19th century recommendation for sacraments once a month?

[FrancescaMaria]

I have been reading a 19th century manual on how to increase devotion that was written by clergy and signed by a bishop. What really struck me is that the book recommends that devoted Catholics approach the sacraments once a month. Now, I understand that Confession is still recommended once a month (and right away when in serious sin), but Communion?? I think now it is recommended as often as possible, even every day if one can, but at least once a week on Sunday Mass, no? Does anyone know what possible reasons could have been for such infrequent recommendation? And how on earth could a 19th century devoted Catholic go without a Communion for a whole month? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and answers.

 

[babochka]

I have been reading a 19th century manual on how to increase devotion that was written by clergy and signed by a bishop. What really struck me is that the book recommends that devoted Catholics approach the sacraments once a month. Now, I understand that Confession is still recommended once a month (and right away when in serious sin), but Communion?? I think now it is recommended as often as possible, even every day if one can, but at least once a week on Sunday Mass, no? Does anyone know what possible reasons could have been for such infrequent recommendation? And how on earth could a 19th century devoted Catholic go without a Communion for a whole month? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and answers.

This recommendation was given at a time when most of the faithful people received very infrequently - usually only the minimum required once per year. Even with frequent confession, many did not feel that it was acceptable to receive more than that.Seen in this light, a once-a-month recommendation was an attempt to increase the frequency of reception of the Sacrament.

 

[SMHW]

This recommendation was given at a time when most of the faithful people received very infrequently - usually only the minimum required once per year. Even with frequent confession, many did not feel that it was acceptable to receive more than that.Seen in this light, a once-a-month recommendation was an attempt to increase the frequency of reception of the Sacrament.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

This recommendation was given at a time when most of the faithful people received very infrequently - usually only the minimum required once per year. Even with frequent confession, many did not feel that it was acceptable to receive more than that.Seen in this light, a once-a-month recommendation was an attempt to increase the frequency of reception of the Sacrament.

Spot on. I don’t know the time period, except general Middle Ages, but the status quo was once a year.

 

[babochka]

Spot on. I don’t know the time period, except general Middle Ages, but the status quo was once a year.

And remember that a minimum of once-a-year was mandated because the faithful were not receiving at all, for years at a time. The Church considered this such a deplorable situation that a minimum level, binding on all the faithful was established. This was only after decades, if not centuries, of attempts to encourage more frequent reception of Holy Communion on the part of the faithful. Even then, though, the minimum was not supposed to be the norm.

 

[JimG]

In my youth, it was common to receive communion weekly on Sunday, but only after going to confession on Saturday afternoon, and fasting from food and water from midnight on Saturday before receiving communion on Sunday morning.

 

[Chatter163]

The notion that one should almost always receive communion every week is quite modern.

 

[Usige]

The notion that one should almost always receive communion every week is quite modern.

Yes and no. St Pius X, encouraged weekly, and even daily communion, with the promulgation of Sacra Tridentina in 1905 and it has essentially become the norm to receive at each Mass in the last 4 decades. That being said, the fathers of the Council of Trent said that the faithful should sacramentally commune at each Mass. So the practice of receiving at each Mass is modern, but the notion is atleast 500 years old.

I think the major change is around people’s determination of worthiness to receive at a given Mass. In the past most people would not receive unless they confessed either the evening before of perhaps right before Mass. Now it is more common to receive at every Mass and confess once or twice a year. The frequency of receiving those sacraments seems to have reversed.

 

[JimG]

It has nearly always been Church law to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. There is no requirement to receive communion at every Mass.

Before recent decades, it would have been considered intrusive to have ushers go pew by pew to have people come up for communion. Receiving communion is always a personal decision.

 

[tawny]

In my youth, it was common to receive communion weekly on Sunday, but only after going to confession on Saturday afternoon, and fasting from food and water from midnight on Saturday before receiving communion on Sunday morning.

Same here. Also, my Mother, brother & sister went to daily Mass before school.

 

[babochka]

The notion that one should almost always receive communion every week is quite modern.

In the early Church, any of the faithful who were present at the Eucharistic celebration were expected to receive. It was even common for the faithful to carry the Holy Eucharist home and partake every day, until the next Sunday. While I don’t think it would be wise to return to that practice, it is incorrect to say that it is a modern notion.

The Catholic Encyclopedia has a good article on the subject here: newadvent.org/cathen/06278a.htm

Regardless of the actual frequency of reception by the laity, the Church has always urged frequent reception and fought against the attitude that we should not receive Holy Communion. At the same time, the Church has urged the faithful to always be properly prepared when receiving. The Church has never taught against weekly or even daily reception of the Eucharist, even when popular piety led to extremely infrequent reception.

 

[twf]

As noted by others in this thread, it was St Pius X, just over a century ago, who actively promoted frequent (daily or weekly) communion. For many centuries from the Middle Ages through early modern period, many received only a few times a year. Fasting requirements were stricter and receiving the Lord was taken very seriously.

 

[Kielbasi]

As noted by others in this thread, it was St Pius X, just over a century ago, who actively promoted frequent (daily or weekly) communion. For many centuries from the Middle Ages through early modern period, many received only a few times a year. Fasting requirements were stricter and receiving the Lord was taken very seriously.

This is also the reason why many of our Protestant friends only have monthly or quarterly communion.

For the 1st generation protestants, sven that infrequently was more frequently that they had received when they were Catholic during the 16th Century.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

This is also the reason why many of our Protestant friends only have monthly or quarterly communion.

For the 1st generation protestants, sven that infrequently was more frequently that they had received when they were Catholic during the 16th Century.

Good point. I hadn’t thought of that.

 

[babochka]

As noted by others in this thread, it was St Pius X, just over a century ago, who actively promoted frequent (daily or weekly) communion.

Pope Pius X did not just pull this out of nowhere. He only emphasized what had been taught by the Church from the beginning. Frequent, even daily worthy reception of Communion has always been promoted. Even the Council of Trent addressed this issue. He wrote an encyclical in 1905, Sacra Tridentina. This is the opening paragraph of that Encyclical, which can be found here in its entirety:
ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwfreq.htm

The Holy Council of Trent, having in view the ineffable riches of grace which are offered to the faithful who receive the Most Holy Eucharist, makes the following declaration: “**The Holy Council wishes indeed that at each Mass the faithful who are present should communicate, not only in spiritual desire, but sacramentally, by the actual reception of the Eucharist.” **These words declare plainly enough the wish of the Church that all Christians should be daily nourished by this heavenly banquet and should derive therefrom more abundant fruit for their sanctification.

Some other examples:

St. Augustine - Eat every day, that you may gain strength. O Christian Soul, if thou wish to preserve thy beauty, never quit the table of thy heavenly spouse. If you would live forever, eat every day his flesh.

St. Ambrose - He is our daily bread. Why dost thou wish to communicate only at the beginning of the year? Live in such a manner that you may Communicate every day. He who is not fit to communicate every day will not be worthy at the end of a year.

St. John Chrystostom - It is not rashness to approach the altar frequently, but it is rashness to receive unworthily, even once. Each day, let us go in quest of this Heavenly Bread. Feed us, O Lord, with this daily bread. Each day give us this Heavenly Bread.

St. Basil - Daily communion is praiseworthy and useful.

St. Anacletus (Pope) - After the consecration, let us all communicate, unless they wish to be put out of the church, for this is commanded by the apostles, and hence the Holy Roman Church retains this practice.

St. Clement - Any of the faithful who enter the Church to hear the word of God and abstain from Holy Communion, should be put forth as disturbers of the order of the Church.

 

[FrancescaMaria]

Pope Pius X did not just pull this out of nowhere. He only emphasized what had been taught by the Church from the beginning. Frequent, even daily worthy reception of Communion has always been promoted. Even the Council of Trent addressed this issue. He wrote an encyclical in 1905, Sacra Tridentina. This is the opening paragraph of that Encyclical, which can be found here in its entirety:
ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwfreq.htm

Some other examples:

St. Augustine - Eat every day, that you may gain strength. O Christian Soul, if thou wish to preserve thy beauty, never quit the table of thy heavenly spouse. If you would live forever, eat every day his flesh.

St. Ambrose - He is our daily bread. Why dost thou wish to communicate only at the beginning of the year? Live in such a manner that you may Communicate every day. He who is not fit to communicate every day will not be worthy at the end of a year.

St. John Chrystostom - It is not rashness to approach the altar frequently, but it is rashness to receive unworthily, even once. Each day, let us go in quest of this Heavenly Bread. Feed us, O Lord, with this daily bread. Each day give us this Heavenly Bread.

St. Basil - Daily communion is praiseworthy and useful.

St. Anacletus (Pope) - After the consecration, let us all communicate, unless they wish to be put out of the church, for this is commanded by the apostles, and hence the Holy Roman Church retains this practice.

St. Clement - Any of the faithful who enter the Church to hear the word of God and abstain from Holy Communion, should be put forth as disturbers of the order of the Church.

Thank you for these beautiful quotes and everyone for the replies and explanations. I always assumed that everyone would have the desire to receive as often as possible, and I always feel so sorry and pray for the people who really can’t (i.e. marriage problem, unfinished RCIA, and so on). And, I assumed that if one has the misfortune to have committed a mortal sin, they would seek Confession as soon as possible (also for the reason that they could die) so that they could still receive on Sunday. It is a real mystery to me that it took the Church so many centuries to convince people to frequently receive the Eucharist… It seems like it should have been a no brainer.

 

[Rosebud77]

I have a memory niggling me that Little Flower actually had to get permission to take communion often.

Also that the "obligation"is once a year?

In my Anglican days for me it was more often than now, but illness, being periodically housebound and atttitudes to a misdiagnosed illness changed everything

Happy with where i am at.

 

[Brendan]

Fasting requirements were stricter and receiving the Lord was taken very seriously.

That is quite true. I wonder how many Catholic today would receive every Sunday if they had to fast from both food and water from midnight the night before AND they took the fasting requirements seriously.

 

[FrancescaMaria]

That is quite true. I wonder how many Catholic today would receive every Sunday if they had to fast from both food and water from midnight the night before AND they took the fasting requirements seriously.

Oh, I think they would, but they would all come the first thing in the morning, so the morning masses would be overcrowded and the later masses empty.

 

[Rosebud77]

Oh, I think they would, but they would all come the first thing in the morning, so the morning masses would be overcrowded and the later masses empty.

The norm here is 10.30 am and how about the Vigil Masses at 6.30.pm