Please help me, I need it.

[Michelina]

...Wait, mandatory communion?
Er.. ..Wow.
I dunno. I'd probably treat it as the people there treat it; it's a reminder of a real thing. That you might later do the real thing, and they might decide not to, doesn't change the intent of the ceremony. And it's not necessarily a bad ceremony in and of itself...

That's not the way we see it, Friend Seebs.

(Er, not trying to debate here, just trying to offer a suggestion.) (Do I still need these disclaimers?)

Not for my sake nor for many others. We know your good heart and honest intentions.

Maybe you could make a generalized statement and keep it as your signature.

 

[seebs]

Well, now I'm curious. What is Catholic teaching on the Communion ceremonies offered by other churches, which, as I understand it, do not have Real Presence, but also don't claim it?

I would have assumed they'd be harmless placeholders. Well, harmless unless they keep you from going to a "real" ceremony. But is there anything wrong with a memorial act? Hmm. I would guess it would seem sort of empty to you, maybe?

(For those who haven't figured out why I spend so much time talking to other people, I am firmly convinced I will know God better if I learn more about how other people understand Him.)

 

[Archbishop 10-K]

Shavuot,

To throw in my two cents, I'm a convert to Catholicism. Although part of the reason for my conversion was for the traditional worship style, the brunt of it was for this reason: that Jesus founded one church, not 3,000. Because I came to believe in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church, I found it in the only institution that can claim that title: the Catholic Church.

 

[Archbishop 10-K]

Well, now I'm curious. What is Catholic teaching on the Communion ceremonies offered by other churches, which, as I understand it, do not have Real Presence, but also don't claim it?

I would have assumed they'd be harmless placeholders. Well, harmless unless they keep you from going to a "real" ceremony. But is there anything wrong with a memorial act? Hmm. I would guess it would seem sort of empty to you, maybe?

(For those who haven't figured out why I spend so much time talking to other people, I am firmly convinced I will know God better if I learn more about how other people understand Him.)

It is my understanding that the Catholic Church teaches that the act of receiving Communion in a particular church is to swear to all of the teachings of that particular church (for this reason, the Catholic Church doesn't distribute Communion to just anybody.) So, for a Catholic to receive Communion in another church would be like an American reciting Mexico's Pledge of Allegiance.

 

[Adammi]

Edit

 

[wellab]

I think if you have not been confirmed in the Church, well then you cannot take part in their Eucharist. But that does not mean you cannot partake in your parent's church's communion service. However, what is most important here is what does your conscience tell you. If your conscience says that the Catholic Church's view of what the Eucharist is and what it means to partake is the true and right and what Jesus meant in Scripture when he said to "take this bread" and "take this blood" in remembrance of Him is the right and true meaning of what happens at Communion, then you cannot and should not go against your conscience, for any reason or for any person.

It is hard to discern what is right and true and follow through with what your conscience tells you, but you must. It is the virtue of fortitude or courage that you can do this. Pray for fortitude and prudence.

We will all pray for your discernment on this issue, ATShavuot


S

 

[Michelina]

Well, now I'm curious. What is Catholic teaching on the Communion ceremonies offered by other churches, which, as I understand it, do not have Real Presence, but also don't claim it?

I would have assumed they'd be harmless placeholders. Well, harmless unless they keep you from going to a "real" ceremony. But is there anything wrong with a memorial act? Hmm. I would guess it would seem sort of empty to you, maybe?

True, but it is where they are "at". We, however, cannot participate in their 'truncated' understanding of communion.

"Communion of the sacraments. "The fruit of all the sacraments belongs to all the faithful. All the sacraments are sacred links uniting the faithful with one another and binding them to Jesus Christ, and above all Baptism, the gate by which we enter into the Church. The communion of saints must be understood as the communion of the sacraments. . . . The name ‘communion' can be applied to all of them, for they unite us to God. . . . But this name is better suited to the Eucharist than to any other, because it is primarily the Eucharist that brings this communion about." (Roman Catechism 1.10)

CCC#1400 Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, "have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders." It is for this reason that, for the Catholic Church, Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible. However these ecclesial communities, "when they commemorate the Lord's death and resurrection in the Holy Supper . . . profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and await his coming in glory." (Decree on Ecumenism, 22)

 

[Adammi]

Edit

 

[wellab]

It is my understanding that the Catholic Church teaches that the act of receiving Communion in a particular church is to swear to all of the teachings of that particular church (for this reason, the Catholic Church doesn't distribute Communion to just anybody.) So, for a Catholic to receive Communion in another church would be like an American reciting Mexico's Pledge of Allegiance.

You are correct, Archbishop 10-K.
If you are Catholic you cannot receive communion except in a Church that is in communion with the Catholic Church and her teachings and tenets. If you are Protestant you cannot recieve communion except in the rare instance that you are in danger of death.

Read this article on the topic at Catholic.Com. Very good site for all your Catholic questions.
http://www.catholic.com/library/Who_Can_Receive_Communion.asp

 

[faerieevaH]

Shavuot... an idea about how to aproach this with your parents (if you have a good relationship with them) is to tell them you are wrestling with something inside, and would rather not partake because of the above mentioned passage in the bible. I think in every denomination people would understand, wether or not you believe communion is the real presence of Christ or a remembrance and symbolic only, that this is something you would wish to take serious.

As to feeling ackward about not receiving... a story about today.

I am still trying to hunt down a priest for confession. (I am contemplating just using a hunting gun and declare the season open.) As it is, I don't feel ready to receive communion untill I have been to confession. Today we had 'family mass', which is a mass in which in particular the extended families of the children preparing for first communion or confirmation are invited. It's the first time the children of first communion are in this mass. Many of their parents never go to church so they don't know how to behave. So... there are two lines with first communion pupils and confirmation pupils intermingling. In front of the lines stood a teacher who demonstrated each time to the small children how they had to cross their arms over themselves to just receive the blessing. Of course when it's my turn the deacon stands ready to give me communion and with the teacher there standing next to me I just had my arms crossed over myself shook my head and whispered 'just a blessing'. I felt so... under scrutiny. Of course I wasn't but it was a moment I was a bit... aware.