Sharing in Spiritual Resources
Ghislain Mbilizi
The two essential facts that should be kept in mind in sharing spiritual activities and resources are the existing communion among Christians by virtue of baptism and this communion is not a perfect one due to differences among Christians.
Concelebration with ministers of other churches or ecclesial communities is not allowed. In fact such an act would be sign of full communion which is not there.
Prayer in common is encouraged. In fact, “Such prayers in common are certainly a very effective means of petitioning for the grace of unity, and they are a genuine expression of the ties which still bind Catholics to these other Christians. Shared prayer is in itself a way to spiritual reconciliation.”(108) and the major concern of this prayer should be the restoration of Christian unity.
This prayer is recommended for these occasions:
Praying for common problems like “peace, social concerns, mutual charity among gnity of the family, the effects of poverty, hunger and violence, etc. The same may be said of occasions when, according to circumstances, a nation, region or community wishes to make a common act of thanksgiving or petition to God, as on a national holiday, at a time of public disaster or mourning, on a day set aside for remembrance of those who have died for their country, etc. This kind of prayer is also recommended when Christians hold meetings for study or common action.” (109)
Care should be taken in organizing the common prayer: there should be cooperation among the leaders of the churches or communities involved in deciding in manner in which the prayer will be conducted, taking in to consideration the prayer structures of all the churches or communities involved, liturgical discipline (specially with the eastern churches) insisting on our common heritage and making sure that the version of the Bible to be used is acceptable to all. The place of worship should be agreed upon. Liturgical dress may be used. However, the differences among Christians should not be ignored for convenience sake.
Such prayer sessions are not encouraged on Sundays and other days of obligation. Catholics (Eastern Catholics will follow their laws) are obliged to participate to mass on Sunday because it is the day of the Lord. And even on other days, the ecumenical prayer session does not replace the mass.
As far as non-sacramental worship is concerned, Christians can prayer together the official prayer of their different churches of communities to come to a better appreciation of each others’ prayer tradition. “In liturgical celebrations taking place in other Churches and ecclesial Communities, Catholics are encouraged to take part in the psalms, responses, hymns and common actions of the Church in which they are guests. If invited by their hosts, they may read a lesson or preach.”(118). They can wear their liturgical dress if it accepted by their host. Sensitivities have to be respected. And if the ministers of other churches are invited, they have to be treated according to their rank by Catholics.
It depends on the prudent judgment to grant funeral mass to non-Catholics. This should be according to the will of the deceased.
“Public prayer for other Christians, living or dead, and for the needs and intentions of other Churches and ecclesial Communities and their spiritual heads may be offered during the litanies and other invocations of a liturgical service, but not during the Eucharistic Anaphora. Ancient Christian liturgical and ecclesiological tradition permits the specific mention in the Eucharistic Anaphora only of the names of persons who are in full communion with the Church celebrating the Eucharist (121)”.
For sacramental life with the Eastern Churches, “Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage suggests, and provided that the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it is lawful for any Catholic for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick from a minister of an Eastern Church.” (123) However, they should respect the discipline of the Eastern Churches like frequent communion, confession before communion. Typical examples can include travelers who find themselves in places where the Catholic Church is not present, sick people in the hospital with no catholic chaplain…
Likewise, a catholic minister can administer these sacraments to Eastern Christians “who ask for these sacraments of their own free will and are properly disposed.” (125). There should no suggestion of any proselytism. Here again, travelers, diplomats, sick people are typical examples.
All this should be done in respect of the discipline and tradition of the two Churches involved and for no proselytism reason.
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