Communion: Too often?

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EIF5A

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I apologize if this question has been addressed before in the forum.

I’ve been having this thought that maybe I should refrain from Communion. It’s not that I’m in a state of mortal sin anymore (to the best of my recollection), but the thought of taking Communion makes me a bit afraid and nervous.

Though it appears to be a wafer, It truly is the Body and Blood of Christ. I know Christ instituted the Eucharist for our own good and to strengthen us in this earthly journey, but how can I receive, being so inclined to evil and having all kinds of wicked temptations and thoughts?

Have I committed sacrilege by partaking with nervousness?

Should I limit to once a month? (I plan on the First Friday devotion.)
 
No, if you are in a state of grace and have met the rules on fasting then receive. The Church allows you to receive twice a day. Unless you are exceeding that, you are not reviving too much.
 
Perhaps the OP sees no benefit of twice a day, or even weekly, reception in his personal life and struggles against sin?
 
ProVobis said:
Perhaps the OP sees no benefit of twice a day, or even weekly, reception in his personal life and struggles against sin?
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I didn’t know twice a day was allowed.

On the one hand, what hungry, sick person would reject food and medicine? On the other hand, the food and medicine is Christ Himself.

I’m afraid of irreverence, ingratitude, and/or sacrilege for not proper adoration of the Host. Or partaking only out of habit because a Catholic is “supposed to”.

I feel nothing – mentally I can have faith in the transubstantiation, but I feel no desire for God. The only thing I can do is prayer for strength against sin and the desire for more prayer and penance, but that’s about it. Maybe I’m not correctly disposed…
 
EIF5A said:
I didn’t know twice a day was allowed.

On the one hand, what hungry, sick person would reject food and medicine? On the other hand, the food and medicine is Christ Himself.

I’m afraid of irreverence, ingratitude, and/or sacrilege for not proper adoration of the Host. Or partaking only out of habit because a Catholic is “supposed to”.

I feel nothing – mentally I can have faith in the transubstantiation, but I feel no desire for God. The only thing I can do is prayer for strength against sin and the desire for more prayer and penance, but that’s about it. Maybe I’m not correctly disposed…
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Right. Correct disposition can mean a lot of things, and not only being in state of grace or having fasted. Personal call IMO. But continue to pray.
 
Think of Holy Communion as giving you the tools and the grace to sustain yourself through the week.
It’s heavenly food.
I try to partake often. I try to go to daily Mass for this reason.
God bless. Trust the Lord.
If you don’t trust yourself, that is a matter for your confessor, not strangers on the internet.
Speak to your priest, he will give you direction.
 
EIF5A said:
I feel nothing – mentally I can have faith in the transubstantiation, but I feel no desire for God. The only thing I can do is prayer for strength against sin and the desire for more prayer and penance, but that’s about it. Maybe I’m not correctly disposed…
Click to expand...
The Eucharist is such a wonderful gift to us. The greatest love story ever is right there for us to receive! Pray for the desire to desire the Lord. Yes, it sounds strange, but it works-trust me.
The fact that you are afraid of disreverence shows that you can still be reverent. We all stumble in our way, but that’s exactly why Christ gives us himself in the Blessed Sacrament.

Repeat the prayer, “Jesus, I love you.” Over and over and over. When you love someone, you want to spend as much of your life in that person’s presence. Pray for the desire to desire Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
 
pianistclare said:
Think of Holy Communion as giving you the tolls and the grace to sustain yourself through the week.
It’s heavenly food.
I try to partake often. I try to go to daily Mass for this reason.
God bless. Trust the Lord.
If you don’t trust yourself, that is a matter for your confessor, not strangers on the internet.
Speak to your priest, he will give you direction.
Click to expand...
👍 well said!
 
EIF5A said:
I apologize if this question has been addressed before in the forum.

I’ve been having this thought that maybe I should refrain from Communion. It’s not that I’m in a state of mortal sin anymore (to the best of my recollection), but the thought of taking Communion makes me a bit afraid and nervous.

Though it appears to be a wafer, It truly is the Body and Blood of Christ. I know Christ instituted the Eucharist for our own good and to strengthen us in this earthly journey, but how can I receive, being so inclined to evil and having all kinds of wicked temptations and thoughts?

Have I committed sacrilege by partaking with nervousness?

Should I limit to once a month? (I plan on the First Friday devotion.)
Click to expand...
The GIFT of Jesus in the MOST Holy Eucharist is PRECISELY to embolden us in our fight with Satan for our Souls.

If not in Mortal sin receive God this way at EVERY opportunity, seeking His protrction and assistance:thumbsup:

Pray Much!
PJM
 
EIF5A said:
I didn’t know twice a day was allowed.

On the one hand, what hungry, sick person would reject food and medicine? On the other hand, the food and medicine is Christ Himself.

I’m afraid of irreverence, ingratitude, and/or sacrilege for not proper adoration of the Host. Or partaking only out of habit because a Catholic is “supposed to”.

I feel nothing – mentally I can have faith in the transubstantiation, but I feel no desire for God. The only thing I can do is prayer for strength against sin and the desire for more prayer and penance, but that’s about it. Maybe I’m not correctly disposed…
Click to expand...
Feelings come and go…be as focused as you can be. It is the will that counts.
Talking to a priest who can give you some spiritual direction can help.
 
EIF5A said:
I apologize if this question has been addressed before in the forum.

I’ve been having this thought that maybe I should refrain from Communion. It’s not that I’m in a state of mortal sin anymore (to the best of my recollection), but the thought of taking Communion makes me a bit afraid and nervous.

Though it appears to be a wafer, It truly is the Body and Blood of Christ. I know Christ instituted the Eucharist for our own good and to strengthen us in this earthly journey, but how can I receive, being so inclined to evil and having all kinds of wicked temptations and thoughts?

Have I committed sacrilege by partaking with nervousness?

Should I limit to once a month? (I plan on the First Friday devotion.)
Click to expand...
In my opinion, it is VERY good that You are feeling this real reverence to the Sacrament. 👍 And this is the exact reason why You should take it, if You want Jesus to transform You.

It seems to me, besides a state of mortal sin, one should not take communion when there is no real feeling of need, if there is indifference. Because by taking the Body of Christ we become the participants of His sacrifice. We bring our achievements, our sins and our needs to the Eucharist, so that God may, respectively, reward, correct and satisfy them. :angel1:
 
EIF5A said:
I’ve been having this thought that maybe I should refrain from Communion. It’s not that I’m in a state of mortal sin anymore (to the best of my recollection), but the thought of taking Communion makes me a bit afraid and nervous.

Though it appears to be a wafer, It truly is the Body and Blood of Christ. I know Christ instituted the Eucharist for our own good and to strengthen us in this earthly journey, but how can I receive, being so inclined to evil and having all kinds of wicked temptations and thoughts?

Have I committed sacrilege by partaking with nervousness?
Click to expand...
Within limits I don’t think it is a bad thing to have some nervousness about receiving. It shows a proper respect for God’s holiness. If you aren’t aware of a mortal sin you are free to receive. Of course it is unlikely you are free from all attachment to sin. But the Church doesn’t require that. You haven’t committed a sacrilege by simply being nervous about your worthiness or having attachment to sin.

I like to pray St. Thomas Aquinas’s prayers before and after communion. The prayer after communion asks that this communion not be an increase in guilt. I pray this and trust in God’s mercy.
 
Stay with me, Lord
Prayer of St. Pio of Pietrelcina after Communion
“Stay with me, Lord”
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength,
that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You,
I am without meaning and hope.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You,
I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I can hear Your voice and follow you.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You ever more,
and to be always in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be always faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is,
I wish it to be a place of consolation for You, a dwelling of Your love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late;
the days are coming to a close and life is passing.
Death, judgement and eternity are drawing near.
It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way,
for that I need You. It is getting late and death approaches.
I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows.
O how I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me, Jesus, because in the darkness of life,
with all its dangers, I need You.
Help me to recognize You as Your disciples did at the Breaking of the Bread,
so that the Eucharist Communion be the light which disperses darkness, the power which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death I want to be one with You,
and if not by Communion, at least by Your grace and love.
Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolations because I do not deserve them,
but I only ask for the gift of Your Presence.
Oh yes! I ask this of You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I seek You alone,
Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit,
because I love You and I ask for no other reward
but to love You more and more, with a strong active love.
Grant that I may love You with all my heart while on earth,
so that I can continue to love you perfectly throughout all eternity, dear Jesus.
 
pianistclare said:
Stay with me, Lord
Prayer of St. Pio of Pietrelcina after Communion
“Stay with me, Lord”
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength,
that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You,
I am without meaning and hope.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You,
I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I can hear Your voice and follow you.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You ever more,
and to be always in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be always faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is,
I wish it to be a place of consolation for You, a dwelling of Your love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late;
the days are coming to a close and life is passing.
Death, judgement and eternity are drawing near.
It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way,
for that I need You. It is getting late and death approaches.
I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows.
O how I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me, Jesus, because in the darkness of life,
with all its dangers, I need You.
Help me to recognize You as Your disciples did at the Breaking of the Bread,
so that the Eucharist Communion be the light which disperses darkness, the power which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death I want to be one with You,
and if not by Communion, at least by Your grace and love.
Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolations because I do not deserve them,
but I only ask for the gift of Your Presence.
Oh yes! I ask this of You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I seek You alone,
Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit,
because I love You and I ask for no other reward
but to love You more and more, with a strong active love.
Grant that I may love You with all my heart while on earth,
so that I can continue to love you perfectly throughout all eternity, dear Jesus.
Click to expand...
Thank you!

Blessed Easter!
 
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