Gather 'Round the Altar-Only if You're Catholic?

All year long, I've been thinking about St. Norbert College's attempts to be ecumenical and welcome students of different faiths and denominations. Then, just before the Lenten season, I received a letter in my suite box from Father James Baraniak O.Praem. welcoming me into the Lenten celebrations here at St. Norbert. The concept was beautiful and I felt appreciative. However, I had a nagging feeling that something felt wrong about being invited in. After much contemplation (yeah, I do spend my time on nerdy stuff like that), I realized the issue. I knew I would be welcomed into any mass here at Old St. Joe's. But, I also am aware that non-Catholics cannot commune at the same altar as Catholics, although there are exceptions for certain individuals. How can I be completely welcome if I cannot participate in what is undoubtedly one of the most important sacraments of the Catholic faith? Answer: I am not entirely welcome. Problem: I don't think the priests here at St. Norbert want me to feel unwelcome. Are they concerned or looking for change in this part of their canon?

I sat down for an interview with Father James Neilson, looking for his opinion and found it, an opinion steeped in some interesting history and hope for the future. Neilson mentioned that the Catholic Church does in fact take its cues from grassroots movements, but probably doesn't move fast enough. In other words, if Catholics are concerned about non-Catholics not being able to receive communion at mass, the Church will consider the issue, albeit slowly.

Neilson also pointed out that the Eucharist is a symbol of unity for the Church. This is encouragement for a Christian not a part of the Catholic Church. It is difficult to parse the slightly different theologies and doctrines between denominations. But if "catholic" refers to "universal," then it seems that all Christians should be allowed to commune together. I think it hurts the Body of Christ when we put up barriers that divide us-especially barriers involving the ceremony of remembrance and of Communion with Christ.

These barriers need to be taken down. But how? Each individual member of the Body of Christ will have a slightly different interpretation of Holy Communion, a practice found within a few lines in the Gospels. Transubstantiation, consubstantiation, miracles, symbols, memorial, experience, the Holy Spirit, Jesus, communion: how can we unite these ideas and become the pure, united, loving Bride of Christ that God is calling us to be?

Neilson also spoke of Bernard Lonergan, a Jesuit who advised the Church to cultivate three virtues: first and foremost, attentiveness, along with intelligence and reasonableness. These virtues help promote active change and help to articulate and communicate each other's longings and questions. Will they be enough to promote change within the Church? Does the Church want this change? Do people care about exclusion, theology, love, the Eucharist, Jesus, barriers and the hierarchy enough? Do they care to either oppose or promote the change that comes with allowing people of all denominations to commune at a Catholic altar? I don't think so.

However disappointed I may feel, Neilson did teach me about Abbot Killeen, who chose to put the altar in the center of the chapel at the St. Norbert Abbey, a movement to bring the Body of Christ closer to the people, that people might come and gather around it as a community.

Neilson also mentioned that the mission of the Norbertines is to bring the Body of Christ closer to the community. How do we do that? Neilson says, "I'm guessing Communion might be the next step.