Fr. Josh answers a question regarding the reception of communion with other Christian denominations. He discusses both attending their services and receiving communion and whether it is permissible or not.
Snippet from the Show
The Sacrifice of the Mass is irreplaceable.
Shownotes
Glory Story (1:42)
This Episode’s Question (7:38)
My brother-in-law is Lutheran and my sister is Catholic. He attends Mass with her and she attends the Lutheran service with him. Is it permissible for her to receive communion at the Lutheran church?
-Anonymous
Saint Story: Ven. Francis-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan (25:36)
Francis Xavier was born in 1928 in Vietnam. He grew up in a very devout family with seven younger siblings. After attending a Eucharistic event, he felt the call to enter the priesthood. He began seminary as a young teen and was ordained in 1953.
After his ordination, Francis Xavier served as a parish priest and a hospital and prison chaplain. Eventually, he was directed to pursue further studies in Rome. After earning his degree in Canon Law, he returned to Vietnam and became the rector of a seminary.
In 1967, Francis Xavier became the bishop of Nha Trang in South Vietnam. For the eight years he served there, he did much to educate and form the people in his area. After eight years, he was assigned to Saigon. This was only days before Saigon was overtaken by North Vietnam. The communists quickly arrested Bishop Van Thuan. He was sent to a prison camp for thirteen years. For nine of those years, he was in solitary confinement.
While imprisoned, Bishop Van Thuan did not cease to serve the faithful. He shared messages of hope and through the aid of some guards was able to offer Mass almost everyday and evangelized many of his them. Eventually, he was released from prison, but was still kept under house arrest.
In 1994, he traveled to Rome. Sadly, he was not allowed to return to Vietnam. He served in the Vatican and eventually became a cardinal. In September 2002, he died from cancer. He was declared “venerable” in 2017.
Resources
- Submit your questions and feedback to Fr. Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh
- Broken and Blessed by Fr. Josh Johnson
- Pocket Guide to Adoration by Fr. Josh Johnson
- Pocket Guide to Reconciliation by Fr. Josh Johnson & Fr. Mike Schmitz
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings.
Meet Fr. Josh Johnson
While Fr. Josh was raised Catholic, he didn’t like the Church growing up. Then, one day in adoration, he fell in love with Jesus and received the call to become a priest.
Now, Fr. Josh is the Vocations Director of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. He is a presenter in four of Ascension’s programs: Altaration, YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body, The 99, and Connected: Catholic Social Teaching for This Generation, as well as the author of Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation, Pocket Guide to Adoration, and co-author of Pocket Guide to Reconciliation.
The communion service in another denomination is just a symbol because their pastors are not in succession with Peter and do not have the authority by saying Christ’s words over the bread and wine so transubstantiation does not happen. In that case they are stating the truth when they say “This is a symbol of the body and blood of Christ” – so shouldn’t we, as Catholics, be able to say “Amen” to that?