Did I Goof by taking the Eucharist?

[Brian_C]

I’m in RCIA. I went to a Catholic funeral today in another town. The celebrant (brother of the deceased) announced just before the distribution of communion that “On special occasions such as this, we invite anyone to take communion that believes in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”

My wife and I looked at each other and warily walked up. Thinking about this after the fact, I thought there was much more allowing non-Catholics to receive. Or was it just meant to be “code” that this is for Catholics only, all you Baptists out there!"

I kinda feel like I’ve ruined the special day in April! Especially if I did something wrong!

 

[stbruno]

Yeah, you goofed however the good news is, you can begin again. Bring up your action at your next RCIA class so it can be explained to you more clearly. Obviously your catechesis is still in the formation stage and the priest was not clear with his words. More than likely he was inviting to the table all those lapsed Catholics who do not have mortal sin on their soul to come up to receive the Body of Christ. If he invited anyone else then he made a grave error in his desire to be all inviting. Most missalettes in church will have within the first page or two or even the covers of the book the instructions on who is able to receive Holy Communion. It is reserved to Catholics…Eastern and Latin rite only. Not to one who is not fully iniiated into the church. On your part, you were unaware of the restrictions. But at least it shows you have a firm desire to be taught and initiated into the Church you hope to profess in.

Cant’ wait to fully welcome you home this Easter!

 

[Toni]

Brian_C:

“On special occasions such as this, we invite anyone to take communion that believes in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”

:tsktsk: The priest is more in error! But sometimes this is how Catholic’s learn. A priest can not invite the entire congregation to receive the Eucharist. Especially knowing that all of them are not Catholic. When doing programs for funerals and weddings I would often type the part in the program about the Eucharist and the statement to our non-Catholic friends.

 

[Brian_C]

Well, I don’t blame the priest if it was his fault. He was presiding over the funeral mass of his own sister! I know the standard restrictions on the Eucharist but I know there were a couple of exceptions. I wasn’t sure. He wasn’t clear, maybe, but I’m sure he didn’t count on having folks in RCIA in the crowd.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Brian_C:

I’m in RCIA. I went to a Catholic funeral today in another town. The celebrant (brother of the deceased) announced just before the distribution of communion that “On special occasions such as this, we invite anyone to take communion that believes in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”

My wife and I looked at each other and warily walked up. Thinking about this after the fact, I thought there was much more allowing non-Catholics to receive. Or was it just meant to be “code” that this is for Catholics only, all you Baptists out there!"

I kinda feel like I’ve ruined the special day in April! Especially if I did something wrong!

First remember that you did actually receive the actual true Body and Blood of Christ Himself. The effects of which will be dependent on the state and capacity of your soul to receive the graces of the Sacrament. The ability to receive these graces is received in the Sacrament of Baptism. Now was it correct for this person to open an invitation to those who are not fully united to Christ and His Church to receive Christ whole and complete? Well no, but then you were not fully aware of that either.

 

[Brian_C]

Yeah, what threw me was the “On special occassions…” part. Now, I went to funeral for a cousin in my own parish just a month or so ago and my pastor made no such pronouncement. Since I was in another diocese, though, I was a little confused. I wasn’t sure what lattitude canon law grants bishops to decide what “special ocassions” are. I didn’t discover until reading the funeral program later this afternoon that the priest wasn’t even a regular diocisan priest but a retired Navy chaplin. Perhaps on the high seas and out from under watchful eyes he was a little too lenient. Eh, I’m punching myself b/c I should have known better.

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

Brian_C:

I’m in RCIA. I went to a Catholic funeral today in another town. The celebrant (brother of the deceased) announced just before the distribution of communion that “On special occasions such as this, we invite anyone to take communion that believes in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”

My wife and I looked at each other and warily walked up. Thinking about this after the fact, I thought there was much more allowing non-Catholics to receive. Or was it just meant to be “code” that this is for Catholics only, all you Baptists out there!"

I kinda feel like I’ve ruined the special day in April! Especially if I did something wrong!

You didn’t do this out of malice, but it is still good to talk over at your RCIA class. If they agree it was ok, find a new parish.

 

[buzzcut]

Canon law 844 says that non-Catholics may receive communion under exceptional circumstances, and it is up to the local diocesan bishop to define what this means in his diocese.

 

[Tietjen]

buzzcut:

Canon law 844 says that non-Catholics may receive communion under exceptional circumstances, and it is up to the local diocesan bishop to define what this means in his diocese.

Here is paragraph 3 of Canon law 844:
[A] Catholic minister may licitly administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the oriental church which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church, if they ask on their own for the sacrament and are properly disposed. This holds also for members of other churches, which in the judgment of the Apostolic SEE are in the same condition as the oriental churches as far as these sacraments are concerned.
Paragraph 4:
If the danger of death is present or other grave necessity, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or the conference of bishops, [a] Catholic minister may licitly administer these sacraments to other Christians who do not have full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and on their own ask for it, provided they manifest Catholic faith in these sacraments and are properly disposed.

A Vatican encyclical by Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, affirms these paragraphs from the Code of Canon Law, but also states that:
the non-Catholic must “manifest Catholic faith in the sacrament,” saying that the non-Catholic must not deny any of the truths of the Catholic faith regarding the Eucharistic mystery.

 

[Brian_C]

My RCIA class is fine, thanks. This didn’t even occur in my diocese! Much less in my parish. No one IN my parish has ever made such pronouncements about special circumstances and THAT’s what threw me for a loop. My parish has taught me fine. I just didn’t realize that Canon Law 's “special circumstances” were so limited. Apparently, neither did this priest.

Lux_et_veritas:

You didn’t do this out of malice, but it is still good to talk over at your RCIA class. If they agree it was ok, find a new parish.

 

[genealogist]

Brian C, Unfortunately the priest can’t claim ignorance. He can’t say for special occasions and invite everyone up. First off even if a Lutheran believes in the Real Presence if he is divorced and remarried he is not in a state of grace most likely and should not be receiving. Second, St. Bruno, any lapsed Catholic who has missed Mass is in the state of mortal sin and unable to worthily commune without Penance.

This is so sad. Communion is not a game or a social nicety. It is very important and no one should play loose with the rules. Former Sen. Bob Kerrey used to commune at our local “progressive” parish here in Omaha and it was not a special occasion and he was not Catholic at the time.

 

[palmas85]

Brian_C:

I’m in RCIA. I went to a Catholic funeral today in another town. The celebrant (brother of the deceased) announced just before the distribution of communion that “On special occasions such as this, we invite anyone to take communion that believes in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”

My wife and I looked at each other and warily walked up. Thinking about this after the fact, I thought there was much more allowing non-Catholics to receive. Or was it just meant to be “code” that this is for Catholics only, all you Baptists out there!"

I kinda feel like I’ve ruined the special day in April! Especially if I did something wrong!

Actually this is a fairly wide spread practice, even though it is totally contrary to the rules. Many priests feel it is their ecumenical duty to further break down the barriers between us and our separated brethren.

Maybe they hope that by reception those people will come to bel;ieve in the real presence. Then again maybe they don’t believe in the real presence either and think its a symbolic remembrance.

Who knows?

 

[palmas85]

buzzcut:

Canon law 844 says that non-Catholics may receive communion under exceptional circumstances, and it is up to the local diocesan bishop to define what this means in his diocese.

I believe that applies to members of churches that believe in the real presence, such as the orthodox churches. It does not apply to mainstream protestants, Hindus, Jews, Muslims etc, who do not believe in the real presence.