Non Catholic Kid had Communion today who was visiting her Catholic friend

[spiritblows]

I went to the 10 AM Mass today, not my usual one btw. Sitting in front of me were some people I know, and the little girl (10 or 11)had a friend with her. Maybe her friend had spent the night, or they had something planned today. The friend is not Catholic, I know that for a fact. But, she marched right up with everyone else and received communion.

I was surprised. The father (recently divorced) does altar serving with his older daughter frequently. So, he must know enough to gently let the girl know the groundrules, that one must be Catholic to receive communion in a Catholic Church.

I think the 10:00 crowd tends to be more lax, to tell the truth. I know that’s a generalization, but this is a small town and I know a lot about people at our small parish. I basically never see anyone from the 10:00 crowd at confession, people drop out of going to church for awhile, then reappear. Anyways, that’s besides the point, there is a terrible ignorance on the part everyone as to basic church law. It’s disheartening.

 

[mgy100]

No one has any thoughts at all for this thread, none? No girm, canon or other references. Ultimately what can you do? I would have told the kid on the way to church she shouldn’t approach for communion.

 

[emsvetich]

IMO no references are needed. Any Catholic knows that a non-Cathoilc should not receive communion. The adults involved should have made sure that it was understood that the young lady was to stay put during communion, obviously it was not. The next time, if there is a next time, we can hope that this will not occur.

 

[paramedicgirl]

I once took 2 of my daughter’s non Catholic friends to Mass. I instructed them on what to do at Communion (fold their hands across their chests and receive a blessing from the priest).

They got in the Communion line and the first of them did as I said, but the second one, at the last moment, undid his crossed arms and took the host from the priest! There was nothing I could do! I asked him later why he didn’t follow my instruction and he said he wanted what everyone else was getting.

Maybe that is also what happened with your situation. You never know…

 

[Servus_Pio_XII]

spiritblows:

I went to the 10 AM Mass today, not my usual one btw. Sitting in front of me were some people I know, and the little girl (10 or 11)had a friend with her. Maybe her friend had spent the night, or they had something planned today. The friend is not Catholic, I know that for a fact. But, she marched right up with everyone else and received communion.

I was surprised. The father (recently divorced) does altar serving with his older daughter frequently. So, he must know enough to gently let the girl know the groundrules, that one must be Catholic to receive communion in a Catholic Church.

I think the 10:00 crowd tends to be more lax, to tell the truth. I know that’s a generalization, but this is a small town and I know a lot about people at our small parish. I basically never see anyone from the 10:00 crowd at confession, people drop out of going to church for awhile, then reappear. Anyways, that’s besides the point, there is a terrible ignorance on the part everyone as to basic church law. It’s disheartening.

This is exactly why I wished that we still used the Altar Rail.

The Altar Rail lets people know that this is something sacred. It is not just the crackers and grape juice you get at your Protestant church. I am sorry, but ever since I learned that it was only through special indult that I am able to receive in the hand, I have only received upon the tounge. It is NOT just a snack time in Mass, and to treat it so casually is to invite this sort of thing.

I was ticked that, at our school, where there are many non-Catholics attending, no one bothered to make an announcement that non-Catholics are not to receive at the school Mass. Guess what: they did.

 

[Kielbasi]

Its not suprising that the kid would try and blend in and receive communion along with everyone else there.

Kids don’t like to make a public spectacle of themselves by acting different than the others, neither do adults for that matter. “When in Rome do as the Romans.”

A few years ago, I was attending a wedding mass, the young lady I was with is a Hindu woman and she was ready to go up to receive and might have if I wasn’t on the aisle seat and giving the body language that we weren’t going up.

I think that the entire question of communion protocol needs to be rethought so that the people are more in understanding as to the fact that communion is only open to Catholics. Right now, the natural instinct for people who might not be familiar is to come forward for communion if they are there.