Communion

[Trelow]

Hello first time poster here.
I am Methodist and my wife is Catholic. Not really that big of a deal, not really that many differences in our beliefs. I’ve got a question regarding communion that she cannot answer.
In mass are baptized, non-catholics allowed to take communion?

 

[Voice_Of_Reason]

No. As for an explanation…correct me if I’m wrong folks because I’m rushing to get stuff ready as the hurricane is supposed to hit near me today in Florida, but you must be baptized into the faith and before your first communion you need sacramental confession and absolution. Feel free to add to this fellow Catholics.

 

[keirin]

Trelow, the answer to your question is no. There are a few reasons. First of all, only Catholics can receive sacramental confession and everyone who receives the Eucharist is required to not be in a state of mortal sin when they receive. Since you cannot go to confession, therefore, you cannot receive. Secondly, receiving the Eucharist is a sign that you accept and believe (are in union with) everything that the Catholic church teaches. Since you do not, you should not receive.

You can go up, cross your arms, and recieve a blessing, though.

 

[Trelow]

Another question.
At ever mass I’ve been to at least half the congregation leaves after Eucharist. Is this normal? And why do they do this?

 

[_veritas]

It is not correct for Catholics to leave Mass after receiving the Eucharist, the Mass has not ended yet… sadly, in this day and age, many Catholics do not act very Catholic (either through ignorance/poor catechesis, or through outright irreverence and blatant rebellion against their Church).

It may be hard for you, a non-Catholic, to see the hypocritical and wrong behavior of some Catholics… please just hang in there, and realize that the behavior of some individuals is not the entire Church’s way of behaving.

I would also highly recommend that you come forward in the Communion line, with your arms crossed across your chest, to receive a blessing from the priest. This is what is encouraged of all people whom the Church asks not to receive Communion itself (both non-Catholics, and Catholics who are not in the state of grace and have not gone to Confession).

God bless you, and I will be praying for you and your wife!

+veritas+

 

[Trelow]

Oh don’t worry too much,I’d say with the way the relations between the Catholic and Methodist churches are going that the Methodist church will assimilate within a few (probably several) generations.

Personally I only have a few things left that keep me away. It’s really peculiar that most Protestants don’t realize that Luther’s 95 were resolved for the most part by Vatican II. Heck, most don’t even have a clue about the RCC, I know I didn’t until I started researching.

The biggest barrier between us is the language that we each use. We curse you for teaching faith and works, and you condemn us for preaching faith alone, when we really are saying the same thing. Our word “faith” is the same as your " faith, hope, & charity". At least in mainline. Some fundamentalist may argue differently, but they still preach it as such.

 

[ATeNumquam]

Trelow:

Another question.
At ever mass I’ve been to at least half the congregation leaves after Eucharist. Is this normal? And why do they do this?

Please believe this does not happen everywhere! I’m sure it would not be a universal problem in the US, and it sure doesn’t happen, I’m relieved to say, in my country (and I’ve been to Mass all over the place - it’s a small country!!!). Well - perhaps one person now and then, but it’s uncommon enough for one to be able to think there’s some good reason.
Alas, it could be that in my country the half-hearted aren’t actually going to Mass at all, which would be worse!

I think there are a lot of things that gradually BECOME common practice in a parish, or a diocese, and then (human nature being what it is) everyone starts to think it’s OK. But judged from the outside, it’s a bad look. I don’t think they realise - but they need someone (hopefully the parish priest) to tell them it’s NOT OK.

---

A Te numquam separari permittas - never let me be separated from You

 

[bob]

keirin:

Trelow, the answer to your question is no. There are a few reasons. First of all, only Catholics can receive sacramental confession and everyone who receives the Eucharist is required to not be in a state of mortal sin when they receive. Since you cannot go to confession, therefore, you cannot receive. Secondly, receiving the Eucharist is a sign that you accept and believe (are in union with) everything that the Catholic church teaches. Since you do not, you should not receive.

You can go up, cross your arms, and recieve a blessing, though.

Most importantly, Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Protestants belief it is only symbolic.