Can a Protestant participate the Communion (the Lord Supper) in a Catholic Church?

Jesus_is_Saint · Jul 30, 2019

Can a Protestant participate the Communion (the Lord Supper) in a Catholic Church?
Jesus told us the bread and wine is to remember him.
He said God wants us to worship him in spirit and truth.

In Principle, there is nothing wrong for a baptized Christian to go to any church to take the Lord Supper.

John 4:23-24 New International Version (NIV)
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Luke 22:19 New International Version (NIV)
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Yennora · Jul 30, 2019

*I removed my reply and posted it in the other thread*

Gnarwhal · Jul 30, 2019

Under no circumstances should a protestant receive the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. The Eucharist is a Sacrament, we believe the gifts ACTUALLY become the literal flesh and blood of Christ. They are not just "bread and wine".

For a non-Catholic to receive them is at BEST disrespectful and deceitful, and at WORST self-condemning.

To the non-Catholics/former Catholics in this thread: you're in violation of the forum rules by teaching in the Catholic forum as a non-Catholic, having previously been Catholic are not qualified credentials.

**A reminder to all to go and review the forum rules before you try to refute Catholic teaching and say non-Catholics can receive the Eucharist in Mass.**

Daniel9v9 · Jul 30, 2019

If I may - Most Protestant bodies have a low view of the Sacraments. More often than not, they are understood as merely empty symbols; often reduced to memorialism. Lutherans, however, do believe, teach and confess that they are truly God's means of grace. Of the Eucharist, we believe in the Real Presence of Christ. It is understood as the Sacramental Union (not Consubstantiation, which is commonly attributed to Lutheranism, but this is wrong!), which is in effect a holy mystery. You could say that in some sense, the Eastern Orthodox and the Lutheran view on the Eucharist is not too different. However, because the Lutheran system (along with Anglican, Reformed and Eastern Orthodox, I believe) rejects Transubstantiation, we are not - or at least, we shouldn't be officially - welcome to commune with Roman Catholics.

However, I don't think it's unheard of that local churches ignore all of this and carry on with open communion. This is an issue which is not only common to Roman Catholic Churches but also Lutheran and especially Anglican. Personally, I'm for closed communion.

PS: Luther said: "I would rather have pure blood with the Pope, than drink mere wine with the Enthusiasts." (Enthusiasts are essentially charismatics who only treat the Sacraments as empty memorials)

chevyontheriver · Jul 30, 2019

Jesus_is_Saint said:
Can a Protestant participate the Communion (the Lord Supper) in a Catholic Church?
Jesus told us the bread and wine is to remember him.
He said God wants us to worship him in spirit and truth.

In Principle, there is nothing wrong for a baptized Christian to go to any church to take the Lord Supper.

Receiving communion implies being in communion where you are receiving communion. In other words it says about you that you believe the things Catholics believe when you are offered communion. If that is so, then become Catholic. If that is not yet so, keep investigating. If that will never be so, that you do not believe as Catholics believe, what you do by getting in line is to say with your actions you believe as Catholics believe but you really don't.

We don't want to exclude you. We want you to be in communion with us. And that would mean a full and deliberate communion of belief and fellowship.

chevyontheriver · Jul 30, 2019

Daniel9v9 said:
If I may - Most Protestant bodies have a low view of the Sacraments. More often than not, they are understood as merely empty symbols; often reduced to memorialism. Lutherans, however, do believe, teach and confess that they are truly God's means of grace. Of the Eucharist, we believe in the Real Presence of Christ. It is understood as the Sacramental Union (not Consubstantiation, which is commonly attributed to Lutheranism, but this is wrong!), which is in effect a holy mystery. You could say that in some sense, the Eastern Orthodox and the Lutheran view on the Eucharist is not too different. However, because the Lutheran system (along with Anglican, Reformed and Eastern Orthodox, I believe) rejects Transubstantiation, we are not - or at least, we shouldn't be officially - welcome to commune with Roman Catholics.

The Orthodox do not use the language of transubstantiation but Catholics accept the Orthodox Eucharist as real. And we would allow Orthodox to receive the Eucharist in Catholic churches. So it is not about the acceptance or non-acceptance of transubstantiation, which is considered but a serviceable explanation within a particular philosophical framework.

The thinking about Protestants is that they gave up on bishops and ordination as a sacrament and consequently do not have validly ordained priests to make a valid Eucharist. And yet some Protestants, notably some Anglicans and some Lutherans, have been recovering an episcopacy that is connected to apostolic succession. This may need to be revisited again. If your particular kind of Lutheran has a valid episcopacy, and they use that episcopacy to validly ordain priests, maybe we are less far away from each other than it usually appears. But it's not for me to decide.

TKA_TN · Jul 30, 2019

chevyontheriver said:
The Orthodox do not use the language of transubstantiation but Catholics accept the Orthodox Eucharist as real. And we would allow Orthodox to receive the Eucharist in Catholic churches. So it is not about the acceptance or non-acceptance of transubstantiation, which is considered but a serviceable explanation within a particular philosophical framework.

The thinking about Protestants is that they gave up on bishops and ordination as a sacrament and consequently do not have validly ordained priests to make a valid Eucharist. And yet some Protestants, notably some Anglicans and some Lutherans, have been recovering an episcopacy that is connected to apostolic succession. This may need to be revisited again. If your particular kind of Lutheran has a valid episcopacy, and they use that episcopacy to validly ordain priests, maybe we are less far away from each other than it usually appears. But it's not for me to decide.

And IIRC, Pope Benedict was very charitable when discussing specifically the Lutheran Eucharist.

Anhelyna · Jul 30, 2019

OK folks - I think it's time that this thread was allowed to cool down for a bit .

Before posting again in this thread I would remind everyone that their posts should agree with the SoP of OBOB Statement of Faith - OBOB Statement of Purpose

I am now closing this thread for 48 hour cool down.

Anhelyna - Senior Ambassador Member

St. Helens · Jul 30, 2019

MOD HAT ON
Members who do not truly share the core beliefs and teachings of a specific congregational forum may post in fellowship or ask questions, but they may not teach or debate within the forum.
MOD HAT OFF

Jesus_is_Saint · Aug 2, 2019

If I have become a Catholic, can I go to any Catholic church and partake the Holy Communion?

anna ~ grace · Aug 2, 2019

Jesus_is_Saint said:
If I have become a Catholic, can I go to any Catholic church and partake the Holy Communion?

This article may help you;

Who Can Receive Holy Communion?

Anhelyna · Aug 2, 2019

In your other thread - I want to be Catholic - you were advised by many posters that you need to discuss this with a Catholic Priest . The same applies here.

FreeinChrist · Aug 2, 2019

ADVISOR HAT

Going ahead and closing this thread.

The answer is to the OP is no. One must speak to a local priest and follow the guidelines of the Catholic church for conversion.

Can a Protestant participate the Communion (the Lord Supper) in a Catholic Church?

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