Eucharist question...

[Houro]

G’day,

Can Christians who come to a RC Mass receive Communion? I know this sounds like a stupid question, but I’ll explain after I get an answer.

Thanks!

 

[fellowChristian]

Christians who are not Catholic can not receive Communion in the Catholic Church. By receiving Communion you state that you are in communion with all her teachings.To not believe in her teachings and receive you would be lying to God.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

From the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 844 §1 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments only to catholic members of Christ’s faithful, who equally may lawfully receive them only from catholic ministers, except as provided in §§2, 3 and 4 of this canon and in can. 861 §2.

§2 Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage commends it, and provided the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, Christ’s faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a catholic minister, may lawfully receive the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick from non-catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the eastern Churches not in full communion with the catholic Church, if they spontaneously ask for them and are properly disposed. The same applies to members of other Churches which the Apostolic See judges to be in the same position as the aforesaid eastern Churches so far as the sacraments are concerned.

§4 If there is a danger of death or if, in the judgement of the diocesan Bishop or of the Episcopal Conference, there is some other grave and pressing need, catholic ministers may lawfully administer these same sacraments to other christians not in full communion with the catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who spontaneously ask for them, provided that they demonstrate the catholic faith in respect of these sacraments and are properly disposed.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Can Christians who come to a RC Mass receive Communion?

By the way, Catholics are Christians. I assume you mean non-Catholic Christians.

 

[dconklin]

Communion is one of the parts on initiation into the Catholic Church. The “other” Christians are baptized, so they are on their way, but without proper catechism they are not ready receive the Blessed Sacrament. To them, they are just sharing in a symbol.

 

[FrDavid96]

G’day,

Can Christians who come to a RC Mass receive Communion? I know this sounds like a stupid question, but I’ll explain after I get an answer.

Thanks!

Christians who are members of the One Church founded by Christ and who believe the complete Truth taught by Christ and handed-down to us through the Apostles may certainly receive Communion at Mass–that’s the whole point. The word used to describe such people is “Catholic.”

On the other hand, those who reject that One Church, or who reject the complete teachings of Christ may not yet receive Communion until they accept the Church and the Truths inherent within it.

 

[tee_eff_em]

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops make the following statement. Perhaps the Bishops of Australia have something similar?

Guidelines for the Reception of Communion

On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of communion. These guidelines replace the guidelines approved by the Administrative Committee of the NCCB in November 1986. The guidelines, which are to be included in missalettes and other participation aids published in the United States, seek to remind all those who may attend Catholic liturgies of the present discipline of the Church with regard to the sharing of eucharistic communion.

For Catholics

As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.

For our fellow Christians

We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21).

Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 § 4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 § 3).

For those not receiving Holy Communion

All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.

For non-Christians

We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.

tee

 

[Houro]

Thanks for the replies everybody!

The reason I ask is because I have a ‘non-Catholic Christian’ mate who is going to come to Mass with me and I just feel strange telling her that she can’t receive the Eucharist… I mean, shouldn’t everybody be free to receive the body of Christ? Who are we to deny this to people? I think that Jesus died for all people and that all people should be able to receive his body in the Eucharist no matter their denomination…

I dunno, it just seems strange to deny people something so special just because they aren’t Catholic. I feel that the Eucharist shouldn’t be this exclusive Catholic part of the Mass. It’s just too important to deny people this sacrament…

That’s just my two cents…

 

[Tantum_ergo]

As a Catholic, dear friend, I would like to gently remind you that you are responsible to accept Catholic teaching. All of it. Not just the parts that you like, that make sense to you, that are easy for you, that make you feel good in front of your friends especially when they hold different opinions from what your Church teaches.

Since you’ve seen several authorative documents which explain not only what the Church teaches, but why, then what is needed is for you to submit in obedience. This is, of course, more difficult when you really don’t ‘feel’ that what is being taught is what you, yourself, would want to do. The question then is, who do you think is more qualified to reason on virtually any aspect of the Catholic faith–The Church itself, with 2000 years worth of teaching and authority given to it by Christ, and guidance from the Holy Spirit–or any individual Christian who is subject to normal human error, does not possess authority (in fact, according to Scripture in 2 Peter, is specifically forbidden from individual interpretation as it is so prone to error), and cannot be assured of the guidance of the Spirit?\

Think about it, and rest assured that every one of us has struggled at some point with some particular teaching which was ‘hard’ for us to understand but which, when approached with submission to Holy Mother Church, became not only understood but accepted, and with joy. May God bless you and your friend. You know, too, that the best way for your friend to receive communion is to learn about, and embrace, Catholicism. Could it be that one very good reason the Church teaches as she does is to help people to find their way to her?

 

[FrDavid96]

Thanks for the replies everybody!

The reason I ask is because I have a ‘non-Catholic Christian’ mate who is going to come to Mass with me and I just feel strange telling her that she can’t receive the Eucharist… I mean, shouldn’t everybody be free to receive the body of Christ? Who are we to deny this to people? I think that Jesus died for all people and that all people should be able to receive his body in the Eucharist no matter their denomination…

I dunno, it just seems strange to deny people something so special just because they aren’t Catholic. I feel that the Eucharist shouldn’t be this exclusive Catholic part of the Mass. It’s just too important to deny people this sacrament…

That’s just my two cents…

Houro,
Please keep in mind that the Church does not ever deny someone the Eucharist. Everyone is invited to receive Christ. The Church extends the invitation, however the actual reception of Communion is delayed until the individual person is a member of the Church and accepts the Church’s teaching on just what the Eucharist is (in every sense of that).

Let your mate know that he in fact is being invited to receive Communion, just not at that particular moment.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Thanks for the replies everybody!

The reason I ask is because I have a ‘non-Catholic Christian’ mate who is going to come to Mass with me and I just feel strange telling her that she can’t receive the Eucharist… I mean, shouldn’t everybody be free to receive the body of Christ? Who are we to deny this to people? I think that Jesus died for all people and that all people should be able to receive his body in the Eucharist no matter their denomination…

I dunno, it just seems strange to deny people something so special just because they aren’t Catholic. I feel that the Eucharist shouldn’t be this exclusive Catholic part of the Mass. It’s just too important to deny people this sacrament…

That’s just my two cents…

Even Catholics are not allowed to receive Communion unless they have been to Confession and been absolved of all their sins. Even a Catholic child (Latin rite) cannot receive First Communion until they have made their first Confession. Has your “non-Catholic Christian” mate been absolved of all sins by a priest with valid orders?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I dunno, it just seems strange to deny people something so special just because they aren’t Catholic. I feel that the Eucharist shouldn’t be this exclusive Catholic part of the Mass. It’s just too important to deny people this sacrament…

That’s just my two cents…

I see that you live in Australia. So when I, an American, come to visit Australia, I am allowed to vote in your elections? Australian elections are something so special, they shouldn’t be denied to someone just because they aren’t Australian. I feel that Australian elections shouldn’t be this exclusive Australian part of Australian life. It’s just too important to deny all foreigners this right.

That’s just my two cents …

 

[Aramis]

Even Catholics are not allowed to receive Communion unless they have been to Confession and been absolved of all their sins. Even a Catholic child (Latin rite) cannot receive First Communion until they have made their first Confession. Has your “non-Catholic Christian” mate been absolved of all sins by a priest with valid orders?

Sorry, but wrong. Byzantine Rite Catholics are communed in the liturgy immediately following their chrismation and thereafter (Batism and Confirmation). 1st confession isn’t until the age of reason (about 8).

I see infants communed weekly, in accord with Canon Law for the Eastern Catholic Churches, as promulgated by HH John Paul II.

The Latin Rite doesn’t commune infants; the Byzantine Rite and Alexandrian Rite do.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Sorry, but wrong. Byzantine Rite Catholics are communed in the liturgy immediately following their chrismation and thereafter (Batism and Confirmation). 1st confession isn’t until the age of reason (about 8).

I see infants communed weekly, in accord with Canon Law for the Eastern Catholic Churches, as promulgated by HH John Paul II.

The Latin Rite doesn’t commune infants; the Byzantine Rite and Alexandrian Rite do.

That’s exactly why I wrote “Latin rite” in my post. I am assuming the original poster’s non-Catholic Christian mate has reached the age of reason.

 

[juno24]

Thanks for the replies everybody!

The reason I ask is because I have a ‘non-Catholic Christian’ mate who is going to come to Mass with me and I just feel strange telling her that she can’t receive the Eucharist… I mean, shouldn’t everybody be free to receive the body of Christ? Who are we to deny this to people? I think that Jesus died for all people and that all people should be able to receive his body in the Eucharist no matter their denomination…

I dunno, it just seems strange to deny people something so special just because they aren’t Catholic. I feel that the Eucharist shouldn’t be this exclusive Catholic part of the Mass. It’s just too important to deny people this sacrament…

That’s just my two cents…

Houro, you’re reasoning is backwards. It is precisely because the Eucharist is so special that we, as Christians, absolutely MUST guard it against profanation. Because it is actually the body and blood of our glorified Lord, all Christians have an obligation to be sure that we are able to receive worthily. Part of that obligation is to be an active, participating member of the Church that Jesus established. Those who are outside of that Church do not have access to the sacraments (especially that of confession) of that Church.
Also, it is not simply a matter of denying them Christ. It is a matter of protecting the person who wishes to receive the Eucharist. Those who receive without discerning the body of Christ in the Eucharist eat and drink damnation unto themselves (see St. Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians).

It seems to me that for those 2 reasons (i.e protecting the Eucharist and protecting the would-be recipient) the Church has a closed communion. If She were to say it is ok to distribute the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ willy-nilly to anyone who asks for it, regardless of that person’s beliefs or intentions, then She would be in grave error and would be complicit in the damnation of souls. That could never be.

 

[Houro]

I see the Eucharist as something that could unite people outside the Catholic Church. I think that if it was open to people outside the Church then it could help bring people back to the Church. Do you understand what I mean?

PhilotheaZ used the analogy of elections and I think this is exactly my point. If we keep the Eucharist as part of our Church then we are denying it those people outside the Church. We deny them the Eucharist because they don’t follow all of our beliefs when I think we should be using it to help bring them back at the start and help them to affirm their beliefs later on when they feel the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. I think that if we opened it up to all people then the power that we can receive from the Eucharist could help to undo the past 500 or so years of separation that the reformation caused…

 

[japhy]

The reason I ask is because I have a ‘non-Catholic Christian’ mate who is going to come to Mass with me and I just feel strange telling her that she can’t receive the Eucharist… I mean, shouldn’t everybody be free to receive the body of Christ? Who are we to deny this to people? I think that Jesus died for all people and that all people should be able to receive his body in the Eucharist no matter their denomination.

Except that receiving Holy Communion is a sign of being in Communion: “union with” the Church. If you don’t believe the teachings of the Church, why would you receive Communion in her? Why is receiving Communion in a Catholic church so important to this friend of yours?

I feel that the Eucharist shouldn’t be this exclusive Catholic part of the Mass.

The Church has always thought and taught that the Eucharist is an “exclusive Catholic part of the Mass”. Non-Catholics used to be dismissed before the liturgy of the Eucharist began!

It’s just too important to deny people this sacrament.

Does this person believe Communion is even a “sacrament”? Does she know what that means?

Why is this sacrament “too important”? If it’s really that important, isn’t that a good reason why only those who are properly disposed to receive the sacrament may?

 

[japhy]

I see the Eucharist as something that could unite people outside the Catholic Church. I think that if it was open to people outside the Church then it could help bring people back to the Church. Do you understand what I mean?

If a person can receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church without belonging to the Church, what motivation do they have to be back in the Church?

The fact that one cannot receive Communion in the Catholic Church unless he is a Catholic (barring some truly exceptional circumstances) is what has brought many a non-Catholic home to the Catholic Church.

 

[Houro]

But couldn’t we offer the Eucharist to all, without any ‘strings’ attached and by doing that we could use the power of the body of Christ to bring them back to the Church… I’m sure that the Spirit would work in those people that receive this Sacrament…

 

[LilyM]

But couldn’t we offer the Eucharist to all, without any ‘strings’ attached and by doing that we could use the power of the body of Christ to bring them back to the Church… I’m sure that the Spirit would work in those people that receive this Sacrament…

Nope. The effect is quite the opposite. St Paul warns us about receiving the Eucharist unworthily - ‘he who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks his own condemnation’ 1 Corinthians 11:29. He goes on to say that those who do so can become sick and die - both physically and spiritually. Because they aren’t properly prepared to receive, it has no beneficial effect, rather a harmful one.

Think of the Eucharist as containing a special force like electricity. You know that different countries run different voltages through their power grids, right? If I take an appliance made in America for the American system, and try to plug it into an Australian power point, where we use a higher voltage, not only will the appliance not work, it’ll be seriously damaged - maybe even blow up!

The Eucharist is about as high-voltage as you can get. Someone who isn’t in full communion with the Church, and in a state of grace to boot, just isn’t wired up to cope with it. The Church doesn’t make these rules up of the top of its head - scripture itself tells us that the power of the Eucharist is damaging rather than beneficial to those who receive unworthily - that is, without ‘discerning’ (understanding what it really is and means).