Non-Catholics, would you feel comfortable at a CC Mass?

[kalt]

Yeah but don’t you have to believe this stuff in order for the bread to actually turn to flesh as you’re ingesting it? I can attest to the fact that bread (including bread ingested in a Catholic Church) has never turned to flesh after I ate it

Therefore, it really shouldn’t be an insult should it? I’m not actually insulting the Eucharist since as a non-believer it can’t even be considered the Eucharist (or maybe I’m wrong on this point, if so I guess I’ll have to avoid eating it the next time someone brings me into a CC).

You don’t understand what the Eucharist is. I think you said in another post that you were once Catholic. Do you still have your Catechism? If not, it’s searchable on the Net.

 

[Teneas]

Personally, I am scared to death to go to mass. I just found out though that a long time friend (who also grew up in the c of C) has been thinking about the Catholic church too. Maybe if we go together, we won’t feel so alone.

If you live in Georgia, I will gladly meet you with welcome arms and explain it as we go.

 

[vickimonica]

This is not permitted. Receiving the Catholic Communion means agreement with the Catholic Church. This is made very clear in the missalettes found in the pews of Catholic churches. The priests who invite all to partake are in the wrong.

Thank you Cat… I almost “fell off of my chair” when I read “they may be loosening up a bit on communion”. NO WAY. You must be in full communion w/ the Catholic church to partake in the Eucharist…

 

[GKC]

Yeah but don’t you have to believe this stuff in order for the bread to actually turn to flesh as you’re ingesting it? I can attest to the fact that bread (including bread ingested in a Catholic Church) has never turned to flesh after I ate it

Therefore, it really shouldn’t be an insult should it? I’m not actually insulting the Eucharist since as a non-believer it can’t even be considered the Eucharist (or maybe I’m wrong on this point, if so I guess I’ll have to avoid eating it the next time someone brings me into a CC).

As I pointed out before, knowing what you are mocking (the confection of the sacrament of the Eucharist, and what happens, in the doctrine of the Church), is an advantage. You don’t.

GKC

 

[Teneas]

All baptized Christians are welcome in the Episcopal Church. This is a matter of ecclesiology, and I do understand. The RC considers itself the sole repository of the authority of the apostles given them by Jesus Christ. The Orthodox Churches believe more or less the same thing about themselves. The Episcopal Church and many others believe that they are part of the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church, without claiming exclusivity. This directly affects a church’s attitude toward communion.

I have taken communion in a RC church with the priest’s full knowledge that I was an Anglican. I have also gone to confession in a RC church, again with full disclosure, and absolution was granted.

Wow. While I am not putting you down in anyway. The priest should not have allowed it, but perhaps there were circumstances surrounding you and it, that he felt it was okay. Far be it for me to say it was wrong. I am glad you got to partake, and have absolution. Felt great didn’t it?

 

[bridgeforsale]

You don’t understand what the Eucharist is. I think you said in another post that you were once Catholic. Do you still have your Catechism? If not, it’s searchable on the Net.

I was Presbyterian actually, but you’re probably right (I doubt I do understand it). But can you properly define the Eucharist (according to Catholic doctrine) in a few sentences, or for that matter in a reasonably concise way?

 

[bridgeforsale]

The insult is in your tone, it is textbook definition of a troll.

Ahh yes, the Pentecostal. Lacks the confidence of the Catholic, a member of a cultish (thought for some very weird reason growing) denomination, whose absurdity amuses me whenever I think about it (which thankfully is rare). A bunch whose traded in the relative moderate and sane versions of religion (like Catholicism or perhaps the Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and so on) for the bizarre hysteria and blithering gibberish of a Pentacostal worship ceremony.

My pastor relays a similar story, but his personal experience was as a 4 year old boy who ate the “crackers and juice” as one long time member here says. And his father on the fly had to change the service and announce that the next week would be communion service. But he was talking of the actions of a child, who was hungry not of the make believe imagination of a troll who says he stepped forward and received a token amount of the elements during communion because he was hungry

Oh yes and I so highly value the rantings of a Pentecostal pastor

 

[Teneas]

I was Presbyterian actually, but you’re probably right (I doubt I do understand it). But can you properly define the Eucharist (according to Catholic doctrine) in a few sentences, or for that matter in a reasonably concise way?

That we believe in the teaching of Jesus that “This is my body” “This is my blood” “Do this in remembrance of me”

That breaking of the bread has been carried out ever since, and that we believe that the apostles, through Christ, were able to have Christ transform the normal bread and wine into the true Body and Blood of Christ.

That tradition, and practice has carried down through the ages 2,000 years to present day. It is still practiced in our Catholic Mass.

Therefore, through apostolic succession, the priests can still, with Christ alone, transform the bread and wine into the actual Body and Blood of Christ.

There are instances where the wine has actually become physical blood. Like the blood that would flow from anyone’s veins. It dried upon the chalice, and later was tested to be actual blood.

I am not sure how much more concise we can be about it. We believe IT IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.

It’s a belief, held in faith, strengthened by Christ’s own words, and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

 

[bridgeforsale]

There are instances where the wine has actually become physical blood. Like the blood that would flow from anyone’s veins. It dried upon the chalice, and later was tested to be actual blood.

You guys are OK until you start making weird claims like this (and believing the degree of proof that actually exists surrounding these bizarre claims, qualifies as anything resembling “real proof”).

This is where you start losing me.

 

[JonNC]

Yeah but don’t you have to believe this stuff in order for the bread to actually turn to flesh as you’re ingesting it? I can attest to the fact that bread (including bread ingested in a Catholic Church) has never turned to flesh after I ate it

Therefore, it really shouldn’t be an insult should it? I’m not actually insulting the Eucharist since as a non-believer it can’t even be considered the Eucharist (or maybe I’m wrong on this point, if so I guess I’ll have to avoid eating it the next time someone brings me into a CC).

Beyond the fact that you are displaying a clear and concise lack of understanding of the Eucharist, and specifically the Catholic teaching of same, I am at least as concerned about an apparant lack of manners. When one is invited into someone’s “house” as a guest, it is good manners to abide by the requests the host. In the case of the Catholic Church, a nonCatholic is asked not to receive the Eucharist. The reasons are important, but not relevant. What is relevant is the fact that the Catholic Church makes the request of her guests, and good manners insists we as guests comply.

Jon

 

[bridgeforsale]

Beyond the fact that you are displaying a clear and concise lack of understanding of the Eucharist, and specifically the Catholic teaching of same, I am at least as concerned about an apparant lack of manners. When one is invited into someone’s “house” as a guest, it is good manners to abide by the requests the host. In the case of the Catholic Church, a nonCatholic is asked not to receive the Eucharist. The reasons are important, but not relevant. What is relevant is the fact that the Catholic Church makes the request of her guests, and good manners insists we as guests comply.

Jon

Sure I guess

Like I said, anytime I’m found in a church it isn’t because I wanted to be there (and I figured the least they could do is feed me a little wafer for the buck or two I tossed in the cookie jar).

 

[jgajmom]

Thanks for the offer Teneas. I actually live in a very rural area of southern Indiana. Right across the river from Louisville, KY. Wish I knew someone like you around here.

 

[Teneas]

Thanks for the offer Teneas. I actually live in a very rural area of southern Indiana. Right across the river from Louisville, KY. Wish I knew someone like you around here.

I would say that I am sure there is one like me in the local parish most likely…but honestly, you all don’t know me that well, I doubt there is anyone else like myself.

I believe God said…“Woah!..what did I just do?” and then threw out the mold I was made from.

 

[Subrosa]

It always seems that I never could get when to stand, kneel, etc. I hope I didn’t stick out like a sore thumb.

Hi AP -

The kneeling occurs when the bread and wine are consecrated. It is when the Holy Spirit is invoked and Christ becomes present on the altar. It is simply bowing before the Lord, you are truly there with Him.

See Philippians 2:9-10

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Subrosa

 

[Subrosa]

Although I initially found the service a bit confusing and hard to keep up, I loved it. I felt such a deep sense of Spirit that I started crying, and had to reassure my fiance (who was Catholic, and took me to Mass) that I wasn’t upset!

We went together several times, and I always cried. Funny though, when I go now by myself (my fiance passed away in August), I never cry from the service itself–although I get weepy sometimes when praying.

Miz

How beautiful. I got the warm and fuzzies just reading this.

Sub

 

[Pied397]

Do you think you would feel comfortable coming to a Catholic Church for Mass?

If you have come, what is your experience?

I have to say, that as someone who converted to Catholicism, I was very comfortable in mass. Having come from the Protestant Denomination - Wesleyan, it was a breath of fresh air to see the focus on God and not on people. In many American protestant churches, you have a group of musicians who gets up in front of the church and sings and plays drums and guitars every week - something which I often felt was about them, not about God.
My first experiences with Catholic mass were when I was in first grade and my family had just moved to NY State. I can remember being confused when we had to pray 15 "Hail Mary"s, thinking that I had to make every prayer different. Looking back on it, it is quite comical.
The best thing about mass is that it is ritualistic - you can relax and not worry that someone is going to start preaching from the congregation, you know where things are going, so you are able to focus on God - you don’t have to look at the bulletin for the order of worship. The strangest thing for me, though was the recitation of the Nicean Creed. While I had been familiarized with it through study of Church and Religions in college, I was more familiar with the Apostles’ Creed. And of course, the best part of mass is the coming together in the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer - the true joining of the congregation, in those few moments, as one body - physically, through the joining of hands, audibly through the singing (or recitation) of the words, and spiritually, in the lifting of their spirits in one accord to God.
Later in life, I suppose you could say that I “returned” to the Catholic faith - while I was away at University. So my views of Catholic mass may be very different than some other’s. First, I was in Cleveland’s Little Italy, then at Geneseo, NY’s Saint Mary’s and now I am at St Monica & St George’s in Cincinnati, Ohio.

God is Great!
Give Him the Glory.

Sarah

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

You may join in the Eucharist in the CC at any time you choose. Sometimes it’s hard to take that leap of faith and to believe–really beleive–but the door is always open.

I think I understand your point that one can become a Catholic whenever one chooses. Do not suppose that one needs to be a Roman Catholic to truly believe in the transubstantiated host as the body and blood of Christ, and of our real and full communion with Him.

I have taken that leap of faith. I believe that the Eucharistic Host from the point of consecration the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and the words of institution, “this is my body…”, “this is my blood…” unite that particular celebration of the Eucharist with that first Eucharist where Christ was the priest, and with all other Eucharistic celebrations in the past and in the future.

However an honest person should not attempt to receive communion in a Catholic church when they know the clear rules of the church limit reception to Roman Catholics, except as permitted by the priest following the canons of the church.

I have a feeling I could pass any RCIA test, at least as far as facts go. However, I am not a Catholic, and while I am prepared to accept the primacy of Peter, the institution of the Papacy troubles me no matter how genial the recent occupants of that office have been. I should point out that the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church also has closed communion. Even a Lutheran of another Synod is excluded.

 

[JonNC]

I should point out that the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church also has closed communion. Even a Lutheran of another Synod is excluded.

Well, at least officially. Seems like the further the congregation is from St. Louis, the more open to fellow Lutherans they seem to be.

Jon

 

[Anna_Scott]

I would say that I am sure there is one like me in the local parish most likely…but honestly, you all don’t know me that well, I doubt there is anyone else like myself.

I believe God said…“Woah!..what did I just do?” and then threw out the mold I was made from.

Teneas,

You crack me up.

I’m returning the 2x4. I ended up using it on myself. uch:

Anna

 

[zodmek]

I have been to several. It’s all fine if it’s centered on the Lord Jesus Christ.

The last one I went to was very well attended and seemed rather off-hand and casual. Very simple music, a priest who tells jokes. Didn’t grab me.