Why do you want Catholic Communion??????!!??!?!

[Carlan]

So you are saying that some have branded this label without it actually being true? Sounds like something Catholics go through Now if you would excuse me…I must go worship Mary. lol

Ahhh, we pray for the enlightenment of others! Peace, Carlan

 

[Peter_J]

So you are saying that some have branded this label without it actually being true? Sounds like something Catholics go through Now if you would excuse me…I must go worship Mary. lol

 

[JonNC]

I knew you would get a laugh from that.

Serious question now…I attended a wedding at a LCMS parish a few years back. Both were Lutheran and members of the LCMS. Why wasn’t the Holy Eucharist given to them at their wedding? If marriage is a Sacrament in Lutheranism, why no mass?

Marriage is not, technically, a sacrament (another thread). That said, I am not sure why. The couple may have decided against it so as not to put their non-Lutheran friends through any discomfort. Just speculation on my part.

Jon

 

[steido01]

I knew you would get a laugh from that.

Serious question now…I attended a wedding at a LCMS parish a few years back. Both were Lutheran and members of the LCMS. Why wasn’t the Holy Eucharist given to them at their wedding? If marriage is a Sacrament in Lutheranism, why no mass?

The Rite of Marriage, while certainly holy and clearly instituted by God for one man and one woman, is not considered a sacrament by most Lutherans - due to the fact that we Lutherans tend to define a sacrament as something that is:

1. 
   *]Instituted by God,
   *]and contains a visible element in which God has joined His Word
   *]by which sins are forgiven.
   
   It’s the last one that usually shaves the number of Lutheran sacraments down to three (Baptism, The Lord’s Supper, and Absolution - which some number the same as Baptism). Further clarification from the Apology to the Augsburg Confession:
   

   If we define the sacraments as rites, which have the command of God and to which the promise of grace has been added, it is easy to determine what the sacraments are, properly speaking. For humanly instituted rites are not sacraments, properly speaking, because human beings do not have the authority to promise grace. Therefore signs instituted without the command of God are not sure signs of grace, even though they perhaps serve to teach or admonish the common folk.

   With that understanding in mind, Lutherans have *typically *kept the marriage rite separate from the Mass (either placing it immediately before or after the Mass, or outside the context of the Mass altogether), so as not to confuse it with the sin-forgiving sacraments (which do take place during the Mass).
   
   That said, it still is uncommon that the rite would not be accompanied by the Mass. Perhaps the couple didn’t want to make non-communicants feel uncomfortable?

 

[steido01]

Marriage is not, technically, a sacrament (another thread).

Oops.

Sometimes, I type up my reply and take too long to submit it… I don’t notice that others have already answered in a way that keeps the thread much more on-topic!

 

[ConstantineTG]

Excellent post. Yes indeed this is a good question.
Of course there is no easy answer to any of this. I am so grateful to both of our Churches for putting forth the efforts at reconciliation but, until then, we as Catholics must wait for an invitation from our Orthodox brothers to receive.
For myself, I would not attempt to receive at an Orthodox service out of respect for my Orthodox brothers.

Peace
James

I’m also trying to make a contrast here because a lot of Catholics question other non-Catholics why they would want to receive Communion in a Catholic church, but at the same time they think it is okay to receive from the Orthodox. While the details may be different, the general reasoning is the same. That is, our beliefs have differences.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Which Eastern Orthodox Churches teach consubstantiation? I know of none.

The Orthodox have borrowed the concepts, but has never accepted transubstantiation or consubstantiation as a doctrine.

 

[MaryT777]

I’ve never heard of the Practicing Catholics before. Are you an American group, or international?

 

[JRKH]

In my humble opinion, you should read a bit more carefully. Otherwise what you read just turns into whatever you would want it to say.

This is very wise. So often I find that issues stem from “reading things into” that were never intended.

Peace
James

 

[JonNC]

I’ve never heard of the Practicing Catholics before. Are you an American group, or international?

With 1,145,000.75 non Catholic groups out there, one has to be named this. On the other hand, if one is just practicing, does that mean they are not very good at it yet ?

Jon

 

[JRKH]

With 1,145,000.75 non Catholic groups out there, one has to be named this. On the other hand, if one is just practicing, does that mean they are not very good at it yet ?

Jon

I hope not because I go to a “practicing” physician from time to time and he always seemed like he knew what he was doing.

Peace
James

 

[JonNC]

I hope not because I go to a “practicing” physician from time to time and he always seemed like he knew what he was doing.

Peace
James

Yeah, like the practicing surgeon who just replaced my knees.


Jon

 

[jediliz]

these same people that want to take the Catholic Eucharist…are they the same types that turn around and call Eucharistic Adoration offensive and say we are worshiping a “piece of bread”?

The Early Christians believed in, and died for, the True Presence.

 

[JonNC]

these same people that want to take the Catholic Eucharist…are they the same types that turn around and call Eucharistic Adoration offensive and say we are worshiping a “piece of bread”?

The Early Christians believed in, and died for, the True Presence.

I would say they are not. Generally, we’ve been discussing folks that believe in the real presence. Lutherans, for example
Practice adoration, but usually only during the sacramental act.

Jon

 

[ProdigalSun]

We don’t accept this explanation as much as you don’t accept the explanation of non-Catholics why they should be able to receive in the Catholic Church. Your concept of “validity” does not exist in the Orthodox Church. Communion for us is something more than just mere Sacramental Validity. You say that you don’t want to give Communion to Protestants because they don’t believe in everything the Catholic Church teaches. Well, we don’t believe in everything the Catholic Church teaches, and you don’t believe in everything the Orthodox Church teaches, so why again do some Catholics think they should be given Communion in the Orthodox Church?

Yes very good point. I’m not sure why any Catholic would want to or need to receive in an Orthdox church. I understand why the church allows orthodox to receive if necessary but really I can’t think of a good reason to rcieve in their churches.

peace

 

[Theresaj]

Having grown up Protestant, long litany of denomination my mom ran us through: Presbyterian, Methodist, Disciples of Christ, and UCC the one thing all those Churches had in common was open communion. No matter who you are, what your faith as long as you desired to know Jesus you were welcome at the table. See I can still recite it. You were also free to believe what you wanted about communion. My mom(serial denominationist, closet Catholic) taught me about the real presence. I was very surprised to find out no one else believed this when I was 11 or 12. For most Protestants, open communion is about acceptance. It is welcoming and evangelical to share communion. Thus, to be excluded from Catholic Communion when they so freely share theirs, no matter a person’s beliefs is difficult for many to understand. I am not speaking for all Protestant denominations, just the ones I attended as a child.

 

[Peter_J]

With 1,145,000.75 non Catholic groups out there, one has to be named this. On the other hand, if one is just practicing, does that mean they are not very good at it yet ?

Jon

It is actually rather funny (joking aside): people speak (at least on the web) as though saying that you’re Blank means that you’re really blank, whereas saying that you’re blank only means that you’re marginally blank.

In reality though, it’s the reverse. For example, I don’t consider the Episcopal Church to be episcopal, but I still call them “the Episcopal Church” because that’s their proper name. Likewise, saying “the Orthodox Church” doesn’t necessarily mean considering them orthodox.

 

[CarolNoel]

As I stated on another thread but speaks to your point is the LCMS Pastor here said he struggles with this same mentality. I WANT to TAKE Communion how dare you not let me.
We are to RECEIVE Communion. Many non Catholic Churches will allow Catholics to Commune and it’s those members it seems who are upset they can’t Commune in our Churches.

They don’t understand the Catholic understanding of true unity and Holy Communion.
I prefer to believe they don’t understand rather than they don’t care and think so what?
I’ll TAKE Communion anyway. Good grief, I hope not.

I so much prefer to RECEIVE Communion. Not TAKE it…

 

[MaryT777]

Having grown up Protestant, long litany of denomination my mom ran us through: Presbyterian, Methodist, Disciples of Christ, and UCC the one thing all those Churches had in common was open communion. No matter who you are, what your faith as long as you desired to know Jesus you were welcome at the table. See I can still recite it. You were also free to believe what you wanted about communion. My mom(serial denominationist, closet Catholic) taught me about the real presence. I was very surprised to find out no one else believed this when I was 11 or 12. For most Protestants, open communion is about acceptance. It is welcoming and evangelical to share communion. Thus, to be excluded from Catholic Communion when they so freely share theirs, no matter a person’s beliefs is difficult for many to understand. I am not speaking for all Protestant denominations, just the ones I attended as a child.

Thank you for posting this. It’s a very helpful post for those trying to understand why people get so upset and offended when t hey can’t receive in the Catholic Church.
I’m a cradle Catholic so I always wondered “Why”

Peace and blessings,
Mary

 

[mlz]

With some, there is certainly an aspect of “entitlement”, though not with all. i suspect that most believe this is the way Christ would want it, institutional differences notwithstanding.

Jon

That is what I felt prior to becoming Catholic, that Jesus would want me to be able to participate…I just didn’t understand. I do now…

mlz