What Should a Lutheran Do at a Catholic Mass?
Tuesday April 8, 2008
A visitor to the About.com Catholicism Forum writes:
I am not Catholic; I was baptized and confirmed in a Lutheran church. I have been attending Catholic Mass with my girfriend and her family pretty regularly for about seven years. Is it proper or acceptable for me to take the blessing from Father or make the Sign of the Cross before the Gospel? Or even to bow or to kneel while entering and leaving Mass?I responded:
A priest can bless a non-Catholic, as long as the non-Catholic presents himself for a blessing.What do you think? What advice would you offer our Lutheran friend? Post your thoughts on the forum, or leave a comment here.As for the Sign of the Cross, that's not really an issue, either. Some traditional Lutherans still make the Sign of the Cross while praying, and, indeed, the Sign of the Cross is simply a prayer, which any Christian can pray.
As for bowing or kneeling, it's important to understand why you're doing that. It is possible to do it simply out of respect for the Catholics at the Mass ("When in Rome, do as the Romans do"), but we genuflect as a sign of respect (and submission) to Christ in the Eucharist, reserved in the tabernacle. Again, Lutherans are supposed to believe in the Real Presence, but fewer and fewer do today. And those who do believe do not believe in reserving the Eucharist.
If you wish to genuflect because you've come to believe in the Real Presence of Christ reserved in the Sacrament of the Altar, then you should express that belief through your actions. The priest at the parish you are attending can give you advice on how best to do so.
Comments
I agree that you gave the correct information.
Lutherans, as a matter of faith, believe in the Real Presence of Jesus,in the Holy Sacrament. To suggest that less and less do so today is simply wrong. We do adhere to the Reservation of the Sacrament for the later distribution to the sick and homebound. What we do not adhere to is the veneration apart for the Divine command to “Take and eat…take and drink”. I for one bow at the waiste when in the presence of Jesus in the Divine Mystery of the Eucharist. I hope this is helpful.
Agreed.
That’s a little more complicated. I should have made it clear in the post that I wasn’t speaking about doctrinal statements but the actual belief of those in the pews–and, indeed, sometimes in the pulpit. The ELCA, for instance, has intercommunion agreements with several ecclesiastical communities that not only do not believe in the Real Presence but even explicitly condemn such belief. At the very least, that raises questions about the ELCA’s commitment to the doctrine of the Real Presence.
As a non-Catholic, I too would bow instead of genuflect. The respect given is the same. The act of genuflecting originated in ancient Rome, and was a mark of respect and allegiance which soldiers made to the emperor. Western Christians adopted the custom and redirected it towards Christ. It’s interesting to note that Orthodox Christians do not genuflect at all. They bow. And they do not kneel during liturgy, standing even during the consecration. Why? As an Orthodox Christian once explained to me, “In ancient times, we knelt before the Czar, but we stand before Christ for he has made us free.”