Clarification on Eucharist more than once a day

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FunkyKikuchiyo

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I’ve read so many different things on this, and I feel like a person can believe whatever they want to believe.

So, I went to daily Mass this morning. Tomorrow being the Feast of the Assumption, I may (or may not) go to the vigil Mass this evening. Would receiving twice be licit?

One source (with canon law citations) that I found says twice is okay, but more than twice is not unless it is for the sake of Viaticum. Years ago I was told by a priest that (essentially) if it is two different liturgies, it is different enough… say, a funeral in the morning and normal liturgy in the evening (I was an altar server at the time who frequently served funerals… many years ago).

I also get the impression that the Church really wants to discourage over indulgences or people with mental illness that try to consume as much as humanly possible expecting some benefit above and beyond normal reception of the sacrament.

While I’m asking questions, if I attend the Assumption Mass for the Vigil and on the feast day, it is two days but the same liturgy, so…

Oh dear, I’ve gone cross eyed… :confused:
 
Here is what it says in the Code of Canon 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, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 921, §2.

Can. 921 §2. Even if they have been nourished by holy communion on the same day, however, those in danger of death are strongly urged to receive communion again.

You can receive the Eucharist a second time in one day as long as the second time is either at Mass or as Viaticum.

A day is defined as a regular calendar day, not a liturgical day.

So you can go to Mass twice in one day and receive both times with no problem. You can go to a Communion service and then later a Mass and receive both times. What you could not do is go to Mass in the morning and then a Communion service in the evening and receive both times. You also can’t just stroll in at Communion time at every Mass your parish offers on Sunday to receive multiple times.

Does that make sense?
 
FunkyKikuchiyo said:
I’ve read so many different things on this, and I feel like a person can believe whatever they want to believe.
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I am not sure how you have drawn such a conclusion. Canon law is very straightforward on this matter.
FunkyKikuchiyo said:
So, I went to daily Mass this morning. Tomorrow being the Feast of the Assumption, I may (or may not) go to the vigil Mass this evening. Would receiving twice be licit?
Click to expand...
Yes. You may receive twice per day if the second time is in the mass.

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, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 921, §2.

You may receive Viaticum even if you have already received twice that day.

Can. 921 §1. The Christian faithful who are in danger of death from any cause are to be nourished by holy communion in the form of Viaticum.

§2. Even if they have been nourished by holy communion on the same day, however, those in danger of death are strongly urged to receive communion again.
FunkyKikuchiyo said:
One source (with canon law citations) that I found says twice is okay, but more than twice is not unless it is for the sake of Viaticum.
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Correct. See above.
FunkyKikuchiyo said:
Years ago I was told by a priest that (essentially) if it is two different liturgies, it is different enough… say, a funeral in the morning and normal liturgy in the evening (I was an altar server at the time who frequently served funerals… many years ago).
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Not correct. Possibly you misunderstood, or he misunderstood, or something else. Not really possible to sort it all out now. You have the canon law citation, so you know the actual answer now.
FunkyKikuchiyo said:
While I’m asking questions, if I attend the Assumption Mass for the Vigil and on the feast day, it is two days but the same liturgy, so…
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That is not a difficult question at all. No need for crossed eyes. A day is midnight to midnight. So, receiving on Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening are two times in one day. Receiving again on Wednesday is a new day and is one time that day. The liturgy celebrated is not relevant, as per canons already cited. Sorry your priest from long ago confused you, or that there was some misunderstanding.

Can. 202 §1. In law, a day is understood as a period consisting of 24 continuous hours and begins at midnight unless other provision is expressly made
 
1ke said:
I am not sure how you have drawn such a conclusion. Canon law is very straightforward on this matter.

Yes. You may receive twice per day if the second time is in the mass.

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, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 921, §2.

You may receive Viaticum even if you have already received twice that day.

Can. 921 §1. The Christian faithful who are in danger of death from any cause are to be nourished by holy communion in the form of Viaticum.

§2. Even if they have been nourished by holy communion on the same day, however, those in danger of death are strongly urged to receive communion again.

Correct. See above.

Not correct. Possibly you misunderstood, or he misunderstood, or something else. Not really possible to sort it all out now. You have the canon law citation, so you know the actual answer now.

That is not a difficult question at all. No need for crossed eyes. A day is midnight to midnight. So, receiving on Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening are two times in one day. Receiving again on Wednesday is a new day and is one time that day. The liturgy celebrated is not relevant, as per canons already cited. Sorry your priest from long ago confused you, or that there was some misunderstanding.

Can. 202 §1. In law, a day is understood as a period consisting of 24 continuous hours and begins at midnight unless other provision is expressly made
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So the first reply answered my question (thanks!) and you chimed in to tell me I ask stupid questions? Super helpful, buddy.

It is a difficult question because there are different answers floating around out there. Some of the clarifications on canon law came about in the '80s, so it is possible some pre-date it or that some people have their own “take” on it muddying the waters. I never said the actual line from canon law was difficult. But, thanks for the comment.
 
1ke said:
Huh? I have no idea what you are talking about.
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I think the OP misconstrued your matter-of-fact tone as being condescending. Such are the limitations of text only communication. Tone is easy to misunderstand.
 
FunkyKikuchiyo said:
So the first reply answered my question (thanks!) and you chimed in to tell me I ask stupid questions? Super helpful, buddy.

It is a difficult question because there are different answers floating around out there. Some of the clarifications on canon law came about in the '80s, so it is possible some pre-date it or that some people have their own “take” on it muddying the waters. I never said the actual line from canon law was difficult. But, thanks for the comment.
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The law changed in 1983.

Prior to 1983, the Church allowed only one Communion per day (with many exceptions added over the decades). In 1983, the entire Code of Canon Law (originally from 1917) was replaced by the new Code. The new Code (the only one that matters today) is the one that’s been posted here.

That’s why different sources give different answers. If you read something written in 1975, it will say “once.”

Unfortunately, even though the law was changed in 1983, some people still cling to the old rule; and wrongly pass that along to others.
 
Can. 202 §1. In law, a day is understood as a period consisting of 24 continuous hours and begins at midnight unless other provision is expressly made; a week is a period of 7 days; a month is a period of 30 days, and a year is a period of 365 days unless a month and a year are said to be taken as they are in the calendar.
 
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