Communion on the Go

[Adammi]

When traveling, Sunday comes around, so you go to Mass. Can you recieve the Eucharist? If so, how do you prove that you are Catholic to be able to partake?

 

[InnerPhyre]

Yes you may. The priest will usually give communion to anyone who approches, as Catholic churches are generally too large for him to ask everyone.

 

[Adammi]

But what if you are not Catholic?

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

ATS,

I was just wondering, if you are receiving the Eucharist? If you have not yet been received into the Church, you should not be receiving the Eucharist.

If you are Catholic, or if you are not receiving then its fine, but I just want to make sure.

 

[Adammi]

NO NO NO!! I have never even been in a Catholic church.
Even if I had I woudn't do that.
I am unworthy, I have never confessed. You couldn't make me take communion!!

 

[InnerPhyre]

But what if you are not Catholic?

If you are not Catholic, you commit a grave offense by receiving the Eucharist.

 

[Adammi]

If you are not Catholic, you commit a grave offense by receiving the Eucharist.

Okay, so you're not scrutinized, you are at your own freewill, but you wouldn't dare take it if you know what's good for you?!?

 

[InnerPhyre]

Okay, so you're not scrutinized, you are at your own freewill, but you wouldn't dare take it if you know what's good for you?!?

Unfortunately, at many parishes it's just not possible to scrutinize. My parish has over 9,000 members. It would take forever. Even less fortunately, I doubt that half the people who take communion know that they must confess any mortal sins beforehand...and another 1/3 don't even believe they're receiving Jesus.

 

[Adammi]

Unfortunately, at many parishes it's just not possible to scrutinize. My parish has over 9,000 members. It would take forever. Even less fortunately, I doubt that half the people who take communion know that they must confess any mortal sins beforehand...and another 1/3 don't even believe they're receiving Jesus.

That is very sad.

 

[Carrye]

That is very sad.

Which is why we need people like you who are so aware. I'm quite impressed with your knowledge (and awareness) about this.

 

[Gwynne]

Even though I'm not Catholic, I know enough about the church to know the partaking of the Eucharist when you're not Catholic is a huge no-no, however a lot of people don't know that. My aunt told me of a time when she was in high school, attending the United Methodist church (same one I go to in fact) and they did a study of different denominations and religions in their Sunday School. Each Sunday during the summer they would go to a different service at a different church. On the Sunday they attended Mass at our local Catholic Parish, one of the girls in the class got up to take the Eucharist. She thought it was just like in the Methodist church where all are welcomed, regardless of denomination. I think it's like that with most people. They either don't realize that the Eucharist is reserved for confessing Catholics, and that there are very specific, and very logical, reasons for that.

 

[EllenMoran]

The instructions and limitations are printed in the front of the missalette (sp?), but obviously that isn't read by everyone. I don't think I even realized it was there until someone in here mentioned it, and it's not because I don't open the missalette -- I always follow along with the readings because it's easier for me to reflect and internalize if I'm reading along.

 

[Xpycoctomos]

If you are not Catholic, you commit a grave offense by receiving the Eucharist.

This is true if you klnow what you are doing, but I don't think this is necessarily true if it is done out of ignorance. It is the priest's responsablity to guard the Eucharist to the best of his ability. That why I think it is good policy (especially in large Parishes) to make an announcement beforehand. I have heard many such announcements (in Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox Parishes) that were very graceful and not at all offensive sounding. I have a friend who figured she was Catholic because she thought believed a lot of the same stuff and went to Mass at a pretty regular basis. So, not knowing any better, she went to communion quite a bit. Then a friend of hers who was Catholic found out and explained things to her. I can't imagine that this girl committed a grave sin.

I could be wrong on all of this, but I thought this point of view was pretty Catholic. If not, I stand corrected and sorry for misleading anyone.

John

 

[Archbishop 10-K]

This is true if you klnow what you are doing, but I don't think this is necessarily true if it is done out of ignorance. It is the priest's responsablity to guard the Eucharist to the best of his ability. That why I think it is good policy (especially in large Parishes) to make an announcement beforehand. I have heard many such announcements (in Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox Parishes) that were very graceful and not at all offensive sounding. I have a friend who figured she was Catholic because she thought believed a lot of the same stuff and went to Mass at a pretty regular basis. So, not knowing any better, she went to communion quite a bit. Then a friend of hers who was Catholic found out and explained things to her. I can't imagine that this girl committed a grave sin.

I could be wrong on all of this, but I thought this point of view was pretty Catholic. If not, I stand corrected and sorry for misleading anyone.

John

It's still a grave matter, but the Catholic view is prbably that she was committing venial sin, because it was accidental (she didn't intend to profane God, and she would not have done so if she knew about the rule.)

 

[InnerPhyre]

This is true if you klnow what you are doing, but I don't think this is necessarily true if it is done out of ignorance. It is the priest's responsablity to guard the Eucharist to the best of his ability. That why I think it is good policy (especially in large Parishes) to make an announcement beforehand. I have heard many such announcements (in Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox Parishes) that were very graceful and not at all offensive sounding. I have a friend who figured she was Catholic because she thought believed a lot of the same stuff and went to Mass at a pretty regular basis. So, not knowing any better, she went to communion quite a bit. Then a friend of hers who was Catholic found out and explained things to her. I can't imagine that this girl committed a grave sin.

I could be wrong on all of this, but I thought this point of view was pretty Catholic. If not, I stand corrected and sorry for misleading anyone.

John

It is still a grave offense, but if the offense is committed in ignorance, the person is clearly less responsible for it.

 

[Irenaeus]

I am having Protestant family over this next two weeks and I am terrified to have to tell them that they can't receive the Eucharist, because my Mom is going to probably make me shut up about it.

I don't want them to sin by doing it! Sometimes I wonder if I should keep my mouth shut so they will be in ignorance, but I know that wouldn't be the right thing to do.

 

[Adammi]

Ireneaus,
Since your parents are Protestant, did you convert? When?

 

[BornCath]

I am having Protestant family over this next two weeks and I am terrified to have to tell them that they can't receive the Eucharist, because my Mom is going to probably make me shut up about it.

I don't want them to sin by doing it! Sometimes I wonder if I should keep my mouth shut so they will be in ignorance, but I know that wouldn't be the right thing to do.

You'll be doing the right thing by not shutting your mouth. If a child is about to take a medication that you know is not for him/her, you have to stop him/her from taking it. It is not charitable not to do so. Taking communion is a serious thing that should not be taken for granted. Out of charity (love) for that protestant family you are right to tell them not to take communion because they will sin. During mass the priest prays before communion "...grant that it does not bring me condemnation but health in mind and body". Before taking communion Catholics should pray that way too tho' maybe in different words. St. Paul says "whoever eats the bread & drinks the wine without descerning it is guilty of the body & blood of our Lord". So receiving communion can result in one being condemned & that is what you are trying to prevent from happening to that protestant family. You'll be committing sin yourself if you shut up because you failed to prevent sin from happening when you can prevent it. Leaving the protestant family in their ignorance will not solve anything because there is such thing as 'sin of ignorance'. Is this not an indication of sin of ignorance when Jesus said "if I did not come you would not have sinned" and then again "if I did'nt come and do the things that noone would do, you would not have sinned"?