😐 How Monks Do Church

[@52churchesin52weeks]

Thanks for watching and hope you enjoyed this church visit. LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to stay tuned for future visits. You can also check-out the first "52 Churches in 52 Weeks" on Amazon at 📚 amzn.to/3DKry4q

[@kennethbergstrom3383]

David, I really enjoy your videos, and have definitely found value in them. I have a similar background to you, grew up LCMS, but didn’t really have the faith crisis you did. As you stated in one of your earliest videos, LCMS and WELS seem to have pretty similar beliefs, especially when it comes to communion, being that it is closed. Since growing up and getting married, I have converted to Catholicism, which leads me to this video, and something you did. Please take this as a learning point on your continued journey, and not as a harsh criticism. The Catholic Church is known for having closed communion. Unless you are in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, and fully confess to the teachings and beliefs of the Church, and not in a state of mortal sin, you should not present yourself for communion. It is perfectly acceptable to approach the Eucharist, but you should cross your arms over your chest placing your hands on your shoulders to indicate that you are not able to receive. Or additionally you could kneel at your pew and perform an act of spiritual communion. In the missals there is a section devoted to this and the teachings when it comes to worthy reception of the Eucharist. I fully understand your desire to receive communion, I had those same desires on my faith journey to the Church, but I respected the position of the Church to not receive. My suggestion to you would be to at the very least look into a churches communion practices, and if it is closed communion please ask ahead of time if you are able to receive or please refrain from receiving. I think I may be able to shed light on why churches hold to closed communion. The simple answer is, that by receiving communion, your are stating publicly to all in attendance that you profess all the teachings and beliefs of that particular church. In this video, you were declaring by to all in attendance that you profess and believe all the teaching of the Catholic Church, which unless there has been a major development, you don’t. So in essence you are lying. In my life, I wouldn’t be able to go to an Orthodox Church and receive communion, because, although they have valid apostolic succession, they do not accept the primacy of the Bishop of Rome, and thus I would not be able to participate. Also, if I were to go to a church with open communion, I would refrain from participating in communion, because I do not profess the same beliefs as that church. I hope this helps in understanding a little bit about the reason for churches holding to closed communion. I know it can be disheartening to not be able to participate, but knowing that you are lying if you do should help alleviate that.

[@InsightsonGodsword]

Am amazed with the church building, Loved you got attention from Matthew... interesting experience

[@TheMercers]

Interesting about the beer. I love how far you go to gather knowledge and immerse yourself into different cultures and give a respectful and honest review. I've also come to realize you enjoy photography and architecture. Lol Stick Figure Jesus on a T. I need to learn how you break your videos up and give each section a title, too!! I tend to post longer videos so it would be good to be able to break them down for people who wanna skip around or come back and visit to review just a part of it. Aww the part where you got invited for coffee and donuts makes me remember the feeling I used to get when reading some books and being inspired to get out of my comfort zone and just go wherever it takes me (I had social anxiety). Oh it's a school Aww like Sister Act! LOL (the movie). I've visited the Abbey near my home. It was a beautiful experience. I didn't get any social interaction or coffee/donuts though. Never been to a Viking church! Thanks for this! :) I hit the bell.

[@52churchesin52weeks]

Appreciate it! It's hard to do, but oddly, I've garnered a lot of attention from church members by having my phone and taking pictures after service. It's an unintended icebreaker, but that helps getting more immersed to know and learn more about fellow believers (even though there may be doctrinal beliefs). Timestamps help haha. Thought adding those would just help the viewer if they want to skip!

[@52churchesin52weeks]

From what I learned, there's not many "viking" stave churches left. Guess there's only about 20-30 left in Scandinavia, but there's been a few replica churches that have popped up in the States in recent decades.

[@michellebernal5668]

Yes all of this, taking Catholic communion is agreeing to all the church’s teachings. You’re essentially in full communion with the church and accept the doctrine, the main doctrine being the Eucharist is the TRUE and REAL body of Christ. When people say they’ve partaken in the Lord’s supper at Protestant churches that wouldn’t be an issue because they all see it as symbolic. We believe it is literal so unless you acknowledge that you believe it is truly the body and the blood and full understanding on what transubstantiation is, you are not fully capable to take communion. There’s also being in a state of grace. It’s something so holy to us and seen with full worship and reverence, not just something you feel like doing in the moment.

[@AngelaSealana]

Thanks for your openmindedness! T cross is called the Tau cross. It's closer to the way most Roman crucifixions actually took place. The kissing of the altar is a gesture that opens every Catholic Mass. The altar represents Christ as Priest and his sacrifice. The ambo (lectern) represents Christ as Prophet, which is from which the Word is proclaimed. The presider's chair represents Christ's kingship and service. Christ Priest, Prophet, and King are the offices in which every Christian is baptized.

[@ShannonCarpenterTHMCoach]

That is a great thing, to reach out if you see someone else new in church!

[@joesmith1604]

I truly enjoy all of your videos. Just seeing how others worship inspires me to take another comparative religions class. Perhaps in the Summer.

[@nuns8126]

Yes you commited a huge sacrilege taking Roman Catholic Holy Communion. Its reserved only for Roman Catholics. Glad you got to meet some students at coffee hour. My former Russian Orthodox pastor sent his 2 high school age boys to this school on a full paid scholarship. They were very bored forced to attend RCC mass every Friday. I wonder how the monks looked at the Russian Orthodox Church priest wearing his cassock on Parent Teacher night.lol.😊

[@johngeraldoy2615]

@ nuns8126 I would like to add that the members of 23 eastern Catholics are also allowed communion in the Latin rite church for they are in communion with the bishop of Rome.

[@tracyensleyharp]

Well you are a good storyteller!!

[@anthonysuppa3075]

The white and gold robes are Preistly Vestments. Anytime a Catholic or Orthodox Monk or Friar is an ordained Preist or Deacon presides over liturgy, they will be worn.

[@lannebromwell]

It's the Franciscan Friars who wear the brown habits that you mention. This abbey is home to a community of Benedictines who wear a black and white habit. They serve in many ways; but their main chrism is Hospitality, which is what you seem to have experienced there.

[@lukesteele4510]

you missed what may be the closest LDS Mega Church event. The Semi Annual General Conference, that's right televised General Conferences only happen twice a year. Once in October and Once in April, both in the first weekend. Ironically it didn't rain which is a bit unusual.

[@52churchesin52weeks]

I was in a no-reception area for the most part this weekend, though I did peak in and got a chance to hear the choir. Amazing!

[@jjhendo]

Which Stave? Do you have one in WI? We have one in Moorhead, MN. There’s one in Minot, ND. And one somewhere in SD, I think..

[@52churchesin52weeks]

Stave churches are fascinating! Wisconsin's is a bit tricky, it's on an island off Wisconsin. Had to get on a ferry and sleep overnight in my jeep to attend the last service of the year. I understand Moorhead and Minot are more museums. Think SD does summer services. Talking with the WI locals, sounds like their newest pastor wanted to open up the Stavkirke for services from summer through beginning of October.

[@steveweiland6840]

Sorry, but I think your information about monks and beer is a bit off. They have been brewing beer for many, many centuries and it really had nothing to do with the industrial revolution. Beer was considered "liquid bread" and would not break their Lenten fast.

[@Bh9140]

Lol that helicoptic looks like a flying insect

[@kitiowa]

Yep! You broke Canon Law. Taking communion is prohibited. Fortunately you do seem to have some understanding of the value and importance of communion and perhaps even understand something of real presence which ameliorates the abuse. Your craving the Eucharist demonstrates that it's not a desecration that could have been.

[@Bh9140]

Yes but I would say those in charge of the monastery there are also at fault. They should have told him this information.

[@kitiowa]

@@Bh9140 It would be virtually impossible to inform communicants what the criteria for accepting is. The only time you will hear a congregation be told that it's not open to Protestants is when there is a liturgy with large numbers of unfamiliar attendees. Funerals is probably the most apt example. Sometimes at Catholic school masses where many Non-Catholic attendees are present is another. Eucharistic ministers are virtually never to call into question someone coming forward. If a Catholic is in a state of mortal sin they are not to receive either. It would be extremely rare to deny communion because who would know if the person has gone to confession. EVEN MORE that they weren't repentant and denied absolution. One's "worthiness" to receive is up to the individual to be aware of. Being a member of the Body of Christ confers some responsibilties.

[@hesedagape6122]

Some of you Roman Catholics are simply modern-day Pharisees

[@ericamonite3112]

I had a wonderful experience with the Lutherans I am a elca I can agree with them since they allow women pastors and open commuion jesus wanted the church to be one

[@52churchesin52weeks]

Closed communion is something I've never understood. What's the point of inviting visitors into your home, only to eat in front of them and reject them at the dinner table? Isn't it God's job to judge the heart? When I learned ELCA did open communion, can't tell you how appreciative I was to have them invite me at Christ's table.

[@ericamonite3112]

@@52churchesin52weeks I know I use to be rc but now elca and i really enjoy the elca better

[@steveweiland6840]

@@52churchesin52weeks I know of Lutheran Churches who only allow members of their synod to partake in Communion. And if the pastor hadn't seen you for a while, you had to actually had to meet with him and discuss why you hadn't been seen in church for a while before you would be allowed to take Communion. At another Lutheran church (don't know which synod), one had to sign up for communion in some sort of book and give one's name and address.

[@52churchesin52weeks]

@@steveweiland6840 That type of Lutheran church was essentially what I grew up in. The communion book (it was called a "friendship register/registry") you'd mark down member or visitor with address, and check if you took communion or not. Eventually, if you stopped showing for too long, they send you a letter with the attendance and communion tracked to warn of excommunication, then eventually send another letter to excommunicate. Those type of threat techniques feels very dated nowadays as more and more people leave old-traditional churches in favor of other options.

[@carlose4314]

You should have crossed your arms to show the priest you are not Catholic.

[@InsightsonGodsword]

Am amazed with the church building, Loved you got attention from Matthew... interesting experience