Situation at Communion

[AlexaD]

Hello everyone. I recently was at a Catholic wedding (and I am Catholic) and I was with four Protestant friends. They sat respectively during the Eucharist and I kneeled. When it was time for communion, I was really caught off guard when three of my friends started to follow me up to the receive Eucharist. Two of them are Lutheran, attend church regularly, and I am aware that Lutherans follow similar teachings of the Catholic Church. Still, was it right for them to come up?
My third friend hardly goes to church and she was suddenly right behind me. It happened really fast, and I quickly asked her pointly if she should come up, but she insisted, and then I didn’t want to cause a scene. I feel she didn’t mean any harm, and really didn’t understand that she should not have done it. But I felt bad after that she came up. Have any of you experienced a situation like this and/or how did you handle it?

 

[4HisChurch]

I admit to having less guts than you do. Bravo to you for saying something at all.

At our parish, during weddings and funerals, our priest announces (in a very humble way) that only Catholics who have been to confession can go to communion.

No, they should not receive communion if they are not Catholic and have not been to confession.

 

[Catholic_Dad]

Hello everyone. I recently was at a Catholic wedding (and I am Catholic) and I was with four Protestant friends. They sat respectively during the Eucharist and I kneeled. When it was time for communion, I was really caught off guard when three of my friends started to follow me up to the receive Eucharist. Two of them are Lutheran, attend church regularly, and I am aware that Lutherans follow similar teachings of the Catholic Church. Still, was it right for them to come up?
My third friend hardly goes to church and she was suddenly right behind me. It happened really fast, and I quickly asked her pointly if she should come up, but she insisted, and then I didn’t want to cause a scene. I feel she didn’t mean any harm, and really didn’t understand that she should not have done it. But I felt bad after that she came up. Have any of you experienced a situation like this and/or how did you handle it?

Yep. Unfortunately, whenever a wedding or other function (like a Baptism or Confirmation) occurs, where family or friends who may not be Catholic are invited, things of this nature will happen. There are ways to make sure that this doesn’t happen or otherwise include our separated brethren in the liturgy. The first would have been for the priest to remind the separated brethren, in a kind and repesctful manner, that they cannot receive Communion becaue they do not hold the same beliefs that we, as Catholics, do. The second is to invite the separated brethren to come up and receive a blessing - so that they do not feel excluded by sitting in the pews by themselves.

CD

 

[Catholicdeacon]

Hello Alexa!

Blessings to you!

Still, was it right for them to come up?

This is a complicated matter. I suspect your friends approached the Eucharist out of “When in Rome do as Romans do” The part they are missing is that Romans do as they do because, well… because they are Romans. Did they committed a sin? Maybe, but then again it all depends on the intension they had in their hearts.
The critical issue is this, as St Paul teaches in the letter to the Corinthians receiving the Eucharist in an un-wordy manner causes serious spiritual harm to our souls.
This is the point you should make to your friends, it is not that you are worried about what they did to the Church or to the Blessed Sacrament, after all they received like everyone else, is that approaching God in an impure state could cause great harm to us weak creatures. You should also take this opportunity to explain what is the Catholic belief on the Eucharist so next time they know what to do. Specially that there is no shame on not receiving communion if you feel you do not have “your affairs in order”

In His love…

A Catholic Deacon

 

[AlexaD]

Yes I was surprised that the priests (they were co-celebrating) did not say anything. Maybe it was because the bride and groom were both Catholic and they assumed the families and friends were? I have been at weddings at my church where the priest tells one side of the family it is okay to just sit during communion. The blessing idea would have been perfect in this case as they were not many Protestants in attendance, and then they would have felt included!

 

[AlexaD]

This is a complicated matter. I suspect your friends approached the Eucharist out of “When in Rome do as Romans do” The part they are missing is that Romans do as they do because, well… because they are Romans. Did they committed a sin? Maybe, but then again it all depends on the intension they had in their hearts.

Thanks Catholic Deacon for your (name removed by moderator)ut! I agree with the above. I think they did not mean harm, and should be told what is the right thing to do for the next time.

 

[Walking_Home]

Thanks Catholic Deacon for your (name removed by moderator)ut! I agree with the above. I think they did not mean harm, and should be told what is the right thing to do for the next time.

---

Please notify the priest as to what happened. He may need to be aware that even when both bride and groom are Catholic —there can be non-Catholics present—who could go up to receive communion.

 

[willj1365]

This has always been a question that has perplexed me. In a simple example, it’s like this: the speed limit is 55, and it’s the law, but you cant force people to drive 55. In a similar way, you cant force people who shouldn’t receive to stay seated. (I guess you could but it would be very disruptive).

So my issue is - I realize they are sinning by doing this, but ultimately, we all know they are receiving Jesus body (even if they don’t believe this 100%) and shouldnt that be something that would be good for their soul? Could it be the beginning of a spiritual conversion for them? I guess I struggle with the idea that receiving Jesus could ever be bad for someone -

 

[Catholicdeacon]

Hello W!

Blessings to you!

I realize they are sinning by doing this,

Actually… I would not venture to make a determination like this. Only God knows what is in every heart. If they did it not out of malice but out of ignorance, it is not a sin. To quote the CCC “Sin is an offense against reason, truth and right conscience”

but ultimately, we all know they are receiving Jesus body (even if they don’t believe this 100%) and shouldnt that be something that would be good for their soul? Could it be the beginning of a spiritual conversion for them?

Indeed they are but communion is just a part of a bigger whole. Look at it this way:After the homily, we all stand and repeat the creed, If for some reason they disagree with this statement of faith it means that although they are present at the mass, they are not participating (“being part of”) the mass, hence they should not receive. It is like if you invite some friends to watch a football game and one of them show up during a time out and said “Hi there I’m just here for a bear and some wings, thanks and see you later”

I guess I struggle with the idea that receiving Jesus could ever be bad for someone -

In fact the Church recognizes this as a very serious thing, not because it hurts the Church but it hurts the soul. How serious? 2 examples:

1- The Immaculate Conception dogma was promulgated not to “raise Mary to the level of Jesus”, like some people that do not know what they are talking about claim, but because the only way that God could enter creation’s history was through a pure vessel, i.e. someone without the stain of sin since the moment of her conception.

1. Paul in Corinthians 11:26-29

26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 27Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
28But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly

As you can see Paul worries about the spiritual effect of receiving the Eucharist in an unworthy manner. Also notice that he does not talk about this being a sinful act in itself.

I hope this helps to clarify your questions.

In His love…

A Catholic Deacon

 

[Rand_Al_Thor]

Pax vobiscum!

At least the priest didn’t specifically invite everyone up for Communion, even if they weren’t Catholic, like at the wedding I just attended.

In Christ,
Rand

 

[Dispector]

I’ve had non-Catholics visit Mass with me. I’ve always asked them before Mass that when everyone goes to receive the Eucharist that they don’t go up. I end up explaining why and they have all been respectful and understanding.

Respectfully,
Mark

 

[scylla]

I guess I struggle with the idea that receiving Jesus could ever be bad for someone -

You are completely right in that receiving Jesus could not be bad for someone. The problem is this, they do not believe it is Jesus.

That doesn’t make it any less Jesus but it makes them out to be lying with their actions without them knowing it.

This is like me inviting my child to pull the switch which electrocutes a man. My child doesn’t know it and isn’t held responsible but I am allowing my child to do something she shouldn’t be doing.

Allowing someone to receive the Eucharist without professing faith in His real presence or examining their conscience or confessing their sins is depriving them of the chance to do that and receive worthily. If they understood this gift and had an open heart to conversion they would probably jump at the chance to do so.

Even though many other people profane the Eucharist and insult God, as many Catholics receive unworthily these days we shouldn’t give other people to commit sacrilege, even if they do not know they are doing it.

In Christ
Scylla

 

[InLight247]

Once in a Catholic funeral, two of my non-Catholic friends got up along with the Communion line.

I just turned around and told them “Only Catholics can receive the Communion.” They quickly sat down with no problem.