Simply Catholic and Welcoming You

Sacraments from Other Catholic Rites

Receiving Holy Communion at a St. Brigit's Community Catholic Church mass

Can Catholics receive the sacraments from other catholic rite churches?

Yes, Catholics can receive sacraments from other Catholic Rites/churches. This includes attending Mass and receiving the sacraments in a different Catholic rite.

Explanation

Canon 1248.1 of the Code of Canon Law states that Catholics can attend Mass in any Catholic rite.

Canon 923 of the Code of Canon Law states that Catholics can receive the Eucharist in any Catholic rite.

Canon 991 of the Code of Canon Law states that Catholics can receive the sacrament of Penance in any Catholic rite.

This means that Catholics can attend Mass and receive sacraments at Eastern Catholic parishes as well as any catholic rite possessing the required Apostolic Succession and Valid Priesthood Orders

The Catholic Church recognizes the baptisms of most mainstream Christian denominations.

The Roman Catholic Church has generally recognized baptisms from most mainstream Christian denominations since the Second Vatican Council.

Other Catholic Rites May Do Things Differently

While perhaps not as easily picked out by the uninformed, the altars, vestments and even outsides of buildings may look alike, still even western churches have different rites. Such as Roman/Latin Rite, Anglican Rite, Lutheran Rite and others. Each will do things a little differently.

Certainly if you mean one of the other 23 Eastern Rite Catholic churches - yes, they can be different. Sometimes very different. Remember different cultures simply express the same faith differently.

For example; Catholics can also receive Holy Communion at an Orthodox Liturgy. (Orthodox clergy, like their Roman Catholic counterparts, tend to refuse until they are sure of the recipient's honourable intentions and catholic status. (This is to protect the Holy Eucharist.)

Just be aware that Communion is given differently. In Latin Rite Catholic churches the Eucharistic minister says “Body of Christ” and we respond “Amen”. Commonly we often receive both the Body of Christ (as bread) and the Blood of Christ (as wine), each delivered separately.

However, during the Eastern Rite you are supposed to give your name and the Priest says a short prayer using your name. Communion is also administered using a spoon with a small piece of the host dipped into Communion wine. Make sure you tilt your head back and open your mouth for that.

And as you fully well know, or maybe you don’t, there is no such thing as Roman Catholic - just Catholic. Within the Catholic Church there are 24 autonomous churches of which the Roman/Latin Rite Catholic church is the largest. (Roman/Latin Rite plus the other 23 other Catholic Rites plus the ever increasing number of Independent Catholic Churches splitting from each of these yet still having valid Episcopate/Full Apostolic Succession.)

Whilst we often refer to the "Roman Catholic" church it is properly referred to as the Latin Rite OF the Catholic Church. Roman Catholic is the common usage and much easier to say. Most catholic laity today seem blissfully unaware of this.

Catholic sacraments

The Catholic Church administers the sacraments to Catholic members of the Christian faithful.

The Catholic Church protects the faithful by ensuring that they receive the sacraments in the presence of a Catholic minister.

The Catholic Church does not allow its own faithful to receive Communion from non-Catholic ministers, except in extreme cases.

Yes, Catholics can receive the sacrament of the Last Rites, also known as the Anointing of the Sick, from other Catholic rites/churches. The sacrament is administered in various ways across Catholic churches, including Eastern Catholic churches.

Explanation

The Last Rites are a series of prayers and ministrations given to a Christian who is nearing death.

The sacrament is usually given to people who are terminally ill, mortally injured, or preparing for surgery or a risky event.

The sacrament can be administered by a priest, Bishop, or a trained layperson (Viaticum only).

In the Eastern Catholic churches, the sacrament is administered using various liturgies.

The Congregation for the Oriental Churches oversees the adaptation or development of the liturgical forms used in the Eastern Catholic churches.

To benefit from the sacrament, one must have faith in God and His Mercy.

In The Absence Of My Own Priest I Can Go To Any Catholic Priest or Any Other Catholic Rite?

We hold Valid Priesthood Orders and have full Apostolic Succession in both Western and Eastern Rites.

Yes, you absolutely can! Provided that church or priest has full Apostolic Succession and Valid Priesthood Orders then a priest from any other catholic rite can 'stand in' for your 'church of origin' priest.

Remember our Creeds don't say 'One Roman Catholic' or 'One Russian Orthodox' church. No, all our creeds say "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church". Catholic means literally universal!

When you go to another country you expect a different culture, different language, different customs, different clothing, etc. It should be no real surprise that expressions of faith are consistent with the culture you walk into. Today many Catholic Liturgical Rites are spread around the world as our nations and cultures continue to migrate and mix.

When Russians come to our country they build and attend Russian Orthodox churches. Likewise Greek Orthodox and so on. People want to practice their faith as they have uniquely become accustomed to it and, usually in their own language.

I hear statements such as (to quote my own mother) "If it's not Roman Catholic it's not real Catholic or even a real church". She was (passed now) a staunch Irish Catholic. Raised in a time and place where politics and religion aligned completely and bias, even hatreds ran deep. That is not an excuse, yet it was her reality and one she gave up everything to get us 'kids' out of.

Like many bias, bigotry or racism's, this statement does not stand up to reality. It also flies in the face of what the Pope, Catholic Cardinals and the Catholic Canons (listed at the top of this page) say!

"One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church". All are simply differing expressions of the same Catholic faith. Each of the other catholic rites has different leadership, different customs, sometimes different languages. Still we say the same Creed, expressing the belief that we are indeed all one faith under Jesus Christ.

Even the page on this website discussing the different rites dealt mainly with the seven most recognized of those. Many will likely have never heard of some of them. Yet they are only seven of the Twenty Three officially recognized Catholic Rites! All equal under church canons (laws) and under God.

If we liken this earth to a kids sandbox, then we 'kids' have really got to get better at sharing our toys! Better at embracing differences instead of fighting over them.

You may be really happy as a Latin Rite/Roman Catholic. Others have that same joy and pride at being Greek or Russian Orthodox. I am delighted to be an Old Catholic/Community Catholic. The same applies to those people in any of the other catholic rites. We may be different yet we are all equal!

What really matters is that we all belong to Christ! All in that "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church" with it's many liturgical rites/expressions and a common goal to bring all people's, all nations unto Christ!

Sacraments from Other Catholic Rites

Other Catholic Rites May Do Things Differently

In The Absence Of My Own Priest I Can Go To Any Catholic Priest or Any Other Catholic Rite?

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