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Hesychios
Guest
That’s sounds correct.
Q: An Eastern Orthodox friend sometimes attends Mass with me and receives Communion. Is this allowed?
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ciero
Guest
Does that mean that I excommunicated myself from the Catholic Church when I received communion in the Orthodox church and then excommunicated myself from the Orthodox Church when I received in the Catholic Church again?
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a_priori
Guest
My understanding is that Catholics can do Orthodox Communion but not the other way round. At least that is what I’ve been told.Does that mean that I excommunicated myself from the Catholic Church when I received communion in the Orthodox church and then excommunicated myself from the Orthodox Church when I received in the Catholic Church again?
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Aramis
Guest
Individual EO pastors have permitted some EO faithful to receive sacraments from Catholic priests in specific individual cases. Usually in cases of extended assignments for work where there are no EO parishes nor OO parishes. It’s rare, but it does happen.
It’s more common for the other direction, but still rather uncommon: Catholics in places where there is no Catholic presence but is an Orthodox presence might be considered “Orthodox enough” for a given pastor to be admitted to communion.
In the middle east, stories of Melkites and Antiochian Orthodox receiving in each others parishes are common in the telling. But it also seems to be that the sisterhood of the two doesn’t extend from the Antiochian Orthodox to non-Melkite Catholics.
The Catholic churches will not deny the sacraments to the EO nor OO faithful if prepared for them properly, save ordination and holy orders. (Tho’ a Catholic bishop could validly do so if given permission by an Orthodox hierarch, the majority of the Orthodox would deny the validity, and probably excommunicate the Orthodox bishop for giving permission.)
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dcointin
Guest
I would like to hear people’s opinions about this hypothetical situation. I attend liturgy at a Roman Catholic parish with my girlfriend every other Sunday, and she likewise attends with me at my Antiochian Orthodox parish. I’ve come to believe that our churches really do share the same faith, only with a different “emphasis and expression” to borrow a phrase from Rev. Thomas Loya. I am drawn to begin practicing a life that expresses this commune when I attend her parish (only of course if I received permission from her priest). I would not be able to tell this to my priest however without serious repercussions. Would you advise me not to do this or not?
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thequeen
Guest
To get a better understanding you can read the back inside of your missal and it will explain the rules regarding the reception of communion.
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dcointin
Guest
I’ve done that, and it says that I am permitted to commune, but urges me to respect the discipline of my church.
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Aramis
Guest
Dcointin:
A very much issue to discuss with your spiritual father (if you have one) or your pastor. You might receive permission, you might be chastised, or you may be told to make your mind up…
If you are Antiochian, as long as it’s not flaunted, the odds are not too badly against permission.
(If you were ROCOR, I’d suggest instead just not considering it and communing only in the home parish. If you were Jacobite, Armenian or Assyrian, you don’t even need permission – permission is blanket by treaty in both directions.)
In any case, the Catholic Church says you are entitled to be admitted if prepared, and may do so without issues of licity from the catholic side, as long as not otherwise formally excommunicated for other reasons (heresy, civil-only marriage, bigamy, etc.).
It’s interesting around the holidays… I saw the pastor caught flat-footed when an orthodox woman, (who regularly attends but does not approach, normally,) come forward and present herself for communion on holy saturday. To the point he verbally asked her if she was indeed presenting for communion! She nodded, and she was communed.
A very much issue to discuss with your spiritual father (if you have one) or your pastor. You might receive permission, you might be chastised, or you may be told to make your mind up…
If you are Antiochian, as long as it’s not flaunted, the odds are not too badly against permission.
(If you were ROCOR, I’d suggest instead just not considering it and communing only in the home parish. If you were Jacobite, Armenian or Assyrian, you don’t even need permission – permission is blanket by treaty in both directions.)
In any case, the Catholic Church says you are entitled to be admitted if prepared, and may do so without issues of licity from the catholic side, as long as not otherwise formally excommunicated for other reasons (heresy, civil-only marriage, bigamy, etc.).
It’s interesting around the holidays… I saw the pastor caught flat-footed when an orthodox woman, (who regularly attends but does not approach, normally,) come forward and present herself for communion on holy saturday. To the point he verbally asked her if she was indeed presenting for communion! She nodded, and she was communed.
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Madaglan
Guest
While you believe that the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church share the same faith, this is not the universal conclusion amongst Church leaders. This especially is the case with the Orthodox, who see certain Catholic beliefs as erroneous, even heretical. If you decide to receive communion in the Catholic Church, you risk excommunication from the Orthodox Church. Just something to take into consideration.
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dcointin
Guest
I am Antiochian, but I’ve found that at least in my experience there isn’t the feeling of brotherhood here in the U.S. that exists in the Middle East among the Antiochians and Melkites. I think this may be because priests here are educated in pan-Orthodox seminaries like St. Vladimir’s that are outside of this experience. Perhaps instead of communing I should try to become involved in dialogue and participate in non-sacramental Catholic rites
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ciero
Guest
My experience is quite different. On any given Sunday at the local Melkite or Antiochian churches about 1/3 of the congregation is from the other church…and they inter commune with no problems. The Antiochian priest will invite the Melkite priest to stand in the Altar when he is there for a wedding or baptism and will ask him to say 1 or 2 of the prayers. The same works in the other direction as well. I am well know the the Antiochian priest as a Catholic and he has no problem communing me. I guess it depends on the priests involved. Both the Melkite priest and the Antiochian priest are from Lebanon…I guess blood is thicker then water.I am Antiochian, but I’ve found that at least in my experience there isn’t the feeling of brotherhood here in the U.S. that exists in the Middle East among the Antiochians and Melkites. I think this may be because priests here are educated in pan-Orthodox seminaries like St. Vladimir’s that are outside of this experience. Perhaps instead of communing I should try to become involved in dialogue and participate in non-sacramental Catholic rites
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dcointin
Guest
Very interesting! My priest is American (Irish and Greek). We unfortunately don’t have a Melkite parish any where near us (St. Louis), just a tiny Ruthenian mission and a Maronite parish. I’d love to visit one /sighMy experience is quite different. On any given Sunday at the local Melkite or Antiochian churches about 1/3 of the congregation is from the other church…and they inter commune with no problems. The Antiochian priest will invite the Melkite priest to stand in the Altar when he is there for a wedding or baptism and will ask him to say 1 or 2 of the prayers. The same works in the other direction as well. I am well know the the Antiochian priest as a Catholic and he has no problem communing me. I guess it depends on the priests involved. Both the Melkite priest and the Antiochian priest are from Lebanon…I guess blood is thicker then water.
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WetCatechumen
Guest
We have the opposite here, a Ruthenian Parish and a small Maronite community which borrows the building once a month on Sunday evenings. I serve in the Maronite Qurbana and the Divine Liturgy when I go here (I go half the time to my Roman parish - it’s a long drive to the Ruthenian one).
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