Abstaining from Communion?

[RuthTherese]

I feel like abstaining a few times would be very healthy. You become very aware of the fact that you aren’t receiving, and it makes your longing all the more strong, making the next time you receive all the more special. And that’s the way it should be. Not routine if it makes us forget what a privilege we’ve been given.

 

[felsguy]

My wife who rises after me kisses me as soon as she comes into the kitchen every morning. If tomorrow she said she was going to stop doing that for while so I would appreciate it more when she resumed, I’d really be bummed out…but that’s just me!

 

[ProVobis]

My wife who rises after me kisses me as soon as she comes into the kitchen every morning. If tomorrow she said she was going to stop doing that for while so I would appreciate it more when she resumed, I’d really be bummed out…but that’s just me!

Better that than being tossed out of the house.

 

[Immorrtalmortal]

I am definitely not trying to imply anything here, but this is one of those areas that make me wonder why am I so different from other people? I used to discount the Opus Dei people because repeatedly in interviews they would state how before they got involved with O.D. they never really gave much thought to God, even on Sunday in Church. How does anyone go even one day, let alone a whole week without thinking about God? How could anyone not feel the urge for Communion? What’s going on here? Btb, I don’t go daily to Mass, never felt the need, but I have always felt close to God, even if it wasn’t physically. How can anyone ever take going to Communion for grated? I can understand being a bit lax on the confessional, bad experiences there. (Had one priest yell at me for not admitting to having sinned as much as he thought a child of 12 should. The last priest I went to for confession fell asleep on me. That hurt.) Please tell me others think about God daily. I’ve actually been told by nuns and deacons that I can’t possibly be as into God as I pretend. If I were, I’d have become a nun. Why do people think you have to have vows to keep God in your life? :harp::knight1::heaven::knight2::angel1::juggle:

Go to Communion as often as you can! Sorry but any priest suggesting people not go communion reminds me too much of a late pastor who used a homily to complain that I was too picky when it came to men. He had a parishioner from his former church complain that I wouldn’t go out with him. The guy was 20+ years older then me and married. [edited]

 

[Memaw]

I am definitely not trying to imply anything here, but this is one of those areas that make me wonder why am I so different from other people? I used to discount the Opus Dei people because repeatedly in interviews they would state how before they got involved with O.D. they never really gave much thought to God, even on Sunday in Church. How does anyone go even one day, let alone a whole week without thinking about God? How could anyone not feel the urge for Communion? What’s going on here? Btb, I don’t go daily to Mass, never felt the need, but I have always felt close to God, even if it wasn’t physically. How can anyone ever take going to Communion for grated? I can understand being a bit lax on the confessional, bad experiences there. (Had one priest yell at me for not admitting to having sinned as much as he thought a child of 12 should. The last priest I went to for confession fell asleep on me. That hurt.) Please tell me others think about God daily. I’ve actually been told by nuns and deacons that I can’t possibly be as into God as I pretend. If I were, I’d have become a nun. Why do people think you have to have vows to keep God in your life? :harp::knight1::heaven::knight2::angel1::juggle:

Go to Communion as often as you can! Sorry but any priest suggesting people not go communion reminds me too much of a late pastor who used a homily to complain that I was too picky when it came to men. He had a parishioner from his former church complain that I wouldn’t go out with him. The guy was 20+ years older then me and married. [edited]

For someone who is “definitely not trying to imply” anything, you sure did imply a lot. You gotta be kiddin me. God Bless, Memaw

 

[truetofaith]

I know people who receive Communion more than once a day…but I believe this is wrong because Jesus is present in your body all day.

 

[rcuk]

I believe the limit is twice per day. I think more than once may devalue that first encounter perhaps; but it isn’t about feelings, it’s about Jesus Christ being with us and nourishing our soul.

 

[ProVobis]

I know people who receive Communion more than once a day…but I believe this is wrong because Jesus is present in your body all day.

Twice is not wrong but my own opinion is that among other things the Church is telling us that there are no added benefits by receiving too often. Note that they impose an upper limit on receiving but no upper limit on Masses one can attend.

 

[Blind_Didymus]

“Give us this day our daily bread.”
What does this mean if not that we should live on the Bread of Life who came down from heaven as often as possible?

Of course, there are times when one may not approach the Lord’s Table due to reasons other than sin. (At least, this is the case in the Coptic Church and most other Orthodox Churches as far as I’m aware.) Nonetheless, we should endeavour to approach as often as possible if such a blessing of our circumstances enables us to.

That said, St Paul the Hermit (and others like him) who never received the Blessed Mysteries for years on end most likely would have had a much greater appreciation for it once he did.

So it can be seen that there are benefits in both approaches. In your case, the desire is very good yet please be obedient to the priest who, by his instruction, is increasing your desire and so drawing your heart nearer to God by at times, keeping you away from him. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. In time, no doubt, this restriction will again be removed if you are faithful to it and your joy will return again

 

[Blind_Didymus]

In regards to how many times a person may receive communion in one day, traditionally one is required to fast before receiving communion. If one adds the fasting time to the time of the liturgy itself, one will find that it is not possible to receive communion more than twice a day simply because there aren’t enough hours.

For example, the Coptic Church’s liturgy is often around 2 & a half to 3 hours in length and one must fast for 9 hours beforehand to commune. The Greek Church’s liturgy (from what I’ve seen) is around an hour and a half to 2 hours and I’ve been told they require people to fast for 8 hours before communing. In either of these cases, it is simply not possible to commune more than twice a day.

On another note, traditionally the altar (or at least the altar board or altar cloth) was required to fast before communion. This meant that there could only be one liturgy prayed upon it during the daylight hours and another during the night hours, thus limiting one’s ability to receive communion from the same altar to a maximum of twice within the one day.