Should animals receive communion??

[elshiva]

[CBHagman]

1. No, they should receive the blessing of the animals.

Animals don't receive the sacraments (no marriage, for example, or holy orders). However, on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4th) or a date close to it, Episcopal and Catholic clergy bestow a blessing on animals brought to church.

On edit: But don't just show up at church with Fido or Mietze; check to see if there is a blessing of the animals being offered!

That said, in my parish there was a woman who used to bring her adorable little King Charles spaniel to mass. The dog was utterly well-behaved, perhaps more so than some parishioners. After all, how many dogs or cats take cell phone calls during mass?

[Joe Chi Minh]

10. A woman occasionally used to bring her very obedient dog with her

for evening Mass.

I couldn't believe it, but at the very point when those little bells are sometimes rung - I think, the elevation of the Host - the dog suddenly started shaking himself, (the way they do when they're drying themselves) and some metal on his collar kind of klinked quite loudly, sounding a bit like bells! Very amusing.

I read someone's near-death experience recently, and he was delighted that in what he glimpsed of, well, I suppose at least an ante-room to Heaven, not only did much-loved close relatives of his come to greet him, but his old dogs!

[YOY]

2. No...and I really think it's just pointless to explain why

Although CBHagman already did...

[AngryOldDem]

3. Huh...wha???

My first reaction is, no.

My second reaction is, why are you asking? Is this a hypothetical, or have you seen this done?

[elshiva]

4. It's a joke, hon.

But I ask because I am a lay eucharistic minister and I was giving my grandmother communion. While she was taking the cup, Cloudberry, our cat, was and her lap and looked up at me expectantly. I did not give the cat communion! No, way! I don't think animals need or want communion because it is not their language of faith. Anyway, what cat eats bread and drinks wine? It's completely meaningless to a cat. However, I do believe that animals have some experience of God that is beyond our experience. And yes animals should be in heaven or it wouldn't be heaven would it?

[AngryOldDem]

5. Sorry, I am taking things way too literally these days

I've lost my sense of humor somewhere.

Just the other day I read something to the effect that when we get to heaven, all the pets we have known in our lifetimes will be there waiting for us. I like that. And yes, as creatures of God, I do believe that in some way animals are in communion with Him.

Again...I need to learn to lighten up, I guess. :hi:

[hedgehog]

6. Hi Elshiva!

I just had to post his again from the Gospel reading last Sunday; I think you'd appreciate it:

“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition."


As the mother of a lesbian and someone who knows a lot of potential priests who are being ignored by the hierarchy because they have the wrong genitals or a wife, I wanted to stand up in Church last Sunday, pump my arm and yell "Go Jesus!"

[elshiva]

7. Yeah! Thanks. I heard that, too!

:hi:

[JVS]

8. aaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh

[rug]

9. Yes, when humans start licking their own butts.