My Thoughts on the Episcopal Service I Attended Today

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My first time. Don’t worry. I didn’t receive Communion and I went to a Catholic Mass as well.

I see the appeal. Granted, this may not have been a typical Episcopal church. It was more Catholic in appearance than most Catholic Masses I’ve been to!

First, they had plenty of altarservers. I noticed a serious lack of them at Catholic parishes. It wasn’t always like that. Is it because of the sex abuse scandal?

With servers, you also have incense. Incense seems to be the exception rather than the rule even at principle Masses at Catholic parishes. Bring it back!

Altar rails. I know tongue vs. hand is a contentious topic. I wish we could declare a truce and at least bring back the altar rails. Receive on the tongue or hand but kneeling. Not only is it more reverent but it’s more efficient.

Good reverent music. How did Catholics screw this up so badly? On the bright side, Catholics have noticed and things are getting better in the music department.

I like the kneeling for the Confiteor as we do in the EF. I’ve seen it done once at an OF.

I thought the post-communion prayer recited by all was nice. In the GIRM, I notice that a post-communion Psalm, canticle, or hymn is permitted. It might be nice to see a common and uniform practice. It may even get people to stop leaving immediately after communion.

Finally, there’s one thing I wish all Catholic parishes would have: the welcoming committee. I remember reading an interview with an ex-Catholic once and it broke my heart. She was saying how Catholic parishes, unlike Protestant communities, don’t seem to care whether you’re there or not. Of course Protestants can be overbearing but Catholics can seem downright indifferent.

To be sure, it wasn’t all great. If you think Catholic churches are empty, you should go see an Episcopal church. Their one and only Sunday service was about as well attended as a typical early morning weekday Catholic Mass.
 
johnmann said:
My first time. Don’t worry. I didn’t receive Communion and I went to a Catholic Mass as well.

I see the appeal. Granted, this may not have been a typical Episcopal church. It was more Catholic in appearance than most Catholic Masses I’ve been to!

Finally, there’s one thing I wish all Catholic parishes would have: the welcoming committee. I remember reading an interview with an ex-Catholic once and it broke my heart. She was saying how Catholic parishes, unlike Protestant communities, don’t seem to care whether you’re there or not. Of course Protestants can be overbearing but Catholics can seem downright indifferent.
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As a one-time Anglican (=Episcopalian) I know they they “do liturgy” really well, and this can be very appealing. When I first went to Mass, back in 1967 (!!) on my journey into the Catholic Church, I struggled with the messy liturgy as it seemed to be then, post Vatican II - part Latin, part English, and conducted (in that parish) at a too-fast pace. I had to detach myself from the beauty of the Anglican liturgy, because I knew perfectly well that the Catholic Church was my true home.

As for welcoming committees - my parish has had “greeters” for the last few years. They hand out the parish newsletter and say hello, etc - something brief and friendly, with more attention to strangers.
You could suggest this at your parish, perhaps?
I am blessed to belong to a really warm and friendly parish, and everyone talks to strangers - often we get other Catholics visiting from other parts of the city who say they want to join up.
Have a conversation about all this with your priest, perhaps?
 
johnmann said:
My first time. Don’t worry. I didn’t receive Communion and I went to a Catholic Mass as well.

I see the appeal. Granted, this may not have been a typical Episcopal church. It was more Catholic in appearance than most Catholic Masses I’ve been to!

First, they had plenty of altarservers. I noticed a serious lack of them at Catholic parishes. It wasn’t always like that. Is it because of the sex abuse scandal?

With servers, you also have incense. Incense seems to be the exception rather than the rule even at principle Masses at Catholic parishes. Bring it back!

Altar rails. I know tongue vs. hand is a contentious topic. I wish we could declare a truce and at least bring back the altar rails. Receive on the tongue or hand but kneeling. Not only is it more reverent but it’s more efficient.

Good reverent music. How did Catholics screw this up so badly? On the bright side, Catholics have noticed and things are getting better in the music department.

I like the kneeling for the Confiteor as we do in the EF. I’ve seen it done once at an OF.

I thought the post-communion prayer recited by all was nice. In the GIRM, I notice that a post-communion Psalm, canticle, or hymn is permitted. It might be nice to see a common and uniform practice. It may even get people to stop leaving immediately after communion.

Finally, there’s one thing I wish all Catholic parishes would have: the welcoming committee. I remember reading an interview with an ex-Catholic once and it broke my heart. She was saying how Catholic parishes, unlike Protestant communities, don’t seem to care whether you’re there or not. Of course Protestants can be overbearing but Catholics can seem downright indifferent.

To be sure, it wasn’t all great. If you think Catholic churches are empty, you should go see an Episcopal church. Their one and only Sunday service was about as well attended as a typical early morning weekday Catholic Mass.
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I go to a large parish and we have no lack of altar servers (frankly I think they should all be male, but that’s another topic). We also have greeters/ushers and plenty of Eucharistic ministers.

I always tell people, if you go to an Episcopal/Anglican Church, be prepared to step back into the 1960s because they did not go through Vatican II so it seems like a Catholic Church pre-Vatican II. Complete with the kneelers, etc. Except for the possible female “priests,” of course. :rolleyes:

And just for your reference, there are no “ex-Catholics.” She’s a lapsed Catholic, but still Catholic until she stands before God in judgment. Pity that more Catholics don’t realize what they are doing when they think they can just walk away like the denominations do…

🤷
 
Lovely that you went. Episcopal/Anglican churches are gorgeous and I hope one day, I can worship in one with them as Christians.

And the mark of being Catholic disappears when one converts and confirms themselves into another religion, i.e. converting to Judaism and becoming a rabbi.
 
VanSensei said:
Lovely that you went. Episcopal/Anglican churches are gorgeous and I hope one day, I can worship in one with them as Christians.

And the mark of being Catholic disappears when one converts and confirms themselves into another religion, i.e. converting to Judaism and becoming a rabbi.
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No, it doesn’t. Sacraments do not disappear.
 
VanSensei said:
Lovely that you went. Episcopal/Anglican churches are gorgeous and I hope one day, I can worship in one with them as Christians.

And the mark of being Catholic disappears when one converts and confirms themselves into another religion, i.e. converting to Judaism and becoming a rabbi.
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Wrong! Once Catholcs ALWAYS a Catholic,it is marked upon ones soul at baptism,
 
Quite the nice story you bring about your experience. I think I actually burst out laughing when you remarked about people leaving a Catholic Mass after communion. Not because I think it’s funny as much I relate. Our Masses our always packed (we have five on Sundays) but the Congregation is down to about 1/2 if not less after communion.

On a separate note did Catholics have alter railings at some point? I was a member of a Lutheran church for a few years and remarked at how odd the kneelers were from my upbringing in the Catholic Church

Also, once a Catholic always a Catholic? Does this just apply to those that were baptized Catholic?
 
stlcatholic86 said:
Also, once a Catholic always a Catholic? Does this just apply to those that were baptized Catholic?
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I read a story about a Latin Rite priest who converted to the Episcopal Church in order to be married. Then, he’d be part of the Episcopal Church and no longer Catholic. (I can’t imagine one could just easily go to the Eastern rite due to language barriers)

Think of it like giving up citizenship of a former country, which in most places, is required to serve in political office.
 
VanSensei said:
Think of it like giving up citizenship of a former country, which in most places, is required to serve in political office.
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The difference is, citizenship exists only in paperwork, whereas baptism is a sacramental reality.
 
stlcatholic86 said:
Quite the nice story you bring about your experience. I think I actually burst out laughing when you remarked about people leaving a Catholic Mass after communion. Not because I think it’s funny as much I relate. Our Masses our always packed (we have five on Sundays) but the Congregation is down to about 1/2 if not less after communion.

On a separate note did Catholics have alter railings at some point? I was a member of a Lutheran church for a few years and remarked at how odd the kneelers were from my upbringing in the Catholic Church

Also, once a Catholic always a Catholic? Does this just apply to those that were baptized Catholic?
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Yes, when I was young, the churches all had railings, and we received on the tongue. That was before Vat II (yes, I’m THAT old!) LOL

All Catholics have been baptized, unless they are currently in RCIA and then they are candidates for baptism. So, yes, once a Catholic, always a Catholic applies to ALL baptized Catholics, even those who believe themselves to no longer belong to the Church. You can’t just change your “citizenship” because it’s a sacrament in front of God.
 
VanSensei said:
I read a story about a Latin Rite priest who converted to the Episcopal Church in order to be married. Then, he’d be part of the Episcopal Church and no longer Catholic. (I can’t imagine one could just easily go to the Eastern rite due to language barriers)

Think of it like giving up citizenship of a former country, which in most places, is required to serve in political office.
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You are posting in error, and have been corrected several times. Please stop.
 
Just an added thought: The Episcopal service sounds like it was amazing. God willing I can see a Mass with that kind of reverence one day.
 
TheRealJuliane said:
Yes, when I was young, the churches all had railings, and we received on the tongue. That was before Vat II (yes, I’m THAT old!) LOL

All Catholics have been baptized, unless they are currently in RCIA and then they are candidates for baptism. So, yes, once a Catholic, always a Catholic applies to ALL baptized Catholics, even those who believe themselves to no longer belong to the Church. You can’t just change your “citizenship” because it’s a sacrament in front of God.
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Ha, Vat II was only in the 1960s! I remember being grossed out about the tongue option as a kid mainly because I had only seen really old people (mind you I was 7) do it, but this makes more sense why people still held to that tradition. I’ve always been a cup-hand communion type of guy.

Interested about the baptism point, what about Catholic converts from other Christian traditions its my understanding that those baptisms count so at what point do they become Catholics?
 
VanSensei said:
I read a story about a Latin Rite priest who converted to the Episcopal Church in order to be married. Then, he’d be part of the Episcopal Church and no longer Catholic.
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I think folks are talking past one another, honestly. 🙂

Baptism does confer an indelible “character” on the person. There is no way to get rid of that. Everyone is right about that:
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
1121 The three sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders confer, in addition to grace, a sacramental character or “seal” by which the Christian shares in Christ’s priesthood and is made a member of the Church according to different states and functions. This configuration to Christ and to the Church, brought about by the Spirit, is indelible, it remains for ever in the Christian as a positive disposition for grace, a promise and guarantee of divine protection, and as a vocation to divine worship and to the service of the Church. Therefore these sacraments can never be repeated.

1272 Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.

1280 Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of the character Baptism cannot be repeated.
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The Catholic Church used to recognize, however, that formal acts of defection could take place-- the effect was not an “erasure of baptism” but juridic. It is possible that VanSensei was thinking of something such as this. (Since 2009, however, it is no longer possible to formally defect from the Catholic Church. For more info on that and its implications, I’d recommend consulting a canon lawyer.)
 
I did a bit of research. Apparently the Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion is a uniquely Anglican thing. We Catholics are supposed to pray silently. I like the idea of a set prayer so I think I’ll silently pray something like the Anima Christi.

And apparently some Catholic parishes kneel for the Confiteor during Lent even though that’s contrary to the GIRM. I won’t do it as long as it’s not prescribed but I do wish it makes a come back.
 
Church of England Rite:

‘Collect for Purity’ (Taken from the Sarum Use by Cranmer where it was used as part of the Priest’s preparation for Mass but now said by all.)

Almighty God
unto whom all hearts be open
all desires known
and from whom no secrets are hid:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love thee,
and worthily magnify thy holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

‘Prayer of Humble Access’ (Prayer before receiving Holy Communion.)

We do not presume
to come to this thy table, O merciful Lord,
trusting in our own righteousness,
but in thy manifold and great mercies.
We are not worthy
so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table.
But thou art the same Lord
whose nature is always to have mercy.
Grant us therefore, gracious Lord,
so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ
and to drink his blood,
that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body
and our souls washed through his most precious blood,
and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.
Amen.

Prayer after receiving Holy Communion.

Almighty God
we thank thee for feeding us
with the body and blood of thy Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we offer thee our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out in the power of thy Spirit,
to live and work to thy praise and glory.
Amen.
 
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