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kristanl
Guest
I was just wondering what it means when it says Christmas Eve commuion service. Is it just the obvious, that you have communion, or is there something special about this?
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Wouldn’t you agree, kristanl, that anytime His true and substantial body and blood are offered for us to eat and drink, it is truly indeed something very special?
Jon
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1ke
Guest
I think you need to provide a little more information.
What “it” are you talking about? Is this an advertisement for some protestant service or are you talking about a Catholic Church?
I don’t think your question can be adequately answered without more information on what you are referencing.
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4Squarebaby
Guest
Generally we would have a “communion serice” on the first Sunday of the month. Publising the fact that communion will be held at a service is just information for the church members and others.
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kristanl
Guest
I meant a non-Catholic service.
Dont think I dont think every Mass is special, I just didnt understand the use of communion service from non-catholic christians.
Dont think I dont think every Mass is special, I just didnt understand the use of communion service from non-catholic christians.
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1ke
Guest
Jon,
The Eucharist is not present just anytime.
It is present in Churches with valid Holy Orders during Mass or when reserved in the Tabernacle.
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1ke
Guest
There are many denominations out there that offer their version of communion as part of their services on some frequency other than weekly. Some are once a month, some are only a couple of times a year. It varies greatly among various denominations.
Therefore, this particular church was advertising that they would have communion at their Christmas Eve service so people would know.
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Monica4316
Guest
in a Protestant church, a ‘Communion service’ is basically what it sounds like, 
a service where the congregation receives Communion. The reason it’s called this is because in many Protestant churches, they don’t have Communion every week. If this is an evangelical church, they probably believe it’s symbolic… in any case, as Catholics we’re not allowed to receive Communion anywhere but the Catholic Church.
God bless
a service where the congregation receives Communion. The reason it’s called this is because in many Protestant churches, they don’t have Communion every week. If this is an evangelical church, they probably believe it’s symbolic… in any case, as Catholics we’re not allowed to receive Communion anywhere but the Catholic Church.God bless
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Rolltide
Guest
Well, a Catholic “Communion service” is sometimes offered when a priest is not available to say a Mass. A deacon, or even a layman can come in and give some readings, and then distribute pre-consecrated Hosts. This is not a substitute for a Mass, and it is supposed to be a somewhat rare event, in my understanding. That said, they are more common than they used to be.
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Jars_of_Clay_1
Guest
Usually a Christmas Eve service is a special service that may or may not include communion.
It’s all “special.” Actually it’s all wonderful! Enjoy!
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Hesychios
Guest
If it should become very common, it would change the face of Catholicism.
In Orthodox churches there is a pre-sanctified liturgy, used weekdays during Lent.
According to the Canons:
LII - On all days of the holy fast of Lent, except on the Sabbath, the Lord’s Day, and the holy day of the Annunciation, the Liturgy of the Presanctified is to be served.
Quinisext Council, 692AD
This is also sometimes known as the Liturgy of Saint Gregory Dialogos, actually. That would be Saint Gregory the Great, bishop of Rome, to whom the form of the liturgy as it was in the seventh century (rubrics and prayers, I suppose) was attributed, although that cannot be proven it is a very widespread idea.
This liturgy almost certainly predates Saint Gregory’s time in some form, and the practice may have very ancient roots, because there is some speculation that in the very early church, only the bishop would confect the Holy Eucharist. It is possible that the sacred species was "sent out’ in some cases already sanctified, carried by elders (presbyteros) to remote locations for worship.
I don’t know how accurate that idea is, or if accurate how widespread the practice. But it is clear that over time Presbyters were delegated more and more of the bishop’s responsibilities, including performing baptisms (once reserved to the bishop at the cathedral) and Chrismation/Confirmation (sometimes now done by priests in the west, usually now done by priests in the east). This changed the face of the church in it’s own time.
But (wild and crazy idea follows) pre-Sanctified liturgies could be one way to bring non-Apostolic church communities into communion with an Apostolic church, if all parties believe in the Real Presence and are willing to work with such an arrangement.
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puzzleannie
Guest
since you reference non-Catholic denominations I assume it means that, whatever else is part of the worship service, they will also celebrate the Lord’s Supper in the manner of their denomination, including partaking of communion in whatever form they distribute those symbols. It does not of course mean the Eucharist which is a sacrament of Christ’s real sacramental presence only in Catholic and Orthodox churches. Why not call and ask if it is not your regular church?
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puzzleannie
Guest
It is still not the sacrament of the Eucharist in the full meaning of the Catholic theology of the sacrament, and no where does Ratzinger as Cardinal or Pope say that it is.
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Paul3144
Guest
One good thing about celebrating communion on Christmas Eve is that we should never lose sight of the fact that Christ came as a baby in a manger in order to be the sacrifice to atone for our sins.
No, and I wouldn’t expect him to. But, he does recognize the salvation granting presence of Christ in a Lutheran Eucharist. That is a huge statement, indicating a strong presence of the Holy Spirit in the ecumenical dialogues between Lutheran and Catholics. Some posters here seem to take an all or nothing view of Lutheran clergy and sacraments,which is contrary to Cardinal Ratzinger’s, and the USCCB’s positions.
That said, while we are grateful for the Cardinal’s sentiments, that doesn’t mean we actually feel we need them in order to know that His true and substantial is present in a Lutheran Eucharist. IOW, we want the mutual recognition between our ministries, but we don’t have to have it.
Jon
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