Guidelines For The Reception Of Communion

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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.**

What does all this mean?
 
What part of it do you not understand? Is there a specific thing that has you confused?
 
I think in some exceptional cases the diocesan bishop can allow a non-Catholic spouse to receive Holy Communion during their Wedding Mass only.
 
Not sure if you mean the first, second or both bolded sections.

Canon 844§4 states that in grave necessity or danger of death that a non-Catholic who is in a state of grace and holds a Catholic understanding of the Eucharist may receive communion from a Catholic minister if they cannot approach a minister of their own community. Section 5 of the same canon says that general norms should not be issued without first speaking with the authorities of the other community.

In general this would be something such as an Anglican in an area where there is no access to an Anglican church and it is a situation that might persist for an extended time. In theory our Anglican would approach a Catholic priest and then the priest would consult with their Bishop for that specific person. If they were a number of Anglicans in such a situation, the Bishop would speak with the Anglican bishop who has jurisdiction to discuss the Catholic Church providing the Eucharist to his subjects.

Now that is how the law reads, but I’m sure that it works out differently in practice (some of our resident priests or canonists can delve into specifics). The intent was never to allow a non-Catholic spouse to receive purely for reasons of family unity, but I’m sure there are places that would make allowance under that circumstance.

With regard to the second bolded part, not sure what kind of clarification you are looking for.
 
Usige said:
Not sure if you mean the first, second or both bolded sections.

Canon 844§4 states that in grave necessity or danger of death that a non-Catholic who is in a state of grace and holds a Catholic understanding of the Eucharist may receive communion from a Catholic minister if they cannot approach a minister of their own community. Section 5 of the same canon says that general norms should not be issued without first speaking with the authorities of the other community.

In general this would be something such as an Anglican in an area where there is no access to an Anglican church and it is a situation that might persist for an extended time. In theory our Anglican would approach a Catholic priest and then the priest would consult with their Bishop for that specific person. If they were a number of Anglicans in such a situation, the Bishop would speak with the Anglican bishop who has jurisdiction to discuss the Catholic Church providing the Eucharist to his subjects.

Now that is how the law reads, but I’m sure that it works out differently in practice (some of our resident priests or canonists can delve into specifics). The intent was never to allow a non-Catholic spouse to receive purely for reasons of family unity, but I’m sure there are places that would make allowance under that circumstance.

With regard to the second bolded part, not sure what kind of clarification you are looking for.
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What are the exceptional circumstances in which communion can be shared? Can this also be shared with Jehovas, Mormons? Can this be shared with westboro baptists? And who has the authourity to grant that exception if the bishop is not avaiable?
 
TheTrinitySaves said:
What are the exceptional circumstances in which communion can be shared? Can this also be shared with Jehovas, Mormons? Can this be shared with westboro baptists? And who has the authourity to grant that exception if the bishop is not avaiable?
Click to expand...
You already have the answer in the canon law you quoted:

“Canon 844§4 states that in grave necessity or danger of death that a non-Catholic who is in a state of grace and holds a Catholic understanding of the Eucharist may receive communion from a Catholic minister if they cannot approach a minister of their own community.”

What is unclear about that?
 
Usige said:
Not sure if you mean the first, second or both bolded sections.

Canon 844§4 states that in grave necessity or danger of death that a non-Catholic who is in a state of grace and holds a Catholic understanding of the Eucharist may receive communion from a Catholic minister if they cannot approach a minister of their own community. Section 5 of the same canon says that general norms should not be issued without first speaking with the authorities of the other community.

In general this would be something such as an Anglican in an area where there is no access to an Anglican church and it is a situation that might persist for an extended time. In theory our Anglican would approach a Catholic priest and then the priest would consult with their Bishop for that specific person. If they were a number of Anglicans in such a situation, the Bishop would speak with the Anglican bishop who has jurisdiction to discuss the Catholic Church providing the Eucharist to his subjects.

Now that is how the law reads, but I’m sure that it works out differently in practice (some of our resident priests or canonists can delve into specifics). The intent was never to allow a non-Catholic spouse to receive purely for reasons of family unity, but I’m sure there are places that would make allowance under that circumstance.

With regard to the second bolded part, not sure what kind of clarification you are looking for.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure that proper disposition implies the state of grace- especially for the sacraments of healing. As for the Eucharist, it would seem that the minister is not bound to know the soul of the communicant, though the communicant would be bound to receive according to the Catholic faith which they are expressing with regard to the sacrament, which includes such responsibility on his own part.
 
TheTrinitySaves said:
What are the exceptional circumstances in which communion can be shared? Can this also be shared with Jehovas, Mormons? Can this be shared with westboro baptists? And who has the authourity to grant that exception if the bishop is not avaiable?
Click to expand...
I gave possible examples of exceptional circumstances, but there is no list that cover each contingency. That is why it is left up to the discretion of the Bishops.

As I understand it, any clergy may administer someone that professes a Catholic faith in the Eucharist, asks of their own will and is in danger of death. Outside of danger of death there is not another authority than the Bishops. Strictly speaking, the Eucharist is not something that one must have for salvation so the bar would normally be above an inconvenience or foreseeable, short term delay.

Could a Mormon, JW, et cetera receive? Potentially… if they believe that they are receiving the true body and blood of Christ who is the second person of the triune God. In my experience it would be exceedingly rare that non-trinitarians would hold to Catholic beliefs given that they deny Catholic understanding of Christ and the Godhead. In essence they would not really be LDS, Oneness Pentecostal, or JW if they hold the same beliefs as Catholics.
e_c said:
I’m not sure that proper disposition implies the state of grace- especially for the sacraments of healing. As for the Eucharist, it would seem that the minister is not bound to know the soul of the communicant, though the communicant would be bound to receive according to the Catholic faith which they are expressing with regard to the sacrament, which includes such responsibility on his own part.
Click to expand...
I don’t strictly disagree, but in the case of the Eucharist the same obligations exist for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Just as many Catholics could, can, and do receive in a state of mortal sin, so could a non-Catholic. Both would be in danger of
“eating and drinking judgment upon themselves”. To knowingly try to comingle the Lord’s pure body and blood into a soul besmirched by mortal sin is offensive to the one they consume. Obviously the priest cannot know their state, but he would have a duty to explain the very serious nature of transgressing in this regard. Ultimately it is the person receiving that has the onus on them, but we bear some culpability if we let one proceed in ignorance.
 
TheTrinitySaves said:
What are the exceptional circumstances in which communion can be shared? Can this also be shared with Jehovas, Mormons? Can this be shared with westboro baptists? And who has the authourity to grant that exception if the bishop is not avaiable?
Click to expand...
This sharing would not be with Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons as they do not have a valid baptism. In the case of the Baptists the priest could decide if there are extraordinary circumstances and that Baptist individual were to be able to state a belief in the Eucharist which is consistent with what the Catholic Church believes.
 
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