May an Anglican attend Mass?

[Herod]

I am an Anglican - actually Anglo Catholic - living in rural France France, about 80km/50 miles from the nearest Anglican priest/church. However, about 14km distant is Prouille, the cradle of the Dominican order, where a number of other Anglicans attend Mass on Sundays. Mass is a rarity - perhaps once every six weeks - in any of the surrounding villages. So on occasion I go to Prouille, but rarely enough. I hesitate because I would not wish to give offense by attending so often that I bring my presence to the notice of Catholic worshippers, and perhaps cause them distress or offence. Would it be in order to speak to the priest at Prouille and ask if I can attend more regularly, or would this request be problematical for him?

Having gone so farI must also ask, are there any circumstances in which an Anglican may be permitted to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church? ( I should say that I absolutely accept the doctrine of Transubstantion.) It would be a great spiritual comfort to be permitted to do so.

 

[LRThunder]

I am an Anglican - actually Anglo Catholic - living in rural France France, about 80km/50 miles from the nearest Anglican priest/church. However, about 14km distant is Prouille, the cradle of the Dominican order, where a number of other Anglicans attend Mass on Sundays. Mass is a rarity - perhaps once every six weeks - in any of the surrounding villages. So on occasion I go to Prouille, but rarely enough. I hesitate because I would not wish to give offense by attending so often that I bring my presence to the notice of Catholic worshippers, and perhaps cause them distress or offence. Would it be in order to speak to the priest at Prouille and ask if I can attend more regularly, or would this request be problematical for him?

Having gone so farI must also ask, are there any circumstances in which an Anglican may be permitted to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church? ( I should say that I absolutely accept the doctrine of Transubstantion.) It would be a great spiritual comfort to be permitted to do so.

To answer your first question, you may attend Mass as often as you like.

To answer your second question, you must be in communion with the Catholic Church in order to receive Holy Communion.

 

[puzzleannie]

anyone can attend Mass, the Catholic Mass is a public act, open to the public (even a wedding or funeral Mass must be open to the public). of course you cannot receive communion except in extreme circumstances (you would discuss this with the priest–it would be necessary to profess belief in Catholic teaching about the Eucharist, unavailability of communion from your own clergy, danger of death etc).

 

[Catholig]

I am an Anglican - actually Anglo Catholic - living in rural France France, about 80km/50 miles from the nearest Anglican priest/church. However, about 14km distant is Prouille, the cradle of the Dominican order, where a number of other Anglicans attend Mass on Sundays. Mass is a rarity - perhaps once every six weeks - in any of the surrounding villages. So on occasion I go to Prouille, but rarely enough. I hesitate because I would not wish to give offense by attending so often that I bring my presence to the notice of Catholic worshippers, and perhaps cause them distress or offence. Would it be in order to speak to the priest at Prouille and ask if I can attend more regularly, or would this request be problematical for him?

Having gone so farI must also ask, are there any circumstances in which an Anglican may be permitted to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church? ( I should say that I absolutely accept the doctrine of Transubstantion.) It would be a great spiritual comfort to be permitted to do so.

As the poster before me said there is absolutely nothing wrong with you going to a Catholic Mass. And I don’t think any catholics’d be upset at someone for coming to Mass.

However, whether or not you accept the doctrine of transubstantiation, you have to be a Catholic in a state of grace to receive communion. So simply unless you become catholic, accept all the doctrines, make confession, and recognize those things which the Church states to be sins as sins you cannot receive communion.

Catholig

 

[Caesar]

Most of the posters on these forums live in the United States where many would be quite welcoming of any non-Catholics at a Catholic Mass, as long as they were to be respectful and adhere to the same codes of conduct that a Catholic would. But perhaps in France it is a very differant story. I, a Canadian, know someone in rural Quebec which still retains many characteristics of rural culture in France, not just in language. Knowing their values, a non-Catholic in those parts is a rarity and to some extent they might be offended that a non-Catholic would attend Mass.

However, I cannot tell you how you would be accepted in Prouille. Perhaps, and hopefully, I am wrong and they would be quite happy to have you at Mass.

That being said, it must be made clear that only members of the Catholic Church (and then only those who do not have the stain of mortal sin on them- ie. have been to confession recently) may recieve Holy Communion. Provided that you are welcome there (as I hope you would be) you are still free to stay throughout the Mass. Also, please be respectful and courteous, and follow along in the actions of the congregation as you can.

EDIT I am curious if you are planning to attend Mass in the New Rite of the Mass, or the Old/Traditional Rite? The Old Rite would be much closer to what is used by the High Church Anglicans and Anglo-Catholics (albeit in Latin).

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Have a Blessed Easter

 

[Caesar]

I just happened to read your profile and found that you are an Anglo-Catholic. If I may ask, what kind of Liturgy are you used to (or would be if you were able to go regularly) as an Anglo-Catholic?

 

[Sixtus]

May an Anglican attend Mass?

Of course you may. Welcome for wanting to join us in this most supreme liturgy

 

[Herod]

Thank you all for your kind replies to my questions. You have been very helpful to me and I do appreciate it. I have noted carefully what you have said, and be assured that I will respect to the letter the matter of not receiving Holy Communion.

=============

Caesar,

I am a lost sheep of the C of I, and as an Anglo Catholic rara avis in that flock. (How’s that for mixing my metaphors!?) Until my move to France I would have been familiar with the normal C of I use, i.e. the Book of Common Prayer and a Revision in modern language which issued probably in the mid/late 1980s. (A later Revision has issued since I arrived here, although I do have a copy.) I worshipped both in St. Bartholomew’s and the Cathedral in Dublin, so I am very familiar with bells and smells, and the reserved Sacrament too.

You are perceptive in your comments about rural France. The celebration of the Eucharist is rare hereabouts, and for that reason a "protestant’ appearing at it (when it does take place) would be most unusual. Bear in mind also that protestantism in France is mainly Calvinist, I believe - a far cry from my position. Hence my reluctance to attend church too frequently. People should not be distracted when at prayer.

There is a lot of interest in me of course. And one can almost see a frisson at the thought of a protestant in their midst . They ask many question but have failed to find a set of horns, a tail and the cloven hoof - as yet! Although, I must add, they are the kindest people, and they have welcomed me most generously into their community. But one never presumes on the goodness of others.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Most of the posters on these forums live in the United States where many would be quite welcoming of any non-Catholics at a Catholic Mass, as long as they were to be respectful and adhere to the same codes of conduct that a Catholic would. But perhaps in France it is a very differant story. I, a Canadian, know someone in rural Quebec which still retains many characteristics of rural culture in France, not just in language. Knowing their values, a non-Catholic in those parts is a rarity and to some extent they might be offended that a non-Catholic would attend Mass.

That is incredible - and a splendid way to attract people ​

However, I cannot tell you how you would be accepted in Prouille. Perhaps, and hopefully, I am wrong and they would be quite happy to have you at Mass.

That being said, it must be made clear that only members of the Catholic Church (and then only those who do not have the stain of mortal sin on them- ie. have been to confession recently) may recieve Holy Communion. Provided that you are welcome there (as I hope you would be) you are still free to stay throughout the Mass. Also, please be respectful and courteous, and follow along in the actions of the congregation as you can.

I am curious if you are planning to attend Mass in the New Rite of the Mass, or the Old/Traditional Rite? The Old Rite would be much closer to what is used by the High Church Anglicans and Anglo-Catholics (albeit in Latin).

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Have a Blessed Easter

 

[Caesar]

Herod,

Just in case you might be curious, I did a litte search for Masses in the Old Rite in the area of Languedoc-Roussillon. As you are used to a more traditional (or like you said, “bells and smells”) approach to the Liturgy in Anglicanism, you may be able to appreciate one of these Masses. I actually a couple guys in England who came from an Anglo-Catholic background but were brought into the Catholic Church because of the traditional Mass.

Aude - Diocèse de Carcassonne
Gard - Diocèse de Nîmes
Herault - Diocèse de Montpellier
Pyrenees-Orientales - Diocèse de Perpignan

 

[Herod]

Thank you Caesar for the trouble you have taken on my behalf. I note the links that you have given me. Sadly they are not very accessible from here in the mountainous back country .

Carcassonne is about 50 km distant; Nîmes and Montpellier are respectively two and a half and two hours on the motorway, + half an hour to get to the motorway. And Perpignan, although closer, takes just as long because the road is throught the Pyrenees/Corbierères. But for an occasional foray I will keep the links to hand. When the weather has improved it would be more feasible.

I did attend Mass this morning and was thankful to be able to do so.

My thanks to all who advised and informed me!

 

[Catholig]

Herod,

If you don’t mind me asking what brought you to live in France?

Catholig

 

[dulcissima]

I know the Liturgy and Sacraments forum probably isn’t the proper place, but if you ever get the chance to post about what it is like there, I would love to read it. I’m a huge Peter Mayle fan, so I admit, my ideas of what it would be like to live in France are somewhat wistful and romantic.