Showing Respect at an Anglican or Episcopalian Mass

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Let’s say I were to visit an Episcoplian Church out of curiousity……

Should I genuflect? I would say no because they don’t have the real presence.

Should I bow to the altar at least?

I’m speaking of an Anglican or Episcopalian mass, not Anglican use.

Any response that reads something like “You shouldn’t be attending an Anglican Mass” are not allowed. 😃
 
TrueLight said:
Let’s say I were to visit an Episcoplian Church out of curiousity……

Should I genuflect? I would say no because they don’t have the real presence.

Should I bow to the altar at least?

I’m speaking of an Anglican or Episcopalian mass, not Anglican use.

Any response that reads something like “You shouldn’t be attending an Anglican Mass” are not allowed. 😃
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When in Rome…
 
As a visitor I would say be quiet and respectful during their service, without bowing (and certainly no genuflecting)

Episcopalians/Anglicans around here don’t call it Mass, they call it “Communion Service” “Holy Communion” or “Eucharist” and they mean the whole service.
 
mfrances said:
As a visitor I would say be quiet and respectful during their service, without bowing (and certainly no genuflecting)

Episcopalians/Anglicans around here don’t call it Mass, they call it “Communion Service” “Holy Communion” or “Eucharist” and they mean the whole service.
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Really? I thought they all called it Mass. They definitely call it Mass at the place I linked to.
 
TrueLight said:
Let’s say I were to visit an Episcoplian Church out of curiousity……

Should I genuflect? I would say no because they don’t have the real presence.

Should I bow to the altar at least?
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My husband is a non-Catholic who attends mass with me every Sunday. He does not genuflect or bow toward the altar, but he is not disrespectful or obnoxious about it. My suggestion is that you should do the same when you visit an Episcopal Church. Don’t do anything you don’t feel right about, but maintain a respectful attitude.
 
BettyBoop416 said:
My husband is a non-Catholic who attends mass with me every Sunday. He does not genuflect or bow toward the altar, but he is not disrespectful or obnoxious about it. My suggestion is that you should do the same when you visit an Episcopal Church. Don’t do anything you don’t feel right about, but maintain a respectful attitude.
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It goes without saying that I would maintain a respectful attitude. I wouldn’t visit someone’s home and then disrespect them.
 
TrueLight said:
Let’s say I were to visit an Episcoplian Church out of curiousity……

Should I genuflect? I would say no because they don’t have the real presence.

Should I bow to the altar at least?

I’m speaking of an Anglican or Episcopalian mass, not Anglican use.

Any response that reads something like “You shouldn’t be attending an Anglican Mass” are not allowed. 😃
Click to expand...
No. You should not genuflect or bow. Christ is not truly present.

To show respect I would suggest following the order of the service, or whatever, but refrain from kneeling or bowing as this should be reserved for our Lord alone.

Just my opinion but I do believe the apologists covered this once as well and I do believe their comment was similar to what I’m saying… I could be remembering wrong though.
 
TrueLight said:
Or at St Mary the Virgin at Times Square.

I’m sorry mods. I’m realizing now that maybe I should have put this in non-Catholic Religions, but I was wondering what a Catholic should do at an Anglican/Episcopalian service.
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Ever go to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine uptown? That’s where my father and his parents worshipped. They used to take the train all the way from Flushing Queens to worship there and my father was in the boy’s choir. I saw the Cathedral on the last day before I left NYC to move down south as I visited Grant’s tomb, but didn’t go in to the Church. God wasn’t in my life back then and I regret not going in.

My grandfather kept this document from when they were building the Cathedral and much of his hording of newspapers and other interesting memorobilia passed into my hands. There are more pages than I think it appropriate to post. It will be a great day when the Mass is celebrated in this Church.

Sorry to go off topic but thought you might be interested. Maybe I should post them in the non-Catholic religion forum some day.









-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
Ever go to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine uptown? That’s where my father and his parents worshipped. They used to take the train all the way from Flushing Queens to worship there and my father was in the boy’s choir. I saw the Cathedral on the last day before I left NYC to move down south as I visited Grant’s tomb, but didn’t go in to the Church. God wasn’t in my life back then and I regret not going in.

My grandfather kept this document from when they were building the Cathedral and much of his hording of newspapers and other interesting memorobilia passed into my hands. There are more pages than I think it appropriate to post. It will be a great day when the Mass is celebrated in this Church.

Sorry to go off topic but thought you might be interested. Maybe I should post them in the non-Catholic religion forum some day.

http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/st.john.cathedral.design.01.JPG

http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/st.john.cathedral.design.02.JPG

http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/st.john.cathedral.design.03.JPG

http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/st.john.cathedral.design.04.JPG

-Tim-
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I have walked by it many times but never been inside. But I heard St Mary’s is known as “Smokey Mary’s”, meaning they use lots of incense, ha ha.

It’s awesome that you have those programs.
 
nickybr38 said:
No. You should not genuflect or bow. Christ is not truly present.

To show respect I would suggest following the order of the service, or whatever, but refrain from kneeling or bowing as this should be reserved for our Lord alone.

Just my opinion but I do believe the apologists covered this once as well and I do believe their comment was similar to what I’m saying… I could be remembering wrong though.
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How about making the sign of the cross?
 
I often attend Anglican services (my Father was Anglican) and when I attend I
don’t genuflect but do cross myself during the creed and bow at the name of Jesus.

All the Anglican churches I have visited have been very friendly and welcoming. Their music and congregational and choral singing is always excellent.

Interestingly I attended Solemn Vespers sung by westminster catholic cathedral at st Paul’s anglican cathedral yesterday for the week of Christian unity st pauls will sing at westminster next Friday) I was very surprised to see the catholic priests bow at the High Altar at the start and end of the service but nobody else seemed bothered by it.

I hope you enjoy the liturgy and music Truelight.
 
TrueLight said:
How about making the sign of the cross?
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The sign of the cross is for you, it’s not a sign of submission or reverence to Him. Unless I’m misunderstanding?

I make the sign of the cross anywhere. In a restaurant before a meal. In the car when I pass a Church. Anywhere. I do not genuflect anywhere but at Mass. I do not box anywhere but at Mass. 🙂
 
I had a traditionalist RC acquaintance, some years back, who had occasion, from time to time, to be in my Anglican (Anglo-Catholic) parish church, around the altar (not during a Mass).

He always reverenced the altar/Presence, as I did, kneeling, genuflecting and bowing. I said, the first time I saw him do so, that he didn’t have to, everyone understood what he should believe and affirm with respect to Anglican orders/Eucharist, and what that meant, as far as how he should act. He only smiled, and continued to do so.

GKC
 
Making the Sign of the Cross has nothing to do with whether the Eucharist is valid. It is giving accent to the words of the prayers. I would make the Sign of the Cross at appropriate times. Also genuflecting or bowing at the Incarnatus, is respecting the miracle of the Incarnation, and I would think also appropriate.

What’s interesting is that Episcopalians typically cross themselves more frequently in the Mass than Catholics do, these days, including at the mention of the Resurrection of the dead in the Creed, and at the end of the Gloria, at the “In the Glory of God, the Father.” It is also customary to bow at the Sanctus, and make the sign at the Benedictus, Some also do when the host is elevated at the words of institution and before that, at the mention of the dead in the intersessions. (There may be one or two more, I am doing this off the top of my head.)

The only important thing is to not receive. I would sit, or stand in respect, at the consecration, and withhold my participation at that point; but the Liturgy of the Word has nothing to do with the validity of their Holy Orders. There is nothing wrong with sharing Christian prayer with non-Catholics. I would certainly stand for the Gospel reading, which typically would be the same reading from the RCL.
 
TrueLight said:
Let’s say I were to visit an Episcoplian Church out of curiousity……

Should I genuflect? I would say no because they don’t have the real presence.

Should I bow to the altar at least?

I’m speaking of an Anglican or Episcopalian mass, not Anglican use.

Any response that reads something like “You shouldn’t be attending an Anglican Mass” are not allowed. 😃
Click to expand...
Sorry but the bottom line is that you should not attend Protestant services!
 
liturgyluver said:
I often attend Anglican services (my Father was Anglican) and when I attend I
don’t genuflect but do cross myself during the creed and bow at the name of Jesus.

All the Anglican churches I have visited have been very friendly and welcoming. Their music and congregational and choral singing is always excellent.

Interestingly I attended Solemn Vespers sung by westminster catholic cathedral at st Paul’s anglican cathedral yesterday for the week of Christian unity [st pauls will sing at westminster next Friday) I was very surprised to see the catholic priests bow at the High Altar at the start and end of the service but nobody else seemed bothered by it.

I hope you enjoy the liturgy and music Truelight.
Click to expand...
I once attended the tail end of an Episcopal service; actually, I came in too early for an organ recital. There weren’t more than 20 people for the service itself and as it turned out I was the only one who stayed for the recital. The hymn they sang and the organ postude (which everyone stayed to listen to) were excellent.

I see no problem in attending one of these services if done in the ecumenical spirit.
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