Posted on 08/18/2004 6:45:01 AM PDT by NYer
ROME, AUG. 17, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University.
Q: I have been a Eucharistic minister to the sick for the past 10 years. I have done this in four different dioceses. I have permission from the local bishop to bring daily Communion to a gravely ill relative. This past Sunday, I met several Episcopalians and Lutherans who really wanted to participate in some type of a service too. My heart went out to them. In all our readings Jesus healed based on a person's faith, not their creed. I have not shared Communion, but my heart says this would be good for the faith of those who are suffering. May the Eucharist be shared among non-Catholic if there is faith in the Real Presence? Must I abide by Church law? -- S.C., Little Rock, Arkansas
A: John Paul II has spoken on the relationship between the Eucharist and ecumenism in his encyclical "Ecclesia de Eucharistia":
"The gift of Christ and his Spirit which we receive in Eucharistic communion superabundantly fulfills the yearning for fraternal unity deeply rooted in the human heart; at the same time it elevates the experience of fraternity already present in our common sharing at the same Eucharistic table to a degree which far surpasses that of the simple human experience of sharing a meal. Through her communion with the body of Christ the Church comes to be ever more profoundly 'in Christ in the nature of a sacrament, that is, a sign and instrument of intimate unity with God and of the unity of the whole human race.'
"The seeds of disunity, which daily experience shows to be so deeply rooted in humanity as a result of sin, are countered by the unifying power of the body of Christ. The Eucharist, precisely by building up the Church, creates human community" (No. 24).
Later, in No. 46 of the encyclical, the Pope reminds us of those rare cases, and under what conditions, non-Catholic Christians may be admitted to the sacraments of the Eucharist, reconciliation and anointing of the sick.
This administration is limited to "Christians who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church but who greatly desire to receive these sacraments, freely request them and manifest the faith which the Catholic Church professes with regard to these sacraments. Conversely, in specific cases and in particular circumstances, Catholics too can request these same sacraments from ministers of Churches in which these sacraments are valid."
It adds: "These conditions, from which no dispensation can be given, must be carefully respected, even though they deal with specific individual cases. That is because the denial of one or more truths of the faith regarding these sacraments and, among these, the truth regarding the need of the ministerial priesthood for their validity, renders the person asking improperly disposed to legitimately receiving them. And the opposite is also true: Catholics may not receive 'communion' in those communities which lack a valid sacrament of orders."
The Holy Father refers to several numbers of the Ecumenical Directory which specify these conditions in more detail, in its chapter on "Sharing Spiritual Activities and Resources."
The general principles involved in this sharing must reflect this double fact:
"1) The real communion in the life of the Spirit which already exists among Christians and is expressed in their prayer and liturgical worship;
"2) The incomplete character of this communion because of differences of faith and understanding which are incompatible with an unrestricted mutual sharing of spiritual endowments."
For these reasons the Church recognizes that "in certain circumstances, by way of exception, and under certain conditions, access to these sacraments may be permitted, or even commended, for Christians of other Churches and ecclesial Communities" (No. 130).
Apart from the case of danger of death, the episcopal conference and the local bishop may specify other grave circumstances in which a Protestant may receive these sacraments although always respecting the conditions outlined above in the Holy Father's encyclical: "that the person be unable to have recourse for the sacrament desired to a minister of his or her own Church or ecclesial Community, ask for the sacrament of his or her own initiative, [and] manifest Catholic faith in this sacrament and be properly disposed" (No. 131).
Therefore in general it is not possible for you to give Communion to Protestants. But if you find one who fulfills the above conditions, you should advise the local pastor so that the person may receive reconciliation and anointing of the sick.
This does not mean that you are completely despoiled of all possibilities of giving spiritual comfort while exercising one of the corporal works of mercy.
Apart from words of encouragement and consolation you could also use some of the spiritual treasury of readings, prayers and intercessions found in the ritual for the care of the sick. Thus you could pray for, and with, these souls in a time of need.
You said that one cannot receive communion in spite of believing 99.9% of what the church teaches. I demonstrated that your supposition demonstrated significant disbelief. If that makes your point, your point is self-contradicting. NAyway, I must go now.
Yes, it does get tedious that people keep bringing up the silly stuff like worshipping saints, worshipping relics like they are talismans, worshipping Mary, the Pope being perfect, etc. Unfortunately, I don't think a FAQ would solve the problem.
It is something left up to the individual's conscience which is hopefully aware of what the Church teaches in this regard. Otherwise, we'd have to wear a sign with our denomination, disposition and intention, to the altar. Or have the Vatican guards interrogate us. And you know how tough those guys are ;-)
Some understanding? You mean being a relativist? Making up interpretation to defend your actions and beliefs, even though they contradict the truth?
The person asking the question stated that he/she was a
Eucharistic Minister. Eucharistic Ministers do not exist
only Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
...which is, give or take, the reciprocal of the the position taken by most churches believing in the real presence of Christ at communion with regard to that sacrament.
You put words in my mouth. My assertion is that many, if not most, who attack the Church and claim to be Christian are really people who makes themselves each a pope, all holding opposing views. That is moral relativism.
Here's one more "must have" link for your site:
Is Your Mass Valid? Liturgical Abuse by Bruce Sabalaskey. He runs the "ourladyswarriors" web site single handedly, and does an excellent job of keeping catholics posted on dissenting speakers, organizations and politicians.
Their denomination does not guarantee their salvation. Catholic's salvation is not guaranteed, either, unless they receive the Eucharist in a valid manner. That means receiving consuming the body and blood of Christ. And since the bible says the person who unworthily consumes the body and blood of Christ drinks death apon themselves, that person must not be guilty of any mortal sins.
(Christ gave that authority to the apostles and to the church as a whole; because in the 1st century, scandal was being created by sinners implicating others in their sins by confessing to the entire assembly, the bishops -- the successors to the apostles -- permitted priests to represent the assembly. This is what confession is. Therefore, those who have comitted mortal sins after their baptism must be reconciled to the assembly through confession to the priest. When I say that they gave scadal throught implicating others, just picture what happens when someone confesses publicly to committing adultery! Either the other person is denied the opportunity to freely come forward as an act of their own will, or the entire congregation wonders who the partner was!)
Since other denominations do not have confession and consecration of the host by a presbyter annointed by a successor to an apostle, they do not have the GUARANTEE of salvation given by Christ to those who eat his body and drink his blood. And by the way, I did specifically mention in a post on this thread that the Orthodox do offer sacraments, and offer them validly.
Many cold-hearted traditionalists despise the phrasing "separated brethren" because they understand the Council of Trent to mean that no Protestants ever go to Heaven. Trent, does in fact, condemn protestants. However, at the time, a Protestant, as the name implies, was Protesting Catholicism. they were former Catholics who had rebelled against their Catholicism, often engaging in bloody wars against Catholicism. (and I decline to get into who started them. The point is that there were wars, and they sided against the Catholics)
"Protestant" now has come to mean the descendents of such people, and converts to whom Protestantism is the only form of Christianity they have been taught. They may simply be ignorant of Catholicism, or misled like so many FReepers, into believing Catholics do things which truly are repugnant to God. (Like worshipping fingers of dead people). Or they may have been scandalized by people who should be representing the Catholic faith. The inability to conceive of the authority of the Catholic Church is "invinceable ignorance," a name which, in translation, sounds like it is accusing Protestants of being dummer than Catholics, but really means no such thing.
Any Protestant who does not know of the truths of the Catholic or faith, or who is steeled against them through invinceable ignorance, but who has devoted his life to doing God's will, may be saved. However, this is due to extra-ordinary graces, not the merits of that person's denomination. Hence, the religious practices of Protestants are said to be "substantially deficient." (another word that sounds awkward in English. The point is that their substance is deficient; the word "substantial" is not a relative term of gravity.)
The Protestant who wishes, or even believes, that he has received the body of Christ, and has done all he knows to do to repent of his sins, may be said to have experienced a "sacrament of desire." Through this sacrament, and not through the deficient sacraments of their own denomination, such a person may be saved.
ping to #198, for comment.
All sounds good to me.
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