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Any Christian is entitled to receive the Eucharist.

In the Orthodox Faith, once you are baptised you are able to receive the Holy Communion.

In the Catholic Faith, communion is allowed once you've had your "First Communion".

The difference is that the Orthodox are Christened with their Baptism and First Communion as one sacrament, which makes sense because after all, they are both a sacrament based upon the acceptance into God's family and the Church.

Yet, Catholics separate this into two separate events.

Another Point of view (from Silvermagic)

We do not only receive Communion as individuals. We receive it with our brothers and sisters in faith as part of the Body of Christ. If you are not in Communion or agreement with the people celebrating their Bread and Wine, you should not partake of it.

There are conditions for Holy Communion - see the New Testament quotes that follow:

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 1 Corinthians 11:29 King James Version (KJV)

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift Matthew 5: 23-24 New International Version

Being "judgemental" implies condemnation and rejection, which isn't an option. However, we are called to exercise judgement. We can't allow sacrilege - we have to protect what is dear to us as well as protecting the person approaching unworthily. In the quote from Corinthians, (quote below) St Paul says that approaching Communion unworthily is the reason so many are sick, and some have 'fallen asleep', ie died.

A homeless man drunk on cheap spirits wanted communion in our church once, and he was gently and politely refused. He had been lurching around the church, shouting curses. He was certainly welcome in Church, which is, after all, for sinners, but he couldn't be allowed to take Communion. Likewise a Hindi lady who wandered in off the street. She was welcome too, but she had absolutely no notion of the very basics of Christianity and therefore was gently and politely refused, with an offer to talk to the priest after the service.

Communion is a very serious matter. Its an act of individual and collective reverential worship and must never, ever be confused with a Pizza party. Those who wish to go to Communion have to prepare themselves, by examining their conscience and repenting of any sin in their lives, by putting right troubled relationships and asking forgiveness of those they have hurt by word or deed. Communion is far too precious to be participated in lightly and with frivolity. It helps us rid ourselves of our sins and selfishness with the help of the Holy Spirit as part of an ongoing process of sanctification until we see Him face to face.

If anyone wants to look at what St Paul had to say on the matter, it can be found in the book of 1 Corinthians, verses 17 to 27. Here is a quote:

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Roman Catholic AnswerTo receive Holy Communion, you must be a Catholic in good standing, not excommunicated, over the age of reason; you must have made your First Confession, and First Holy Communion, and you must be in a state of grace. If you are not in a state of grace (i.e. you have mortal sin on your soul), then you must go to confession first. Finally, you must be fasting for one hour prior to Holy Communion.
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12y ago
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13y ago
Roman Catholic AnswerThe Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion is a Bishop, Priest, or Deacon. An extraordinary minister of Holy Communion is an ordained Acolyte, or a layman specially appointed by a Bishop. For a one time only, any layman appointed by the priest-celebrant during a Mass may serve during that Mass only.
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11y ago

In the Catholic Churches in union with the Pope (Roman Catholic Church, as well as non-Roman rite Catholics: Assyrian Catholic Church, Byzantine Catholic Church, Ethiopian Catholic Church, Maronite Catholic Church, and several others), only Catholics in union with the Pope who are not conscious of grave sin may receive Holy Communion.

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Catholic AnswerAbsolutely NO ONE MAY TAKE HOLY COMMUNION. Holy Communion may only be received NOT taken. Only a Catholic in good standing, and not in serious sin, may receive Holy Communion.
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14y ago

In the Anglican Church only an ordained priest (or bishop) is authorised to consecrate the bread and wine. However, some churches are lobbying their bishops to allow laypeople to do this too in certain circumstances, although this development is a long way off as yet. As for the distribution of the consecrated bread and wine, this can be done by anyone, lay or ordained. Suitable people are chosen by the vicar in conjunction with the church council (for example, church members of long standing that have earned the respect and love of their brothers and sisters in Christ in their particular church). The names of these people are then passed on to the diocesan Bishop who has to ratify the choice. Invariably the Bishop will take the recommendations of the vicar and council. Once he agrees in writing, then they are allowed to help distribute the bread and wine to the congregation. Occasionally these people may also be called upon to distribute communion to the sick and housebound. In this case, pre-consecrated bread and wine are taken to the sick by these authorised designated people, and, after a short home-based service conducted by the authorised person, the consecrated bread and wine are distributed as usual.

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10y ago

Bishops, priests, and deacons are the Ordinary ministers of Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. Ordained acolytes are the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion according to Church law. Laymen may be appointed as Extraordinary Ministers for a specified period (if there is a need) by the Bishop, and for a specific Mass by the priest celebrant.

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12y ago

Anyone can participate in the service.

In order to receive communion you should be a baptised believer who has received the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

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13y ago

No, you must be a trained and commissioned Eucharistic Minister to distribute communion.

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Q: Can anyone distribute communion in the Catholic Church?
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Is anyone welcome to Mass in the Catholic Church?

Yes anyone is welcome. However, only Catholics may receive Holy Communion.


Can a catholic priest refuse anyone communion?

Yes, a Catholic priest can refuse someone communion under certain circumstances. The Catholic Church teaches that those who are in a state of mortal sin or who have not received the Sacrament of Reconciliation should not receive communion. Additionally, a priest may withhold communion if there are public scandals or controversies involving the individual in question.


Can a Baptist receive Holy Communion in an Anglican Church?

In the few Anglican churches that continue to maintain the Catholic tradition (known as 'Anglo Catholic' Churches) then they may well say 'no' just as the Roman Catholics would. However, this is against the normal practice of the church, and in the vast majority of Anglican churches anyone who normally receives communion in their own denomination are welcome to receive communion in an Anglican church. In my own Anglican church we have gone a stage further - inviting anyone who 'loves the Lord' to his table to receive communion whether or not they are a communicant member of another Anglican church or a church of any other denomination.


Can a catholic receive communion at an espicopal service?

The Episcopalian Church is a branch of the worldwide Anglican Church - which includes the Church in Wales, the Episcopalian Church of Scotland and the Church of Ireland. Most Anglican churches nowadays practise what is known as an 'open table'. This means that anyone who normally receives Holy Communion (or mass) in their own church (whatever the denomination - Baptist, URC, Methodist, Roman Catholic or any other Christian denomination) is able to receive Holy Communion in an Anglican Church, which, of course, includes the Episcopalian Church. Some Anglican Churches go a stage further and invite anyone to receive Holy Communion, whether or not they are communicant members of another church, their love of Christ being the only criterion for acceptance at the table. In the Roman Catholic Church, however, the inclusive nature of an open table is not reciprocated. The official line is that anyone who is not a Roman Catholic may not receive mass.


If your Roman Catholic can you go to a Church of England Church Service?

Officially, if you are not confirmed a Roman Catholic then you are excluded from receiving communion (mass) in the Roman Catholic Church. However, the Church of England is very different. Most CofE clergy will allow anyone who normally takes communion in their own church (whatever denomination) to take communion in a Church of England if they are, say, visiting. Very few clergy these days only allow confirmed Anglicans to take communion, and these tend to be in the churches with a more Catholic tradition akin to the Roman Church. In some more progressive Anglican churches, clergy will allow anyone to take communion as long as they come in faith, whatever denomination and whether confirmed or not. As a confession (!!) I have myself, as a member of the Church of England, received communion in a Catholic Church without the priest knowing that I was not a Catholic, at one time even at a mass presided over by Pope John Paul II. No doubt, had he known, I may well have been refused. I regarded, and still do, the receipt of communion a matter that resides solely between myself and God and so it should not have any dependence upon a man-made Church rule but on God's loving grace and a personal faith.


Can a Catholic go to a service at another church?

Catholics may attend a service in another denomination but may not participate in their communion. Also, Catholics may not substitute attending a non-Catholic service for their obligation to attend a Catholic Mass.


Can anyone take communion in the Lutheran church?

It depends on the church. Some you can; others (like Missouri or Wisconsin Synod), you must be a member.


How can a Catholic convert to the Church of England?

Just ask a priest at your local Anglican/Episcopal church. They will probably have a series of classes talks leading to confirmation/reception. If you have not been confirmed in the Catholic Church, they will confirm you at the end of that process. If you have been confirmed, you will be received by the Bishop at the end of that process.


Would Jesus have withheld communion from anyone who believed in him I do not understand why I as a Christian cannot receive communion in the Catholic Church?

From my understanding, you are not a Catholic , but a Christian who belongs to a different denomination. As you are not a Catholic, the Church does not allow you to receive Holy Communion because 1) you are not Catholic, 2) you don't accept or don't understand the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation which declares that the bread and wine is consecrated by the Holy Spirit through the priest into the Body and Blood of Christ and 3) you probably don't believe that the bread and wine are truly the Body and Blood of Christ and see them only as symbols.This is all based on assumptions from your question. I'm not trying to make any judgment on your character.The Catholic Church teaches that in order to receive Communion in the Church, you must be a practicing Catholic and accept the doctrine of transubstantiation and fully believe with no reservations that the Bread and Wine truly becomes the Body and Blood of Christ and know that is not symbolic. This is what the Church teaches. It may be said (or it is said) that the Catholic Church practices what is called "closed communion" which means only members of the Catholic Church may receive Communion precisely for the reasons I stated above.Yes, Jesus welcomes all, but in the Catholic Church we believe that Communion is not symbolic. If you want to receive Communion in the Catholic Church than you must be Catholic. Receiving Communion is much more than a emotional experience and the fact of believing in Jesus so therefore every Christian should be allowed to partake, but the reason is that Communion is receiving and communing Christ Himself during the Mass. It's not to be mean, but this is the Truth.Catholic AnswerAll of the above answer is very good. Please note, that the Church desperately wants everybody to be in communion with Her (as the Church is the Body of Christ (see Colossians 1:15-2:3, especially verses 18 and 24 and Acts 9:1-5)) and by definition anyone who is a believing Christian who has been validly baptized and believes in the Nicene Creed in its traditional interpretation is part of the Body of Christ, howbeit imperfectly, if they are not a full member of the Catholic Church. The verse which determines "closed communion" is from St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians 11:29 "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord." Even Catholics should not be going to Holy Communion if they have not been to confession recently and are in a state of sin. However, all is not lost, as I say, that Church desperately wants everyone to receive the Body and Blood of Our Blessed Lord, and to this end starts RCIA classes each August for people who are curious and want to know more about the church. Call the local Catholic Church, speak to the priest, inform him of your interest in receiving Holy Communion, and talk to him about joining the next RCIA class.


Can a baptist take communion in a Lutheran church?

No. The Lutheran church believes that Holy Communion is Christ's body and blood by Real Presence. RP is usually described as "in, with, and under". To overly simplify it: we're not sure how it works, but we're taking it on faith. Roman Catholics believe that the wafer/ unleavened bread miraculously becomes- physically and figuratively- the body and blood of Christ. This is a fundamental difference of philosophy, so they would probably not let you. Of course, this depends on the church itself. They would probably quote 2 Timothy (I think) and the curse that befalls anyone who takes Communion/ Eucharist in an unholy fashion. hope i helped. REVISED**The verse is 1 Corinthians 11:27 that states that communion should not be done in an unholy fashion


Can a Catholic priest celebrate mass for a non Catholic?

Yes he can, at public masses, anyone can attend, but a non-Catholic that is not baptised and is not of proper age cannot receive communion. One example of non-Catholics going to a Catholic mass is during Christmas, before you are baptised or Easter. But yes, anyone can partake in mass because Catholics could get more people if the non-Catholic decides to become a Catholic and the Church welcomes anyone that wants to worship God.


Can a confirmed and baptized Anglican receive Holy Communion in a Catholic Church?

A n Anglican baptised in the traditional fashion and manner is already a Catholic. Every one if baptised with water in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost becomes a member of Christ and a son of God.If however, Catholic is a short cut for Roman Catholic, it is probable that the Roman Authorities will demand a,' conditional baptism', just in case!Roman Catholic AnswerAny Christian baptized "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Ghost), using water, with the intention to do what the Church does (when baptizing, in other words "with the intention to baptize the person") is considered validly baptized. Anyone can administer this sacrament in an emergency - even a non-baptized person. Thus, Anglican baptism is exactly the same baptism anyone else would receive, and such a person can be confirmed in the Catholic Church after completing RCIA classes and making a profession of faith.