Reception of communion "insert" help

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grobyak

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Hello - I am a transitional deacon being ordained to the Holy Priesthood in two months (from today!!). I’m sending invitations to friends and family, relatively few of whom are practicing Catholics. Most are simply not practicing anything, while a few have gone on to other churches. I want to include a little catechesis on the Eucharist to help raise awareness of whether or not to receive Communion, but I’m finding the language of the USCCB to be too “churchy”. Are there any short and sweet items that anyone is aware of that may help in this regard, especially in helping lapsed Catholics not feel entitled to receiving Communion? A sticky wicket, to say the least.

Many thanks, and God bless. And PRAYERS please! 😉
 
Please don’t.

Your invitation is just that, an invitation. DO NOT include a little “catechesis” on why people should not receive the Eucharist at the ordination Mass in the invitation.

Send an invitation, or don’t. But do not include such an “insert”.

You can talk to people individually beforehand, or you can leave it up to the Bishop (who is the celebrant of the ordination Mass). He knows what he is doing.

A person receiving when they shouldn’t is not your issue, it’s theirs.
 
grobyak said:
Hello - I am a transitional deacon being ordained to the Holy Priesthood in two months (from today!!). I’m sending invitations to friends and family, relatively few of whom are practicing Catholics. Most are simply not practicing anything, while a few have gone on to other churches. I want to include a little catechesis on the Eucharist to help raise awareness of whether or not to receive Communion, but I’m finding the language of the USCCB to be too “churchy”. Are there any short and sweet items that anyone is aware of that may help in this regard, especially in helping lapsed Catholics not feel entitled to receiving Communion? A sticky wicket, to say the least.

Many thanks, and God bless. And PRAYERS please! 😉
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Right Father, I think it would be better not to mention this in a written note on the invitation. But at communion time you could remind everyone politely that only practicing Catholics in the state of grace may lawfully receive communion. I wouldn’t have the slightest idea how to say this, without hurting feelings. But remember faith is about the cross.

Sorry about your relatives and friends. It is a sign of the times and many new priests will have the same burden.

God Bless, Will Pray for you

Linus2nd
 
Father,
I’ve been to many a mass where the priest announces the rules for receiving Eucharist (usually at masses where there are likely to be non-Catholics, like wedding, 1st Communion, etc). This is the best time to do this, not in an invitation.

Congratulations!
 
Since when a priest should stop teaching and preaching just for the sake of other’s feelings? If you’re going to start thinking on not hurting other’s feelings, then I’m afraid you’re not gonna be a good priest, with all do respect. Just say , " In order to receive holy communion one must be in state of grace and free from mortal sin. To those that aren’t in proper disposition to receive the holy communion, you may approach the Bishop/priest with arms crossed on your chest for a blessing." I have heard this in a parish just when the priest is distributing the Eucharist to the ministers.
 
E_7 said:
Since when a priest should stop teaching and preaching just for the sake of other’s feelings?
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I don’t believe anyone said that.

An invitation is NOT the correct place or way to teach or preach.
E_7 said:
"In order to receive holy communion one must be in state of grace and free from mortal sin.
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Certainly he may say this. He should NOT say this in the invitation to attend the event.
E_7 said:
To those that aren’t in proper disposition to receive the holy communion, you may approach the Bishop/priest with arms crossed on your chest for a blessing."
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Oh, no, definitely don’t say that. This is a violation of the Church’s rubrics.
E_7 said:
I have heard this in a parish just when the priest is distributing the Eucharist to the ministers.
Click to expand...
The correct place to instruct the faithful regarding receiving communion would be in the program or as an announcement at the Mass. The correct person to instruct the faithful is the celebrant of the Mass, the Bishop.

The best way for the OP to instruct family and friends is one-on-one, not through some “insert” in the invitation.
 
1ke said:
I don’t believe anyone said that.

An invitation is NOT the correct place or way to teach or preach.

Certainly he may say this. He should NOT say this in the invitation to attend the event.

Oh, no, definitely don’t say that. This is a violation of the Church’s rubrics.

The correct place to instruct the faithful regarding receiving communion would be in the program or as an announcement at the Mass. The correct person to instruct the faithful is the celebrant of the Mass, the Bishop.

The best way for the OP to instruct family and friends is one-on-one, not through some “insert” in the invitation.
Click to expand...
Yes, I meant to say during Mass. Not in the invitation. Sorry for the confusion.
🙂
 
I knew I came to the right place. Many thanks to you all for your replies. One less thing to worry about now. 59 days to ordination! God, come to my assistance…:signofcross:
 
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