Receiving the eucharist as a non-catholic

[rkberlin]

Hi,
I keep stumbling over this one: my mom is involved in our parish’s visiatation group. They visit the old folks’ homes and help Father with the mass there. Now, our junior priest makes sure only Catholics recieve communion, but I guess our pastor doesn’t seem to differentiate all that much. My mom hints that as long as people show up for mass, even if Lutheran, they should be able to recieve, right? It even went that far once, that the one lady there (who’s very nice, but …)interrrupted our junior priest during prayer, saying it was enough. And when he didn’t want to distribute to the Lutheran ladies, she just gave them communion anyway. That’s how I understood my mom. What in the world is that?
At a weekday service- which was also a remembrance service for a passed away parishoner- our pastor explained to the guests present how “we Catholics” receive the “bread and wine”, and that they were all invited. Did that mean the protestants,too? Or am I reading too much into this? Can father distribute communion to non- Catholics- EVER? Or not? I’m starting to get confused here. It just all strikes me as wrong, but maybe I need to “chill”?
God bless
rk

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hi,
I keep stumbling over this one: my mom is involved in our parish’s visiatation group. They visit the old folks’ homes and help Father with the mass there. Now, our junior priest makes sure only Catholics recieve communion, but I guess our pastor doesn’t seem to differentiate all that much. My mom hints that as long as people show up for mass, even if Lutheran, they should be able to recieve, right? It even went that far once, that the one lady there (who’s very nice, but …)interrrupted our junior priest during prayer, saying it was enough. And when he didn’t want to distribute to the Lutheran ladies, she just gave them communion anyway. That’s how I understood my mom. What in the world is that?
At a weekday service- which was also a remembrance service for a passed away parishoner- our pastor explained to the guests present how “we Catholics” receive the “bread and wine”, and that they were all invited. Did that mean the protestants,too? Or am I reading too much into this? Can father distribute communion to non- Catholics- EVER? Or not? I’m starting to get confused here. It just all strikes me as wrong, but maybe I need to “chill”?
God bless
rk

You are correct, you can find the rules on the back of most any Missalette.

A Catholic priest is to insure to the best of his ability that only Catholics receive Holy Communion. Meaning that if he suspects that there may be others present because it is a mixed funeral or wedding, he must make some type of announcement. He is forbidden to invite non-Catholics to receive Holy Communion as an open invitation. Only under VERY specific conditions and circumstances he may ask specific permission from the Bishop for a specific non-catholic person. It is not however an open invitation.

 

[LittleRose]

In receiving communion we are not only united to Christ but to each other as members of his body. Those of our non-catholic brothers and sisters who do not share all of our beliefs are not to be receive communion, because to do so would express unity that is not there. The other problem is that most (if not all) protestant denominations do not believe in Transubstantiations, even those who have “communion” of their own. Since this makes it very possible that they may be receiving unworthily, the person who gives them communion could be placing their souls in danger.

You do not need to “chill”. Somebody needs to approach your mom and your pastor about this serious issue. It might be good to seek the advice of the junior priest you mention.

 

[berniedehler]

Hi,
At a weekday service- which was also a remembrance service for a passed away parishoner- our pastor explained to the guests present how “we Catholics” receive the “bread and wine”, and that they were all invited. Did that mean the protestants,too?
rk

I’m a former Catholic, but the Priest said at my Mom’s funeral (to a smal group of the family that he met before the funeral) that anyone could take communion. He thought it was better to error on that side, rather than refuse it, as if “tasting Jesus” might bring people back into the church. We talked about that because the family I came from was all catholic, now there’s a mix of us who are former Catholics.

…Bernie

 

[prv]

Hi,
I keep stumbling over this one: my mom is involved in our parish’s visiatation group. They visit the old folks’ homes and help Father with the mass there. Now, our junior priest makes sure only Catholics recieve communion, but I guess our pastor doesn’t seem to differentiate all that much. My mom hints that as long as people show up for mass, even if Lutheran, they should be able to recieve, right? It even went that far once, that the one lady there (who’s very nice, but …)interrrupted our junior priest during prayer, saying it was enough. And when he didn’t want to distribute to the Lutheran ladies, she just gave them communion anyway. That’s how I understood my mom. What in the world is that?
At a weekday service- which was also a remembrance service for a passed away parishoner- our pastor explained to the guests present how “we Catholics” receive the “bread and wine”, and that they were all invited. Did that mean the protestants,too? Or am I reading too much into this? Can father distribute communion to non- Catholics- EVER? Or not? I’m starting to get confused here. It just all strikes me as wrong, but maybe I need to “chill”?
God bless
rk

“[W]e Catholics” receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the disguise of bread and wine, not true bread and wine.

Yes, non-Catholics with the bishop’s permission and in limited circumstances may receive Holy Communion, presuming that they believe what the Catholic Church professes to be revealed by Christ as far as the Eucharist is concerned; further, Eastern Orthodox (though their church won’t permit their members to do this), Polish National Catholics, and members of the Assyrian Church of the East may receive w/o restriction except those imposed by their own churches.

 

[rkberlin]

“[W]e Catholics” receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the disguise of bread and wine, not true bread and wine.

Yes, non-Catholics with the bishop’s permission and in limited circumstances may receive Holy Communion, presuming that they believe what the Catholic Church professes to be revealed by Christ as far as the Eucharist is concerned; further, Eastern Orthodox (though their church won’t permit their members to do this), Polish National Catholics, and members of the Assyrian Church of the East may receive w/o restriction except those imposed by their own churches.

Whoa, what? Certain nationals can recieve without restriction? We have a large Polish community here, actually, our junior priest is Polish, too. I didn’t hear any Polish spoken during the funeral service, though.
Anyway, I’m still wondering why they can’t/shouldn’t receive? I understand that Protestants don’t believe in the becoming one with the body of Christ, but what harm can it do? To them or us? I don’t want to leave the impression that I think they should all come, but really…would that be a sin for them to receive a consecrated host, i.e. the body of Christ? Why do we get so agitated about that? Like I do? Not that I know why it upsets me, though… God bless

 

[Ghosty]

Whoa, what? Certain nationals can recieve without restriction? We have a large Polish community here, actually, our junior priest is Polish, too. I didn’t hear any Polish spoken during the funeral service, though.
Anyway, I’m still wondering why they can’t/shouldn’t receive? I understand that Protestants don’t believe in the becoming one with the body of Christ, but what harm can it do? To them or us? I don’t want to leave the impression that I think they should all come, but really…would that be a sin for them to receive a consecrated host, i.e. the body of Christ? Why do we get so agitated about that? Like I do? Not that I know why it upsets me, though… God bless

It’s not about nationality, it’s about the particular Church they are a member of. The Polish National Catholic Church is a non-Catholic Apostolic Church, like the Eastern Orthodox. From the Catholic perspective their Church is considered schismatic. Apostolic Churches (meaning Churches with Apostolic succession and non-heretical beliefs) like that are permitted to receive the Eucharist at Catholic Liturgies, provided they are in a state of Grace; their own Churches may have rules against it, however.

Peace and God bless!

 

[Traditional_Ang]

You are correct, you can find the rules on the back of most any Missalette.

A Catholic priest is to insure to the best of his ability that only Catholics receive Holy Communion. Meaning that if he suspects that there may be others present because it is a mixed funeral or wedding, he must make some type of announcement. He is forbidden to invite non-Catholics to receive Holy Communion as an open invitation. Only under VERY specific conditions and circumstances he may ask specific permission from the Bishop for a specific non-catholic person. It is not however an open invitation.

Br Rich:

As I understand, per Canon Law, there are a few exceptions, and these don’t require the priest to go to his Bishop:

Orthodox are allowed to receive in spite of their own Churches’ prohibitions.

Members of Some Churches, such as the Polish National Catholic Church, are allowed to receive in certain limited circumstances.

All of these accept the Doctrine of Transubstantiation, although the Orthodox insist on using a different term to describe the great Mystery that occurs when Christ changes the Bread and Wine into His Body and Blood and becomes fully present at the altar.

Except for members of these groups, who are supposed to talk to the priest before the service if they can, he still isn’t allowed to invite people who aren’t Catholics to receive Communion and he shouldn’t do so.

I hope this clarifies the issue.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

 

[Joe_Monahan]

Canon 674 CCEO (Eastern Code) provides:

1. If necessity requires it or genuine spiritual advantage suggests it and provided that the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it is permitted for Catholic Christian faithful, for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, to receive the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers, in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

1. Likewise Catholic ministers licitly administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick to Christian faithful of Eastern Churches, who do not have full communion with the Catholic Church, if they ask for them on their own and are properly disposed. This holds also for the Christian faithful of other Churches, who according to the judgment of the Apostolic See, are in the same condition as the Eastern Churches as far as the sacraments are concerned

Under these Canons, members of the Eastern & Oriental Orthodox Churches, of the Assyrian Church & the Ancient Church of the East, are afforded the Mysteries of the Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing by Catholic priests in the circumstances described. Likewise, Catholics are permitted to seek the same from priests of those Churches.

There are, however, exist caveats to those statements. As a general rule, the Eastern Orthodox Churches do not permit Catholics to be communed or receive the other Mysteries referenced from Eastern Orthodox priests and do not permit their faithful to do so from Catholic priests. The Catholic Church recognizes this and while it will not refuse to commune Eastern Orthodox faithful, it encourages them to adhere to the mandates of their own Church in this regard; likewise, the Catholic Church does not countenance Catholics seeking to obtain the Mysteries from Eastern Orthodox priests by deception in the face of the Eastern Orthodox Church stance against providing them.

The situation differs somewhat in regard to the Oriental Orthodox Churches. There is a formal Pastoral Agreement between the Catholic Church and the Syriac Orthodox Church which is intended to assure access to the Mysteries for the faithful of the Syriac Catholic and Orthodox Churches in instances when either is deprived of access to its own clergy. This agreement, although not specifically inclusive of them, is also generally applied to the Syro-Malankara Catholic and Orthodox Churches, which are the Indian counterparts of the Syriacs.

Informal pastoral agreements of a similar nature are honored between the Armenian Catholic and Orthodox Churches and the Coptic Catholic and Orthodox Churches. To the best of my knowledge, such do not exist between the Ethiopian & Eritrean Catholic Church and the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Churches.

A formal Pastoral Agreement also exists between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church to afford similar pastoral care to faithful of the Chaldean Catholic and Assyrian Churches. Again, although not specifically addressed, it is generally considered to have application to the Indian counterparts of both Churches - the Syro-Malabar Catholic and Indian Orthodox Churches. It is generally considered to also have application to the faithful of the Ancient Church of the East.

Informal agreements exist in the Middle East with the intent of assuring pastoral care to faithful of the Melkite Catholic, Antiochian Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, and Syriac Orthodox Churches, all of which frequently have pockets of faithful in an area in which only one of the Churches has a temple or presbyter.

(continued)

 

[Joe_Monahan]

As to the Polish National Catholic Church, the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity ruled in 1993 that faithful of the PNCC could be afforded the Sacraments in Catholic Churches and Catholics in the PNCC under similar circumstances to those described above. The provisions of the Latin Code with applicability are:

Canon 844

§2 Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage commends it, and provided the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, Christ’s faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a catholic minister, may lawfully receive the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick from non-catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the eastern Churches not in full communion with the catholic Church, if they spontaneously ask for them and are properly disposed. The same applies to members of other Churches which the Apostolic See judges to be in the same position as the aforesaid eastern Churches so far as the sacraments are concerned.

The agreements and rulings pertinent to the PNCC apply only to the US jurisdictions of that Church, not to the European jurisdictions which have broken with it.

With regard to other non-Catholics, the very limited particular provisions under which they may be afforded the Eucharist are defined in Canon 844, as well:

§4 If there is a danger of death or if, in the judgement of the diocesan Bishop or of the Episcopal Conference, there is some other grave and pressing need, catholic ministers may lawfully administer these same sacraments to other christians not in full communion with the catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who spontaneously ask for them, provided that they demonstrate the catholic faith in respect of these sacraments and are properly disposed.

Joe

 

[Sir_Knight]

I’m a former Catholic, but the Priest said at my Mom’s funeral (to a smal group of the family that he met before the funeral) that anyone could take communion. He thought it was better to error on that side, rather than refuse it, as if “tasting Jesus” might bring people back into the church. We talked about that because the family I came from was all catholic, now there’s a mix of us who are former Catholics.

Scripture tells us that one who receives our Lord unworthily brings condemnation upon themselves (brings judgement upon themselves). Your priest thought that it was better to error on THAT side rather than refuse communion to someone?

Maybe it’s just me, but that is a side that I would not want to error on.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Canon 674 CCEO (Eastern Code) provides:

Under these Canons, members of the Eastern & Oriental Orthodox Churches, of the Assyrian Church & the Ancient Church of the East, are afforded the Mysteries of the Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing by Catholic priests in the circumstances described. Likewise, Catholics are permitted to seek the same from priests of those Churches.

There are, however, exist caveats to those statements. As a general rule, the Eastern Orthodox Churches do not permit Catholics to be communed or receive the other Mysteries referenced from Eastern Orthodox priests and do not permit their faithful to do so from Catholic priests. The Catholic Church recognizes this and while it will not refuse to commune Eastern Orthodox faithful, it encourages them to adhere to the mandates of their own Church in this regard; likewise, the Catholic Church does not countenance Catholics seeking to obtain the Mysteries from Eastern Orthodox priests by deception in the face of the Eastern Orthodox Church stance against providing them.

The situation differs somewhat in regard to the Oriental Orthodox Churches. There is a formal Pastoral Agreement between the Catholic Church and the Syriac Orthodox Church which is intended to assure access to the Mysteries for the faithful of the Syriac Catholic and Orthodox Churches in instances when either is deprived of access to its own clergy. This agreement, although not specifically inclusive of them, is also generally applied to the Syro-Malankara Catholic and Orthodox Churches, which are the Indian counterparts of the Syriacs.

Informal pastoral agreements of a similar nature are honored between the Armenian Catholic and Orthodox Churches and the Coptic Catholic and Orthodox Churches. To the best of my knowledge, such do not exist between the Ethiopian & Eritrean Catholic Church and the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Churches.

A formal Pastoral Agreement also exists between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church to afford similar pastoral care to faithful of the Chaldean Catholic and Assyrian Churches. Again, although not specifically addressed, it is generally considered to have application to the Indian counterparts of both Churches - the Syro-Malabar Catholic and Indian Orthodox Churches. It is generally considered to also have application to the faithful of the Ancient Church of the East.

Informal agreements exist in the Middle East with the intent of assuring pastoral care to faithful of the Melkite Catholic, Antiochian Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, and Syriac Orthodox Churches, all of which frequently have pockets of faithful in an area in which only one of the Churches has a temple or presbyter.

(continued)

The original poster didn’t mention anything about Orthodoxy or being Polish National. They did mention Protestants however.

 

[rkberlin]

The original poster didn’t mention anything about Orthodoxy or being Polish National. They did mention Protestants however.

Thank you. Berlin is predominantly Lutheran (about 80%), Catholics are a small tolerated minority. Needless to say, the Lutherans always complain about not being invited to “our” communion, when they always invite us to theirs (now, why I would do that…? I don’t know)…maybe that’s why he gave the option…still odd

 

[jmcrae]

Whoa, what? Certain nationals can recieve without restriction? We have a large Polish community here, actually, our junior priest is Polish, too. I didn’t hear any Polish spoken during the funeral service, though.
Anyway, I’m still wondering why they can’t/shouldn’t receive? I understand that Protestants don’t believe in the becoming one with the body of Christ, but what harm can it do? To them or us? I don’t want to leave the impression that I think they should all come, but really…would that be a sin for them to receive a consecrated host, i.e. the body of Christ?

The reason is that they have never received any instruction on what it is that they are receiving, because they may be approaching unworthily (not in a state of grace) and obviously a non-Catholic is not going to think of going to Confession, even if he could receive the Absolution (they can’t, normally) and because they are not in unity with us, and reject many if not all of our teachings about who Christ is and what the Church is.

Why do we get so agitated about that? Like I do? Not that I know why it upsets me, though…

Probably because you had to receive a year of instruction and then go to Confession before making your First Holy Communion, and you have to live a good Catholic life, believe what the Church teaches, and attend Confession at least once a year in order for you to be able to continue to receive it - not that any of this is bad; in fact it’s necessary in order to be able to receive the graces of the Sacrament. But they are (most likely) treating it trivially, as though it were a symbol of friendship amongst each other, rather than the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity.

 

[Sir_Knight]

rkberlin;1840732:

Whoa, what? Certain nationals can recieve without restriction? We have a large Polish community here, actually, our junior priest is Polish, too. I didn’t hear any Polish spoken during the funeral service, though.
Anyway, I’m still wondering why they can’t/shouldn’t receive? I understand that Protestants don’t believe in the becoming one with the body of Christ, but what harm can it do? To them or us? I don’t want to leave the impression that I think they should all come, but really…would that be a sin for them to receive a consecrated host, i.e. the body of Christ? Why do we get so agitated about that? Like I do? Not that I know why it upsets me, though… God bless

The reason is that they have never received any instruction on what it is that they are receiving, because they may be approaching unworthily (not in a state of grace) and obviously a non-Catholic is not going to think of going to Confession, even if he could receive the Absolution (they can’t, normally) and because they are not in unity with us, and reject many if not all of our teachings about who Christ is and what the Church is.

Why do we get so agitated about that? Like I do? Not that I know why it upsets me, though…

Probably because you had to receive a year of instruction and then go to Confession before making your First Holy Communion, and you have to live a good Catholic life, believe what the Church teaches, and attend Confession at least once a year in order for you to be able to continue to receive it - not that any of this is bad; in fact it’s necessary in order to be able to receive the graces of the Sacrament. But they are (most likely) treating it trivially, as though it were a symbol of friendship amongst each other, rather than the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity.

The Polish National Catholic Church broke from Rome in the early 1900’s and it is my understanding that in case of emergiences, Catholics can receive VALID sacraments (confession, communion, etc.) each other.

 

[jmcrae]

The Polish National Catholic Church broke from Rome in the early 1900’s and it is my understanding that in case of emergiences, Catholics can receive VALID sacraments (confession, communion, etc.) each other.

How did the Polish National Church get into it?

The OP was about Lutherans receiving Holy Communion from a Catholic priest.

 

[Sir_Knight]

It entered the conversation in Post #6 …

“[W]e Catholics” receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the disguise of bread and wine, not true bread and wine.

Yes, non-Catholics with the bishop’s permission and in limited circumstances may receive Holy Communion, presuming that they believe what the Catholic Church professes to be revealed by Christ as far as the Eucharist is concerned; further, Eastern Orthodox (though their church won’t permit their members to do this), Polish National Catholics, and members of the Assyrian Church of the East may receive w/o restriction except those imposed by their own churches.

 

[jmcrae]

It entered the conversation in Post #6 …

Oh. Why were you quoting my post, and talking about the Polish National Church?

My post was responding to the OP; it had nothing to do with other Apostolic communions (which in any case are forbidden by their own authorities from communing with us, so the upshot is identical.)

 

[Resurrexit]

Scripture tells us that one who receives our Lord unworthily brings condemnation upon themselves (brings judgement upon themselves). Your priest thought that it was better to error on THAT side rather than refuse communion to someone?

Maybe it’s just me, but that is a side that I would not want to error on.

Indeed. Being guilty of the crucifiction of Our Blessed Lord is not something I would want on my soul.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Oh. Why were you quoting my post, and talking about the Polish National Church?

My post was responding to the OP; it had nothing to do with other Apostolic communions (which in any case are forbidden by their own authorities from communing with us, so the upshot is identical.)

Because your post quoted ** rkberlin ** and in that quote, reference was made to the Polish National Church. It was unclear to me if your reply was in reference to the Polish National Church or not. If it was, I thought that I would clarify some things about it.

Sorry if I misunderstood.