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As a former Catholic I remember that non-Catholics were not allowed to take communion when they were visiting the church. Is this still true?
And also, from a non-Catholic perspective I was also told that it was not wise to take communion in that church because they believe it is the actual body and blood of Christ. Now mind you I was told this 20 years ago so I am not sure if any of this info is correct.
As a Baptist, I wouldn't want to partake in the Catholic mass, since my religion teaches the opposite.
I have attended hundreds of masses over the past two decades -- my wife is Catholic, but I'm not (yet). I have never taken Communion. On Easter, I had to go up to the priest (I usually don't) because it was crowded, so I dutifully crossed my arms to signal, "no Eucharist for me." My 16-year-old brother in law said I should just take it. I dropped my mouth in mock surprise and said, "I don't want to go to hell. Besides, I hear if you are a non Catholic and you swallow it, it burns your tongue out." Consequently, my wife's sister's fiancee (who's in the same boat as me .. a Protestant who goes to mass semi-regularly), just went ahead and took the wafer and swallowed. No one in the family was offended. We probably attend more masses than the average Catholic. I just choose not to take it out of respect for the Church. I plan on going through RCIA this year, so next Easter will be the first time I actually fully partcipate in the mass.
Interesting, I had never heard about this arm crossing thing till I started reading about it at online forums such as this one, some say the person gets a special blessing instead of Communion.
Learned today that no one that is not receiving Communion is suppose to be in the Communion line, communion line is for just one purpose. No extra blessing is suppose to be given out while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.
This was in the Sunday bulletin at the church that I attended today. The article said everybody does get a blessing at the end of the Mass so no added graces are involved by getting a double blessing.
As a former Catholic I remember that non-Catholics were not allowed to take communion when they were visiting the church. Is this still true?
And also, from a non-Catholic perspective I was also told that it was not wise to take communion in that church because they believe it is the actual body and blood of Christ. Now mind you I was told this 20 years ago so I am not sure if any of this info is correct.
Evidently it is still true, my son goes to a private catholic school we are Christians but not catholic, when they take communion non catholics are supposed to refrain from taking it!
Interesting, I had never heard about this arm crossing thing till I started reading about it at online forums such as this one, some say the person gets a special blessing instead of Communion.
Learned today that no one that is not receiving Communion is suppose to be in the Communion line, communion line is for just one purpose. No extra blessing is suppose to be given out while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.
This was in the Sunday bulletin at the church that I attended today. The article said everybody does get a blessing at the end of the Mass so no added graces are involved by getting a double blessing.
This has been a public service announcement
It seems from talking to those at several other forums this practice may be up to your local bishop
It seems from talking to those at several other forums this practice may be up to your local bishop
you are correct--being in line with your arms crossed signals to the priest that you cannot receive but may get a blessing
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