Eucharist reception by non Catholic...what to do?

[RosalynR]

Hopefully you can help! I ran into a neighbor on my bus ride home from work one day, and within making small talk she mentioned that she likes to attend the local Catholic church. She said she wasn’t Catholic (her husband is) but that she liked to go to Mass as often as she could to hear the readings and homily. She also mentioned that she does not believe in transubstantiation.

I happened to see her at Mass one day, and she received the Eucharist. Should I say something to her regarding this? What should I say? I am well aware what the rules are concerning reception of the Eucharist.

I am going to be polite, but want to convey the Church’s teachings as clearly as possible. I also don’t know her that well; I don’t want to come accross as ‘holier than thou’.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[ltbpoe43]

Politely refer her to the missal and/or mass hymnal with readings - typically in the back area there is a section which discusses how non-catholics are welcome to the church but includes the reasoning as to why they are not able to participate fully in the sacraments, especially the eucharist.

Hopefully this will clarify it for her. You may also want to mention it to her husband who is catholic. Perhaps he can assist in educating her. She sounds like an RCIA candidate also.

Good luck

 

[promethius95945]

Politely refer her to the missal and/or mass hymnal with readings - typically in the back area there is a section which discusses how non-catholics are welcome to the church but includes the reasoning as to why they are not able to participate fully in the sacraments, especially the eucharist.

Hopefully this will clarify it for her. You may also want to mention it to her husband who is catholic. Perhaps he can assist in educating her. She sounds like an RCIA candidate also.

Good luck

I would also ask her if she respects the catholic church… and then if she says yes (seems probably) ask her to kindly respect our belief that non-catholics should not partake of our sacraments. She is, after all, a guest in the church still. If she refuses to stop, i would think you have a duty of somehow making her presense known to your priest (privately to avoid scandal) and then he might know her, give her a blessing instead of Communion, and send her on her way.

 

[KCT]

If SHE brings it up again, you might ask her why she receives. Then find a way to tell her that receiving means one believes all the Church teaches (well, it’s supposed to, but we won’t get into that). If she believes all the Church teaches, invite her to RCIA. If she doesn’t believe all the Church teaches, I bet she’ll stop receiving.

I think most people do it out of peer pressure. Who wants to be the only one not going up? Once they understand what it means, it’s easier to stay in the pew, IMHO. --KCT

 

[terri_fortner]

If SHE brings it up again, you might ask her why she receives. Then find a way to tell her that receiving means one believes all the Church teaches (well, it’s supposed to, but we won’t get into that). If she believes all the Church teaches, invite her to RCIA. If she doesn’t believe all the Church teaches, I bet she’ll stop receiving.

I think most people do it out of peer pressure. Who wants to be the only one not going up? Once they understand what it means, it’s easier to stay in the pew, IMHO. --KCT

The sad part is I want so badly to partake in this sacred act, but I can’t :crying: And her husband should be doing his duty of preventing his wife from getting up in the first place.:tsktsk:
Out of respect for the church, and for Jesus she should, as I did, see that this is not something that is allowed and stop it immediately. But nothing will change unless you say something to someone. The husband, the wife, the preist.
Good Luck!