Only Catholics for Communion

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nodito

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Hi friends,

You were all such a help when I was trying to figure out the alleluia that I figure you might all have some good ideas for my next dilemma.

I’m creating a mass program for my wedding next week and I want to include a very short (read: one-sentence) note about how only Catholics (who are in a state of grace) are permitted to receive Communion. Ideally it would be sweet but firm. I’ve found various paragraphs explaining the Church’s teaching, including a beautiful, but long paragraph in a church hymnal, but I’m looking for something short. Any ideas?

Thanks to all!
 
Don’t know if this helps, but our Priest usually makes a short announcement before communion at weddings explaining who may or may not receive communion. Usually is done short and to the point and no one seems offended…
 
nodito said:
I’m creating a mass program for my wedding next week and I want to include a very short (read: one-sentence) note about how only Catholics (who are in a state of grace) are permitted to receive Communion. Ideally it would be sweet but firm. I’ve found various paragraphs explaining the Church’s teaching, including a beautiful, but long paragraph in a church hymnal, but I’m looking for something short. Any ideas?
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“Reception of Holy Communion is reserved for Catholics only under Church law. The bride and groom thank you for respecting this ordinance.”
 
Canon Law allows the Orthodox and Assyrians, as well, but that’s unlikely to be an issue.

Something short, like, “The Bride and Groom ask that only Catholics who are properly prepared approach at communion time. For more information, please see page xx of the missalette (pewbook). Thank you for respecting our Catholic Faith and it’s rules.”
 
“The Bride and Groom would like to remind the congregation that under Code of Canon Law, only Catholics who are properly disposed to receive Holy Communion may do so.”

Although usually the priest will announce it right before Communion, especially if one of the spouses’ families are not Catholic.
 
dandn5000 said:
“The Bride and Groom would like to remind the congregation that under Code of Canon Law, only Catholics who are properly disposed to receive Holy Communion may do so.”

Although usually the priest will announce it right before Communion, especially if one of the spouses’ families are not Catholic.
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I have to say that I’ve never experienced a priest making any kind of announcement about communion so it would be a good thing to include in a wedding order of service.

When Dad died, the priest didn’t even wait for us to go for Communion, he just came and gave Communion to everyone in the first pew – including a Jew.
 
I’ve seen several programs that read “All Catholics in a state of grace are welcome to receive Holy Communion.”

–
 
EmBee said:
I’ve seen several programs that read “All Catholics in a state of grace are welcome to receive Holy Communion.”

–
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Which sounds much more welcoming than “Only Catholics in a state of grace are welcome to receive Holy Communion.”
 
I would not mention the bride and groom, I would copy the blurb in the back of the missalette exactly as written since it includes a welcome for non-Catholics to join in spiritual communion. The bride and groom are not asking, the Church is laying down the law.
 
Having recently attended a few Byzantine Rite liturgies, I recommend (with tongue in cheek) their pre-Communion prayer:
O Lord, I believe and profess that You are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the World to save sinners, of whom I am the first. Accept me as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Son of God, for I will not reveal Your mysteries to our enemies, nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, but like the thief will I confess to You.

Remember me, O Lord, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when You shall come into Your kingdom.

May the partaking of your holy mysteries, O Lord, be not for my judgment, or condemnation, but for the healing of soul and body.

O Lord, I also believe and profess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly Your most precious Body and Your life-giving Blood, which, I pray, make me worthy to receive for the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen

O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me.
O Lord forgive me for I have sinned without number.
 
puzzleannie said:
I would not mention the bride and groom, I would copy the blurb in the back of the missalette exactly as written since it includes a welcome for non-Catholics to join in spiritual communion. The bride and groom are not asking, the Church is laying down the law.
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Our daughter is marrying in 2 weeks. We have the long version in her program.

A side benefit is that it gives folks something to read and ponder while waiting for the Mass to begin.
 
Simon_X said:
Don’t know if this helps, but our Priest usually makes a short announcement before communion at weddings explaining who may or may not receive communion. Usually is done short and to the point and no one seems offended…
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My pastor does the same. He basically says something like this “In order to receive the Holy Communion, one must be Catholic and in state of grace.” … but sometimes, he explains further.
 
KCT said:
Our daughter is marrying in 2 weeks. We have the long version in her program.

A side benefit is that it gives folks something to read and ponder while waiting for the Mass to begin.
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or during the homily?😉

Our priest gives an instruction at all wedding and funerals.

It is all positive… “Catholics can…” etc rather than “non-Catholics can’t…”
 
MrS said:
or during the homily?😉

Our priest gives an instruction at all wedding and funerals.

It is all positive… “Catholics can…” etc rather than “non-Catholics can’t…”
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For weddings with Catholics and non-Catholics in attendance, I’d prefer to have something written in addition to the priest mentioning it. As you appropriately pointed out, some guests may not be 100% paying attention during the entire Mass, most notably, the non-Catholics who I would be most concerned about taking Communion.

If the wedding will only have Catholic guests, then a simple reminder from the priest ought to suffice.

–
 
japhy said:
Having recently attended a few Byzantine Rite liturgies, I recommend (with tongue in cheek) their pre-Communion prayer:
O Lord, I believe and profess that You are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the World to save sinners, of whom I am the first. Accept me as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Son of God, for I will not reveal Your mysteries to our enemies, nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, but like the thief will I confess to You.

Remember me, O Lord, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when You shall come into Your kingdom.

May the partaking of your holy mysteries, O Lord, be not for my judgment, or condemnation, but for the healing of soul and body.

O Lord, I also believe and profess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly Your most precious Body and Your life-giving Blood, which, I pray, make me worthy to receive for the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen

O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me.
O Lord forgive me for I have sinned without number.
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Between this prayer and the “Approach with Fear of God and With Faith!”, some Byzantine Catholic Priests announce the rubrics, especially if many they do not know are present…

“The Reception of Holy Communion is open only to Catholics and Orthodox in good standing. To receive, step all the way forward, tilt your head back, open your mouth wide, do not extend your tongue, do not say ‘Amen’.”

Note that, technically, (P)NCC, Assyrian Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox are admitted by canon law.
For most, however, this won’t be an issue… only 1% of the US is Orthodox, and fewer still are ACE or PNCC. (In Alaska, Catholics are about 20%, and Orthodox 18%, of the population, so it’s a major issue.)
CIC:
§1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.

§2 …]

§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.
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vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2T.HTM
 
japhy said:
Having recently attended a few Byzantine Rite liturgies, I recommend (with tongue in cheek) their pre-Communion prayer:
O Lord, I believe and profess that You are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, Who came into the World to save sinners, of whom I am the first. Accept me as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Son of God, for I will not reveal Your mysteries to our enemies, nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, but like the thief will I confess to You.

Remember me, O Lord, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when You shall come into Your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when You shall come into Your kingdom.

May the partaking of your holy mysteries, O Lord, be not for my judgment, or condemnation, but for the healing of soul and body.

O Lord, I also believe and profess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly Your most precious Body and Your life-giving Blood, which, I pray, make me worthy to receive for the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen

O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me.
O Lord forgive me for I have sinned without number.
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My dh is Byzantine (Ruthenian) and I think this is a very beautiful prayer. Kind of says it all!
 
Aramis said:
Both. It is the exact same prayer as used locally by the OCA.
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I’m not sure the OCA near me (Mother of God OCA, Princeton) uses it… I don’t remember hearing it… but I’ve only been to one DL there, and that was a year ago.
 
japhy said:
I’m not sure the OCA near me (Mother of God OCA, Princeton) uses it… I don’t remember hearing it… but I’ve only been to one DL there, and that was a year ago.
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The wording is more archaic in theirs. See
oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=105

Note that elipsis (…) are used to indicate missing parts.

Each Church apparently translates it to the vernacular on its own from either the Greek or Slavonic.
 
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