Can I receive Holy Communion

[RC_BOB]

I have a sin on my conscience that I am discerning whether it is serious enough to receive Holy Communion or not. Thus far I have refrained. I really desire to receive Our Lord tomorrow morning at mass and for the last two days have been trying to get to a priest to hear my confession. None has been available to this point. If I have been trying and will go to confession as soon as I can find a priest available (more than likely on tomorrow afternoon), can I receive Holy Communion tomorrow morning at mass?

 

[Jim_Blackburn]

Reception of the Eucharist is generally not allowed for anyone conscious of mortal sin. *Code of Canon Law * (CIC) states: “A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.” (CIC 916)

Keep in mind that mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1859) Since you are “discerning” the seriousness of your sin, you may not have had full knowledge of the gravity of the sin when you committed it.