When to receive Communion question

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nickiwool

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So this Sunday we went to church as a family for the first time in a long time. This was my husbands maybe second time ever going to a catholic mass. I had converted to protestant when we where dating. I converted back to catholic recently. So during communion I had us sit. He asked after why we couldn’t go up? or why the kids weren’t allowed to. I told him I that I had only been infant baptized but that was as far as I had gone. As was he. That I only attended mass with my mother but never received communion and never found out why. So my question is, why can’t we accept it? Why can’t my kids either? . I was never told why not. Also please include the steps taken if there are any so I know what to do from here. Thank you 🙂

-Nicki
 
Hi!
Welcome back!

To recieve the most important sacrament - the eucharist, we have to be fully prepared to do so. The church offers us the posibility to build our faith by the sacraments given by Jesus through catechism.

So you should go to your local parish to see how you and your children can go about doing this!

God bless you
 
Nickiwool, it appears that, for no fault of your own, you have not been properly instructed in the faith and I would suggest that both you and your husband attend the RCIA class in your parish which is also a “refresher” course for reverts. I am assuming your husband is not Catholic or likewise poorly instructed and in need of an RCIA Class.

Consuming the HOLY EUCHARIST is not as it is in Protestant services, where the emphasis is on “representation”, as in this wafer “represents” the body of JESUS, but it is not the body of JESUS. While in the Catholic Sacrafice of the Mass, the EUCHARIST is “JESUS”, HIS actual BODY and BLOOD - there is no “representation”, there is only a true and actual presence of JESUS. And it is necessary to believe in the true presence when consuming JESUS to avoid entering into a sacrilege. Catholic communion is not “casual” it is an intimate and Holy relationship with your GOD and SAVIOR and not to be entered into without preparation (Confession of mortal sins, fasting 1 hour before Mass).
Talk to your parish priest and inform him of your history, he will direct you into the proper course.

Likewise, I would ensure your children enter the CCD classes so that they may begin their course of instruction as well.
 
To receive communion one must be Catholic, have been prepared to receive communion (know what it is, why we do what we do, that kind of stuff), be in a state of grace (no mortal sin), and have observed the one hour fast.

So it sounds like your husband and kids (?) aren’t Catholic, so that cuts that out right there. The reason only Catholics may receive is because unlike many other Christians, in the Catholic church the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. Additionally, in receiving communion we are saying that we believe what the Church teaches and are in communion with the Church.

As for you, a baptized, but non-catechized Catholic, we are supposed to go through a period of preparation before we receive communion for the first time so that we know what we are doing when we receive, not so much physically (hold out hands, place host in mouth), but spiritually (receiving the Body and Blood of Christ).

As for where to go from here, the first step is to call your local parish and tell them that you were baptized Catholic but not catechized and your husband and children are not Catholic and would like to be (I assume that is what they want since you are asking) and they will help you go from there.

Generally, you will go through some classes to help you prepare for your first confession, first communion and confirmation. Often times this will happen through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) process, but your parish might have a separate group for those who are already Catholic. Your husband would also go through the RCIA process and prepare for which ever sacraments he needs (I’m unclear as to whether or not he has been baptized). As for the kids, it depends on if they are already baptized and how old they are. If they are under 7, you can have them baptized as infants and they will prepare for their first communion at the same time as their peers who have grown up Catholic. If they are older than 7, they will most likely go through a children’s version of RCIA and be baptized, confirmed and receive first communion at the same time. But like I said, the first step is to call your local parish and go from there.

And lastly, welcome back! 😃
 
Contact the local Pastor …get the ball rolling as they say 🙂

Praised be Jesus Christ!
 
Oh ok great! I completely understand now what it represents and what is needed to get started. My husband was also catholic baptized when he was an infant as I was. My oldest son was also catholic baptized when he was an infant (I still considered myself in the catholic religion at the time). My other children are not.

My only problem will be, explaining this to my husband. He was attending a non-denominational church for years before we dated, he must have been about 19 back then, and has never been with any other faith. I at least grew up going to church was taught the prayers, prayed the rosary, had faith in the virgin mary and saints. I did almost everything catholic growing up except going to confession and communion. My adoptive parents where very elderly could not drive when it got dark so I was never able to go to any classes within the faith. Then when I became a teen they where not able to drive anymore at all. So I did not attend church anymore until later when I got my licence at 20.

Thing is I understand the importance of things in the faith. My husband who only attended the protestant church does not understand why we need certain rituals or anything. The protestant church taught us to go to God to confess we did not need a priest. We would only pray to God because he said to not worship anyone else. and that praying in repetition was evil. Yes, evil because it was the devils way or something. and that we could be baptized if we just believe in Jesus. That anyone could accept the communion because no one has a right to tell us we can’t when the bible says Jesus told the deciples to do this in memory of him. I want to get us to go to the classes, but have no idea how. He works 2 hours away and gets home at 6pm. Wakes up at 3am. Then if I went, there is no one to watch my children. I guess I have two problems going on here, one trying to explain why our church has rules and why his didn’t. and how to get us to class.

I thank all of you for all your information so far 🙂 I have a better understand.

Many Blessings,
-Nicki
 
Learn your faith before you become an apologist (defender). Besides debating rarely converts anyone, living your faith does. Talk to your priest they may be able to work out a program for home study.
 
A book you may find helpful for yourself and your husband is Catholicism for Dummies in the …for Dummies series of books.

But the first step to return to the Church is to contact your pastor.

And pray!
 
hilde_the_dog said:
Learn your faith before you become an apologist (defender). Besides debating rarely converts anyone, living your faith does. Talk to your priest they may be able to work out a program for home study.
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Hi there 🙂 … I am not to sure I understand what you meant. Don’t debate until I can defend. I am confused :confused:. You mean with my husband? don’t try to convert him?

-Nicki
 
smswife said:
A book you may find helpful for yourself and your husband is Catholicism for Dummies in the …for Dummies series of books.

But the first step to return to the Church is to contact your pastor.

And pray!
Click to expand...
haha Oh wow I never knew that book existed!, and to think I love the dummies books lol. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. In fact I am going to go tonight to go buy that book hopefully the huge bookstores near me have it.

I am also going to call the church I have been going to right now. Thanks again!

-Nicki
 
nickiwool said:
I want to get us to go to the classes, but have no idea how. He works 2 hours away and gets home at 6pm. Wakes up at 3am. Then if I went, there is no one to watch my children.
Click to expand...
Talk to someone at your parish, either your priest or whoever is in charge of RCIA or adult confirmation. They should be able to work something out for you, either one on one instruction or someone to help with child care or something.
 
KarenElissa said:
Talk to someone at your parish, either your priest or whoever is in charge of RCIA or adult confirmation. They should be able to work something out for you, either one on one instruction or someone to help with child care or something.
Click to expand...
It falls to the parish to help you with your religious education. Welcome Home :)👍
 
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