Question:
Taking communion before baptism?
CrystalRain
2012-08-12 08:53:44 UTC
A number of people close to me, including my boyfriend, are Catholic, so I though I'd check out a Catholic Church. Worried I'd be out of place if I didn't, I took communion, and only found out afterwards that one is supposed to take communion only after baptism. Is that bad?
Eleven answers:
Siver ChaCha
2012-08-12 08:56:00 UTC
Catholics consider it to be a high offense to receive communion when you are not baptized or have not had first communion or not actually a member of the church !
Ophelia
2012-08-12 16:09:10 UTC
In your case, no. You didn't realize that the Catholic Church only allows baptized Catholics to take communion. You made an innocent error.



If you attend another Catholic church, don't worry about "looking out of place". I've been to many Catholic services for various reasons, be it weddings, funerals, or just a Sunday service with a friend or family member who was Catholic. I was raised Lutheran and am now a Polytheist. Either way, I knew I couldn't take communion at a Catholic church, but didn't worry that I was out of place.



Catholics are used to this. If a person in their church is remaining seated during communion, they're simply just not Catholic. That's all. And it happens all the time. I've seen plenty of folks at Catholic services who didn't go up for communion.



You made an innocent mistake, so while it's generally forbidden by the Catholic Church to take part if one isn't a baptized Catholic, it's nothing to get too terribly shook about in your case. It'd be different if you knew you shouldn't, and did it anyway. You didn't know, so just keep it in mind the next time you go to a Catholic church and don't do it again.
tebone0315
2012-08-12 18:50:33 UTC
Being you did not know that you were to refrain from accepting Holy Eucharist it is just a mistake. Please dont worry about it. If you do attend again then you know now that you are not to partake. You can go up and receive a blessing though at the same time. Just cross your arms over your chest in an X and you will receive the blessing. There are many people who are Catholic Christians who do refrain from receiving Holy Communion. Why? Because one needs to be in a state of grace(have been to confession) to receive.



May God Bless you



Catholic Christian †
Dennis Sagt
2012-08-12 16:08:54 UTC
You need to be a practicing Catholic in order to participate in Catholic communion, but since you took communion out of ignorance, I wouldn't waste any sleep over it. If you do it again, however ....

Ask knowledgeable Catholics why the CC doesn't have open communion.
cristoiglesia
2012-08-12 16:58:20 UTC
Yes it is bad.



St. Paul taught that we must discern the Body and the Blood of the Lord to receive the Eucharist. We must be prepared by faith, understanding and an examination of our conscience. This is the most holy moment for any Christian and we must be sure of our preparation as every aspect of our demeanor must be prepared to reflect the respect, solemnity and joy that are received at the reception of our Lord and Saviors real body and blood. This is the most extraordinary moment that anyone can experience on this earth. We are to be reminded of the words of the Centurion, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed.”



Is it possible to have open communion with those who do not share in our belief in the real corporeal presence of Christ in the Eucharist? Could we, in fact be harming those who we allow at the Lord's Table who do not discern the Lord's Body and Blood? Would we be contributing to them bringing condemnation on themselves by sharing the Eucharist with them? Certainly, I cannot receive or participate in Protestant communion where it is only symbolic as it makes a mockery of the Sacrament established by Christ. Under what circumstance do I believe that communion is possible in good conscience? When we share the same respect and reverence in knowing, that it is the Body and Blood of the living Christ that we adore and worship before we receive, then we can share communion. What do I mean by respect and reverence?



We must be in a state of grace, one conscience of grave sin must not receive communion before the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As part of the preparation we must also fast prior to the receiving of the Eucharist. There must also be a union of doctrine and authority as the Sacrament is one of oneness with Christ and His Church, St. Paul taught that we are to be one Body and partake of one bread. This oneness includes the members of the Orthodox communities and certain Catholic communities not in full communion of authority but in agreement on doctrine. The Catholic and the Orthodox Church are to be seen as the two ”lungs” of the one Church of Christ.



Unfortunately, it is impossible for communion with those ecclesiastical communities coming out of the Reformation because they lack a valid priesthood and a means to confect the Eucharist as well as the proper understanding of the sacrament. God bless!



In Christ

Fr. Joseph
anonymous
2012-08-12 16:17:16 UTC
It is wrong, but since you didn't know better, you really shouldn't feel bad. If you feel you want to become Catholic, I would strongly suggest you talk to a Priest.



Just to let you know, the only time that it would be okay for someone to partake in Holy Communion without being Catholic is if they would be close to death and did indeed believe that the Eucharist is indeed the Body and Blood of Christ, as Jesus affirmed in the Bible (and the Church also teaches). I should add that those who are Orthodox believers can also partake in Holy Communion as Catholics can also partake in Holy Communion at their Churches-----as they also believe in the truth of the Eucharist as we do.



I will leave you with most of the ending from John Chapter 6 (I would have put in more of the Chapter but it would have been quite long) where Jesus indeed teaches this truth and how sadly and tragically a lot of His followers stopped following Him when He taught this truth (if Jesus was only talkiing symbolically of this---He would have definitely stopped them from leaving and told them He wasn't talking literally):



"The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?"



Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.



Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.



For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.



Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.



Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.



This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."



These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.



Then many of his disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?"



Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you?



What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?



It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.



But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.



And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father."



As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.



Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"



Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John:6:52-68)
Daniel
2012-08-12 15:56:03 UTC
Yes it is. You are not a part of the family of God, therefore you have no part in communion with them. However, it is not your fault, it is the church's fault for not explaining this.



Not to worry too much, as 95% of catholics are not christians anyway, so it is likely most of the church is just as guilty, which explains why they do it.
anonymous
2012-08-12 16:05:24 UTC
Catholics, AKA, Babylon Mystery religion in the book of revelation, baptize infants. What does a baby have to repent of? I guess that's why their beliefs and teachings are a mystery to God too
Robert S
2012-08-12 16:02:12 UTC
Your friends should have explained this to you ahead of time.

You are not guilty, since you didn't know.
?
2012-08-12 15:59:27 UTC
They think that it is, but they interpret the text incorrectly as long as you were not drunk and disorderly you are fine with God.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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