[marbren]

Interesting, Thank you for your answers. Now, If I attend a mass, which I have done on occasion, and I take communion which I have also done in faith through my Lutheran understanding of it what happens? The Roman Catholic churches I attended had no warning or teaching about who can take communion?

[Jvette]

Generally in the front page of the missalette there is a request that nonCatholics refrain from receiving the Eucharist. For one to receive, one must be in full communion with the Church. St. Justin says this as early as 150AD(circa)in his apology. And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, "This do in remembrance of Me, Luke 22:19 this is My body;" and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, "This is My blood;" and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn.

[Mad Dawg]

Well, as I said to a friend who received before he was baptized (it was an accident, but it was also one of the reasons I left the Episcopal Church — long story), I’m afraid we’re going to have to kill you. Nothing personal. :-)

Since communion is, inter alia, about unity, we normally hold it wrong for those not formally received into full communion to receive communion in our church or for us to receive in another. The sorrow can be turned into good prayers for unity.

Presumably you did it in good faith, with “invincible ignorance”(or very nearly), so it’s not like we think a huge sin happened.