Communion

[Dave27360]

I am going by the information provided in this link which quotes the Catechism.

catholic.com/quickquestions/what-are-the-necessary-minimum-requirements-for-catholics

I believe in all of these. I consider myself Catholic although I have not yet been confirmed. I was validly Baptized outside of the Catholic church and lived a Christian life prior to converting. If I am in a state of grace, observe the Eucharist fast, believe in transubstantiation, and am not under any censures such as excommunication can I worthily received communion during Mass? My RCIA director said that it is possible but it is up to the priest. Our Parish has several priests.

Thanks For The Advice

 

[YoungTradCath]

No, you may not receive Communion in practice until you are administered the Sacrament as part of a formal conversion process.

 

[jmcrae]

I am going by the information provided in this link which quotes the Catechism.

catholic.com/quickquestions/what-are-the-necessary-minimum-requirements-for-catholics

I believe in all of these. I consider myself Catholic although I have not yet been confirmed. I was validly Baptized outside of the Catholic church and lived a Christian life prior to converting. If I am in a state of grace, observe the Eucharist fast, believe in transubstantiation, and am not under any censures such as excommunication can I worthily received communion during Mass? My RCIA director said that it is possible but it is up to the priest. Our Parish has several priests.

Thanks For The Advice

First Holy Communion is a very beautiful time in one’s spiritual life.

For adults, it takes place after Baptism and Confirmation, or in the case of people previously baptized in other Christian traditions, it takes place after making a Profession of Faith in the Catholic Church (which is how you come into full communion with the Church - you can’t just “decide” that you are, on your own), First Reconciliation and Confirmation.

In either case, you need to wait until after you are Confirmed before receiving your First Holy Communion.

 

[Dave27360]

Thank You, I will wait until confirmation to receive my first communion. Until then I still think there will be a benefit from attending Mass. I will contact one of priests about confirmation since rules may vary from diocese to diocese.

 

[Theophorus]

Thank You, I will wait until confirmation to receive my first communion. Until then I still think there will be a benefit from attending Mass. I will contact one of priests about confirmation since rules may vary from diocese to diocese.

There is always benefit in going to Mass, regardless of whether or not we are able to receive Holy Communion. God bless you on your journey

 

[Splagchnizomai]

Thank You, I will wait until confirmation to receive my first communion. Until then I still think there will be a benefit from attending Mass. I will contact one of priests about confirmation since rules may vary from diocese to diocese.

Since you are unable to receive communion at this time, I’d recommend making an Act of Spiritual Communion during Mass (or at Adoration, or any time throughout the day or night) …

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.

There are other versions, and you can also come up with your own.

 

[Edmundus1581]

I can understand your feeling of “being Catholic” and wanting to receive communion. When I was enquiring into the Catholic faith 30 years ago I was attending Mass every Sunday and believed all Catholic teaching, and I felt that I was as much a Catholic as those who were receiving communion. I phoned the priest of the church I was attending and asked if I could receive communion and he politely informed me “No”. As far as the Church was concerned I was still an Anglican because I had not been formally received into the Catholic church.

An Anglican friend of mine, who later became a Catholic too, once commented that one of the differences between the Catholic Church and the others is that in the Catholic Church you know whether you are in something, or not.

As an adult convert, to be received into the Catholic Church you must make a formal profession of faith. This is normally made at the completion of an RCIA course.

The Christian fully enters the Church by profession of faith and formal reception. For the profession of faith, the candidate says, “I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.”

The bishop or priest then formally receives the Christian into the Church by saying, “[Name], the Lord receives you into the Catholic Church. His loving kindness has led you here, so that in the unity of the Holy Spirit you may have full communion with us in the faith that you have professed in the presence of his family.”

The bishop or priest then normally administers the sacrament of confirmation and celebrates the holy Eucharist, giving the new Catholic the Eucharist for the first time.

More information: How to Become a Catholic

BTW, The document you referenced is the minimum requirements for those who are already Catholic, but is not a guide to how to become a Catholic.

You mention that there are several priests at the parish. One of them is the head of the parish. The parish bulletin (“newsletter”) will publish their names and, if it doesn’t indicate which one is the head, then he will be the first listed.

 

[constantconvert]

I am going by the information provided in this link which quotes the Catechism.

catholic.com/quickquestions/what-are-the-necessary-minimum-requirements-for-catholics

I believe in all of these. I consider myself Catholic although I have not yet been confirmed. I was validly Baptized outside of the Catholic church and lived a Christian life prior to converting. If I am in a state of grace, observe the Eucharist fast, believe in transubstantiation, and am not under any censures such as excommunication can I worthily received communion during Mass? My RCIA director said that it is possible but it is up to the priest. Our Parish has several priests.

Thanks For The Advice

It is not up to the priest, it is up to the Bishop. Some bishops will grant a dispensation under certain circumstances, but I would be very surprised if you were granted one since your situation is not out of the ordinary.

I understand that you long for the Eucharist, as a former protestant I get where you’re coming from. But when you are brought into the church at your confirmation, it will be much more special than if you were simply allowed to receive without ceremony.

You can receive spiritually. I recommend this very beautiful prayer. God bless you, and your journey. Offer your longing up to God and He will give you special graces.

 

[Edmundus1581]

**It is not up to the priest, it is up to the Bishop. Some bishops will grant a dispensation under certain circumstances, but I would be very surprised if you were granted one since your situation is not out of the ordinary.
**
I understand that you long for the Eucharist, as a former protestant I get where you’re coming from. But when you are brought into the church at your confirmation, it will be much more special than if you were simply allowed to receive without ceremony.

You can receive spiritually. I recommend this very beautiful prayer. God bless you, and your journey. Offer your longing up to God and He will give you special graces.

That’s interesting. I agree that the priest cannot give such a dispensation, but I have never heard that a bishop could. (This is not an argument, btw… I’ll take your word for it). As you say, the situation is not out of the ordinary. Perhaps the dispensation could be given in danger of death, but otherwise one must go through the normal processes.

The lack of inter-communion is an issue which causes Protestants and Anglicans much resentment and misunderstanding. Almost all Protestants and Anglicans I have met do not think they should be excluded from Catholic Communion. They usually continue to feel this way even as they are exploring the Catholic faith - as I did.

 

[Dave27360]

I have heard about an Act of Spiritual Communion. As far as confirmation as mentioned earlier I think that the only the Bishop can do so unless the Bishop gives permission or the person is in Grave Danger. I spoke with the priest today for a few minutes after the Sunday evening Mass. This was not the best time to talk as he had just been through a 14 hour day but he was kind enough to talk for a few minutes and give me his contact information. He did understand that I was wanting to be in full communion and did mention that there is nothing wrong in attending Mass or participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He suggested that I contact him via email to arrange to talk some more about the faith and becoming a member. My guess is that Confirmation is still needed first. I know that Communion helps protect us from grave sin. What can one do to prevent sin if they are not yet confirmed or participated in Communion? I have noticed that the Sacrament of Reconciliation seems to help a lot because it is very powerful.

 

[Edmundus1581]

I have heard about an Act of Spiritual Communion. As far as confirmation as mentioned earlier I think that the only the Bishop can do so unless the Bishop gives permission or the person is in Grave Danger. I spoke with the priest today for a few minutes after the Sunday evening Mass. This was not the best time to talk as he had just been through a 14 hour day but he was kind enough to talk for a few minutes and give me his contact information. He did understand that I was wanting to be in full communion and did mention that there is nothing wrong in attending Mass or participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He suggested that I contact him via email to arrange to talk some more about the faith and becoming a member. My guess is that Confirmation is still needed first. I know that Communion helps protect us from grave sin. What can one do to prevent sin if they are not yet confirmed or participated in Communion? I have noticed that the Sacrament of Reconciliation seems to help a lot because it is very powerful.

Congratulations, and well done!

You have got in contact with the priest, and that’s the main thing. I recommend that you take your questions about the requirements to him. You mentioned that he gave you a few minutes, despite being at the end of a 14 hour day. I have found this pattern with almost every priest I have met. They truly are servants, and find extra time and patience when there seems to be nothing left to give.

My guess is that Confirmation is still needed first.

Close. If you look at the article I linked, you will see that it’s actually formal reception into the Church which is required. This is almost always done in the same ceremony as confirmation (and the formal reception comes first).

What can one do to prevent sin if they are not yet confirmed or participated in Communion?

That is one of the reasons for becoming a Catholic - to receive all the fruits of the Church which are dispensed so freely and abundantly. One also begins a new battle with sin, and success is not guarenteed - but it is different. .

 

[jmcrae]

I have heard about an Act of Spiritual Communion. As far as confirmation as mentioned earlier I think that the only the Bishop can do so unless the Bishop gives permission or the person is in Grave Danger. I spoke with the priest today for a few minutes after the Sunday evening Mass. This was not the best time to talk as he had just been through a 14 hour day but he was kind enough to talk for a few minutes and give me his contact information. He did understand that I was wanting to be in full communion and did mention that there is nothing wrong in attending Mass or participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He suggested that I contact him via email to arrange to talk some more about the faith and becoming a member. My guess is that Confirmation is still needed first. I know that Communion helps protect us from grave sin. What can one do to prevent sin if they are not yet confirmed or participated in Communion? I have noticed that the Sacrament of Reconciliation seems to help a lot because it is very powerful.

It isn’t easy or quick to become a Catholic, because it is a very serious life-long commitment that involves not only Mass every Sunday, but also to live the Catholic lifestyle every moment of every day.

The Catholic Church is not a club that one joins (unlike many Protestant churches, who simply require that you sign a statement of beliefs); it is a lifestyle that one takes up. Very few people are able to do it in the space of days or weeks - most people take months, and some can take years, depending on the circumstances.

Being allowed to receive the Sacraments comes with a lot of responsibility, and it is important to allow the time to be taught these things and make them part of your inward self as part of the process of preparation to receive the Sacraments. Receive the guidance of your priest with an open mind; don’t go in there with the expectation that he is required to make you a Catholic “right now,” or that he is doing something “wrong” if he requires you to participate in classes of some kind.

 

[Dave27360]

Once again Thank You for the quick replies. I understand that Catholicism is a life long commitment which involves attending Mass every Sunday and living the Catholic lifestyle. I know that it will take some time to be officially Catholic. I have already began attending Mass weekly and trying to live the Catholic lifestyle. Since doing so I have noticed I have been a lot happier. I am still waiting on hearing back about a priest at the parish about when we can meet. When we do meet I will make sure to listen to his advice.