Considering ceasing from going to mass

[Church_Militant]

I didn’t say that I was leaving the Catholic church but I may wish to receive with the Lutherans on Christmas.

No, I do plan however on receiving communion though. I couldn’t imagine not taking Communion on Christmas an besides, wouldn’t it be just rude if I sat there and didn’t go up to receive Communion?

I recommend that you address the real problem and use Advent to get yourself reconciled with the Church instead of trying to make some kind of feel good plan that really only makes the situation worse.

Rudeness is not the issue and is only the case if one is dramatic about it. The important thing is that if you do not actually believe what that faith community professes and teaches about their communion then wouldn’t it actually be hypocritical to join them in it since by that action you would be professing something in which you do not believe and therefore misleading them?

Here is how Pope John Paul II discusses that in his encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia .

1. In considering the Eucharist as the sacrament of ecclesial communion, there is one subject which, due to its importance, must not be overlooked: I am referring to the relationship of the Eucharist to ecumenical activity. We should all give thanks to the Blessed Trinity for the many members of the faithful throughout the world who in recent decades have felt an ardent desire for unity among all Christians. The Second Vatican Council, at the beginning of its Decree on Ecumenism, sees this as a special gift of God.89 It was an efficacious grace which inspired us, the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church and our brothers and sisters from other Churches and Ecclesial Communities, to set forth on the path of ecumenism.

Our longing for the goal of unity prompts us to turn to the Eucharist, which is the supreme sacrament of the unity of the People of God, in as much as it is the apt expression and the unsurpassable source of that unity.90 In the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice the Church prays that God, the Father of mercies, will grant his children the fullness of the Holy Spirit so that they may become one body and one spirit in Christ.91 In raising this prayer to the Father of lights, from whom comes every good endowment and every perfect gift (cf. Jas 1:17), the Church believes that she will be heard, for she prays in union with Christ her Head and Spouse, who takes up this plea of his Bride and joins it to that of his own redemptive sacrifice.

1. Precisely because the Church’s unity, which the Eucharist brings about through the Lord’s sacrifice and by communion in his body and blood, absolutely requires full communion in the bonds of the profession of faith, the sacraments and ecclesiastical governance, it is not possible to celebrate together the same Eucharistic liturgy until those bonds are fully re-established. Any such concelebration would not be a valid means, and might well prove instead to be an obstacle, to the attainment of full communion, by weakening the sense of how far we remain from this goal and by introducing or exacerbating ambiguities with regard to one or another truth of the faith. The path towards full unity can only be undertaken in truth. In this area, the prohibitions of Church law leave no room for uncertainty,92 in fidelity to the moral norm laid down by the Second Vatican Council.93

I would like nonetheless to reaffirm what I said in my Encyclical Letter Ut Unum Sint after having acknowledged the impossibility of Eucharistic sharing: “And yet we do have a burning desire to join in celebrating the one Eucharist of the Lord, and this desire itself is already a common prayer of praise, a single supplication. Together we speak to the Father and increasingly we do so ‘with one heart’”.94Think it over before you make things worse yet.
Repentance and reconciliation are available to you.

 

[Mannyfit75]

I second the advise of the other Catholics here. I do advise you talk to your priest, or the one who you regularly see on a daily basis about your issues about the Catholic Church.

It’s good that you ask us that you are having doubts, but we can’t really do much but give our opinions and advise. The only action you can take is talk to the priest. Listen to him for any spiritual advise he might give you.

There are a couple of things you need to do before talking to the priest:

1. Pray to the Lord in Our Blessed Sacrament, and ask for guidance.
2. When you speak to him, be charitable. Don’t be angry.
3. Once you explain your situation or issues with the Church. Let the priest speak. Don’t interrupt him.
4. Once he is done. Listen to the advise. Do your pentance, say the act of contrition, and then he can administer the absolution.

I will pray for you. It saddens me that Catholics would go at length to depart from the One, Holy Catholic, and Apostolic Church. It would be better if you go to the Eastern Orthodox than a Protestant Church since the Protestant Church is cut off from the Apostolic Tradition completely.

I would prefer if you remain Catholic or switch your Roman Rite to the Eastern Rite.

 

[cascherman]

I am currently not in good spiritual standing in the Catholic church and considering ceasing from going to mass. There is a family of 8 that lives just up the street from me who all converted to the Lutheran church after leaving the Catholic church about a year ago. The family was Catholic for generations. They have invited me to go to church with them at Christmas for service and communion. I haven’t decided yet.

If you are still Catholic and you believe in the miracle of the Eucharist you should not want to take part in Lutheran communion.

As for attending, when my wife and I were dating I was Lutheran and she was Catholic. She came with me all the time, but she knew it didn’t take place of her mass and she did not receive communion. Go to both the Lutheran service and the Catholic Mass, if you want.

But, my main advice would be to do what you have to do to get right with Christ (personally, I believe that is to confess and continue on with your Catholic life).

 

[LittleDeb]

I am currently not in good spiritual standing in the Catholic church and considering ceasing from going to mass. There is a family of 8 that lives just up the street from me who all converted to the Lutheran church after leaving the Catholic church about a year ago. The family was Catholic for generations. They have invited me to go to church with them at Christmas for service and communion. I haven’t decided yet.

I’m sorry you are going through a rough time right now. I remember when I was struggling in a similar way. I searched for anything and any church that would “feel” Catholic yet not not have the rules I disagreed with. All I found was emptiness outside the Church.

I found that even though I was angry at the Church I still wanted the Real Presence. I viewed Catholic communion as the same as other forms of “communion.” But deep down, I knew there was a difference. I couldn’t articulate it at the time. I don’t know that I even used the term “real presence” or not.

I worked hard to earn my way out of the Church. Instead, I found that I was right where I belonged. And those issues I was angry about? They are now the ones I help others to understand more deeply. They are now some of my favorite reasons I’m Catholic.

 

[fellowChristian]

1st. “Communion” means that you agree with everything the church teaches.
You are in “union” with the church.
If you receive communion at church you are saying,with your body,you believe in what the church teaches.
You can not say you believe in the Catholic Church teachings and the Lutheran Church teachings,they are not the same,you would be lying to yourself,the churches, and to God.

2nd. We can be mislead by our feelings.

3rd. Only an ordained priest can consecrate the Eucharist. Which means basically…no priest, no Body and Blood of Jesus. The Lutheran Church have no ordained priest,because Martin Luther was a priest and not a bishop.
Only bishops can ordain new priests.

4th. Why would you want to leave St. Peter for Judas?

Jesus built only one church.
He passed on His teachings to the Apostles.
They passed His teachings to the rest of His church.
They wrote the New Testament and the church chose the books to be put into the Bible.
15 centuries later (1,500 years) Martin Luther, an Augustinian Monk and Catholic Priest, rejected the idea that the church was needed, he believed in Bible Alone, he rejected the teachings that the dead needed our prayers.
He was excommunicated from the Catholic Church by our 218th. pope and then founded the Lutheran church.
He is responsible for the “Protestant Reformation” and the 7 books missing from the Protestant Bibles.

Please learn about your faith.
May the Lord be with you.

 

[puzzleannie]

I am currently not in good spiritual standing in the Catholic church and considering ceasing from going to mass. .

that makes as much sense as saying I had a fight with my wife so I am thinking about divorce, or I am not in good standing with my parents so I am running away from home, or I goofed up at work so I think I will quit my job. Leaving does not address the original problem or the reason for the problem. The root of the problem will follow you whereever you go because it lies within you, and until you deal with it (with pastoral help, and professional counselling if that is indicated) you will never know true peace no matter where you worship.

The Catholic Church has the remedy for the situation in your first sentence, the remedy offered by Christ namely the sacraments of healing and reconcilition and of communion with him. To reject those sacraments is to reject Christ himself, and you are putting yourself in danger if you follow through on this course of action.

If you think the Holy Spirit is guiding you in ANY course of action you are considering which breaks a commandment or laws of the Church, or is contradictory to Catholic doctrine, you may be sure that the Holy Spirit is not guiding you, rather you are listening to your own inclinations.

 

[Teflon93]

No, I do plan however on receiving communion though. I couldn’t imagine not taking Communion on Christmas an besides, wouldn’t it be just rude if I sat there and didn’t go up to receive Communion?

Why do you wish to “politely” commit a mortal sin? You do realize that “receiving communion” in a Lutheran service is a mortal sin?

 

[mdcpensive1]

Please heed the suggestions of these writers. They are giving you good advice. Only a few days ago, I wrote something that was for a different purpose, but I hope it has some merit for yourself. Here
goes!!!

Why would anyone want to join another church other than the one started by Jesus Christ Himself? Jesus hung on a cross for hours to show us how much He loved us and established a Church to guide us back to the Father so He could hand it over to the Father at the end of time. Jesus was one of us. He took on a human nature and He knows what we need since He personally knows about our disordered tendencies. Our needs are fulfilled by the things His Church provides for us and is the source and mediator of Graces for our salvation as well as the foundation of truth.

Christ gave His Church the authority to establish the means of worship as He wants us to observe. It is the responsibility of the Church to provide for the faithful all that Christ first established and to protect it throughout the ages. The perpetual Eucharistic sacrifice is the way that Christ dwells in us in that special way of His true presence. He feeds us in this manner to strengthen our spiritual life and our souls with the gift of His special Graces.

Other so-called churches established in Christ’s name do not have the Eucharist because they are not apostolic like the Catholic Church. Their origins do not go back to the time of Christ and their ministers do not have their office handed down in a direct line from the twelve apostles. These churches established in Christ’s name do not have the protection of the Holy Spirit to avoid teaching doctrine in error or to forgive or retain sins.
If you or anyone can find a church that is better than the one established by Christ Himself, please let me know.

Anyway, this is the theory, but anyone questioning what you are must search for truth. I will pray for your journey.

mdcpensive1

 

[LilyM]

I am currently not in good spiritual standing in the Catholic church and considering ceasing from going to mass. There is a family of 8 that lives just up the street from me who all converted to the Lutheran church after leaving the Catholic church about a year ago. The family was Catholic for generations. They have invited me to go to church with them at Christmas for service and communion. I haven’t decided yet.

So you’ve dug yourself into a hole for whatever reason - and I can only conclude that it would be some sin that would be keeping you from the sacraments.

And rather than getting yourself out of the hole (through repenting of your sin and going to confession) you want to dig it many times deeper by piling up the further mortal sin of missing Mass? And possibly keep on digging by receiving Communion in a non-Catholic Church instead?

Doesn’t compute.