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[color=darkblue:3mav86ey]I have an aunt that use to be Catholic. She veered off from the faith and started going to non-denominational Christian churches for a few years. Now she decided she wants to go back to the Catholic church and has been recieiveing the Eucharist for about a year now. Should she not be allowed to participate in Holy Communion? Does she need go to confession first? Or is this okay? Your thoughts on this please.[/color:3mav86ey]
Yes, reconciliation. But make sure she understands the significance of her choices as well. She should really sit down with a priest and talk this over with him. Good luck!
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod congregations vary in how often they serve the Lord’s Supper — some every month, some twice a month and some more often. This Commission on Theology and Church Relations report on the subject of the Lord’s Supper provides this information:
11. How often should the Lord’s Supper be offered in a congregation?
No fixed number can be given in response to this question. However, it should be remembered that the Lord’s Supper is not to be regarded as an “extra” or an “appendage” to regular Christian worship. While some churches relegate the Lord’s Supper to an incidental and occasional role in the church’s worship, the Scriptures place “the breaking of bread” at the center of worship (Acts 2:42; 20:7; cf. 1 Cor. 11:20, 33).
Practices regarding the frequency of communion vary from congregation to congregation in the LCMS. Some congregations offer communion at every service; others every Sunday, at alternating services (early/late worship); others every other Sunday, etc. Since the Bible does not contain any specific commands or prohibitions in this regard, congregations are free to make their own decisions about how often to offer communion.
The Synod has adopted resolutions in recent years that encourage every Sunday communion and the frequent celebration of the Lord’s Supper. It has stopped short of requiring its pastors and congregations to observe “every Sunday” or “every service” communion, however, or of making some “church rule” about the frequency of communion, simply because it is not possible to do this on the basis of Scripture. The Bible does not specifically mandate “every service” observance of the Lord’s Supper, and the LCMS believes that it would be wrong to “legislate” in this (or any area) where Scripture itself does not do so. Individual congregations and pastors are certainly free, however, to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as frequently as they wish to do so. If you have strong feelings in this regard, therefore, I would urge you to speak with your pastor and congregational leaders.
This information is provided in the Christian Cyclopedia on the meaning of Transubstantiation: http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/0 … TANTIATION
“Transubstantiation is the teaching, held to by Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, that the bread and the wine in the Lord’s Supper “change into” the body and blood at the moment of consecration, so that from that moment on there is no longer “bread” or “wine” in the Lord’s Supper but only “body” and “blood.” Lutherans do not now, nor have they ever, held to this teaching.
Lutherans believe that Scripture teaches that BOTH bread and wine AND Christ’s true body and blood are present in the Lord’s Supper, and do not speculate about precisely “when” this happens or “how” this is possible.
While Lutherans agree with Roman Catholics and the Orthodox regarding the fact that Christ’s body and blood are “really present” in the Lord’s Supper, therefore, we reject their attempts (by means of the human theory of “transubstantiation”) to explain “how” and “when” this happens.
While it would be important to discuss the issue with her, you may wish to bring it up tactfully. Start up a discussion about the Faith and the Sacraments. It may be that she has already been to confession, and the whole discussion is moot. But enter into the discussion after sincere prayer.
[color=darkblue:1ewh33e5]Oh I did. She received Communion at the Catholic Church in Warren, MN where I was this past weekend for my niece’s First Communion. The celebration was at my sister’s house after Mass that day, and I approached her and asked her, “So are you still a Catholic?” She said, “Yes I’m Catholic, but I go to a non-denominational Church.” Then I asked her if she believed everything the Church teaches and she said no. So I told her by receiving Communion in the Catholic Church, you are declaring you believe everything the Church teaches on Mary, the Sacraments, Eucharist, etc. So I said if you are not [b:1ewh33e5]in[/b:1ewh33e5] Communion [b:1ewh33e5]with[/b:1ewh33e5] the Church, why would you want to [b:1ewh33e5]receive[/b:1ewh33e5] Communion [b:1ewh33e5]in[/b:1ewh33e5] the Church. Her reply, “Michael, it doesn’t say that in the Bible.” “Michael, you need to be born again, it’s in the Bible, oh yes it is in the Bible, it says you need to be born again.” I said, I am sure it does say that, but we interpret it differently. Anyways, the discussion went further and I started going back in history, giving facts about the Church and the early church fathers, the Saints, and apostolic succession. She had to replies to me at all, she just looked at me like this was brand new information she never heard before. I wrote down a website for her called biblechristiansociety.com. She said to me, “Now this isn’t a [b:1ewh33e5]Catholic[/b:1ewh33e5] website is it?”[/color:1ewh33e5]
I am still waiting for communion, I was not a Catholic. Every Tuesday I have a session with a priest, informing me about the Catholic Doctrine. However, I attend Mass everyday, Mon to Fri.
[quote:zz1a2htb]I am still waiting for communion, I was not a Catholic. Every Tuesday I have a session with a priest, informing me about the Catholic Doctrine. However, I attend Mass everyday, Mon to Fri.[/quote:zz1a2htb]
You can have a Spiritual Communion at any time. There are many prayers for that purpose. Here is the one I use when I cannot receive Our Lord Sacramentally:
[i:zz1a2htb]Oh Jesus, I turn toward the holy tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. I cannot receive you in Holy Communion. Come, nevertheless, and visit me with Your grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Your own. Amen. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. [/i:zz1a2htb]
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