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I would say option 2. The first sounds too rigid and verbose for me. Option 2 just states the facts and gives people their options.
I will point out though that this really may be unneccesary. All Catholics should know the requirements of receiving communion, and all others will know they should not come up to receive communion. I'm protestant and I've been to my fair share of Catholic weddings (including one just this past Saturday) and I have never had a hard time following along despite not having a mention of the "rules" in the program.
I would not have such a huge explanation, in my experience people will only go up and take communion if they have in the past. I personally am baptized Catholic but when attending other denominations services (wedding, confirmation etc) have not gone up to take communion as I was unsure of their procedure. I would leave it up to your guest to make the decision that best suits their beliefs.
I agree with some of the other posters, if you have to, I'd go with option 2, but honestly I don't think it's necessary. I would be less wordy, if anything, something like:
- Catholics in good standing are welcome to receive the Eucharist. All other denominations are welcome to receive a blessing... etc.
It seems like it might be a little offensive to point out exactly what you have to do to receive communion, baptized Catholics should be aware of all of these things.
Just my two cents (from a lapsed Catholic) :)
I think the first version is a little easier to understand/want to read. I was reading the second one and kind of started to gloss over and feel like, "ugh, I'm not catholic, this isn't relevant to me...." which is NOT the reaction you want your guests to have, since this is especially to help them understand the significance!
Maybe instead of saying "for [whichever group]" you could change it to "A note to our [group] friends" or something like that? And I would swap the last 2 sections, since the non-Chrisitian section kind of spells out who can't take communion, and then the "for those not taking communion" section tells them what to do. Tell them who they are before you tell them what to do! If that makes sense. :)
Agree with above. Both options seem a bit verbose... but option 2 is definitely better than option 1.
I really feel like this can be achieved in a much more concise fashion. As a lapsed Catholic myself (I no longer identify myself as Catholic and have converted to Protestantism, but am still very familiar with the Catholic faith), I think it's fair to say that most Catholics, lapsed or otherwise, know the rules that surround Communion. And, to be honest, I would not have time to read the lengthy explanations if I was also trying to pay attention to your Mass.
I agree with@OttawaBride2011: and think that something simple like, "Catholics in good standing are welcome to receive the Eucharist. All other denominations are welcome to receive a blessing... etc." would be sufficient in getting your point across.
I think that they are both a bit too long.
I think that Catholics who are receiving communion know whether or not they can receive at the time. I think that you should just put the note from Option 2:
The Church kindly encourages non-Catholics and those Catholics who are not presently disposed to receive the Eucharist to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another. If you would like to, please come forward, cross your arms over your heart/chest, and receive a blessing from the Priest.
Thank you for your respect in this matter and please remain sitting or kneeling until the priest sits in his chair following communion. This is to honor our Lord who is physically present to us in communion.
I also agree with all the others, #2 is the best option but both seem a bit wordy. I like #2 better because it stays focused on the Catholic beliefs, whereas #1 at first reading seemed like it was focusing too much on negativity and interpreting other faiths and honestly has stuff that as a Presbyterian I don't agree with - my understanding of unity in the Catholic sense, at least according to Pope Benedict, though maybe not Pope John Paul II, has come off as a bit of a scold to protestants.
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=356.0.27.0
And I'm happy with my faith so I would be a bit offended if in the packet there was something that was kinda a euphamism for pray to become Catholic.
I agree with the pp that both are somewhat oppresive and just sort of an odd "tone" for a wedding program. I'd go with the option outlined above or something similar:
Catholics in good standing are welcome to receive the Eucharist. All other denominations are welcome to receive a blessing.
Personally, it sounds like you are going out of your way to be exclusive of non-Catholics. I realize and understand that is not your intent, but to me it comes across that way.
@OttawaBride2011: I think that is PERFECT wording! I will be borrowing it for my own programs. I have been debating how to word that without offending non-catholics but without being too verbiose. Great advice!
Maybe your situation is different, but in every Catholic wedding I've been at or in, it seemed that everyone there knew whether or not they should go to receive the communion or not already. These sort of seem like lectures for your wedding guests and personally, they would make me feel a little uncomfortable ( I'm not religious).
If you do want to give some sort of direction, I would keep it very simply and friendly... maybe something along the lines of, "We encourage those who are Catholics in good standing to receive the communion and for those who do not feel they can or wish to receive it to pray with us, ect."- something like that. Can you tell I'm not religious? Haha. I really think people will be able to figure out what they should do based on something like that. If you do use one of your options instead though, I would go with the second one, because it's not as harsh and lecture-like as the first one. Just from my point of view though, the lengthy directives would make me feel a little put-off. Good luck!
I agree with shyviolet and others about keeping the wording very simple. I don't think I'd read an explanation as long as the ones you have posted, because I'd probably be more interested in watching the ceremony instead.
I would go with a more simple explanation or as I've seen at a couple other weddings, have the priest explain before Communion begins - Catholics are welcome to come forward and all other religions feel free to come forward for a blessing (or something more prettily worded).
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I'm not posting this on the catholic board because I need a non-Catholic opinion! lol
As we have a large number of lapsed or non-Catholics attending our wedding, we are trying to be VERY thorough in our program. We have explanations for why we do certain things, directives for the mass (sit,stand, kneel, stand, etc ;-) and the responses so everyone can feel included and understand what's happening liturgically.
As for reception of Communion, however, I know it's also not common knowledge that not every Catholic can receive communion either... and that for those who don't attend regularly etc may not be able to either.... I'm trying to figure out what to say in regards to communion so as to get the point across but obviously not offend.
I've got 2 options right now. The first is directly (almost) from the missel of the Church, the 2nd I found online and modified it to also mention coming forward for a blessing.
As a non-Catholic or lapsed Catholic (and even a devout Catholic), which would you prefer to see/read in a wedding program?
THANK YOU so very much for the help!
Option 1
For Catholics
As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.
For our fellow Christians
We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer for us "that they may all be one" (Jn. 17:21).
Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 Section 4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of Communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 Section 3).
For those not receiving Holy Communion
All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another. If you would like to, please come forward, cross your arms over your heart/chest, and receive a blessing from the Priest.
For non-Christians
We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.
Please remain sitting or kneeling until the priest sits in his chair following communion. This is to honor our Lord who is physically present to us in communion.
Or Option 2
Through the priest’s “Eucharistic Prayer of Consecration” the bread and wine brought to the altar during the Holy Mass are truly, substantially and really changed (transubstantiated) into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
Because reception of Holy Communion implies both a belief in this doctrine as well as full doctrinal and sacramental communion with the Catholic Church (i.e., with the Pope) it is reserved to fully practicing Catholics in good standing.
A fully practicing Catholic is minimally one who faithfully attends Mass each Sunday and with some regularity recieves the Sacrament of Confession.
Holy Communion is thus reserved to those Catholics who:
• are in the state of grace (i.e. if since their last Confession they have committed no act regarded by the Church as being mortally sinful);
• are properly disposed by having prepared themselves carefully in prayer;
• and have observed the eucharistic fast of at least one hour prior to reception of Holy Communion.
The Church kindly encourages non-Catholics and those Catholics who are not presently disposed to receive the Eucharist to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another. If you would like to, please come forward, cross your arms over your heart/chest, and receive a blessing from the Priest.
Thank you for your respect in this matter and please remain sitting or kneeling until the priest sits in his chair following communion. This is to honor our Lord who is physically present to us in communion.