communion

[EricMM]

I am an un-baptized Christian who would like to start attending Mass. I know I can’t accept the Eucharist, but what should I do when everyone goes up during the Mass?

 

[stephraim]

You can make a Spiritual Communion. Basically, you stay in your seat in the pew and pray. There are several prayers you can say. Here’s one:

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

Or another simpler one:

Lord Jesus, since I cannot now receive you,
come spiritually into my heart and make it your own forever. Amen.

Really, just pray to God for the day when you can be in full communion with the Church.

 

[Trishie]

Eric, my experience, many in your situation go up with arms crossed over their upper torso, and the priest will usually give a quiet personal blessing. When the priest sees your arms crossed, he’ll know your intention is to receive a blessing rather than Communion.

God bless your sincerity and courage, and may God lead you as He desires.

 

[stephraim]

Eric, my experience, many in your situation go up with arms crossed over their upper torso, and the priest will usually give a quiet personal blessing. When the priest sees your arms crossed, he’ll know your intention is to receive a blessing rather than Communion.

God bless your sincerity and courage, and may God lead you as He desires.

Well, since blessings in lieu of Holy Communion is discouraged by the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, I think making a Spiritual Communion is better liturgically.

 

[Newbie2]

Well, since blessings in lieu of Holy Communion is discouraged by the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, I think making a Spiritual Communion is better liturgically.

Very diplomatic response. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

 

[1ke]

You simply stay in the pew. You can exit the pew to allow others to pasat you, and then sit back down and pray.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I am an un-baptized Christian who would like to start attending Mass. I know I can’t accept the Eucharist, but what should I do when everyone goes up during the Mass?

1. 
   *]As you correctly point out you must not receive Holy Communion;
   *]If some parishes you can join the communion line and cross both your arms across your chest and the priest or deacon will bless you;
   *]No. 2 above causes a problem if you end up with a EMHC as they cannot bless you;
   *]The Holy See prefers what I’ve described in No. 2 above should not happen;
   *]There is a moratorium on this topic so we shouldn’t be discussing it.
   
   FWIW my personal advice would be to stay in the pew.

 

[Reuben_J]

Yes, sit in your pew, give way for the communicants to pass you as they go for the Holy Communion. Pray while you are sitting there or you can watch the process, it’s OK.

Praise God that you want to attend the mass. The Eucharist is so powerful that by its celebration the nation will be blessed and the ground is cleansed. Even though you are not baptized and do not receive the Holy Communion the effect of the blessing of the Eucharist is also on you.

God bless.

 

[Aramis]

Eric, my experience, many in your situation go up with arms crossed over their upper torso, and the priest will usually give a quiet personal blessing. When the priest sees your arms crossed, he’ll know your intention is to receive a blessing rather than Communion.

God bless your sincerity and courage, and may God lead you as He desires.

That’s how Byzantine Rite Catholics approach to receive. (And the Orthodox, too.)

So it’s a bad practice, if only because it’s misappropriating a posture from another rite.

 

[diggerdomer]

I am an un-baptized Christian who would like to start attending Mass. I know I can’t accept the Eucharist, but what should I do when everyone goes up during the Mass?

Stay where you are, and continue to join the assembled Christian community in prayer.