Posted on 01/04/2005 4:52:05 AM PST by walden
I am an Episcopalian, baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal church. This coming year I am planning to travel quite a lot, probably spending a lot of time in places where there is no Episcopal church. Can I take communion in a Catholic church?
Thanks for any info!
Any help is appreciated.
While any and all are welcome at a Catholic Mass, communion is reserved for Catholics.
Not to be disrespectful of you, but the short answer is no. However, some of the more liberal churches may allow it - try to ask the priest before Mass.
PLEASE don't do that! That is considered disrespectful of Catholic culture. Catholics, unlike Episcopalians, believe the Mass is transmutated into the very Body and Blood of Christ.
Burp! I mean the elements at Mass are transmutated.
You know, that argument reminds me of the angels on the head of the pin argument-- a meaningless means of separating true Christians from one another. My opinion on that issue, like so many of these issues, is that if it were important for me to know the exact truth that God would have told me, and that since he hasn't, it's not important for me to know. If he's told other folks, I think that's great. He hasn't told me.
Just remember, aside from the theological issue, that when you recieve Communion you are claiming to be in union with the Catholic church, and obedient to the pope...
I am a former Episcopalian also BTW. I know these things are frustrating, but the reality is that the divisions exist for valid reasons. We need to focus on what we have in common.
While it's a mortal sin to receive the Eucharist without being in a state of grace, don't let that inhibit your interest. Read up on the catechism for further understanding.
You appear to have made your decision to receive Communion before posing your question. Is that correct?
"You appear to have made your decision to receive Communion before posing your question. Is that correct?"
Not at all-- I'm an Episcopalian, and take communion every Sunday in my Episcopal church. My question was about Catholics. What I'm hearing leads me to believe that I'll be better off just attending an Episcopal church whenever I can, and leaving the Catholics alone. The Catholics don't want me, simply because I can't honestly say that God has told me every little nit to pick about my faith and how to pick it and I'm not willing to lie about it.
It's not because Catholics don't want you, it's because you don't want Catholicism.
Please reconsider this argument. I'm Anglican, not Episcopalian, and I understand that I cannot receive communion outside my own church. The reasons are not meaningless.
If you believe that communion is something more than a memorial or symbol, and you are clear about exactly what it is, you put yourself in a position of sin and show contempt for the sincere beliefs of Catholics by this act.
I understand your desire for corporate worship when you travel but there are other things you can do. Why not crack open your BCP and go through the morning and evening prayer service? How about daily bible reading when you travel (it's a conversation starter, I can tell you)? On Sunday, do attend a service but spend the communion portion of the liturgy in prayer - no one will think badly of you.
Perhaps. But it is certainly accurate to say that the Catholics don't want all of the Christians. Pity. I wonder what Christ thinks about that?
That's actually not as accurate as you may think. "Catholics" do want all Christians, they only have to take stock of themselves before recieving the body of Christ.
Good advice.
Walden, you can always come forward for a blessing from the priest. Just cross your arms over your chest.
And look into some RCIA classes along the way.
We can be jerks, sometimes. There's a lot of knowledge presumed behind a few quick answers posted on a website. We know, so we presume everybody knows the same thing, or accepts our word.
Try this: the Catholic Church and the individuals who are responding to you are concerned for your spiritual well-being. It's not for the purpose of excluding you or hurting you. We do want you, but we want all of you, not just a little bit.
Go to Mass, join the Communion procession, cross your arms and receive a blessing. Show your knowledge and understanding, those are admirable qualities.
You've heard the whisper of the wind like Elijah on the mountain. It's up to you to act on what you know.
The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod is the same, and so are other Protestants. We, like them, wish to be sure the communicant has the proper understanding of the intentions of the Sacrament.
As the Scripture says:
In the Church's mind they are doing you a service, by not letting you drink judgement on yourself.
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