 
Della said:
But, by all means confess it, and feel free to ask your confessor for his advise as to how to deal with such situations in the future, if it happens again. 😉
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Well, seeing as we no longer attend his Church, it isn’t a current issue. I am thinking that I will check the monthly calender and if it states “communion Sunday”, I will leave or refuse to partake.

Thanks for answering me. I kind of already knew the answer, but I needed validation. 😃
 
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