Talking to people in church

[StonedRoses]

This is more of a rant than anything else. I’m probably a confused liberal Anglo-Catholic at the best of times, when I remember to go to church! But going to church on Christmas morning is very important to me. As usual we are are at my lovely in-laws for Christmas. No one else is a Christian so I’ll pop off to the local church by myself.

The church is much more evangelical than mine, and a lot more informal. The people are lovely BUT I don’t want to talk to anyone! I want to come in, sit quietly and contemplate things before slipping quietly out at the end. Everyone insists on saying hello and introducing themselves and asking where I’m from and so on. I really dread the Peace. It goes on for ages. And even involves hugging!!!
I’m well aware I’m a grumpy bugger. They really are a lovely bunch and I can quite respect and even enjoy their different style of worship. Any tips though to avoid everyone?

There is some misinformation about the acceptance of Holy Communion. Any priest knowingly offering communion to non Catholics is breaching Canon Law and the teachings of Rome. It would be a serious sin in the eyes of the Church for him to do so.

The Church is not in communion with the Anglican Church because of transubstantiation.The bread and wine may still have the appearance and taste of bread and wine, but the Catholic Church believes they have truly and substantially changed. It comes from the last supper. If someone doesn’t believe Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, or is in a state of gave sin, it would be disrespectful (to put it mildly) to receive His Body and Blood.

When a Catholic receives Communion, they show they are a member of the wider Catholic community – literally “in communion” with the Church. It would therefore make no sense for a non-Catholic to take communion.

Our church was a lovely warm, noisy, crowded, family affair on Christmas morning. Not somewhere to go to be ignored.

DS1 and I are High Anglican and live in an area where every church is happy clappy which really doesn't foster much faith in either of us. So we hummed and haed abotu local services, then instead stayed up and watched midnight mass from Croydon Cathedral which was delightfully high church with loads of young children participating and grinning with delight at taking part in all the pomp and circumstance. The idyllic look on that girl's face as she got sprinkled with holy water because she was holding a cushion with the baby Jesus on it to be placed in the crib at midnight. Bliss.

Like many Anglican’s I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church. Just not a member of the Roman Catholic Church

There is some misinformation about the acceptance of Holy Communion. Any priest knowingly offering communion to non Catholics is breaching Canon Law and the teachings of Rome. It would be a serious sin in the eyes of the Church for him to do so.

Was that in reference to pp accusing me of misinformation? If so, it is in error. I my posts refer to the lack of communion and suggests choices about that (my own suggestion being to ignore it). I also reference transubstantiation.

@donquixotedelamancha

And such an un-Christian response to OP looking for some help to celebrate this Christian festival

Why would you presume particular posters are Christian? Do you see being 'unchristian' as a bad thing?

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas, and the New Year brings you much happy and joy. halo

Two rude comments, followed by a passive aggressive nice one and a halo emoji (presumably that's you in the halo, not me). Ah, your THAT sort of Christian are you

......................Original Post..........
donquixotedelamancha 24/12/2019 09:20

I didn’t know what their attitude to me taking mass would be.

Strictly speaking you aren't allowed

and, of course, if Christ taught us anything it was that rules are more important than people

Also, no one will care.

Why is it so complicated!?

It's not. Go Catholic; you get to drink real blood

and there might even be insense.

What there will not be is any of that human warmth nonsense described above.

(If you really would be bothered you could ask for a blessing instead of having communion.

It's from someone with apostolic succession

so bound to be just as magical

as evangelical bread

Strictly speaking you aren't allowed The question (I assumed) was about taking communion, not attending mass. You misunderstood me.

and, of course, if Christ taught us anything it was that rules are more important than people
This is sarcasm. I was suggesting that the strict non-communion between the churches is not very Christian.

Also, no one will care. Again, you misunderstood. See previous point.

It's not. Go Catholic; you get to drink real blood
You are mistaken if you don't think Catholics believe wine is the real blood of christ.

What there will not be is any of that human warmth nonsense described above. Again, opinion isn't misinformation but, trust me, if you were a UK Catholic, you would know exactly what I meant.

so bound to be just as magical
Again, this is sarcasm. Christians call it grace.

as evangelical bread

and there might even be insense.
**

We have incense at every Sunday Mass in my parish, (except on rare occasions when there isn't a server able to do it.)
We would definately have it at a feast like Christmas, for all Masses.

Don't have it on Saturday nights or weekdays unless a special occasion.

Agree, isit. Parish I live in uses incense at pretty much every mass. It’s used rarely in the parish I attend every week. I’d imagine the preference of individual priests is what usually dictates whether it’s used.

Ok thanks isittheholidaysyet and RafaIsTheKingOfClay for the correction... it is obviously different for different areas, as incense is so rearly used at Mass here or other parishes i' ve visited.

Wow! Since there are clearly some clever folk on thos thread can I ask a question?
Im genuinely curious about this as I have both Catholic and CofE family. I cant understand why Anglicans/CofE would want to take communion in a Catholic Church. Surely one of the central beliefs of protestantism and one of the reasons that protestantism arose is the belief that transubstantiation is heresy?
Yet I've frequently heard people complain that they arent allowed to receive in a Catholic Church....Why would they even want to?

Surely one of the central beliefs of protestantism and one of the reasons that protestantism arose is the belief that transubstantiation is heresy?

Nope. When the CofE split it was still Catholic in almost every sense- the dispute was purely political (fella wanted a divorce). The different beliefs of the reformation came later.

The Anglican communion today is a real mixed bag ranging from some churches who are almost Calvinist to some which believe in Transubstantiation, Apostolic Succession and have a picture of the Pope hung up (I have genuinely seen this).

Well it's all over now op but in future I suggest you go into the church at the beginning of the service (quietly), and slip out at the end before anyone pounces on you.

No hugging at my CofE church(es). I take midweek communion at one church and go to a different church on a Sunday.

The incense is one of the reasons I don’t regularly go to my parish church anymore, SilverViking. Getting a face full of incense during the entrance procession doesn’t do much for my asthma.

Thinking about it, the idea that people won’t talk to you in a Catholic Church probably varies from parish to parish too.