Receiving the Sacraments outside one's parish

[Norseman82]

I’ve recently seen a claim that if you wish to receive a Sacrament somewhere other than one’s own parish, you need permission of both Pastors. I know this may apply to Matrimony, but does it also apply to Confession and Communion?

Where did you see this? If you could find it and the source, we could more easily discern whether there is a context to this (perhaps outdated due to being from 1000 years ago) or whether it is a “kooky” source.

 

[Norseman82]

Still, my guess is that it’s a reference to some kind of annual membership dues and not some kind of “price of admission” such as would be charged at something like a theater.

One of the things I remember when I was small was that the second collection was a “pew fee” - everyone passed a dime down to the end of the pew, placed it on the end of the pew, and the usher collected it. (This was in the late 60s/early 70s).

 

[FrDavid96]

One of the things I remember when I was small was that the second collection was a “pew fee” - everyone passed a dime down to the end of the pew, placed it on the end of the pew, and the usher collected it. (This was in the late 60s/early 70s).

It was quite literally, a “pew rental” or “pew fee.”

Catholic churches did not have pews until the Reformation.

The custom was basically “if you want a chair, bring one.” (Yes, seriously). Eventually, that evolved into the practice of families who could afford to do so having seats built inside the church.

When new churches were built (even in the U.S. into the 20th century), a family would buy a pew. It was then “their pew.” Many churches would put little engraved brass plaques on the ends. That wasn’t just random placement.

Eventually, the practice emerged that the people who did not buy a pew were still able to sit there if the family who bought it wasn’t using it. To sort of make up for the lack of buying it in the first place, they would make a small contribution to essentially rent the pew for the time.

Until about WW2, this was mostly standard practice. It finally disappeared gradually over the next few decades. I think the last holdout was the New England area.

 

[FrDavid96]

Where did you see this? If you could find it and the source, we could more easily discern whether there is a context to this (perhaps outdated due to being from 1000 years ago) or whether it is a “kooky” source.

It is true, but it depends on the sacrament.

It certainly applies to marriage.