Taking Communion at a protestant church

[Michael_David]

If you don’t know something for sure, you can phrase it in the form of a question, rather than stating it as a fact.

Again, Thank You.

 

[Mc_Sweeney]

Hello Brother,

A previous subscriber suggested John Paul II refered to this matter.

At a more humble level, may I add that, when we receive Holy Communion, The Body of Christ, we acknowledge this by saying Amen, Should we have any doubts about our ability to say Amen, then the obvious, though for some not the easiest, course, is to abstain.

Mother Church has seven sacraments, some other ‘churches’ have two sacraments, and these are Baptism and Marriage.

We are in Full Communion or we are not. No room for compromise.

The Reformation in England saw the Martyring of many for their faith in the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I believe we are told the Eucharest is the Source and Summit of our faith.

Every Blessing to you and your wife.

Raymond.

 

[MDK]

So this is where you and I differ. In CCD class you have those that are there to learn the Religious particulars, they are there freely and ‘want’ to learn. I am in the trenches of living life, trying to survive with what is found in the day-to-day activities… most here do not want to hear about religion if it has no immediate effects/gain on their living conditions. They would rather not be where they are, but find it hard to leave (especially now with the economy taking all the funds just to loose ground while staying where they already are.) They are ‘not willing’ to learn religion in this mentality. It is seen as a bunch of hoopla and smiling only to avoid what is really happening to them… they have to be REAL to survive. Those that want to get out of the ‘stew’ prefer drugs to religion. It doesn’t help taking drugs, only temporarily, and it doesn’t help through religion either… they see both as the same thing. They still have to come back home to the ‘stew’ that exists for them.

At least in CCD the people’s ‘will’ wants it… in the trenches, the people’s ‘will’ is against it. The Church wants to save there soul, but only they can do that with Christ in tow. I am on a different front line then you are, and for me, it’s more a ‘show me’, ‘don’t tell me’ thing. I have to be REAL to show them, even without saying a word. Once, ‘one of these’ is on safe ground, hopefully their interest will be stirred to seek more of the faith… but they will never forget how they made it out of the mess they were in, and all the ‘who’s’ that helped them do it (in the Flesh, hand and hand).

Talk with the Missionaries, they try to teach by example and the resulting interest (curiosity). The Nuns and Brothers of today are doing more on (this) front line then the Church-Proper is, thanks to the shortage of Priests.

May I suggest you re-read the Epistle of St. James again. You may then be ready for pulling others out of the quicksand…

Michael,
Charitably… where we differ is that what you have promoted is simply not taught by the Catholic Church. It has nothing to do with styles or apostolates. It has to do with being in line with the official teachings of the Catholic Church. We as Catholics don’t have the legitimate latitude to just believe as we desire when it conflicts with the Church’s teaching. Charitably, you are not there yet, and have many errors. I don’t know that I have time to provide corrections to each and every one… That’s why I asked you to please learn about these topics… from the official Catholic teachings… nothing else is guaranteed to be free from error.

 

[MDK]

If you don’t know something for sure, you can phrase it in the form of a question, rather than stating it as a fact.

Very important, yes.

Yes, very important. If you don’t know, please ask. That’s one of the great things about this forum. Please don’t post something as though you do know, that are opinions in opposition to the Church’s teachings, which you may be really wanting to ask about for verification or review. Things will go much more smoothly for all of us.

 

[WarriorAngel]

It would reduce our belief in the Eucharist to that which is clearly not the Eucharist. This would, in truth almost amount to idolatry, since it is only bread and wine or juice. We are to avoid even “near occasions of sin” - that which leads us to sin. This is in that vicinity.

Precisely. Nailed it.

Absolutely. It is a sad truth that valid holy orders were lost in the early Lutheran church. It is likewise sad that the Lutheran church had to come about in the first place, since Christ prayed that we be One.

Yes, even if the Lutherans wanted to take the ordination with them they could not. Luther was a priest and not a Bishop. And even if he was a Bishop, it wouldn’t be licit.

Also - I know of nowhere in any prophecy of the OT or NT that Christ ever suggested the Church would need a break off. In fact, as you pointed out, He never wanted a division of any kind. We know this thru His prayer.

 

[Michael_David]

Yes, very important. If you don’t know, please ask. That’s one of the great things about this forum. Please don’t post something as though you do know, that are opinions in opposition to the Church’s teachings, which you may be really wanting to ask about for verification or review. Things will go much more smoothly for all of us.

MDK, thanks for getting back to me.

Yes, I do have the interest/curiosity to know, to understand, seems my methods of inquiring are in need of an overhaul. Sometimes I do not know the questions to ask, so putting out there how ‘I see it’ should get the process going… especially if it is amiss. If my reasoning only included 50% of the data, it more then likely is not correct, if more data comes in, re-evaluation is in order. This is called learning.

Since this is a Moral Theology thread, referencing the Eucharist (in the Catholic Church) and the Communion in the protestant church, and since I have relatives in the lutheran church that have communion, I was delving into the moral realm of how each sees it and further, why. In this delving, information gathering was priority, not judging the info along the way… that can come later once all the info is in. If one immediately sees the other as wrong, with the first bit of info, it leaves understanding the entirety out of the picture. Trying to understand does not imply agreement, as that is dependent upon what one personally believes… in this case, through faith.

So, my methods of both learning and understanding are in need.

Sorry my ways seem harsh, I’ll try different approaches in the future.

 

[bankerdavid]

I think that all celebrations of the Lord’s Supper are valid in all the denominations of the Church. Since we are all a priesthood of believers and our one mediator is Jesus Christ all that is required is faith. An ordained Catholic Priest is not required. All that is required is a group of believers gathered together to remember the Lord through the paschal supper He told us to observe as often as we do it.

You’re right about the Lord’s Supper. It’s a valid meal. Which is different from Eucharist, which is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord, whole. He’s there, really present on the altar. And he requires a priest to transubstatiate the host.

The Lord’s Supper in any non-Catholic Church, if taken by the Catholic as Eucharist, is not valid. The Eucharist signifies that we are in full agreement with all present, that we are committed to the same beliefs. If you’re in a protestant church, and you’re Catholic, you are, in one respect, giving up your Catholicity by receiving the Lord’s Supper. It would mean that you’re not sure if the Catholic Church is the one true Church of God. The reverse is true of protestants receiving the Eucharist in a Catholic Church. It either means that they agree wholeheartedly with the Catholic Church, or they think it’s a symbol. It’s the Catholic’s job to straighten them out.

 

[bankerdavid]

I think the only restrictions on who can recieve communion should be 1. baptised 2. self examination

The Lord’s Supper is valid throughout the entire Universal Church. I will commune with any denomination that will let me. I would love to commune with the Catholics but they won’t let me.

They will let you, you just need to know your faith to a certain degree before you’re allowed to receive. In the ancient church, it took about two years of daily catechesis. You were dismissed with a teacher after the Word of God was read, and taught your faith. Now, you’re required to come into the Church through the RCIA program, which is usually a weekly time of catechesis over the period of a year, culminating at Easter Vigil. Conversely, you could talk to a priest, and when he’s sure you agree with the one true church, and are ready to live the faith, he’ll confirm you and you’re with us…

 

[Shiphrae]

I’m probably asking this question in the wrong thread but…

If a person is at Mass and suddenly realizes that she may have a mortal sin on her conscience, can she still receive Communion? I mean if she asks God’s forgiveness, regrets the sin and intends to go to Confession as soon as possible?

This would be only under circumstances where and when it is very difficult (maybe impossible) to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

I’m also talking about receiving Communion in a Catholic Church.

Thank you for your answer.

Shiphrae

 

[jmcrae]

I’m probably asking this question in the wrong thread but…

If a person is at Mass and suddenly realizes that she may have a mortal sin on her conscience, can she still receive Communion? I mean if she asks God’s forgiveness, regrets the sin and intends to go to Confession as soon as possible?

No, the right thing to do is remain in your place, make an Act of Contrition, and then make sure to go to Confession at the earliest possible opportunity.

This would be only under circumstances where and when it is very difficult (maybe impossible) to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

If there is Mass, there is a priest. If there are no scheduled times for Reconciliation, get the priest’s attention after Mass, and arrange with him to make your Confession at that time, or as soon as possible. If he is not likely to return for several weeks (like, if it’s a rural area and he is on a circuit), ask him to give you Holy Communion after you have made your Confession.

 

[Mc_Sweeney]

Shiphrae,

As has been stated/advised, you would be wise to make a Spiritual Communion while remaining in your seat, making a quiet Act of Contrition and undertaking to seek be reconciled by private confession.

I am at a loss why people who are blessed to be part of Christ’s Mystical Body, and in commuiion with Christ’s Vicar on earth, would wish to receive the elements at a non-catholic church. How can one, in all conscience, say Amen to that which they know to be false. We are Catholic or we are not.

Every blessing,

Raymond.

 

[Shiphrae]

My question about Communion was as follows:

When I was a in high school a teacher (a nun) told us that we were allowed to go to Communion without having gone to Confession even if we thought we might not be in the state of grace. However it was under the following conditions:

1. She was talking to a group of teenagers. You all know what that means. Some of them would need Confession every day and just before Mass.
2. It was before a day of obligation, some time in the middle of the week. Time for Confession was late Saturday afternoon.
3. It was a rural area. The priest was very busy. He had the parish plus 2 other mission churches to attend to. That meant Mass at 3 churches, Confessions, anointing of the sick, Baptisms, Weddings, etc.

I assume that the teacher spoke to the priest before hand. The Bishop might even have given a special dispensation to the priest since he knew the situation.

God being omniscient knows each one’s heart. Since He is also onmipresent, the person may have already confessed. ( The person has the intention of receiving Penance as soon as possible.

The priest also has the power to absolve the congregation as a group, under special circumstances.

However, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, one may be absolved by having perfect contrition. We would, then, be obligated to go to Confession as soon as possible.

Does someone know about perfect contition? If so, was my teacher right?

 

[jmcrae]

If so, was my teacher right?

Your teacher was your teacher. The student has to assume that his teacher is right. If you are always second-guessing your teacher, you won’t make very much progress.

But once you are out of school, you do what you know to be right, even if it is different than what your teacher was telling you to do, back when you were a student in school. You just look back, and you realize that the situation was different back then, for whatever reason - usually because of something going on in the background that you have no way of knowing about.