Question Corner

Q. The small parish to which I have belonged since my baptism 70-plus years ago used to have three full-time priests. Now it is down to one, and even he is shared. For the past quarter of a century, our pastors have often been elderly men with health problems. Pastoral attention is practically nonexistent, and this is true of most of the Catholic churches within driving distance.

I have found, however, a wonderful congregation nearby that is active and caring. They have given much to me, so I would like to join this congregation officially. But it is not Catholic. Is there any problem with belonging to two different denominations at the same time? (The rituals and theology seem very similar.) (Richmond, Va.)
A. For a believer in Jesus, it seems to me, it’s important to decide which Christian denomination can trace its descent most clearly from the time of Christ. In my own mind, that is the Catholic Church.

The regular celebration of the Eucharist, its recognition as the body and blood of the savior and the sacrament of the forgiveness of sins find their origin, I believe, in the words of Christ and the actions of the earliest believers. That pedigree is also true of the hierarchical church, with the pope as the final arbiter of religious doctrine.

(Remember how, in the Acts of the Apostles, the first Christians appealed to Peter to decide whether gentile converts to the new faith needed to follow Jewish rituals and rules?)

So to answer your question, I don’t think it’s logical to “belong” to two different religious denominations -- particularly when one of them does not include some, or even all, of the elements mentioned above.

However, I do understand that you are finding satisfaction in, and drawing benefit from, certain programs offered by your neighboring church, even though it is not Catholic. It may be a program of Bible study, a course on prayer or a food pantry or soup kitchen that has sparked your interest.

I would encourage you to maintain your involvement with those particular programs -- while not actually enrolling as a “member” of that denomination -- but at the same time to continue to worship and receive the sacraments at your local Catholic parish.

Q. When I was a student in Catholic school many years ago, we were taught that we needed to fast from food and drink from midnight in order to receive holy Communion in the morning. That has since been shortened to one hour.

My wife came in to the Catholic Church about five years ago, and she has asked me why we don’t wait at least an hour after communion before we eat anything. Frankly, I couldn’t think of a good answer. It seems that we get together after Mass with our friends and go somewhere for breakfast as soon as we can. Is there a rule about this -- or should there be?(Mount Vernon, Ohio)

A. As happens with many recent converts, your wife’s question is perceptive and profound since it recognizes the special reverence due to a special gift. There is no rule about fasting after the reception of Communion, although the common advice of spiritual directors would be to wait at least 10 or 15 minutes before eating or drinking.

This seems to stem from the church’s belief that Jesus remains present in the Eucharist for as long as the “species” of the host continue to exist (size, color, taste, etc.) while the digestive process begins to take place.

Many spiritual writers, though, encourage an even longer period of fasting and prayer following Communion, since that is an ideal time for an intimate exchange with the Lord and a “preview” of the divine presence in heaven.

The Jesuit saints Ignatius of Loyola and Aloysius Gonzaga are said to have spent two hours on their knees in prayer after receiving the Eucharist -- although that may seem beyond the reach of average Catholics and could wreak havoc with Sunday Mass schedules!

St. Louis de Montfort would remain in church after Mass for half an hour. No worry or engagement could deter him, and he said he would not give up that time of prayer even for an equal time in paradise.

As a practical matter, it would seem a worthy and productive habit to stay after Mass at least a few minutes in order to pray in gratitude for this divine nourishment.

(Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at [email protected] and 40 Hopewell St.,
Albany, N.Y. 12208.)