Saint-Pierre's Cathedral, Geneva
Posted on 02/17/2020 7:30:23 AM PST by SeekAndFind
In a first since the Reformation era, Protestants are set to receive communion during a Catholic mass at a historic Cathedral in Geneva, Switzerland, John Calvin's adopted home.
The historic Swiss church, Saint-Pierre Reformed Protestant church, will hold a Catholic mass on Feb. 29, leap day, and Protestants have been invited to attend and take part, including in receiving communion.
Although open communion is forbidden by Catholic doctrine, the practice is reportedly common in Geneva, according to Protest Info, a Swiss Protestant news outlet.
The church became the home of French Protestant Reformer John Calvin, whose famous triangular chair continues to be kept beside the pulpit.
"The decision to invite Fr. Desthieux to say mass in Saint-Pierre began as informal talks followed by an ecumenical service in the cathedral, which then “matured” into a discussion and a council vote, said Parish Council President Daniel Pilly," LifeSite reported.
Pilly told Protest Info that he faced no opposition to the idea.
"The idea appealed because it corresponds to our desire to make the cathedral a meeting place for all Geneva Christians. A space that transcends confessional boundaries,” he said.
"Protestants receiving communion is already done locally in many parishes during ecumenical celebrations where Protestants and Catholics invite each other to the Lord's Supper and to communion,” he said.
Emmanuel Fuchs, president of the Protestant Church in Geneva and a pastor in Saint-Pierre, added that the invitation indicates that "the climate in Geneva is extremely favorable and fruitful with the Roman Catholic Church. We have made notable progress in terms of ecumenism, especially with the Joint Declaration, signed in 2017, which recognizes our respective ministries.”
“As Pope Francis said, ecumenism is achieved by walking. We are trying to walk together in the hope that when we have made enough progress, the obstacles that seem to us today insurmountable will no longer be,” he said.
Catholic cardinals have long opposed the practice of shared communion or intercommunion, referring to the act of those who do not profess Catholicism but partake of communion as a "desecration" of the sacrament.
In addition to Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, where it is said that Martin Luther posted his 95 theses to the door in 1517, Saint-Pierre Reformed Protestant Church in Geneva is considered one of the most iconic sites of the Protestant Reformation.
The church began to be constructed under Arducius de Faucigny, the prince-bishop of the diocese of Geneva, around 1160, in Gothic style.
Sacrilege.
Then they aren’t Protestants.
I would agree....though not perhaps for the same reason.
Then they aren’t Protestants.
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In this day and age of Cafeteria Christianity, who knows what people are? One could argue that The RCC isn’t Catholic for giving it to them.
Strangely any RC who walks into my Protestant church can take communion and not commit Sacrilege.
Perhaps they were predestined to take communion in spite of their total depravity.
I would suggest that a dyed in the wool Roman Catholic (one who loathes the idea that Francis is in the fisherman’s shoes) does not consider ‘Protestant communion’, Communion.
As a ‘lapsed Catholic’ myself, I’m not agreeing or disagreeing with you. Just stating a fact
Francis Chan meets Francis Bergoglio.
I guess these “protestants” haven’t read Romans or Hebrews.
Very Good! I’d like to steal that if you don’t mind. :)
You dont like protestants?
In that case I wouldn't like myself, since I'm an LCMS elder. It was an attempt at humor using two of the five petals of the Presbyterian tulip.
What is this, like Sadie Hawkins Day? Ridiculous on both their parts. Either their faith claims about the eucharist are valid or they are not.
?? I doubt that this will happen.
No, they can’t without committing a sin.
You are correct.
Holy Spirit through Paul said something regarding eating and drinking condemnation by not discerning the body and blood of the Lord....
If I may paraphrase the Fathers of the Church ‘you are who you are in communion with.’ If you are sharing the cup with Protestants then clearly you have no serious doctrinal differences with them and are comfortable with their theology of communion.
The author fails to point out that Saint-Pierre’s Cathedral was built by Catholics aa a Catholic cathedral until it was seized by the Deformists.
Nope. Not in Confessional Lutheran churches
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