Coffesion then communion

[newbiecatholic]

If a person who is Catholic fornicates, does he or she have to go to confession before being able to take communion again? Fornication is a mortal sin. I am asking for a friend and of course I want to know myself.

 

[nicolep]

Yes, one cannot receive Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin regardless of what mortal sin was committed.

 

[puzzleannie]

everyone who is conscious of deliberate mortal sin must make sacramental confession and be absolved before receiving communion.

 

[Caesar517]

The above posts are correct. In addition, note that recieving Communion in a state of mortal sin is grave matter.

 

[HolySpirit08]

In our parish, the priests never encourages us to go to confession. In the past, the priests never ever sat in the confession box to wait and see if anyone would go to confession prior to mass (15 min for confessions prior to mass). The new priest does but he has never once encouraged anyone to go to confession.

Is this a dying sacrament? I personally have been to Communion many times after not attending Sunday mass through my own fault. Is this a grave sin??? I feel terribly guilty about doing so but ours is a small community and if I were to be the only person to go to confession, tongues would be waggin So I ask God’s forgiveness and I go to Communion.

I am open to any and all comments and advice.

Many thanks

 

[bilop]

In our parish, the priests never encourages us to go to confession. In the past, the priests never ever sat in the confession box to wait and see if anyone would go to confession prior to mass (15 min for confessions prior to mass). The new priest does but he has never once encouraged anyone to go to confession.

Is this a dying sacrament? I personally have been to Communion many times after not attending Sunday mass through my own fault. Is this a grave sin??? I feel terribly guilty about doing so but ours is a small community and if I were to be the only person to go to confession, tongues would be waggin So I ask God’s forgiveness and I go to Communion.

I am open to any and all comments and advice.

Many thanks

Yes, if you intentionally miss Mass, you need to go to confession before receiving Communion.

Let the tongues wag. Wouldn’t you rather be right with God?

Maybe you can start a trend.

God Bless

 

[passus]

Is this a dying sacrament?

None of the sacraments “die.” They were instituted by Jesus for His Church and we all need them and their graces desperately, whether or not we know that fact.

It does seem to be a rather widespread problem (and it is a serious problem) that some people think they do not need the sacrament of Confession. That is a pastoral issue that needs to be fixed through catechesis and from the pulpit!

I personally have been to Communion many times after not attending Sunday mass through my own fault. Is this a grave sin???

If you did so expressly, with full knowledge and full intent, then yes, it was a grave sin. You need to go to Mass.

I feel terribly guilty about doing so but ours is a small community and if I were to be the only person to go to confession, tongues would be waggin

It’s a shame that your parish is made up of people like that, but nevertheless, the reason you’ve given isn’t good enough. If you’re worried about what people would say about you (which you shouldn’t be), then either find another church nearby to go to the sacrament of Reconciliation or call the church office to make a private appointment with the parish priest.

So I ask God’s forgiveness and I go to Communion.

If you receive Holy Communion with full knowledge of having committed a mortal sin which you have not confessed, then that, too, is a mortal sin as well as a sacrilege.

 

[HolySpirit08]

Thank you, Bilop. I needed that kick in the butt. I will go to confession on Sunday with my head held high.

 

[Simon_X]

In our parish, the priests never encourages us to go to confession. In the past, the priests never ever sat in the confession box to wait and see if anyone would go to confession prior to mass (15 min for confessions prior to mass). The new priest does but he has never once encouraged anyone to go to confession.

Is this a dying sacrament? I personally have been to Communion many times after not attending Sunday mass through my own fault. Is this a grave sin??? I feel terribly guilty about doing so but ours is a small community and if I were to be the only person to go to confession, tongues would be waggin So I ask God’s forgiveness and I go to Communion.

I am open to any and all comments and advice.

Many thanks

If your parish doesn’t offer regular Confession times, you can always to another parish for Confession. It’s indeed a wonderful and important Sacrament. Really sad if your Parish isn’t offering times or encouraging the use of this Sacrament.

 

[bilop]

Thank you, Bilop. I needed that kick in the butt. I will go to confession on Sunday with my head held high.

Good for you!

God Bless

PS. Outside of confession, you should mention to your pastor your difficulties. Perhaps suggest to him that he encourage confession, and set aside time for it every week. Don’t do this in a critical way, but in the sense of explaining how hard it was for you to go.

 

[HolySpirit08]

I fully agree (as If I have the authority to agree or disagree) with you both.

Tell then, why do you suppose that priests now never, ever mention or remind people how important going to confession is before receiving Communion? Is it because hearing confessions is time consuming for them? Do you suppose that people go to confession for psychological problems rather than for the express purpose of confession their sins and receiving absolution? It’s really rather disappointing that no attention or education is being focused on this.

 

[bradwill911]

I grew up Catholic, but my dad told my brother and I that Reconciliation was unnecessary (he is not Catholic). So, I missed out on the sacrament for years (went a couple of times as a kid, but skipped for about 15 yrs) as I even drifted away from Catholicism and spent 10+ years experiencing what Protestantism has to offer. When I, by the Grace of God, returned to the Church, I was very nervous to go to confession, but it was amazing. This sacrament is a gift and is way, way under-utilized. I’d recommend, “Lord Have Mercy” by Scott Hahn as a solid resource on this beautiful sacrament.

God Bless!

 

[bilop]

I fully agree (as If I have the authority to agree or disagree) with you both.

Tell then, why do you suppose that priests now never, ever mention or remind people how important going to confession is before receiving Communion? Is it because hearing confessions is time consuming for them? Do you suppose that people go to confession for psychological problems rather than for the express purpose of confession their sins and receiving absolution? It’s really rather disappointing that no attention or education is being focused on this.

It is one of many problems with the “I’m okay you’re okay” relativism that entered the Church in the late 60’s and 70’s.

If you ever have a chance to attend the extraordinary form/TLM, you will probably like it. Often, confession begins 1 hr. before the Mass and continues until the consecration.

God Bless

 

[passus]

Tell then, why do you suppose that priests now never, ever mention or remind people how important going to confession is before receiving Communion? Is it because hearing confessions is time consuming for them? Do you suppose that people go to confession for psychological problems rather than for the express purpose of confession their sins and receiving absolution? It’s really rather disappointing that no attention or education is being focused on this.

I wouldn’t say that they “never, ever” encourage people to go to confession, although it does always seem to be the same, very devout priests who are always doing the reminding.

I would hate to say it, but I think some priests recognize how difficult it is for a lot of people to bear their hearts in the confessional, and at the risk of driving people away from the Church or hardening them to the sacrament, they just decide to leave it unmentioned. That’s not the right way to go about correcting that problem, pastorally speaking. The remaining priests probably just don’t remember to mention it or it becomes an oversight, sadly.

 

[Simon_X]

I fully agree (as If I have the authority to agree or disagree) with you both.

Tell then, why do you suppose that priests now never, ever mention or remind people how important going to confession is before receiving Communion? Is it because hearing confessions is time consuming for them? Do you suppose that people go to confession for psychological problems rather than for the express purpose of confession their sins and receiving absolution? It’s really rather disappointing that no attention or education is being focused on this.

I agree, I don’t we can answer this, I would certainly go up to the Priest and ask him. You and your fellow parishioners have a right to receive this Sacrament. Where I live, we can usually find a church that we can receive Confession on Saturdays, usually during the week, and even Sunday mornings before mass. That’s about all I can really tell you…

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

If a person who is Catholic fornicates, does he or she have to go to confession before being able to take communion again? Fornication is a mortal sin. I am asking for a friend and of course I want to know myself.

There are three factors that need to be met in order for it to be a mortal sin:

1. its subject must be a grave (or serious) matter;
2. it must be committed with full knowledge, both of the sin and of the gravity of the offense (though nobody is deemed to be ignorant of the moral law, embedded into the consciences of every human being);
3. it must be committed with deliberate and complete consent, enough for it to have been a personal decision to commit the sin.

If all three of these are met, then yes, your friend must receive Confession before Communion. All must be in a state of grace to receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

Since fornication, as you know, is grave matter, I would suggest you politely tell your friend he must receive Confession from a priest. Since you know what he did was wrong, you receive half the blame if you do not tell him what God expects. If you tell him and he doesn’t listen, bring a priest. If he still doesn’t listen, then it is out of your hands.