Santissima Annunziata I did a rather daring thing today, daring for me. I attended Mass and took communion. If there are any Catholics reading this, please, I don’t mean to offend. In my UCC church God’s table is open to everyone who wants to follow God’s way of love. I certainly feel do, and more to the Catholic point, I am open to following Christ.
Going up to receive the wafer took great courage on my part because the two other times I took communion in Florence I was reprimanded for not doing in right. Both times were years ago, both at Santa Maria dei Fiori (the Duomo). The first time I put out my hands to receive the wafer only to be startled with a “NO” from the priest who wanted to put it into my mouth (Perhaps he was a pre-Vatican Two priest). I’ve never had a man speak to me as sternly as this priest did. The other time I turned away before putting the wafer in my mouth and was called back by the priest. When he saw that was eating it, he let me go.
We Protestants know (but don’t fully understand) that the Catholic Church only allows communion to its members. This makes us nervous when we privately, and yet faithfully, break this law that we haven’t bought into, and go up to receive. We also know and believe that God, who loves everyone, loves an open table. The fact that we are willing to take communion is enough for God.
Going up to receive the wafer took great courage on my part because the two other times I took communion in Florence I was reprimanded for not doing in right. Both times were years ago, both at Santa Maria dei Fiori (the Duomo). The first time I put out my hands to receive the wafer only to be startled with a “NO” from the priest who wanted to put it into my mouth (Perhaps he was a pre-Vatican Two priest). I’ve never had a man speak to me as sternly as this priest did. The other time I turned away before putting the wafer in my mouth and was called back by the priest. When he saw that was eating it, he let me go.
We Protestants know (but don’t fully understand) that the Catholic Church only allows communion to its members. This makes us nervous when we privately, and yet faithfully, break this law that we haven’t bought into, and go up to receive. We also know and believe that God, who loves everyone, loves an open table. The fact that we are willing to take communion is enough for God.
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