Posted on 04/15/2015 1:38:52 PM PDT by NYer
Praise be to God, I do not follow man made traditions but rather read Gods word and have communion with other followers of Christ in remembrance of Jesus and His sacrifice for us.
As a follower of Christ, my conscience would not allow me to go to mass or participate in catholic communion however is it rather mocking of you to believe that Christians do not take communion seriously.
But this is the point of my earlier post. There are no such "staunch rules" or "sharp delineation" between Catholic and non-Catholic anymore. The Church once taught that non-Catholics MUST repent of their errors before receiving communion. No longer.
However, how about denying communion to baby-killers and sodomites in your ranks, even though “Catholic?”
And I believe the slippery slope already introduced in Canon 844 of the 1983 Code is partly to blame for this. It is also why I would not be surprised when the divorced and remarried join their ranks in the reception of Holy Communion.
Burke is no longer with the Apostolic Signature, and even when he was, most bishops/priests ignored this, and there was no way to monitor actual practice or force compliance. In other words, without active promotion, active discipline, unequivocal backing from the Chair of Peter, it was a dead letter.
However, the ruling is still there. It has never been overturned. The bishops are outlaws, I am sorry to say.
Doesn't that put them in de-facto schism? Seriously, if they're outlaws they're rebels, what makes them more legit than (for instance) SSPX bishops? It is all a legal fiction where we pretend to ignore the heretical elephant in the room? I know, I know, the elephant is actually schismatic but I think he's an heretic too.
We talk about automatic-excommunication for pro abort pols that isn't enforced, is there a situation of automatic-excommunication for bishops who are no longer (in any reasonable use of the term) in communion with the bishop of Rome?
I realize this basically plunges us into a state of anarchy in the Church but isn't that really what's going on anyhow?
But left before the institution of the Lord's Supper. Matt 26:24-26
Perhaps you misunderstand my meaning. I am merely referring to non Catholics who receive Catholic holy communion, not those who belong to churches who hold different beliefs.
A “baby-killer” or sodomite, if they claim to be Catholic, could have went to confession and confessed this sin and told God they would never again partake in this sin, they are absolved of this sin. That is the reason they would receive communion. Now if this baby-killer or sodomite is practicing this sin, or if these same persons are politicians that believe in these sins and promote these sins, THEY HAVE EXCOMMUNICATED THEMSELVES and if they present themselves for communion GOD KNOWS they are committing a mortal sin by partaking in Holy Communion.
“Incidentally many Catholics do this when they feel they are not in a state of grace to receive”.
If I am not in a state of grace I never go up for communion and that includes for a blessing, which to me is outrageous for an adult Catholic. I know when I’m not in a state of grace. I just wish some of my fellow Catholics knew the same thing. But I am not responsible for the state of their souls. They are.
What about them? Who are they? How does one recognize them in the long line of communicants? What if the individual went to confession prior to the mass? How is that information communicated to the priest or EMHC distributing communion?
Only God can read the hearts of man. You will find your answer in Scripture. In 1 Corinthian 11:27, Paul says that eating or drinking in an unworthy manner is equivalent to profaning (literally, murdering) the Body and Blood of the Lord. In the same Chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul continues by saying, ""For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against tehmselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died." [1 Cor. 11:29-30] In other words, those who receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist in an unworthy manner, in a state of mortal sin, they can expect to be punished by God by illness or death.
“The bishops are outlaws, I am sorry to say”.
Heretics is a better word.
If they are public sinners like pro-abort politicians they must make their change of heart public.
“Heretic” has become a dirty word.
They're usually the people who have obama bumper stickers on their cars in the parish parking lot. Either that or they're a member of the US Congress.
I do not find it outrageous to receive a blessing from a priest when not in a sufficient state to receive communion. Christ blessed sinners all the time. That being said the sacrament of reconciliation is seriously underutilized.
We talk about automatic-excommunication for pro abort pols that isn't enforced, is there a situation of automatic-excommunication for bishops who are no longer (in any reasonable use of the term) in communion with the bishop of Rome? I realize this basically plunges us into a state of anarchy in the Church but isn't that really what's going on anyhow?
I don't see any way around it. What percentage of the Catholic Church is actually in schism?
I mean it is wrong, sinful, scandalous, damaging, demoralizing, shameful, for bishops to basically blow off canon law (and they've been doing it for decades), but I don't know if it is precisely schismatic.
The split between doctrine and "pastoral practice" is always corrupt. To say that they may be split is heresy in itself.
Cardinal Kasper recently said that no matter what the upcoming 2015 Synod says about divorce/remarriage, and no matter how the Pope rules, the German Hierarchy will do what they think is best, regardless.
In a perverse way, that is encouraging, because it means Kasper realizes the Synod is not going to endorse his most mushiful ideas. But if he can get away with saying, "Germany will go her own way" and not get much response (so far) other than raised eyebrows, we're in a bad, bad way.
Watch and pray. I mean pray.
Judas’ heart and actions were known by Jesus. None of the other Apostles knew about him until it was revealed.
This is a question that pops up in the Orthodox Church from time to time since we also restrict Communion. The way it is handled at my old parish was that a note was put in the bulletin “Can I receive Holy Communion?” with an appropriate explanation of the rule. Additionally when the priest stepped through the Royal Doors with the chalice he would always make a short statement to the effect that while we all long for Christian unity, at present that unity does not exist and that only baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians, who have prepared themselves through fasting, prayer and recent confession could partake of the Holy Mysteries of the altar.
And lastly anyone not known to the priest who approaches the chalice is likely to get the third degree...
Are you Orthodox?
Have you kept the fast?
When is the last time you went to confession.
The correct answers are yes, yes and within the last 24 hours.
Steve, I understand perfectly! Like you, I too absented myself from the Church and the Sacraments for a long time. Ironically, it was a young boy who brought me back when he asked me to be his sponsor for Confirmation. I still vividly recall that day. Walking into the church and watching the procession of confirmandi, attending the Mass and listening to the bishop's homily, all touched my heart profoundly. So much so that I did not want the event to end.
Last Sunday, the front pews in our church were filled with an extended family we had never seen before. The priest welcomed them to the church and explained they had had brought a baby to be baptized. The family members were dressed for a celebration but it soon became obvious that they were unfamiliar with the Mass - they did not even know the Lord's Prayer. When it was time for communion all, except for one young woman, went up to receive. I doubt any one of them was familiar with Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthian 11:27. However, the one young woman, though cajoled by the family, understood that she should not approach.
Steve, whatever obstacle is still holding you back from returning to the Catholic Church, I would encourage you to visit that link and try to resolve it. Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy, to welcome back the lost sheep. I have added you to my daily prayer list.
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