K
kerry_1069
Guest
I am interested to understand the Canon Law and the overriding Catholic principles for receiving Holy Communion in a state of non-practice as a lapsed Catholic who now participates in a evangelical christian denomination?
My girlfriend and I met two years ago. I am a very devout Catholic who has tried to maintain a steady practice of daily devotion and Mass. After meeting my girlfriend who is a non-denominational evangelical and actively involved with the Bethel movement in California, I am worried that her participation in Mass with me might be an offense to the nature of the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. She maintains the argument that she was brought up Catholic and has received the Sacraments of Holy Communion, Penance and Confirmation, but was then raised in a Christian Protestant denomination when her mother remarried outside of the Catholic Church. We have had discussions about the difference between the teaching of the Church on Transubstantiation compared to the “memorial” of the Lords Supper which she presently follows. And while I attend her gatherings from time to time, I am very careful NOT to receive their communion since it invalidates my own belief in the True Presence of the Lord; however, when she visits with me during the Mass, she insists that she is validated to receive the Holy Communion. I have argued the point as much as I can, and hope that she at least desires the Holy Communion in essence so that she may be called back to the Catholic Faith-- which surprisingly she has. Her desire for communion and for participating with me in the Mass is growing!
My fear of course, as many reading this will probably agree with in a sense of horror, is that she may be receiving the Eucharist in a state of non-gratia, and further increasing her sin of violating the Host and putting herself in further mortal danger-- and I myself, since I have been unable to keep her from going forward and simply receiving a blessing until she has at least had a more faithful pursuit of the Faith through RCIA.
I am interested in marrying her and continually discern a vocation to Holy Matrimony. It is my belief in the Divine Mercy of God, and His ability to convert and conform even the most hardened prodigals, of which I am one. And yet, I really need advice on how to proceed cautiously to help her discern her calling to the Catholic Homecoming without detracting her for her “unfaithful” reception of the Most Holy Sacrament? Thank you for your counsel.
Pax Christi,
Kerry
My girlfriend and I met two years ago. I am a very devout Catholic who has tried to maintain a steady practice of daily devotion and Mass. After meeting my girlfriend who is a non-denominational evangelical and actively involved with the Bethel movement in California, I am worried that her participation in Mass with me might be an offense to the nature of the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. She maintains the argument that she was brought up Catholic and has received the Sacraments of Holy Communion, Penance and Confirmation, but was then raised in a Christian Protestant denomination when her mother remarried outside of the Catholic Church. We have had discussions about the difference between the teaching of the Church on Transubstantiation compared to the “memorial” of the Lords Supper which she presently follows. And while I attend her gatherings from time to time, I am very careful NOT to receive their communion since it invalidates my own belief in the True Presence of the Lord; however, when she visits with me during the Mass, she insists that she is validated to receive the Holy Communion. I have argued the point as much as I can, and hope that she at least desires the Holy Communion in essence so that she may be called back to the Catholic Faith-- which surprisingly she has. Her desire for communion and for participating with me in the Mass is growing!
My fear of course, as many reading this will probably agree with in a sense of horror, is that she may be receiving the Eucharist in a state of non-gratia, and further increasing her sin of violating the Host and putting herself in further mortal danger-- and I myself, since I have been unable to keep her from going forward and simply receiving a blessing until she has at least had a more faithful pursuit of the Faith through RCIA.
I am interested in marrying her and continually discern a vocation to Holy Matrimony. It is my belief in the Divine Mercy of God, and His ability to convert and conform even the most hardened prodigals, of which I am one. And yet, I really need advice on how to proceed cautiously to help her discern her calling to the Catholic Homecoming without detracting her for her “unfaithful” reception of the Most Holy Sacrament? Thank you for your counsel.
Pax Christi,
Kerry
