Marks Communion

Three years ago we published an account of the
first communion of Mark's older brother Paul (see Interchurch Families, vol. 3, no. 1/ January 1995).
On that occasion, the bishop had refused Paul's mother communion, because it would set a precedent which would be hard to control. He had however intimated that the parish priest could very discreetly celebrate a house-mass and give Paul's mother communionl which he did the next day, while grandparents were still with the family. Two years laterl with a different parish priest, the family tried again, and Paul's and Mark's parents tell their story below. Mark's mother's special joy at being able, this time, to receive communion openly, with the parish, is evident. "Itfelt normal and natural. "

Joy Compounded

Mark is eight years old and was ready to make his first communion. Two years previously, his elder brother Paul
had received his first communion and, after discussion with the family's Anglican vicar and bishop, he had been allowed to receive in the Anglican parish also. However, all had not been plain sailing. Despite repeated requests and letters, Paul's Anglican mother had not been able to receive at his first communion mass.

As the time drew near for Mark's first communion (for which the whole family helped to prepare him), we approached the Catholic parish priest. He had intimated in the past that sharing communion was not a possibility, as he understood the rules. However, we asked him to ask the bishop once again for permission for Mark's mother to receive communion with the family on such a special day. We were not at all hopeful,

The Body and the Blood

My guardian angel, knowing my spiritual fragility, works overtime on my behalf. My husband is a Roman Catholic, and I am an Anglican. One Sunday last summer a group of Roman Catholic students with their chaplain were coming to lunch with us, and were going to celebrate mass at our house before the meal. A second priest was coming to join them. My husband stopped me from dashing off on my bicycle to an
early Communion Service, saying happily that I would be able to receive communion at the eucharist to be celebrated in our home. I knew from experience that the second priest understood about the need experienced by interchurch couples to share communion together, but I was not sure about the first one, and it was he who was going to celebrate. But I put my bicycle away hopefully.

In the course of the conversation after the students arrived with the celebrant, I grew less sure. The mass began. The second

not only from our experience last time, but because of a disappointing meeting with the bishop himself in the intervening years. We felt, however, that even though a further rcjection would be painful, we had nothing to lose.

Two wceks before the big day, the parish priest called Mark's mother into his office (she was preparing for the children' s liturgy which she would be leading the following day). Shc told him that she knew it would be "bad news". He sat her down and told her that, after much contemplation and prayer, he had decided not to ask the bishop (knowing his likely response), and that he now felt ready to offer her communion. He also felt that if she received once, there was no rcason why she should not receive regularly after that. His only condition was that she receive communion in the Sunday parish mass, and not in the more traditional mass also celebrated on a Sunday. She left his office with tears running down her face, never having dreamt of being able to receive communion within the parish. Our joy was compounded by the delight of Mark and Paul, when they were told. We had underestimated their pain at being divided at communion.

The first communion mass was a joyous and happy occasion. The families of the first communicants stood around the altar and received communion together. It felt normal and natural. Parishioners, other family members, and Anglican parishioner friends who had joined us for the service were able to share in our real joy.

Paul's and Mark's mother has received communion since but not every time we attend our Catholic parish. She has a blessing some Sundays, partly out of respect for friends who are married to divorcees and do not receive communion, partly as a sign of the disunity which still exists, and partly in recognition of the privilege we have been offered in the circumstances. But it gives the whole family real happiness to be together in communion. As another AIF member once promised us, "Love will win in the end!"

priest had not arrived. I shut my eyes to try to focus on what to do. To my great relief, I heard the voice of the second priest reading the Gospel. He must have stepped in through the open garden door. The mass continued. Then came the words of invitation from the celebrant: "If you want to receive, stand up". That was clear. I wanted to receive, so I knew what to do. I stood up. I held out my hands. The celebrant moved round the circle. When he reached me, he gave me a blessing.

This is where my guardian angel moved in. She knows that I don't cope in these situations. She sent the second priest, who was holding the chalice and, seeing what had happened, he gave the chalice to me. What an amazing way to be rescued. It was an entirely unpremeditated happening.

Claire Malone-Lee