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nickybr38
Guest
This isn’t always true. I have attended Protestant services to support my family in their spiritual growth (baptisms, confirmations, etc). It can be an act of charity.
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Warrenton
Guest
Hey Truelight!
Follow the sequence of kneeling, standing and sitting like the parish does. I think it is appropriate to bow to the altar, becuause it is still dedicated to Christ, and as a visitor, you do not want to offend the people there. Do not accept the eucharist, however, because your understanding of its meaning is different, and accepting it implies communion of understanding.
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TrueLight
Guest
Good advice. I certainly don’t want to offend. But of course I wouldn’t receive the Eucharist.
So we bow to the altar because it is dedicated to Christ?
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martininthefiel
Guest
That is ridiculous.
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YoungTradCath
Guest
Is it really? I’d like to see the state of a Catholic who goes to Protestant “services” weekly.
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thistle
Guest
Father Serpa’s response in another thread to a poster asking if its okay for a Catholic to attend a Protestant worship service.
QUOTE
In the first place a Catholic has no business attending Protestant church services even occasionally. To participate in a heretical worship service and especially a communion service can be sinful for a Catholic because such an act is an affirmation of what we believe to be untrue.
To attend an ecumenical service or a wedding or baptism is allowed, but Catholics are not allowed to attend such churches for the main reason of worship.
Now if there are no Catholic churches in the vicinity on a Sunday, Catholics are allowed to participate in the Liturgy of Churches whose clergy are validly ordained such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches—including the reception of the Eucharist.
Although we consider them to be in schism (not in union with the Pope) with the Catholic Church, such Churches are not heretical and share our basic beliefs.
Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
UNQUOTE
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coco2
Guest
Yes, the Episcopal Church my daughter attends calls it Mass. And they believe they do have the real presence of the Eucharist. They do not, however, keep the Eucharist in a Tabernacle so there is no reason even for them to bow or genuflect. However, they do KNEEL for communion.
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TrueLight
Guest
Follow directions Thistle dear. Post 1.
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TrueLight
Guest
And to attend for educational purposes?
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YoungTradCath
Guest
I think it would be okay for, say, academic purposes, as in a religion class or just to educate oneself on the practices of another religion.
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Zenkai
Guest
That’s absurd.
Any Catholic can attend a Protestant service as long as they know where the teachings differ.
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odile53
Guest
Be really careful with how far you participate: If you close your eyes to the fact that an Episcopal church is decorated/fitted differently than a Catholic church, you wouldn’t necessarily even spot the differences in the liturgies.
I lived in a small community awhile ago (before we bought this house,) and there was an Episcopal church four doors away from us. We became friends with the pastor, and occasionally attended their Eucharistic service because he was an excellent preacher (I also attended Mass those days.) I would participate in the prayers including the prayer postures, but would not receive communion there. My husband, a Lutheran, would.
This Episcopal priest helped us work out our religious differences by suggesting that we focus on our common ground as Christians and respect each other’s differences when, during a rough patch in our marriage, we would basically fight about anything at all, just for the sake of fighting. We actually did nearly get kicked out of a restaurant once for a very loud argument about transsubstantiation
By following this good man’s advice, we learned to respect and honor each other’s differences. Although I would never consider leaving the Catholic Church, I do have a warm spot in my heart for the very good direction he gave us. The Anglican communion is one of the subjects of my fervent prayers: Being of Native American descent, I have spent many years praying for the canonization of Blessed Kateri. Now that happy event is on the verge of coming true, and I can now focus my attention on praying for the reunion of the Anglicans with Rome.
Wouldn’t it be a marvelous grace if both events were to happen in my lifetime?
I lived in a small community awhile ago (before we bought this house,) and there was an Episcopal church four doors away from us. We became friends with the pastor, and occasionally attended their Eucharistic service because he was an excellent preacher (I also attended Mass those days.) I would participate in the prayers including the prayer postures, but would not receive communion there. My husband, a Lutheran, would.
This Episcopal priest helped us work out our religious differences by suggesting that we focus on our common ground as Christians and respect each other’s differences when, during a rough patch in our marriage, we would basically fight about anything at all, just for the sake of fighting. We actually did nearly get kicked out of a restaurant once for a very loud argument about transsubstantiation
By following this good man’s advice, we learned to respect and honor each other’s differences. Although I would never consider leaving the Catholic Church, I do have a warm spot in my heart for the very good direction he gave us. The Anglican communion is one of the subjects of my fervent prayers: Being of Native American descent, I have spent many years praying for the canonization of Blessed Kateri. Now that happy event is on the verge of coming true, and I can now focus my attention on praying for the reunion of the Anglicans with Rome.
Wouldn’t it be a marvelous grace if both events were to happen in my lifetime?
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liturgyluver
Guest
This is simply a personal opinion. Whilst I wouldn’t advocate regular worship in a non,catholic church, there was an earlier thread that quoted church documents saying that ocassional attendance was okay and encouraging participation in corporate prayer. Anyway what about the Pope attending Evensong in Cambridge when he was a cardinal?
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ConstantineTG
Guest
Do what others does. If you don’t see anyone doing anything, then don’t do anything. Better to not do something rather than do something that might be seen as offensive. If you see someone do something familiar, then do as that person does.Well clearly, if we were in Rome, it wouldn’t an issue,
The question is “what do we do in Westminster”;
(sorry, had to be said)
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ConstantineTG
Guest
The question isn’t whether to attend or not. The question is what to do when one is there. Lets stick to the question of the OP, shall we?
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TrueLight
Guest
It would be.
Yeah. I’m just curious to see what it is like. The curiosity comes from some posts I have seen from Anglican posters as well as the new Anglican Ordinariate. I want to see why Anglicans consider themselves Catholics. I hope to check out an Episcopalian church with no female priests. But anyway, I don’t have any immediate plans.
Yeah. I want to visit a “high church”.
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BernadetteM
Guest
As a former Anglo Catholic and I also grew up in what they called low church, each Episcopal/Anglican parish is different. Some are more like the Methodists, others are much like the Catholic liturgies.
When I started attending a group of Ordinariate bound Anglicans, we met in an Episcopal church. I asked my Pastor, who is very traditional about participating and he said it was fine to follow along with the Evensong, as we didn’t celebrate the liturgy or Benediction.
I bow my head at the name of Jesus and at the Glory Be, kneel when appropriate etc. The only problem I found was that genuflecting was not appropriate and my priest said I could bow to the crucifix on the altar.
Not to be uncharitable, however, I never feel comfortable as I do in Catholic parishes. We had a Catholic Prior of a large order visit last week and I do believe he genuflected, he was a former Anglo Catholic, and will be celebrating the Mass once we find a Catholic church to worship in.
Most Anglican/TEC parishes call the Mass, Holy Eucharist and some Holy Communion, Anglo Catholic parishes use the term Mass. I think it all depends on each individual parishes’ theology as to whether the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity are truely in the Sacrament. There is a wide range of belief in these groups.
Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Bernadette
When I started attending a group of Ordinariate bound Anglicans, we met in an Episcopal church. I asked my Pastor, who is very traditional about participating and he said it was fine to follow along with the Evensong, as we didn’t celebrate the liturgy or Benediction.
I bow my head at the name of Jesus and at the Glory Be, kneel when appropriate etc. The only problem I found was that genuflecting was not appropriate and my priest said I could bow to the crucifix on the altar.
Not to be uncharitable, however, I never feel comfortable as I do in Catholic parishes. We had a Catholic Prior of a large order visit last week and I do believe he genuflected, he was a former Anglo Catholic, and will be celebrating the Mass once we find a Catholic church to worship in.
Most Anglican/TEC parishes call the Mass, Holy Eucharist and some Holy Communion, Anglo Catholic parishes use the term Mass. I think it all depends on each individual parishes’ theology as to whether the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity are truely in the Sacrament. There is a wide range of belief in these groups.
Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Bernadette
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TrueLight
Guest
I’m not sure if someone covered this before, but is there a point where the creed is said? Is it different from ours? Is this another point where I opt out?
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YoungTradCath
Guest
If it is said, I don’t see a problem with that, because the Creed is used (and was composed by) the Catholic Church. It is infinitely more Catholic than Anglican.
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liturgyluver
Guest
The Creed is virtually the same - sometimes the Apostles Creed is used which is identical. Be aware that most people cross themselves at the end of the Creed. I feel able to participate in this.
One more thing to be aware of, after the Gospel reading they do not sit down like we do but remain standing until the priest says «may I speak in the name of God. Father, son and holy spirit> and then asks everyone to sit. Also the peace id shared before the offertory procession and EP.
One more thing to be aware of, after the Gospel reading they do not sit down like we do but remain standing until the priest says «may I speak in the name of God. Father, son and holy spirit> and then asks everyone to sit. Also the peace id shared before the offertory procession and EP.
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