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Hello Father
I want to thank you in advance for reading my question.
I am an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion in my parish and I bring Our Lord to the homebound who can not get to Mass to recieve Him. This morning I was visiting one of the little old ladies who I see after Mass,(she's 95 :) and she was telling me about her sister's memorial service that she went to at her daughter's church last Sunday. She told me that her daughter has told her for years that the only difference between her church (Episcopalian)and Catholics is they do not answer to the Pope. I was sitting there cringing inside. I KNOW there is SO much more than just that; ...the number one reason being JUST the reason I was there! I sat back and let her speak and tell me about the service. Then she told me that her daughter told her she could receive their communion since basically they were the same. My mind was racing inside wondering what I should do. I know we as Catholics are NOT supposed to receive communion from other churches. I said a quick prayer asking God to help me and to guide my words...and I wound up not saying anything to her. NOW I have a bunch of questions! I will list them and my reasons for keeping quiet.
1. Is it considered either a mortal or a venial sin to receive another communion? I always thought (unless I am wrong) that if you were unaware of what you were doing then you technically would not be "commiting" the sin. This popped in my head so I didn't want to tell her because then she would be aware of what she actually did. She is 95 and is always telling me how much she appreciates me bringing her the Eucharist, since she knows each one she receives, could be her last. I would just feel TERRIBLE if I told her that she shouldn't have taken their communion and then God called her home today...I didn't want that on my soul.
2. Now since I did not tell her AND I did not defend our Church's beliefs and stand up for Our Lord in the Eucharist I am wondering if I have commited any type of sin? I will glady go to confession if I have!
3. Finally, should I tell her what she did was wrong the next time I see her?
I am sorry this is such a long question, but this has been weighing heavy on my heart all day.
Not that I am glad this happened by ANY means! but when things like this happen it gives me such a learning experience to explain our BEAUTIFUL and AWESOME Catholic faith and beliefs to my 3 pre-teenagers! So I am looking forward to your guidance as an Extraordinary Minister as well as a mother!
thank you again so much for your time, and thank you for volunteering for this forum, it allows people like me to ask questions, when my priest, as wonderful as he is, is so busy I hate to burden him with questions!
God Bless
Jessica
Hi, Jessica:
Sort of long question there, so I put it aside in the hopes to have the time to sort thru it properly.
You describe a common and widespread problem within pastoral ministry of encountering a lot of basically good and well-meaning people who are simply imbued with the pervasive spirit of religious indifferentism and relativism.
1. Objectively it is a mortal sin to receive communion in a protestant ecclesiastical community; but for full cuplability, there includes not only the grave matter (which this is), but also full conscious, deliberate choice of the will to commit the sin.
2. It would be appropriate simply to state in a kind and direct way that the Epsicopalians are not in full communion with the Catholic Pope and Bishops, and that her idea that they "are not answerable to the Pope" is the very reason Catholics should not be taking their communion. Plus there is the whole problem with Episcopalians not having a valid Priesthood and Sacrament of Holy Orders.
3. I have tried communicating the truth about these matters with elderly such as you describe, and they just look at you with glassy-eyed smile; they have no understanding at all of what they have done. So at least I think at best we can be assured that they have not committed a mortal sin with full, conscious and deliberate will.
If the discussion ever comes up again, you could simply state the truth in direct and small "sound bites" about the matters.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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