Protestant And Holy Communion
Q. My husband of 60 years will soon celebrate his 86th birthday. He is a baptized Protestant. He attends Mass with me every Sunday, does the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, comes with me for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and attends Holy Week services. The only thing he does not do is receive Communion.
What would be required of him to be able to receive Our Lord in the host? (He would never be able to participate in the RCIA program.) In my opinion, my husband is a better Catholic than many priests I have heard of lately. It would be a sin not to accept him into the church. (Cleveland)
A. I have no doubt that your husband will make a fine Catholic and is already well on his way there. The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is traditionally the path by which the Catholic Church instructs and receives new members. That process includes meetings and classes, spiritual reflection and a series of rituals; most often, it requires up to a year to complete, culminating in reception into the church during the celebration of the Easter Vigil.
However, there are conditions that can shorten this process -- and your husband's situation seems ideally suited for that. Section 331 of the RCIA's foundational document provides that "exceptional circumstances may arise in which the local bishop, in individual cases, can allow the use of a form of Christian initiation that is simpler than the usual complete rite." Examples listed include "sickness" and "old age" (No. 332).
Your husband should talk to your parish priest about his desire to become a Catholic and to receive the Eucharist. My confident guess is that the priest or a religious educator provided by the parish would be willing to sit down with your husband for a series of conversations to present a basic overview of the Catholic Church's teaching and to address any questions your husband might have -- leading to his not-very-distant reception of the sacraments.
- - -
Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at askfatherdoyle@gmail.com and 30 Columbia Circle Dr., Albany, New York 12203.
