Communion

[phatcatholic]

[quote name='drewmeister2' date='Apr 25 2005, 03:50 PM'] So wait, is the priest saying its ok for non-Catholics to receive, Timothy? [/quote]
yea, what is your priest trying to say??

[Carrie]

[quote name='Timothy' date='Apr 25 2005, 05:35 PM'] Here is what my priest wrote back to me.

[/quote]
ummm

Oh, and Afro, could you PM me a copy of the wording of your booklet?

[phatcatholic]

carrie.........you may want to PM Afro, just to make sure you get a hold of him

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Timothy' date='Apr 25 2005, 05:35 PM'] Here is what my priest wrote back to me.

[/quote]
You priest is encouraging sacriledge in the name of ecumenism.
WRONG ANSWER!

[Carrie]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='May 4 2005, 02:49 PM'] carrie.........you may want to PM Afro, just to make sure you get a hold of him [/quote]
Thanks! Will do!

[Mateo el Feo]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='May 4 2005, 03:12 PM'] You priest is encouraging sacriledge in the name of ecumenism.
WRONG ANSWER! [/quote]
I agree. This particular priest's advice really isn't any good.

I married about three years ago, and we did the following two things:

1) In the back of our wedding guide, we included a copy of the guidelines mentioned by AfroNova ([url="http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/q&a/mass/communion.shtml"]link[/url])

2) At the point when the priest was ready to distribute the Eucharist, he kindly explained that only [i]practicing[/i] Catholics who are in a state of Grace may receive Our Lord in the Eucharist.

The guests really need to understand that they can show respect for the Catholic faith by refraining, if they really shouldn't receive the Eucharist, for whatever reason.

I can't say that no one was receiving unworthily at my wedding, because I had other things on my mind--like my new bride! But, I think that the message can be properly presented and understood by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

[Mateo el Feo]

For those who would like the guidelines, here they are:

[b]For Catholics[/b]
As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.

[b]For our fellow Christians[/b]
We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer for us "that they may all be one" (Jn 17:21).

Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 § 4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 § 3).


[b]For those not receiving Holy Communion[/b]
All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.


[b]For non-Christians[/b]
We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.

[phatcatholic]

very helpful mateo, thank you

[Timothy]

I think what my priest was saying is that he will tell everybody before communion about our "company policy." However, if a protestant/non christian comes up for communion, then he probally won't deny them. The reason that he wouldn't deny them is because, how is he suppose to tell if Jim or Jane is Catholic just by their appearence. Tough position he is put in. For now we will notify the guest to the best of our ability and then the rest is up to each individual to make their own descision.


Everybody your help has been great...Thanks especially to Mateo and Afro for the brochure material

Edited May 5, 2005 by Timothy