Staying in the pew during communion

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dconklin said:
Becoming Catholic would solve this issue! :tiphat:
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not necessarily, not every Catholic receives communion (or should be) at every Mass they attend.

I don’t see any threads about what to do at the movie of some people go out at intermission for refreshments while others stay in their seats, or what to do at the theater of some people leave for some reason and come back later. Don’t understand why anyone at church would be so rude as to make someone feel uncomfortable because they remain in the pew.
 
I have alot of respect for those who do not get up. They know they should not get up and stay seated instead. It takes an inner strength to sit and not do what everyone else is doing.
 
puzzleannie said:
not necessarily, not every Catholic receives communion (or should be) at every Mass they attend.

I don’t see any threads about what to do at the movie of some people go out at intermission for refreshments while others stay in their seats, or what to do at the theater of some people leave for some reason and come back later.
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We should follow the common practice in some Catholic parishes. One should also go out at intermission, get in the line for refreshments and snacks, and then ask for something else instead of refreshments and snacks. :o
 
anp1215 said:
It’s my understanding that there is not a definitive teaching on receiving a blessing during Communion, and that the entire issue is murky at best. The priests and deacons have no issue with blessing those who do not receive. They do it quite frequently. Until one of them tells me to no longer come forward for a blessing, I will continue to do so.

Also, I have already enrolled in and finished RCIA.
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The document from Rome is pretty clear.
 
Having attended without receiving Communion for years, I typically do the following:

– I stand and move to the center aisle along with everybody else.

– When I get there, I just take a short step back and gesture for everyone else to go ahead.

– When they’re all on their way, I go back in to the row and walk to the other (outside) end and wait.

– As the others return, I join them as they file into the row.

– If there are others not receiving, I just keep my seat and let others by, cramped as it sometimes is.
 
I_Thirst said:
But Rome is an entirely different parish. 😊
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Yup. What Rome says doesn’t have much to do with me, since I’m not Catholic. Like I said before, the pastor has no problem with it, so neither do I. If he expresses a problem with it, I will be happy to stop.
 
puzzleannie said:
not necessarily, not every Catholic receives communion (or should be) at every Mass they attend.

I don’t see any threads about what to do at the movie of some people go out at intermission for refreshments while others stay in their seats, or what to do at the theater of some people leave for some reason and come back later. Don’t understand why anyone at church would be so rude as to make someone feel uncomfortable because they remain in the pew.
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I have been wondering about this since I read the first post on this topic. Just how inconvenient is it to move PAST someone?? I do it every time DH is with me & everytime I sit with my friends & their son-in-law and, believe me, it’s no big deal!
 
anp1215 said:
And it’s really not so that it will “go smoother for [me],” it’s more in the interest of those around me.
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Look at the responses in this thread. Stay seated if you really care about those around you in a Catholic Church.

Or become Catholic and get in the communion line for the Eucharist with the rest of the Catholics.
 
I_Thirst said:
Look at the responses in this thread. Stay seated if you really care about those around you in a Catholic Church.

Or become Catholic and get in the communion line for the Eucharist with the rest of the Catholics.
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I have read the responses in this thread. Otherwise I wouldn’t be posting in it. None of the responses on this thread are from anyone in the parish that I attend.

I highly doubt anyone around me is paying attention to me when I go up to receive a blessing, and if they are, chances are that they don’t think anything of it. The posters on this forum are not characteristic of the average parishioner in a Catholic church. Most are not going to be so bothered by this.

This conversation seems pretty pointless to me, so this will be my last post to you. Goodbye and have a good night.
 
anp1215 said:
Also, I have already enrolled in and finished RCIA.
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Your name says “Christian-considering Catholicism” so you can be received into full communion with the Church at any time now, if by Christian you mean validly baptized.
 
I_Thirst said:
If something is murky, then why continue its murky practice? Set a good example in your parish rather than propagating murky practices.

If you aren’t able to receive communion, don’t get in the communion line. It is not a line for blessings. It’s not a line for holy anointing. It’s not a reconcilation line. It’s not a line to venerate the cross. It’s not a line to stand in so that you don’t have to have people step over you in the pews so that it’ll go smoother for you.

It’s a line for the Eucharist.

Father Z has something interesting to say on this.
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👍

I’m afraid this is going to be one of those situations where the Holy See throws up its hands and just allow it after a while, just like CITH.
 
Well, some of these responses I totally expected…others are a bit surprising :(. The reason for the question is because I feel awkward having to make others step around and over me if I stay seated. Not everyone is “Jack be Nimble”, so those people are my main concern. I was just trying to figure out how to make it comfortable and easy for others and I feel the polite thing to do would be to try and find a seat a the end of the pew. This way I am able to stand to let others pass by without causing any mishaps. Is it a big deal…no prolly not. Thanks for the responses! 🙂
 
5Loaves said:
Your name says “Christian-considering Catholicism” so you can be received into full communion with the Church at any time now, if by Christian you mean validly baptized.
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I understand. Thank you.
 
what I am objecting to in this thread, and thread with a similar topic, is the tendency to blame the original OP or questioner if he does not know the proper procedure, or is following what he has been taught in his parish, as if it is somehow his fault if the priest issues a contrary instruction, or if other parishioners are rude to a newcomer.

What the priest does or does not do or permit is not in any way shape or form the fault of the person attending Mass so don’t take the occasion of such questions to start placing blame. The OP asked a legitimate question, and the only reason he has confusion is that others have been rude in making him feel wrong for staying in the pew.
 
anp1215 said:
Also, where in your link is the “document from Rome?” I see a letter and response, from whom I cannot say, because his name is omitted.
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The response to the letter is written from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (CDWDS), the highest authority in the Church for these matters. The protcol number attached (Prot. N. 930/08/L) can be used to verify that it is authentic. Responses are regularly published in the journal Notitiae.
 
Elizium23 said:
The response to the letter is written from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (CDWDS), the highest authority in the Church for these matters. The protcol number attached (Prot. N. 930/08/L) can be used to verify that it is authentic. Responses are regularly published in the journal Notitiae.
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Thanks for the explanation.
 
puzzleannie said:
the etiquette has always been those who are not receiving simply stay in the pew, sitting, standing or kneeling, as they feel comfortable, and singing if there is a hymn and they wish to join in. It is a simple matter to simply move your legs slightly, as you would in a theater or other such place, when people return to their seats. If they make you feel awkward it is their problem, not yours. Best not to approach with your arms folded for a blessing unless specifically invited to do so, as it is not a custom everywhere.
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actually, there should be no communion blessings, even if you are invited. whoever invites you to recieve a blessing at communion is in the wrong. probably ignorant of what the church has asked, but still wrong, none the less.
 
Imatreehugger said:
Ok Thanks…I just want to stay out of the way as much as possible and was wondering the best way to accomplish this. Sitting at the beginning or at the end of the pew may keep me out of the way enough to avoid awkward moments. 🙂 If I have to sit in the middle…SORRY! 😃
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Don’t worry about it. Just do your best. Catholics are not going to get upset because they have to step around you – unless you are intentionally blocking the way then that might be something else. We know not everyone is eligable for communion. We are just happy that you are here. God bless.
 
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