Communion and Confession

[bjford]

My priest recently told me that as long as I say the Act of Contrition before going to communion, receiving communion wouldn’t be a mortal sin (or bring evil into Church society), but when I get a chance to go to confession tell the priest my mortal sins, but not about receiving communion in mortal sin. Is this true? I always thought that receiving communion in mortal sin was a mortal sin in itself.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

What is correct is that if you must receive Communion because the priest only says Mass there once every 6 months or you just remembered the Mortal sin and it would be a long time until you could receive again. Then reciting an Act of Contrition with the intent of going to Confession as soon as possible afterword would be acceptable. However if Mass is offered at least once a week and Confession is available often. You should refrain form receiving and go to Confession first. I always recite an Act of Contrition as soon as I realize that I have done something that is sinful.

 

[Bizob]

bjford:

I always thought that receiving communion in mortal sin was a mortal sin in itself.

As far as I know, yes. It is.

An act of “perfect contrition” remits even Mortal sin. But you’re not allowed to communicate until you’ve been to confession unless you’ve got a “grave and serious” reason.

At least, that’s how I’ve always understood it.