Protestant accidently receives the Eucharist

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A Protestant relative of mine attended Mass with me today, as today was my Rite of Welcoming/Acceptance. I advised him and his spouse to receive a blessing, but he accidently received the Holy Eucharist. He did this out of ignorance.

Does he suffer any penalty for this? If he converts will this count as First Communion?

(He does know we as Catholics believe it is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ)
 
Since he did it out of ignorance, there would be no penalty. I don’t know about counting as his First Communion.

But how did he accidentily receive? He could have just not accepted it since he does know what Catholics believe.
 
He thought it was just something he should do, though. :-/
He may even believe that, but I’m not sure.
 
Funny how many Christians misunderstand the term communion!! They think it is only another name for the Sacred Host
Under ignorance = no penalty.
Certainly not his first Communion don’t think this for an instant. He still has to make his first Communion!!

The Lord remedies the entire situation so no culpability anywhere.

Peace.
 
…This has flamed into a family argument now, ugh…

When we came to share our view of the Eucharist with the relatives, they thought we were trying to start a dispute with them. They believe the Catholic Eucharist is “Just bread and juice”, the man’s wife said she received before in a Catholic Church, too. They believe that their ‘communion’ is just as good, too.
 
Reminds me of a story during the time of the war in England.

Bombing this day was heavy and there were two splendid Churches in the town. One Catholic in the north of the town and the other very high Anglican in the south.

Fearing for the Church and their contents the Protestant minister decided to take the ciborium and the breads within to safety. He knew that the Catholic Priest would have a tabernacle in his Church also and so deicded to bring them in procession to the Priests house and hence to the safety of the tabernacle…

When he got there he knocked on the door Ciborium in hand and the Priest duly opened the door. “Sorry to bother you Father”, said the Minister, “but I do fear for my Church over town. From my military background I can tell that the bombing is progressing rapidly in a direction that is going to take in my Chruch. I was wondering if you would place this (showing him the ciborium) in your tabernacle until peace returns?”

You have a military background? said the Priest. “Yes, Father” “Well then” said the priest, “you should know that you never store the blanks with the live rounds” and he closed the door.😛
 
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Greenscapular:
A Protestant relative of mine attended Mass with me today, as today was my Rite of Welcoming/Acceptance. I advised him and his spouse to receive a blessing, but he accidently received the Holy Eucharist. He did this out of ignorance.

Does he suffer any penalty for this? If he converts will this count as First Communion?

(He does know we as Catholics believe it is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ)
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If he is in a state of Sanctifying Grace, he received more grace and yes made his First Holy Communion. He did however receive the Body and Blood of Christ. However if he was not in a State of Grace, he received no benefit, but also since it was not intentional he committed no sin of Sacrilege.
 
Br Rich, the state of sanctifying grace comes about by prior sacramental confession. Ok that didn’t happen as he is Protestant.

Perfect contrition also would give this state of grace however perfect contrition must be followed by a firm resolution to go to Confession as soon as possible afterwards. Since it was a mistake I don’t think perfect contrition came into it either.

Now I have reproduced all the requirements below. Br Rich I seem to be missing other way to achieve the state of sanctifying grace. Would you like to remind me of it?
Sure would let a lot of us off the hook!!!😉

Can you just be straight with the person who asked the question and tell her the truth as it applies to her situation? Does no one any good to confuse it any further.:o

The Truth as it stands for us Catholics on reception of the Holy Eucharist
The Church sets out specific guidelines regarding how we should prepare ourselves to receive the Lord’s body and blood in Communion.

First, you must be in a state of grace. To receive the Eucharist without sanctifying grace in your soul profanes the Eucharist in the most grievous manner.

Second, you must have been to confession since your last mortal sin. The requirement for sacramental confession can be dispensed if four conditions are fulfilled: (1) there must be a grave reason to receive Communion (for example, danger of death), (2) it must be physically or morally impossible to go to confession first, (3) the person must already be in a state of grace through perfect contrition, and (4) he must resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law indicates that the same requirement applies today. “A person who is conscious of a grave sin is not to . . . receive the body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible” (CIC 916).

Third, you must believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation.

Fourth, you must observe the Eucharistic fast.

Finally, one must not be under an ecclesiastical censure. Canon law mandates, “Those who are excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion” (CIC 915).

(see next post for possible exceptions)
 
***Possible exceptions
However, there are circumstances when non-Catholics may receive Communion from a Catholic priest. This is especially the case when it comes to Eastern Orthodox Christians, who share the same faith concerning the nature of the sacraments:

“Catholic ministers may licitly administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the oriental churches which do not have full Communion with the Catholic Church, if they ask on their own for the sacraments and are properly disposed. This holds also for members of other churches, which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition as the oriental churches as far as these sacraments are concerned” (CIC 844 § 3).

Christians in these churches should, of course, respect their own church’s guidelines regarding when it would be permissible for them to receive Communion in a Catholic church.

The circumstances in which Protestants are permitted to receive Communion are more limited, though it is still possible for them to do so under certain specifically defined circumstances.

Canon law explains the parameters: “If the danger of death is present or other grave necessity, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or the conference of bishops, Catholic ministers may licitly administer these sacraments to other Christians who do not have full Communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and on their own ask for it, provided they manifest Catholic faith in these sacraments and are properly disposed” (CIC 844 § 4).

It is important to remember that, under the rubrics specified above, even in those rare circumstances when non-Catholics are able to receive Communion, the same requirements apply to them as to Catholics.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
If he is in a state of Sanctifying Grace, he received more grace and yes made his First Holy Communion. He did however receive the Body and Blood of Christ. However if he was not in a State of Grace, he received no benefit, but also since it was not intentional he committed no sin of Sacrilege.
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I believe what I stated is correct according to the teaching of the Catholic Church. If you find something specifically wrong with what I posted please let me know. However, I will never presume to know the state of any persons soul. That is between them and God.

I will also ask. Is God limited to act only within His Sacraments? Are non-Catholics bound to the laws of the Catholic Church?
 
Wow, did this stir up memories. We have a patient, who is a non-practicing Lutheran, who told us he was driving his neighbors to Midnight Mass a couple of years ago. He asked what he should and shouldn’t do, and both my husband and I were very explicit about him NOT going in the Communion line.

He told us a couple of days later that he was “curious” and went up and received anyway. I was so offended, it was all I could do to just calmly tell him that what he did was sinful and sacreligious.

It still makes me mad.:mad:
 
I attended a week-long seminar at a Catholic college a few years ago and the attendees were not all Catholic, and one woman was a former Catholic, now studying for the ministry in her new Church. While it was not required, it was convenient for us to attend noon Mass daily, celebrated by a priest who was one of our instructors, and then go to lunch together to study, compare notes etc. This woman made a point of approaching the celebrant for communion every day. She had already shared (in exhaustive detail) her story, and her long list of reasons for leaving the Church on the first day of class, and he had gently explained to her why she could not receive, but she pushed the issue all week. The last day, Sunday, with a larger congregation, she approached another priest and finally was given the Sacrament.

She came to lunch with me very proud of what she had done, and asked for my approval. I simply told her that if I ever left the Church it would be due to something so grave that I could not possible approach the Eucharist. She asked why, and I said it would be like getting a divorce from an abusive husband, then sleeping with your ex. That she finally understood, after pondering it for a while. but she still went away feeling she had scored a victory of some kind. So much anger, I can’t help but feel it will affecter her new ministery adversely.
 
This brings back a memory for me as well. I was a Proud Protestant & went to Mass withmy Catholic girlfriend. As I heard the priest say the words. "Take this all of you and eat it. This is my body…"
I reasoned, Jesus would never keep himself from me when I wanted to join in the celebration of him. Yet I still saw him as a symbol bread. Basically, I hated staying in my seat and moving out of the way tothe other members.
I took it and my girlfriend and I had some interesting discussions about it. She knew it was wrong but couldn’t explain it to me in a way I would understand. I later went up for a blessing with my arms crossed.
I think God gave me a taste of what more I could experience in the Catholic church and now four years later I have been married to my now wife for 2 years and we have a daughter going to be baptized this weekend. By the way I did confess that sin.
Praise God!
:bounce: 👋 :yup:
 
The Church has valid reason for not offering communion to non-Catholics in many instances. However,let’s not over do it. When our Lord was on earth, His body touched against every type of sinner, tax collector and whore imaginable. A faithful Christian of the |Protestant community is hardly worse.
 
Led Zeppelin75:
How can you “accidently” recieve the Eucharist?
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That’s what I want to know!:confused: …my Protestant relatives have done this at Catholic funerals and weddings within the family out of defiance not accident…When you get into the Communion line what are you expecting to receive? The priests in my parish aren’t into the crossing of the arms thing…which says “no, I’m not receiving”…This should be an instruction to non-Catholics who attend a Catholic Mass, i.e., (Funeral or Wedding, etc.) beforehand. I think it would also make a non-Catholic feel “included”
not reprimanded…
Who knows how much good a “Blessing” would do"
😃 Annunciata:)
 
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Fergal:
You have a military background? said the Priest. “Yes, Father” “Well then” said the priest, “you should know that you never store the blanks with the live rounds” and he closed the door.😛
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Good one Fergal, it didn’t take much to shake his faith.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
I believe what I stated is correct according to the teaching of the Catholic Church. If you find something specifically wrong with what I posted please let me know. However, I will never presume to know the state of any persons soul. That is between them and God.

I will also ask. Is God limited to act only within His Sacraments? Are non-Catholics bound to the laws of the Catholic Church?
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Here we go whoops ! sorry Brother Rich, please explain, so are you saying it’s ok for a non Catholic to receive Holy Communion ?
Another thing is if a non Catholic approaches the altar, and the Priest knows they are non Catholic, is it ok for that same Priest to give them Communion ?
I know in some Churches people stand around the walls and the Priest walks around giving out Holy Communion, and if a non Catholic is in line he may out of embarassment receive.
So what is the point of Catholics going to Confession to be cleansed, if others can receive without the sacarment of Confession ?
And how do non Catholics get into a state of grace ?

I know Bro: a lot of questions, but I’m just trying to get to the truth here.
Thanks Stephen.
 
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Fergal:
Reminds me of a story during the time of the war in England.

Bombing this day was heavy and there were two splendid Churches in the town. One Catholic in the north of the town and the other very high Anglican in the south.

Fearing for the Church and their contents the Protestant minister decided to take the ciborium and the breads within to safety. He knew that the Catholic Priest would have a tabernacle in his Church also and so deicded to bring them in procession to the Priests house and hence to the safety of the tabernacle…

When he got there he knocked on the door Ciborium in hand and the Priest duly opened the door. “Sorry to bother you Father”, said the Minister, “but I do fear for my Church over town. From my military background I can tell that the bombing is progressing rapidly in a direction that is going to take in my Chruch. I was wondering if you would place this (showing him the ciborium) in your tabernacle until peace returns?”

You have a military background? said the Priest. “Yes, Father” “Well then” said the priest, “you should know that you never store the blanks with the live rounds” and he closed the door.😛
Click to expand...
There is an off chance the priest had been ordained by a validly consecrated bishop, as some Anglican bishops have been consecrated by Old Catholic / Orthodox bishops so they may not have been ‘blanks’…
 
Fergal said:
***Possible exceptions
Canon law explains the parameters: “If the danger of death is present or other grave necessity, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or the conference of bishops, Catholic ministers may licitly administer these sacraments to other Christians who do not have full Communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and on their own ask for it, provided they manifest Catholic faith in these sacraments and are properly disposed” (CIC 844 § 4).
Click to expand...

catholic-ew.org.uk/resource/obob/obob03.htm

95 The Directory strongly recommends that each diocesan bishop should establish norms for judging situations of grave and pressing spiritual need when Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church may be admitted to Holy Communion and to the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. These norms should take into account any which may have been established already by the Bishops’ Conference. In the absence of norms established either by the diocesan bishop or by the Bishops’ Conference, Catholic priests are to follow those of the Directory. In order to guide Catholic pastors in our countries, our Bishops’ Conferences now establish norms on this important matter. There are two sets of norms: one concerning Christians from Eastern Churches, the other concerning Christians from Churches and ecclesial communities of the West. Catholic priests are to discern each individual case only in accord with the norms established by their diocesan bishop, or, in the absence of such diocesan norms, those which the Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland promulgate in this document, each for its own territory.

96 According to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, the doctrine that ‘common worship’ should signify the unity of the Church generally rules out sacramental sharing, but the gaining of grace may sometimes commend it

112 What might be meant by other unique occasions for joy or sorrow in the life of a family or an individual? These are situations in which there may be an objectively grave and pressing spiritual need for a person to receive Holy Communion. We give examples of such circumstances, without in any way intending to suggest categories of situations in which admission to the sacrament would be generally granted. The admission of a particular individual on one such unique occasion does not mean that another individual would necessarily be admitted in a similar situation. Requests to be admitted to Holy Communion may come from the parent of a child to be baptised during Mass, or receiving First Holy Communion or Confirmation; the parent or wife of someone being ordained;210 the intimate family of the deceased at a Funeral Mass; Christians who cannot easily approach a minister of their own community, such as those confined to an institution of some kind, although most hospitals and prisons in our countries have Anglican, Presbyterian, Church of Scotland and Free Church chaplains who minister there on a regular basis. There may be occasions when it is admission to the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick which is the most grave and pressing spiritual need, due in part to the absence of such sacramental rites in some faith communities. Each situation will be judged individually according to the norms.

ctd
 
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