Can I Take Communion at Saturday and Sunday Mass?

[Ricky_C]

I’m thinking about going to Mass today and tomorrow, and if I end up doing that, I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to take Holy Communion during both Masses; the Saturday Mass is an evening Mass that can substitute for the Sunday Mass, so would taking it today and tomorrow count as taking Communion twice on the same day since it’s the same Mass? I wanted to go today for the sake of going on a Saturday, not as a substitute for Mass tomorrow. Thanks in advance, and may God bless you!

 

[Horton]

When I first converted I used to always go to the vigil Mass and the Sunday morning Mass. I took communion both times. I was told that while the vigil Mass does fulfill the Sunday obligation there is no problem receiving communion at both.

 

[Corki]

I’m thinking about going to Mass today and tomorrow, and if I end up doing that, I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to take Holy Communion during both Masses; the Saturday Mass is an evening Mass that can substitute for the Sunday Mass, so would taking it today and tomorrow count as taking Communion twice on the same day since it’s the same Mass? I wanted to go today for the sake of going on a Saturday, not as a substitute for Mass tomorrow. Thanks in advance, and may God bless you!

A day is midnight to midnight so this is not twice in one day.

Not only that but Communion can be received twice in one day as long as the second time is at Mass. So even if you were to go to Sunday morning and then Sunday evening Mass, that would be fine.

 

[Ricky_C]

Great to know; thanks to the both of you, and may God bless you!

 

[Colorad007]

A day is midnight to midnight so this is not twice in one day.

Not only that but Communion can be received twice in one day as long as the second time is at Mass. So even if you were to go to Sunday morning and then Sunday evening Mass, that would be fine.

I believe that because the Saturday anticipatory Mass is considered a Sunday Mass it is indeed the first of two Masses if you also go Sunday morning. In any case, you can receive Communion twice in a day so long as you are fully present for the second Mass.

 

[on_the_hill]

We asked our pastor about this about a year ago because my daughter served at the 5:30PM Saturday mass and wanted to participate in the 8:30AM Sunday mass because her CCD class had something special going on.

His answer was that it’s perfectly acceptable. He said the so-called rule about not receiving more than once a day was implemented to stop people from racing from one mass to the next, trying to receive as many times as possible in a day.

 

[Corki]

I believe that because the Saturday anticipatory Mass is considered a Sunday Mass it is indeed the first of two Masses if you also go Sunday morning. In any case, you can receive Communion twice in a day so long as you are fully present for the second Mass.

No, Saturday Mass is considered a Sunday Mass but receiving Communion on Saturday is receiving on Saturday. Receiving Communion on Sunday is Sunday. The rules for when a Mass “counts” do not change the definition of a day (midnight to midnight) for Communion.

One could legitimately receive Communion on Saturday evening at the anticipated Mass and then at two Sunday Masses.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

The law about how many times one can receive Holy Communion per day changed when the new Code of Canon Law was promulgated in 1983.

The text of the law: Can. 917 A person who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist can receive it a second time on the same day only within the eucharistic celebration in which the person participates.

Thus, the first time you receive Communion can be in any circumstance (Mass, Communion Service, being present when the Blessed Sacrament is brought to a sick person that you are visiting, etc.) So long as the second time is during a Mass which you are attending, you may receive a second time.

 

[Gorgias]

The law about how many times one can receive Holy Communion per day changed when the new Code of Canon Law was promulgated in 1983.

The text of the law: Can. 917 A person who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist can receive it a second time on the same day only within the eucharistic celebration in which the person participates.

Thus, the first time you receive Communion can be in any circumstance (Mass, Communion Service, being present when the Blessed Sacrament is brought to a sick person that you are visiting, etc.) So long as the second time is during a Mass which you are attending, you may receive a second time.

This is true, but the OP isn’t talking about receiving “a second time on the same day”; he’s talking about receiving once on Saturday, and once on another day (Sunday). As such, c. 917 doesn’t apply in this case.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

*This is true, but the OP isn’t talking about receiving “a second time on the same day”; he’s talking about receiving once on Saturday, and once on another day (Sunday). As such, c. 917 doesn’t apply in this case.
*
Actually, my post was not addressing the original post at all since the second response, by Corki, clarified perfectly well the point that the situation involved Communion on two separate days. Corki, in the sixth response, also correctly responded to the objection/concern raised in the fourth response.

My post was simply an add on, responding to the sixth response…concerning the rule about receiving Communion only a certain number of times…and to provide the background for the new Code of Canon Law which augmented the number of times in a day that the faithful may receive the Eucharist.

My purpose was really to provide the actual text of the legislation, which was being referenced but not actually provided, and then to explain what receiving a second time in a given day could legitimately include and not include from the perspective of Canon 917, since that was being discussed in passing in the various responses answering the original post.

 

[ProVobis]

His answer was that it’s perfectly acceptable. He said the so-called rule about not receiving more than once a day was implemented to stop people from racing from one mass to the next, trying to receive as many times as possible in a day.

Right. There is no limit on the number of Masses one can attend on any day but there is a limit on communions received. The Church is essentially saying there is no additional benefit past two. Before the 1984 Code one time was enough.