Ecumenical Mass

[dvarvin]

What are your thoughts of having ecumenical Mass with Protestants in the altar? As we know most of them deny the doctrine of transubstantiation. And their ‘pastors’ and ‘sacraments’ are invalid.

 

[puzzleannie]

I have no idea what you mean by “ecumenical Mass” or “Protestants in the altar”. Please give more of a description. No one is allowed in the sanctuary (the area immediately surrounding the altar) during the celebration of Mass except the priest, deacon and altar servers. If there are lay people acting as minister of holy communion, they do not approach until it is time for them to receive. Obviously since no Protestant is going to be in any of those roles, they would not be around the altar in any case. There may be extraordinary circumstances where a Protestant preacher may be asked to talk (not give a homily, that is reserved to the priest) on a given topic of relevance, but that does not happen at the altar.

If you mean by ecumenical, non-Catholics receiving holy communion, that is forbidden except in the most extraordinary circumstances. Non-Catholics are always welcome to attend any Mass and to pray with us for unity among Christians and for spiritual communion with Christ.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

What are your thoughts of having ecumenical Mass with Protestants in the altar? As we know most of them deny the doctrine of transubstantiation. And their ‘pastors’ and ‘sacraments’ are invalid.

An “Ecumenical Mass” would require the Bishops specific approval. Very careful wording would need to be used and specific instruction would need to be given regarding reception of the Sacrament of Holy Communion being limited ONLY to Catholics in good standing. Protestants would generally be limited to participating from outside the sanctuary area.

Which is why most limit Ecumenical gatherings to Prayer services only.

 

[DL82]

As most Protestants’ theology of the Eucharist doesn’t require an ‘altar’, and isn’t a ritual but merely a sharing in a representation or rememberance of Christ’s sacrifice, wouldn’t it be possible for a Protestant pastor to set up his communion table somewhere in the church outside of the Altar, and to have both communions taking place at the same time?

 

[JButky]

As most Protestants’ theology of the Eucharist doesn’t require an ‘altar’, and isn’t a ritual but merely a sharing in a representation or rememberance of Christ’s sacrifice, wouldn’t it be possible for a Protestant pastor to set up his communion table somewhere in the church outside of the Altar, and to have both communions taking place at the same time?

The only response I can think of to that is Sacrilege!

Joe B

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

As most Protestants’ theology of the Eucharist doesn’t require an ‘altar’, and isn’t a ritual but merely a sharing in a representation or rememberance of Christ’s sacrifice, wouldn’t it be possible for a Protestant pastor to set up his communion table somewhere in the church outside of the Altar, and to have both communions taking place at the same time?

No, I doubt that any Catholic Bishop would allow this to take place. Primarily because it does nothing to draw non-Catholics to the Catholic Church which is what true Ecumenism is about “Returning Home to the Catholic unity”. Doing this would also emphasize the separation.

 

[puzzleannie]

As most Protestants’ theology of the Eucharist doesn’t require an ‘altar’, and isn’t a ritual but merely a sharing in a representation or rememberance of Christ’s sacrifice, wouldn’t it be possible for a Protestant pastor to set up his communion table somewhere in the church outside of the Altar, and to have both communions taking place at the same time?

no it would not, not during a Catholic Mass. the confusion and scandal would be horrific, and yes, it would be sacrilege. the purpose of ecumenism is to foster unity among Christians, so anything that emphasizes our essential disunity is not going to promote that goal.

 

[DL82]

How about having a distribution of ‘blessed’ bread at the end of the mass, as is done in the Eastern Rite Churches? The bread is blessed by a priest, but is not consecrated, it is NOT the body of Christ, but is a sign of our unity. Would this be allowed in the Western Rite?

In the East they use a specific type of leavened bread for the Eucharist, a portion is consecrated and the rest is broken up for distribution as ‘blessed’ bread after the Liturgy. I guess it would just be too confusing to use the same wafers as are used for the consecrated host for distribution after the Mass, so it would have to be some other kind of bread. The symbolism would still be there though.

 

[Dirk_Skene]

How about having a distribution of ‘blessed’ bread… so it would have to be some other kind of bread. The symbolism would still be there though.

I think I see where you are trying to go with this and it is admirable. But Protestants are not “in communion” with Christ’s True Church and Communion is not a symbol. There is no reason to meet them half way or in the least give in one iota. We have nothing to give them from the alter. Now if they want to quit their ways & join us we would greet them of course :grouphug:

 

[Genesis315]

As has been pointed out, they can’t be in the sanctuary and they can’t receive Communion, but I think it is a great idea to invite Protestants to attend Mass–the graces which rain down at Mass would be very conducive to their conversion! And remember, we don’t need special Masses to do this–we should all invite our separated brethren to Mass and encourage them to enter into full communion so that there can be one flock under one shepherd

 

[4HisChurch]

How about having a distribution of ‘blessed’ bread at the end of the mass, as is done in the Eastern Rite Churches? The bread is blessed by a priest, but is not consecrated, it is NOT the body of Christ, but is a sign of our unity. Would this be allowed in the Western Rite?

In the East they use a specific type of leavened bread for the Eucharist, a portion is consecrated and the rest is broken up for distribution as ‘blessed’ bread after the Liturgy. I guess it would just be too confusing to use the same wafers as are used for the consecrated host for distribution after the Mass, so it would have to be some other kind of bread. The symbolism would still be there though.

The Holy Eucharist itself is a “sign of our unity”–our unity of belief–which the Protestants do not share.

 

[AngelRose81]

The only ecumenical things we have at our parish are prayer services where there may or may not be a speaker. During Holy Week, we had ecumenical prayer services (no Eucharist) where there were Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, & Assembly of God people and their ministers there. The day our parish hosted it, the Presbyterian minister spoke. I believe Fr may have spoken at the Methodist church but I’m not sure. They were apparantely well liked and I think we will be doing them again next year. Everyone was especially astounded when the Presbyterian minister referred to the crucifix hanging over the altar several times. The Baptist minister also commented on how beautiful our church was and how it was the first time he’d been there.

I don’t think that Ecumenical Masses are allowed but I see nothing wrong with ecumenical prayer services or things of that nature.

 

[otjm]

I have no idea what you mean by “ecumenical Mass” or “Protestants in the altar”. Please give more of a description. No one is allowed in the sanctuary (the area immediately surrounding the altar) during the celebration of Mass except the priest, deacon and altar servers.

If you read the GIRM, you will find that is not entirely correct. There is provisions in there for the readers/lectors to also sit in the sanctuary.

 

[otjm]

How about having a distribution of ‘blessed’ bread at the end of the mass, as is done in the Eastern Rite Churches? The bread is blessed by a priest, but is not consecrated, it is NOT the body of Christ, but is a sign of our unity. Would this be allowed in the Western Rite?

In the East they use a specific type of leavened bread for the Eucharist, a portion is consecrated and the rest is broken up for distribution as ‘blessed’ bread after the Liturgy. I guess it would just be too confusing to use the same wafers as are used for the consecrated host for distribution after the Mass, so it would have to be some other kind of bread. The symbolism would still be there though.

As it is a practice in certain Eastern Rite churches, it is best left there. Doing such in some sort of ecumenical gathering is going to lead, alsmost certainly, to gross misunderstandings. One would need to be prepeared for the comments by non-Catholic participants later that they received “Communion”; given the extremely low likelyhood of them understanding the practice even if explained equates with chaos later. Never mind the truth to be different, if they say it, then it becomes so.

 

[dylanschrader]

My thoughts are that what you are describing is forbidden by the Catholic Church for very serious reasons.

The Code of Canon Law says:

Can. 908 Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of Churches or ecclesial communities which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church.

 

[Brendan]

How about having a distribution of ‘blessed’ bread at the end of the mass, as is done in the Eastern Rite Churches? The bread is blessed by a priest, but is not consecrated, it is NOT the body of Christ, but is a sign of our unity. Would this be allowed in the Western Rite?

The Western Rite has a similar ritual, it has fonts filled with Holy Water for the faithful to bless themselves with.

Like the antidoron in the East, the Holy Water is a Sacramental, not a Sacrament.

All those who are Baptized, including Protestants, are welcome to bless themselves from the font as a symbol of the unity we DO share, that of our common Baptism.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The Western Rite has a similar ritual, it has fonts filled with Holy Water for the faithful to bless themselves with.

Like the antidoron in the East, the Holy Water is a Sacramental, not a Sacrament.

All those who are Baptized, including Protestants, are welcome to bless themselves from the font as a symbol of the unity we DO share, that of our common Baptism.

The Western or Latin also distributed Blessed bread, not Consecrated bread, to non-communicants at one time. Monks received Blessed bread on days when they did not receive Holy Communion. At the time however everyone was Catholic, even Baptized non-Communicants, Protestants didn’t exist. So it would not be exactly the same today.