Communion question

[mav2405]

I was wondering when it comes to receiving communion while struggling against a grave matter sin, should one who desires to receive Our Lord only abstain if he is sure he committed a mortal sin (subjectively to his situations)? Should he aslo not receive if he doubtful he is in a state of mortal sin due to addiction, lack of forethought, habit, etc.? Some people on here say if there is any chance one is in mortal sin (presumely by committing in grave-matter sin), he should abstain.

However, I’ve often read and been told that a person should not recieve if he is CONSCIOUS of mortal sin. If one is doubtful/unsure, would he still be ok to receive assuming he regularly confesses (but maybe not before this recpetion)? As I said before some say one should take no chance at profaning the Lord but doesn’t the church encourage people to receive as much as possible? It would seem possible here.

I guess my main point is should we only abstain from communion when we desire it if we are SURE we are in mortal sin?

 

[John_Higgins]

For a sin to be mortal, it must be a grave matter, the individual must know it’s a mortal sin, and then he/she must willingly do it anyway.

John

 

[mav2405]

I realize that but if one is unsure if his sin met all 3 parts or mortal sin, should he still abstain untill confession “just to be sure.” Some say he should, but is that required?

 

[TLM08]

I was wondering when it comes to receiving communion while struggling against a grave matter sin, should one who desires to receive Our Lord only abstain if he is sure he committed a mortal sin (subjectively to his situations)? Should he aslo not receive if he doubtful he is in a state of mortal sin due to addiction, lack of forethought, habit, etc.? Some people on here say if there is any chance one is in mortal sin (presumely by committing in grave-matter sin), he should abstain.

However, I’ve often read and been told that a person should not recieve if he is CONSCIOUS of mortal sin. If one is doubtful/unsure, would he still be ok to receive assuming he regularly confesses (but maybe not before this recpetion)? As I said before some say one should take no chance at profaning the Lord but doesn’t the church encourage people to receive as much as possible? It would seem possible here.

I guess my main point is should we only abstain from communion when we desire it if we are SURE we are in mortal sin?

Crazymaking isn’t it? One would think that the more a person is struggling with sin, whether serious or minor, the more they need to receive communion. Jesus Christ Himself ate with sinners!

It’s reasonable to think that banning sinners from communion was a backdoor way of shaming them into behaving themselves during the week by making them stay back during communion. Everyone gets to see who sinned that week! These days, nearly everybody goes to communion so nobody notices.

I’ve heard it explained that the following passage from 1st Corinthians was addressing the fact that some followers were overindulging at the Lord’s supper by getting drunk, stuffing themselves with food and passing out or simply falling asleep, thus disrespecting the Lord by behaving in an unworthy manner. They were treating the sacred meal like Thanksgiving dinner! This had nothing to do with any sin they may have committed since their last confession.

*"Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

…And if any man hunger, let him eat at home*; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come."
1 Cor 11:27-30 &34

In other words, if you are going to get drunk and stuff yourself, stay home! This isn’t an “all you can eat” buffet. Verse 34 clearly points this out. We come together to eat as a remembrance of Christ.

 

[Eucharisted]

I was wondering when it comes to receiving communion while struggling against a grave matter sin, should one who desires to receive Our Lord only abstain if he is sure he committed a mortal sin (subjectively to his situations)? Should he aslo not receive if he doubtful he is in a state of mortal sin due to addiction, lack of forethought, habit, etc.? Some people on here say if there is any chance one is in mortal sin (presumely by committing in grave-matter sin), he should abstain.

However, I’ve often read and been told that a person should not recieve if he is CONSCIOUS of mortal sin. If one is doubtful/unsure, would he still be ok to receive assuming he regularly confesses (but maybe not before this recpetion)? As I said before some say one should take no chance at profaning the Lord but doesn’t the church encourage people to receive as much as possible? It would seem possible here.

I guess my main point is should we only abstain from communion when we desire it if we are SURE we are in mortal sin?

Once I desired very much to receive Holy Communion, but I had a certain doubt, and I did not go. I suffered greatly because of this. It seemed to me that my heart would burst from the pain. When I set about my work, my heart full of bitterness, Jesus suddenly stood by me and said, My daughter, do not omit Holy Communion unless you know well that your fall was serious; apart from this, no doubt must stop you from uniting yourself with Me in the mystery of My love. Your minor faults will disappear in My love like a piece of straw thrown into a great furnace. Know that you grieve Me much when you fail to receive Me in Holy Communion. (Divine Mercy In My Soul, 156)

 

[mav2405]

TLM08,

Regardless if the bible verse refered to glutty before reception, the Church teaches we cannont receive Him in mortal sin. We must first be reconciled with him if we have serious sins. It is not the Church “shaming people” or refusing to “eat with sinners.” It is the Church saying one must first be free of Mortal Sin before receiving the Lord. God still loves those in mortal sin and goes out of his way to get them to repentence, but there is nothing wrong in the church refusing to let people take communion when God says they cannot untill they go to confession.

Eucharisted,

Thanks for you testimony.

 

[mercygate]

TLM08,

Regardless if the bible verse refered to glutty before reception, the Church teaches we cannont receive Him in mortal sin. We must first be reconciled with him if we have serious sins. It is not the Church “shaming people” or refusing to “eat with sinners.” It is the Church saying one must first be free of Mortal Sin before receiving the Lord. God still loves those in mortal sin and goes out of his way to get them to repentence, but there is nothing wrong in the church refusing to let people take communion when God says they cannot untill they go to confession.

Eucharisted,

Thanks for you testimony.

If you seriously doubt your condition, discuss the matter with your confessor. He will be able to help you discern whether you are being scrupulous or whether you have a fine and well developed conscience.

 

[RosaryFan]

I was wondering when it comes to receiving communion while struggling against a grave matter sin, should one who desires to receive Our Lord only abstain if he is sure he committed a mortal sin (subjectively to his situations)? Should he aslo not receive if he doubtful he is in a state of mortal sin due to addiction, lack of forethought, habit, etc.? Some people on here say if there is any chance one is in mortal sin (presumely by committing in grave-matter sin), he should abstain.

Why not play it safe. If you’re not sure if the sin is mortal, abstain from receiving Our Lord and go to confession immediately. If you cannot get to a scheduled confession, call the rectory and ask for an appointment with a priest. They will see you at your convenience if you cannot make the parish’s scheduled time for confession.

 

[TLM08]

TLM08,

Regardless if the bible verse refered to glutty before reception, the Church teaches we cannont receive Him in mortal sin. We must first be reconciled with him if we have serious sins. It is not the Church “shaming people” or refusing to “eat with sinners.” It is the Church saying one must first be free of Mortal Sin before receiving the Lord. God still loves those in mortal sin and goes out of his way to get them to repentence, but there is nothing wrong in the church refusing to let people take communion when God says they cannot untill they go to confession.

Eucharisted,

Thanks for you testimony.

“Shaming” people is not the Church’s motivation these days. In fact the church seems to go out of her way to avoid the mere mentioning of the word “sin” during mass these days.

Years ago, that wasn’t the case. Back then, many people stayed back from communion and EVERYBODY in attendance knew who sinned that week!

 

[mercygate]

“Shaming” people is not the Church’s motivation these days. In fact the church seems to go out of her way to avoid the mere mentioning of the word “sin” during mass these days.

Years ago, that wasn’t the case. Back then, many people stayed back from communion and EVERYBODY in attendance knew who sinned that week!

More likely it was that they had not observed the fast, which in the old days was a strict fast, even from water, from midnight. If you go to 11:00 Mass on a Sunday, that’s a long time for some people.

 

[RosaryFan]

“Shaming” people is not the Church’s motivation these days. In fact the church seems to go out of her way to avoid the mere mentioning of the word “sin” during mass these days.

Years ago, that wasn’t the case. Back then, many people stayed back from communion and EVERYBODY in attendance knew who sinned that week!

Aaah! The good ol’ days! I always assumed they stayed back from Communion because they didn’t fast for the required hour - giving them the benefit of the doubt. But then, again, many more people stayed back (myself included, sometimes), so I tried not to make a habit of trying to figure out why each and every person wasn’t receiving the Eucharist. Now, everyone seems to receive Communion even though the confessionals are always empty. I guess that’s becuase not one talks about sin anymore.

 

[mav2405]

Now, everyone seems to receive Communion even though the confessionals are always empty. I guess that’s becuase not one talks about sin anymore.

Do you think its more of people not caring about sin or more so ignorance of the Church’s teachings, whether invicible or not (well if its not invicible then it would be a sin)? Many people are ignorant out of no or at least little fault of their own. Then again many people seem to not want to hear the Church’s teachings, specifically its moral teachings.

Do you think people are much more sinful nowadays or just more invinicbly ignorant? you’d probably be suprised how many people do not know about the Church’s birth control teachings when people have been raised by MTV.

Sometimes, when I get the courage, I try to teach people the Church’s teaching objectively without condemning them, but many people seem to not want to be told what they are doing is wrong. Do you think its always been like this or it has gotten worse in the last few decades?

 

[RosaryFan]

Do you think its more of people not caring about sin or more so ignorance of the Church’s teachings, whether invicible or not (well if its not invicible then it would be a sin)? Many people are ignorant out of no or at least little fault of their own. Then again many people seem to not want to hear the Church’s teachings, specifically its moral teachings.

Do you think people are much more sinful nowadays or just more invinicbly ignorant? you’d probably be suprised how many people do not know about the Church’s birth control teachings when people have been raised by MTV.

Sometimes, when I get the courage, I try to teach people the Church’s teaching objectively without condemning them, but many people seem to not want to be told what they are doing is wrong. Do you think its always been like this or it has gotten worse in the last few decades?

I think the lack of teaching causes the ignorance. The ignorance causes luke-warmness. The luke-warmness causes fear among clergy to speak out. It’s a vicious cycle.