Taking Communion at Protestant Church during Catholic Conversion

[Mr_Friscus]

My question for the OP is: “Why is he going to Confession if he is not Catholic yet?”

The exact story:

1. I was raised Lutheran my entire life, My father a Lutheran minister. I attended Lutheran services.
2. My brother, who also grew up Lutheran obviously, converted to Catholicism and got his Masters in bible & theology from Duke Divinity School.
3. I debated him constantly, using the cliche, ignorant Protestant debate points on the pope, praying to saints, and the virgin Mary.
4. I did the homework, and opened my mind up. Suddenly, after many talks and much searching, combined with an overall frustration with the disunity in Protestantism overall, I made the conscious choice that Catholicism was, indeed, where I must submit.
5. I went to a Catholic church, partaking in no sacraments. I was lazy about beginning any sort of RCIA.
6. After recieving what I consider a divine “kick in the pants” from God, I was suddenly consciously-revealed to the dangers of my mortal sin, something not taught in Lutheranism, and the true salvation offered in the sacrament of Confession.
7. I was often in tears, worried, riddled with guilt. I felt marked for death.
8. I sought out a Roman Catholic Church nearby and attended a mass. I spoke with the Priest after the service. He noticed my condition, and told me to come by that Tuesday and we’d talk.
9. On that Tuesday, I explained to him my path, my fear, my yearn to truly confess away my sins of the flesh that were eating me, and yet keeping me entrenched in sin. We spoke for hours about Protestant-Catholic issues, of which I am well-versed.
10. I told him I’m not sure how set-in-stone the process of becoming Catholic is, and if I’d have to wait until October I’d have to wait, but how I was desperate to partake in Confession and begin my process.
11. He offered me the opportunity to give my first Confession on that Tuesday, right where I sat. I at first almost laughed, thinking he wasn’t serious, but immediately my tears of worry and guilty were replaces with tears of happiness and reverence for God’s grace.
12. After I confessed, the priest got a form from the office and we filled out paperwork. I fetched him my certificate of Baptism that Sunday, which I recieved as a Lutheran. Yet, a Lutheran baptism is honored by the Catholic church as it is Trinitarian.
13. He sent the paperwork to the Bishop. I attend Mass there every Sunday. I don’t take the Eucharist as I’m not Catholic yet, and have given no profession of faith. I’m waiting to hear now what the next step is.

Does he not know that he cannot partake in the sacraments until he is fully Catholic?

According to my brother, his Catholic Church, any Catholic church he’s been to, the seeming norm in Catholic churches, and my Catholic church… Confession is offered to those in the process of becoming Catholic. My brother was allowed to give his first Confession midway through his RCIA. Gosh, I can’t tell you how blessed I was to be offered my first Confession by my priest.

 

[TK421]

So, is my priest a heretic?

No. Formal heresy involves subscribing to a false doctrine or rejecting Catholic doctrine. i.e. rejecting the Real Presence, or the Virgin Birth.

This is - in my opinion - bad judgment on his part for him to say you can receive protestant communion even though you have already in your heart doctrinally departed from what Lutheranism teaches. From everything that I have learned about what communion is and what communion means, it is complete madness to participate in a communion that internally conflicts with what you believe in. Communion is a public statement. In the act of communion you are saying “I believe in what you teach”. So… do you or do you not believe in what the Lutheran church teaches? Are you (though not yet sacramentally) a Catholic or a protestant? You cannot be both.

I think your priest is looking at it from the perspective of Church law. You are not yet a confirmed Catholic, so perhaps technically speaking, you are not yet bound by Church law. I’m looking at it in terms of logic and moral theology. Whether or not you’re officially Catholic, you’re participating in a communion that you doctrinally do not agree with. If you believe the Catholic Church possesses the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord who loves us beyond all comprehension, I cannot for my part understand how the mere thought of receiving a protestant communion would not be painful for you. That is me.

Like I said earlier, I will post the results. I submitted this question to Ask An Apologist.

 

[MaryT777]

The exact story:

1. I was raised Lutheran my entire life, My father a Lutheran minister. I attended Lutheran services.
2. My brother, who also grew up Lutheran obviously, converted to Catholicism and got his Masters in bible & theology from Duke Divinity School.
3. I debated him constantly, using the cliche, ignorant Protestant debate points on the pope, praying to saints, and the virgin Mary.
4. I did the homework, and opened my mind up. Suddenly, after many talks and much searching, combined with an overall frustration with the disunity in Protestantism overall, I made the conscious choice that Catholicism was, indeed, where I must submit.
5. I went to a Catholic church, partaking in no sacraments. I was lazy about beginning any sort of RCIA.
6. After recieving what I consider a divine “kick in the pants” from God, I was suddenly consciously-revealed to the dangers of my mortal sin, something not taught in Lutheranism, and the true salvation offered in the sacrament of Confession.
7. I was often in tears, worried, riddled with guilt. I felt marked for death.
8. I sought out a Roman Catholic Church nearby and attended a mass. I spoke with the Priest after the service. He noticed my condition, and told me to come by that Tuesday and we’d talk.
9. On that Tuesday, I explained to him my path, my fear, my yearn to truly confess away my sins of the flesh that were eating me, and yet keeping me entrenched in sin. We spoke for hours about Protestant-Catholic issues, of which I am well-versed.
10. I told him I’m not sure how set-in-stone the process of becoming Catholic is, and if I’d have to wait until October I’d have to wait, but how I was desperate to partake in Confession and begin my process.
11. He offered me the opportunity to give my first Confession on that Tuesday, right where I sat. I at first almost laughed, thinking he wasn’t serious, but immediately my tears of worry and guilty were replaces with tears of happiness and reverence for God’s grace.
12. After I confessed, the priest got a form from the office and we filled out paperwork. I fetched him my certificate of Baptism that Sunday, which I recieved as a Lutheran. Yet, a Lutheran baptism is honored by the Catholic church as it is Trinitarian.
13. He sent the paperwork to the Bishop. I attend Mass there every Sunday. I don’t take the Eucharist as I’m not Catholic yet, and have given no profession of faith. I’m waiting to hear now what the next step is.

According to my brother, his Catholic Church, any Catholic church he’s been to, the seeming norm in Catholic churches, and my Catholic church… Confession is offered to those in the process of becoming Catholic. My brother was allowed to give his first Confession midway through his RCIA. Gosh, I can’t tell you how blessed I was to be offered my first Confession by my priest.

What a wonderful story of a conversion on the way “home to Rome.” I wish you all the best.
I would take the advice of a wonderful priest such as yours and ask the moderator to close this thread. The question was asked and you found the answer by your own kind caring priest, No reason to doubt him and ask for affirmation on an Internet site in my opinion.

You noted many thoughts on receiving Communion with your Lutheran family one last time and I think it would be a wonderful thing to do with them before you are confirmed into the Church.

Peace and Blessings,
Mary.

 

[TK421]

What a wonderful story of a conversion on the way “home to Rome.” I wish you all the best.
I would take the advice of a wonderful priest such as yours and ask the moderator to close this thread. The question was asked and you found the answer by your own kind caring priest, No reason to doubt him and ask for affirmation on an Internet site in my opinion.

You noted many thoughts on receiving Communion with your Lutheran family one last time and I think it would be a wonderful thing to do with them before you are confirmed into the Church.

Peace and Blessings,
Mary.

If this thread is closed I am re-introducing a similar one. I will not let a subject as important as communion go by the wayside because of sentimentality towards the priest. You have no right to discourage dialogue on this subject and there is much more that is yet to be discussed here that will be beneficial towards everybody.

 

[TK421]

I am very, very much in my conscience not okay with this legalistic philosophy of “He isn’t a Catholic in the books yet, so it doesn’t matter if he receives protestant communion” and I have a strong suspicion how the well-versed apologist here is going to answer my query.

There is much more to be discussed in this thread and I believe it would be deeply regrettable if it were prematurely closed when both the OP and others may still gain valuable insight and a deeper appreciation for the infinite beauty of communion. God protect us if we should begin to look at moments of doubt or uncertainty as occasions that we must flee from. The OP is a mature adult and I don’t think a little bit of lively discussion is going to destroy his young faith. This is how we grow. This is how any of us grow.

 

[dcana]

My personal opinion is that consubstantiation is easier to believe than transubstantiation. When one holds a visible white piece of host and says “This is my body” it’s hard to make someone believe it is no longer the bread. But it is clear in the Latin that “Hoc,” (as in “hoc est enim corpus meum”) being in neuter gender no longer is the “panem” which is masculine in gender but corpus, which is neuter in gender. So the Latin confirms the transubstantiation. “Hoc” (this) = “corpus” (body) and not = “panem” (bread). The English is so vague one can draw either conclusion, it’s the body all right but it could be bread still or not bread anymore. Hope that makes sense. .

Excuse the lack of capitalization where you think it might be more appropriate.

It may be hard to believe but so what? We see with the eyes of faith and believe in Jesus’ word. How is it harder to believe than consubstantiation anyway? People who hold to consubstantiation believe that Jesus truly becomes present. How does He do that? First He was not there, and then He is there. How do you “explain” that? How do you “explain” how He created the universe out of nothing? Our God can do anything He wants. When He says, “This is my body,” I believe Him.

Maybe I’m being too simplistic, but if you have one “object” it can only be one “thing” or “substance”. Something can’t be two things at the same time. That would be something that even God could not “do” (so to speak) because it is logically impossible, like making a square circle.

In my opinion.

Sorry for the interruption. I was kind of shocked to hear someone say that the Orthodox believe in consubstantiation.

I really don’t feel like I should comment on the original question, since I am of two minds on it and I don’t want to lead someone in the wrong direction. Except to say that I’d suggest that the OP should follow the advice of his priest with a clear conscience. (unless it’s not clear and it remains so, even after reflection and prayer - then that’s another story ; one always has to follow one’s conscience)

God bless

 

[Rosebud77]

A friend here in Ireland had a similar concern. The parish priest told her that even after exception, if the fact of her not being able to take communion with her Anglican family caused her " hardship" the bishop would allow it. The accent was on getting that word exact.and it had to be from the bishop that permision was given, This priest was a theologian of high repute doing parish work for a limted time so i would trust that

 

[ProVobis]

When He says, “This is my body,” I believe Him.

But that’s the point. Many see the English demonstrative “this” in an unintended way, though they probably don’t realize it. If they take it to mean “this (bread) is my body” they could very well feel it is both bread and body at the same time. Unless, of course, you’re willing to take the time and effort to convince those people it’s not by introducing concepts such as accidents and substance.

 

[Richard_White]

According to my brother, his Catholic Church, any Catholic church he’s been to, the seeming norm in Catholic churches, and my Catholic church… Confession is offered to those in the process of becoming Catholic. My brother was allowed to give his first Confession midway through his RCIA. Gosh, I can’t tell you how blessed I was to be offered my first Confession by my priest.

After doing a little bit of research, it looks you can definitely receive Confession as an RCIA candidate after you have gone through either your final Profession of Faith or some type of closing point in RCIA, or even once you have definitively decided to become Catholic, as it is necessary before First Communion and Confession.

However, you are not even in RCIA yet; therefore, I think it was premature fro your priest to offer you Confession and absolution from Christ.

May God bless you and continue to guide you to the Light of His Catholic Faith!

 

[ProVobis]

I’m in the midst of converting the Catholicism. I’ve made multiple confessions, but am not technically Catholic yet.

I’m going out of town this weekend to visit family with my mother. She is a Protestant, and would like to commune with me one more time.

I’ve taken on the Catholic life for the most part, but would I be able to take communion one more time with my mother, grandmother, and grandfather before my full conversion?

I don’t think strangers on the internet are qualified to answer this for you, especially given limited and perhaps unfamiliar information. My advice is to talk to your priest, who’s more aware of the situation, about it.

 

[dcana]

But that’s the point. Many see the English demonstrative “this” in an unintended way, though they probably don’t realize it. If they take it to mean “this (bread) is my body” they could very well feel it is both bread and body at the same time. Unless, of course, you’re willing to take the time and effort to convince those people it’s not by introducing concepts such as accidents and substance.

Bread is bread. That statement should seem rather redundant and self-explanatory, as it, in fact, is. Bread can’t be something else at the same time, nor can anything else for that matter. It can only be a symbol of something else. It could be a symbol of Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. But we do not believe the Eucharist to be a just a symbol (and it is a beautiful and most appropriate symbol), but the true, complete, substantial Presence of Christ.

Is a duck a chicken? Is a cat a gooseberry? Is a flame water? I could go on, and on, and on… Aren’t these propositions justifiably seen as ridiculous?

If so, why?

Could our omnipotent God, if He chose to, make a duck a chicken at the same time? Since we’re discussing the possibility of an inanimate object (bread) being at the same time an animate object (Christ’s Body), maybe a more appropriate question would be “Could our omnipotent God, if He chose to, make a door a marmoset at the same time?” Why or why not?

 

[ProVobis]

But we do not believe the Eucharist to be a just a symbol (and it is a beautiful and most appropriate symbol), but the true, complete, substantial Presence of Christ.

I’ve attended a Lutheran service and I don’t think they believe it’s just a symbol either. And their service very much resembles a Catholic Mass.

 

[Bookcat]

But doesn’t the Catholic Church teach that Roman Catholics may recieve the eucharist in our churches if it’s urgent or part of the last rites? .

The difference being that the Eastern Orthodox have valid Orders and valid Eucharist. And of course that is not the norm…but rather the exception.

And there is NO absolutely NO communion between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church so to say that the communion part of the eucharist is should prevent OP from receiving at his Protestant church while catholics may recieve in Orthodox Churches according to the Roman rules make no sense…

Actually such is not true. We are not in full Communion with each other (Catholic and Orthodox) but we are in a very real and close communion.

 

[Bookcat]

My mother knows that once I’m Catholic, we won’t be able to commune together.

This would be like a “goodbye” communion as far as taking it together…

If it were me - I would say answer on the side of no. One would not want to do such.

Before I was received into the Church I received communion at my friends Protestant liturgy - I was a teenager and did not realize yet I should not really…but then at a certain point (I was going with them often for a while out of friendship…and I liked this girl…) I realized I should not for it was not actually Jesus and that I was already Catholic “at heart and in Faith and intellect” and I disagreed with with their beliefs. So I ceased.

Also the very fact that your professing the Faith really already - and you said you have even received the Sacrament of Confession already (which is done somewhere prior to reception into the Church - usually rather near to that time).

It is not like your “a Protestant” - who is looking into the Catholic Church.

(And it would seem to that the act would simply be contrary to the truth. One actions not being in keeping with reality and the truth of the matter. A kind of lie really…)

 

[dcana]

I’ve attended a Lutheran service and I don’t think they believe it’s just a symbol either. And their service very much resembles a Catholic Mass.

Correct, they believe it is bread and Christ’s Body. But I don’t think they would say they adore Him in the Eucharist, which makes me wonder what they really believe. Maybe I’m wrong there. You can’t (that is, mustn’t) worship a symbol, since that would be idolatry. Do you know what they do with “consecrated” hosts that are left over or how they deal with particles of hosts that may come off? I’m not asking knowing the answer. I really don’t know. It seems to me if you really believe that Christ is substantially present, just as present as He is now in Heaven, you would treat the hosts with the utmost respect, and adore Him in the Sacrament, just as the angels are bowing down before His substantial presence at this very moment in Heaven.

 

[dcana]

Maybe Lutherans would say that they believe in the Real Presence, but not in His substantial presence? Well, is He not really present where two or three gather in His name? Yes. Is he not really present in His Word? Yes. What about in our brothers and sisters, especially the poor and suffering? Yes again. In fact, there is nowhere that He is not really present in some way. He is really present in a sense - a very real sense - in a tree and even in hell, since He holds these things in existence by His Will, and where a spirit acts (in this case the Divine Spirit - God), there a spirit is. But He is not substantially present in any of these other places or in any of these other ways. He is only substantially present in two, if you will, places: 1. Heaven, 2. In the consecrated elements in Catholic and Orthodox churches.

So while He is really present in a tree, we do not worship trees. We don’t worship the Bible either. It contains God’s Word, but it is just ink on paper, it’s not God Himself, nor can it be, for the same reason as above. A book can’t be anything other than a book.

 

[dcana]

Sorry, I gotta run.

My apologies. I didn’t mean to hijack this thread.

I should start another thread on the Eastern Orthodox’ theological understanding of the Eucharist.

 

[Casilda]

The exact story:

1. I was raised Lutheran my entire life, My father a Lutheran minister. I attended Lutheran services.
2. My brother, who also grew up Lutheran obviously, converted to Catholicism and got his Masters in bible & theology from Duke Divinity School.
3. I debated him constantly, using the cliche, ignorant Protestant debate points on the pope, praying to saints, and the virgin Mary.
4. I did the homework, and opened my mind up. Suddenly, after many talks and much searching, combined with an overall frustration with the disunity in Protestantism overall, I made the conscious choice that Catholicism was, indeed, where I must submit.
5. I went to a Catholic church, partaking in no sacraments. I was lazy about beginning any sort of RCIA.
6. After recieving what I consider a divine “kick in the pants” from God, I was suddenly consciously-revealed to the dangers of my mortal sin, something not taught in Lutheranism, and the true salvation offered in the sacrament of Confession.
7. I was often in tears, worried, riddled with guilt. I felt marked for death.
8. I sought out a Roman Catholic Church nearby and attended a mass. I spoke with the Priest after the service. He noticed my condition, and told me to come by that Tuesday and we’d talk.
9. On that Tuesday, I explained to him my path, my fear, my yearn to truly confess away my sins of the flesh that were eating me, and yet keeping me entrenched in sin. We spoke for hours about Protestant-Catholic issues, of which I am well-versed.
10. I told him I’m not sure how set-in-stone the process of becoming Catholic is, and if I’d have to wait until October I’d have to wait, but how I was desperate to partake in Confession and begin my process.
11. He offered me the opportunity to give my first Confession on that Tuesday, right where I sat. I at first almost laughed, thinking he wasn’t serious, but immediately my tears of worry and guilty were replaces with tears of happiness and reverence for God’s grace.
12. After I confessed, the priest got a form from the office and we filled out paperwork. I fetched him my certificate of Baptism that Sunday, which I recieved as a Lutheran. Yet, a Lutheran baptism is honored by the Catholic church as it is Trinitarian.
13. He sent the paperwork to the Bishop. I attend Mass there every Sunday. I don’t take the Eucharist as I’m not Catholic yet, and have given no profession of faith. I’m waiting to hear now what the next step is.

According to my brother, his Catholic Church, any Catholic church he’s been to, the seeming norm in Catholic churches, and my Catholic church… Confession is offered to those in the process of becoming Catholic. My brother was allowed to give his first Confession midway through his RCIA. Gosh, I can’t tell you how blessed I was to be offered my first Confession by my priest.

Thank you for sharing. You have the fortune of having a true servant of God, a merciful shepherd for a priest. I see that back in post #26, you received his answer. No other opinions matter. Seek his counsel, avoid these frivolous debates here.

 

[Bookcat]

Thank you for sharing. You have the fortune of having a true servant of God, a merciful shepherd for a priest. I see that back in post #26, you received his answer. No other opinions matter. Seek his counsel, avoid these frivolous debates here.

From that post - I would suggest going further into the topic…even a good Priest can make a misjudgment. For even as I noted -the action of going to communion in that community at this point would even be a kind of lie - and I would say would be acting contrary to the Faith that one has received already. I do not think Father thought it through well enough. Priests deal with various Protestants who are not at the stage this person is seemingly at…so what may be the case in many circumstances (say the persons in good conscience have not yet decided to be Catholic yet…but are attending classes thinking that it seems to be the truth but are not yet sure…and believes they can still attend their old community while they are thinking about things…etc etc).

 

[TK421]

Please stop discussing transubstantiation/consubstantiation in this thread. There are already several members pushing to have this thread abruptly closed & forced into silence after one priest gave his opinion, and I very badly wish to be able to post the response of the CAF apologist on this question. I believe this is a very important and dear question to the heart that is being asked and it would be a grievous lose if further insight were not able to be given.