Break the fast?

[olliekeenan]

baltobetsy:

Let’s clarify this.

Mass begins at 10:00. Communion occurs at 10:45.

Weekday masses don’t usually last this long. The weekday mass that I go to usually lasts around 25 minutes in total.

Personally I woulnd’t accept communion having knowingly broken the communion fast.

Ollie.

 

[hosea]

baltobetsy:

The difference between the piece of toast and the nocturnal emission is that the person realized he had eaten the toast and had broken the fast. Going on to receive Communion is a fully conscious decision, unlike the nocturnal emission, which is totally out of the person’s control. Only if the person completely forgot about the toast and the fast, would it be the same kind of accident, posing no problem for the reception of Communion. Scrupulosity in this kind of case comes in when one is not certain whether the fast has been broken, worries about it, and stays away from Communion on the remote chance that the fast has been broken. If you are certain you have broken the fast, do not receive; if you are not certain, you may receive. Careful observance is not the same as scrupulosity.

Do you really think it’s a good thing to be committing a venial sin in the course of receiving Communion? Would not a spiritual communion be more pleasing to God and bring with it graces, instead of bringing with it venial sin?

Betsy

Hi Betsy,
Our Lord wants to heal the sin sick soul. He longs for the wretched, the lost, the forsaken to come to Him and be refreshed. Is that not what Communion with Him does for us?
As we sit and worship during Mass we are contrite. If we have sinned since our last confession we recite the act of Contrition in our hearts and ask our Lord for forgivness so that we may come to Him. I believe in my heart that if I were in that situation and prayed fervently about it He would invite me to receive Him. And I would endeavor to not repeat the sin. And my soul would be refreshed by His Grace.
Just a couple weeks ago the Theme of the Mass was “Come to me all who labor…”
I got these readings online.

God is moved by His compassion, and His compassion is drawn to humility. Like a river of love, God’s compassion flows to the lowest situation in your life, your greatest need, your greatest weakness, and your greatest failures. Whatever you lay low before the Lord He will be drawn to that area of your life. God gives grace to the humble,
and His strength is made perfect in your weakness.

From Mathew 11:28
God says to you “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Jesus says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

God’s Love and Peace be with you always, Betsy. I pray you always receive His healing into your soul. And that you will find rest.

Your friend in Jesus,
Terry

 

[baltobetsy]

Terry, those are lovely thoughts, but I just can’t bring myself to agree that receiving Communion, when doing so would be a sin, is a good thing.

If we are aware of having broken the fast, we can do one of two things (assuming we haven’t done as someone suggested earlier and asked for a dispensation).

We can refrain from receiving Communion and make a spiritual Communion instead. No sin is committed. God is pleased with our loving attention to what He has asked through the laws of the Church, and gives lots of graces.

or

We can receive Communion and simultaneously commit a sin. We don’t receive grace for committing a sin. It’s like running to hug our beloved and kicking him/her in the shin at the same time. It makes no sense and is offensive.

All this distress about refraining from receiving would be more convincing if there were limited opportunties for Communion. The fact is, anyone willing to sacrifice a little sleep or time can go any day of the week. No one needs to be deprived of the lifeline of Communion for any length of time at all, as long as he is in a state of grace. Some people are old enough to remember a time when monthly Communion, with permission from one’s confessor, was a big deal. In spite of that, people lived intense lives of faith and stayed very close to God. Nobody took it for granted that they would receive Communion every time they went to Mass. People appreciated it more. All that’s asked of us now is to be in a state of grace and fast for an hour. Is that too much?

Betsy

 

[hosea]

Another beautiful reply. You are so blessed with Godly wisdom, Betsy.

I Commune in spirit only each week. As I await the annulment of my former marriage in order to have my marriage blessed I look to the host as it is raised and recieve my Lord through His Spirit. I long to taste the sweetness of His Precious Body and Blood on my tongue once more.

My day will come…

Thank you once again, Betsy, for making things so clear. It is through His mouth and not yours that this comes. Thank you for being His thoughtful and obedient servant.

Peace,
Terry

 

[baltobetsy]

Terry, you’re very kind. I hope your declaration of nullity comes very soon.

Betsy

 

[mercygate]

hosea:

I Commune in spirit only each week. As I await the annulment of my former marriage in order to have my marriage blessed I look to the host as it is raised and recieve my Lord through His Spirit. I long to taste the sweetness of His Precious Body and Blood on my tongue once more.

The Bread of Desire is extremely holy fare. May you thrive on it until you are able to receive him once again.

 

[kmktexas]

to Baltobetsy and Mercygate.

In lieu of reputation points.