Communion without Confession

[bobsey]

Hi, this is Bobsey. I was wondering if it’s okay to receive Communion today aftering missing Mass last Sunday by reciting a good Act of Contrition? Thanks for your kind reply.

Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow …

Jesus n’ Me,
Bobsey

 

[caudy]

Hello!

First, why did you miss mass last week Sunday? If it was due to sickness or an inability to get to mass then you are fine. If you simply did not feel like going to mass then that is considered a mortal sin.

In order to be absolved of mortal sins we go to confession. If you receive the body/blood of christ with a mortal sin on your soul you have commited another sin of grave matter.

As far as your specific question goes, my understanding is that YES if you recite a PERFECT Act of Contrition to God then your mortal sins are forgiven…however it is extremely difficult to do. Reciting a good act of contrition w/out confession would not absolve your mortal sins. By going to confession your sins are completely removed even if you don’t make the “perfect” act of contrition.

So my advice is this (and I’ve done this): If you have mortal sin(s) on your sould and have not had a chance to get to confession prior to mass, do not partake in the eucharist.

Hope that helps!

 

[Paul_Brann]

Hi Bobsey,
I did send you a private reply, but I’m begining to see my way around this site and wanted to reply on this forum also.
The doctrine of the church might say that missing Mass on a Sunday is a mortal sin, but then they used to say that just to get numbers through the doors and money in the collection. They used to sell indulgences and places in heaven and that’s why Martin Luther nailed his proclamation to the church door and started Protestantism.
Is not going to Mass just because you don’t want to go to Mass the same as Murder, adultery, or genocide? I don’t think so, we all have off days and I get angry with God and refuse to go to Mass at times possibly just to ‘get even with Him’ Shouting at God is a pretty fervent prayer and confirms our faith in Him if nothing else.
Don’t boast about it, but if your desire is genuine intamacy with God in the Eucharist then: "say you’re sorry, as genuinely as you can, receive the real presence of Our Lord and Saviour and let Him worry about the intricasies of the church legal system!
Personal expression only,
Yours Paul Brann

 

[m134e5]

Hi Bobsey,
I did send you a private reply, but I’m begining to see my way around this site and wanted to reply on this forum also.
The doctrine of the church might say that missing Mass on a Sunday is a mortal sin, but then they used to say that just to get numbers through the doors and money in the collection. They used to sell indulgences and places in heaven and that’s why Martin Luther nailed his proclamation to the church door and started Protestantism.
Is not going to Mass just because you don’t want to go to Mass the same as Murder, adultery, or genocide? I don’t think so, we all have off days and I get angry with God and refuse to go to Mass at times possibly just to ‘get even with Him’ Shouting at God is a pretty fervent prayer and confirms our faith in Him if nothing else.
Don’t boast about it, but if your desire is genuine intamacy with God in the Eucharist then: "say you’re sorry, as genuinely as you can, receive the real presence of Our Lord and Saviour and let Him worry about the intricasies of the church legal system!
Personal expression only,
Yours Paul Brann

Please do not misrepresent the Church’s teachings. If you are at odds with the Church on something, please do not try to mislead others who may be confused (I might add that doing this on purpose is a mortal sin). If you struggle with accepting the Church’s teachings, then please try to come to understand them. If you still disagree, then please have enough respect for the Church and for those who do believe- and love- what the Church teaches, and keep quiet about it.

 

[m134e5]

Hi, this is Bobsey. I was wondering if it’s okay to receive Communion today aftering missing Mass last Sunday by reciting a good Act of Contrition? Thanks for your kind reply.

Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow …

Jesus n’ Me,
Bobsey

It depends on why you missed Mass. If you missed because you were sick, you were in a car accident- or something came up that was beyond your control, which prevented you from getting to Mass, I wouldn’t worry about it. Sometimes things come up that prevent us from making it to Mass (sickness, car accidents, family emergencies, etc.).

If something that isn’t quite an emergency comes up, and it would make it either impossible, or at least extremely difficult, to make it to Mass, you can talk to your pastor about it (before you leave) and he can give you a dispensation (relaxation of the rules) from attending Mass. This isn’t for the obvious things that prevent you from getting to Mass (sickness, etc.), but for things that don’t exactly *prevent *it, but that just make getting to Mass extremely difficult (like being in a place that is two hours away from the nearest church- as long as you had a good reason for being there, or your going there was beyond your control).

I don’t really know your situation, but if I were you, I would go to confession as soon as possible and mention this to the priest.

 

[Fidelis]

Hi Bobsey,
I did send you a private reply, but I’m begining to see my way around this site and wanted to reply on this forum also.
The doctrine of the church might say that missing Mass on a Sunday is a mortal sin, but then they used to say that just to get numbers through the doors and money in the collection. They used to sell indulgences and places in heaven and that’s why Martin Luther nailed his proclamation to the church door and started Protestantism.
Is not going to Mass just because you don’t want to go to Mass the same as Murder, adultery, or genocide? I don’t think so, we all have off days and I get angry with God and refuse to go to Mass at times possibly just to ‘get even with Him’ Shouting at God is a pretty fervent prayer and confirms our faith in Him if nothing else.
Don’t boast about it, but if your desire is genuine intamacy with God in the Eucharist then: "say you’re sorry, as genuinely as you can, receive the real presence of Our Lord and Saviour and let Him worry about the intricasies of the church legal system!
Personal expression only,
Yours Paul Brann

With all due respect, this is the worst answer I have ever seen.

Please do not afflict others with your ignorance and/or faithlessness to the teachings of Our Lord’s Church. Thanks!

 

[Tom]

Hi Paul, welcome to the forum.
When you make outrageous anti Catholic claims you really should provide some credible official Church source. For example: “The doctrine of the church might say that missing Mass on a Sunday is a mortal sin, but then they used to say that just to get numbers through the doors and money in the collection.” Now any official Church document which says this, “get numbers through the doors and money in the collection”, was the reason it was considered a mortal sin will do, we’re not picky, as long as it’s not an anti Catholic shooting off his ignorant mouth. Not that I’m saying you are doing this, I mean quoting an anti Catholic who is shooting off his mouth. Of course this was never a reason for mandatory Mass attendance, EVER! The Church doesn’t pick and choose what’s grave and what’s not.
“They used to sell indulgences and places in heaven and that’s why Martin Luther nailed his proclamation to the church door and started Protestantism.” You’ve quite obviously never read any of Martin Luther’s papers. An indulgence is not a ticket to heaven. Your lack of understanding and knowledge of Church matters is obvious.
“Is not going to Mass just because you don’t want to go to Mass the same as Murder, adultery, or genocide? I don’t think so” Does it need to be? Not quite sure what your point is here, only murder, adultery and genocide are grave? Or is it you want to pick what’s a sin?
“we all have off days and I get angry with God and refuse to go to Mass at times possibly just to ‘get even with Him’ Shouting at God is a pretty fervent prayer and confirms our faith in Him if nothing else.” Wow, what a concept, you think shouting in anger at God is a form of prayer. O.K.
You might enjoy learning about your faith, just a thought.

 

[Paul_Brann]

Well, Hi everyone, and thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut,
As I imagined there are some real sticklers here, just as there were in Jesus’ day when it came to the interpretation of ‘The Law’
They, too, used to stand in the front of the congregation and defend their righteousness, but the poor publican stood at the back and just said, “God forgive me, a sinner!” In fact Jesus was quite scathing about the Law makers causing encumberances for genuine faithful people.
It’s the defination of ‘Mortal Sin’ that I challenge, and I ask: Is it a mortal sin not to go to Mass on a Sunday? Surely only God can answer that one.
Paul Brann

 

[Tom]

Well, Hi everyone, and thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut,
As I imagined there are some real sticklers here, just as there were in Jesus’ day when it came to the interpretation of ‘The Law’
They, too, used to stand in the front of the congregation and defend their righteousness, but the poor publican stood at the back and just said, “God forgive me, a sinner!” In fact Jesus was quite scathing about the Law makers causing encumberances for genuine faithful people.
It’s the defination of ‘Mortal Sin’ that I challenge, and I ask: Is it a mortal sin not to go to Mass on a Sunday? Surely only God can answer that one.
Paul Brann

A little Scriptural research shows the Church was established by Jesus, was given power to make rules by Jesus, and is guided to all truth by the Holy Spirit. So where is your authority to say Church teaching is wrong? Any Scripture which says we can make our own rules will do.

 

[Paul_Brann]

Well, where have I said ‘the church teaching is wrong?’ I don’t doubt that staying away from God is a dangerous place, and that going to Mass on a Sunday, or any day for that matter is the opportunity to worship our creator and enjoy that intamacy with Jesus in the presence of the Eucarist, but to commit Mortal sin, real Mortal sin where I will be consigned to the fires of Hell if I die in it’s state requires: full knowledge, full consent and grevious matter. In my conscience (and OK there’s the rub), if I love God and put Him first, and strive to do His will for me in all things, and yet decide this particular Sunday to skip Mass, I will face my maker at the point of death and trust His love and justice. The zealots were fanatical about the letter of the law, and that was precisely the arguement that Jesus had with them. He did get angry with the money changers in the temple who were following the letter of the law. And Martin Luthers’ gripe with the Catholic Church was exactly around the raising of money to build the temple in Rome, and possibly a certain Cardinal’s debts around less than honest behaviour. Jesus was full of compassion for the sinner, He came not for the righteous, but for the sinner. Why are we expected to leave our shadow outside the church when we enter in? Why do the law makers of the church make the desire to follow Christ so very difficult? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Paul Brann

 

[Verbum_Caro]

but the poor publican stood at the back and just said, “God forgive me, a sinner!”

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Hey Paul,

That’s the problem. You seem to be saying that you are without sin and casting the first stone. Our good friend the publican at least went to the temple and also admitted he was a sinner. He didn’t skip it and then also say “Me? I’m not a sinner!”

The point is that by Divine Law we owe worship to our creator, positive law codifies divine law when it mandates that worship on all Sundays and Holy Days.

All of us publicans who try to go to Mass every Sunday where we strike our breasts confessing our sinfulness invite you to join us!

VC

 

[caudy]

Well, where have I said ‘the church teaching is wrong?’ I don’t doubt that staying away from God is a dangerous place, and that going to Mass on a Sunday, or any day for that matter is the opportunity to worship our creator and enjoy that intamacy with Jesus in the presence of the Eucarist, but to commit Mortal sin, real Mortal sin where I will be consigned to the fires of Hell if I die in it’s state requires: full knowledge, full consent and grevious matter. In my conscience (and OK there’s the rub), if I love God and put Him first, and strive to do His will for me in all things, and yet decide this particular Sunday to skip Mass, I will face my maker at the point of death and trust His love and justice. The zealots were fanatical about the letter of the law, and that was precisely the arguement that Jesus had with them. He did get angry with the money changers in the temple who were following the letter of the law. And Martin Luthers’ gripe with the Catholic Church was exactly around the raising of money to build the temple in Rome, and possibly a certain Cardinal’s debts around less than honest behaviour. Jesus was full of compassion for the sinner, He came not for the righteous, but for the sinner. Why are we expected to leave our shadow outside the church when we enter in? Why do the law makers of the church make the desire to follow Christ so very difficult? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Paul Brann

Hello Paul. Your profile sais Roman Catholic but you sound more like a Protestant. Which is it? If your claim to be a Catholic is correct, you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

I understand your feelings, I used to feel that way too. What’s the big deal, miss mass…who cares? I also used to look at lustful images, what’'s the big deal…it’s not like I’m killing anyone right? God “can’t” allow me to go to hell over something like that. A few lies here and there, so what…everyone does it. Mortal sin only applies to murderers and child molesters!

See that’s where we were wrong. Even the so called “little sins” are still sins. Matt 5:28 “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. So you can see here that JESUS takes every sin seriously.

So here’s the thing I had to come to grips with. If I choose to be a practicing Catholic, do I have the authority to pick and choose which doctrine I adhere to? NO. Otherwise, pick a different religion, one that suits you better. The way I figure it is this: Jesus Christ dies on the cross for MY sins, the least I can do is go to Church every week.

Matt 23:1-5 "Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men.”

Jesus is stating above that you must follow the rules of your faith, even if its the corrupt Pharisees who are telling you to do it! See, we follow our rules of faith to please God not man.

 

[LilyM]

**Well, where have I said ‘the church teaching is wrong?’ **

How about where you said the Church wrongly claims that not going to Mass is a mortal sin, when really it isn’t, for monetary motives?

if I love God and put Him first, and strive to do His will for me in all things, and yet decide this particular Sunday to skip Mass, I will face my maker at the point of death and trust His love and justice.

If you love God and put Him first then you will be in HIS house every Sunday that you can possibly go (and more than that as some of us are) keeping the Sabbath holy as He commanded. Without Mass your Sunday is really indistinguishable as especially holy (which it is) from any other ol’ day of the week.

Jesus, if you remember, went to Synagogue and Temple as required (they wouldn’t have let Him read if He hadn’t been going), and kept Passover and all the other obligatory feasts. He didn’t neglect any of it.

Neither did His apostles - in fact Paul tells us (Hebrews 10:25) “DO NOT neglect to meet together [ie go to church], as is the habit of some [you], but encourage one another” to do so. That’s what we’re doing. Can’t get more explicit than that.

If you love God and put Him first, then you will listen to His word that I’ve just quoted. Moreover you will believe in His promise to His Church that whatever it binds on earth is bound in heaven. That includes when it binds us to attend Sunday Mass.

 

[Paul_Brann]

Nowhere have I said that I’m not a sinner, if fact there were two implications that you seemed to miss:

1. That I’m very much a sinner…I don’t always go to Mass on a Sunday, I sin over and over, but it is my earnest hope that I never commit Mortal Sin; to deliberately turn away from God and deny His supremacy would be beyond redemption.
2. It is not I who is enforcing the interpretation of the law, I am the one at the back of the Church saying "God, forgive me, a sinner. I enter the church fully with my shadow hoping to be healed and made whole.
   If you tell me or Bobsey that we are in a state of Mortal sin (which is effectively what you are doing) then you are judging me and others. If you hide behind the teachings of the Catholic Church and use ‘official doctrine’ to justify your judgement of your fellow Christian you are becoming very visible to The Almighty. What’s with this ‘Plank in your eye’ stuff not really self deprecating or what might be expected from true humility.
   The Diciples were chastised by the law enforcers for gathering wheat to eat on the Sabbath, Jesus had a different take on the meaning of the sabbath. He didn’t care too much for the zealots. He came to heal the sick, and that’s certainly where I fit in.
   Perhaps you see me as a heratic, not a real Catholic, like Luther or Calvin, who I suppose you might also consign to Hell. That’s how it seems.
   What you are saying is that I am in a state of Mortal Sin because I don’t go to Mass every Sunday, and more so because I am corrupting another by deliberately spreading false doctrines. I admire your bravery and certainty.
   I’m in the “not too sure but trusting the forgiveness of God camp”
   Paul Brann

 

[LilyM]

Nowhere have I said that I’m not a sinner, if fact there were two implications that you seemed to miss:

1. That I’m very much a sinner…I don’t always go to Mass on a Sunday, I sin over and over, but it is my earnest hope that I never commit Mortal Sin; to deliberately turn away from God and deny His supremacy would be beyond redemption.
2. It is not I who is enforcing the interpretation of the law, I am the one at the back of the Church saying "God, forgive me, a sinner. I enter the church fully with my shadow hoping to be healed and made whole.
   If you tell me or Bobsey that we are in a state of Mortal sin (which is effectively what you are doing) then you are judging me and others. If you hide behind the teachings of the Catholic Church and use ‘official doctrine’ to justify your judgement of your fellow Christian you are becoming very visible to The Almighty. What’s with this ‘Plank in your eye’ stuff not really self deprecating or what might be expected from true humility.
   The Diciples were chastised by the law enforcers for gathering wheat to eat on the Sabbath, Jesus had a different take on the meaning of the sabbath. He didn’t care too much for the zealots. He came to heal the sick, and that’s certainly where I fit in.
   Perhaps you see me as a heratic, not a real Catholic, like Luther or Calvin, who I suppose you might also consign to Hell. That’s how it seems.
   What you are saying is that I am in a state of Mortal Sin because I don’t go to Mass every Sunday, and more so because I am corrupting another by deliberately spreading false doctrines. I admire your bravery and certainty.
   I’m in the “not too sure but trusting the forgiveness of God camp”
   Paul Brann

I see you, not as a heretic, but as someone who is likely in mortal sin, but is perhaps wilfully blind about acknowledging it.

Turning away from God’s commands (as given through the Church at times, including the command for Sunday worship) IS turning away from God. ‘Who hears you hears Me, who rejects you rejects Me’ is what Jesus said to the Apostles, and moreover ‘if you love me YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDS’! I’m sure you’ve heard at least that last passage of scripture (or should have, if you’d been attending Mass as you should - that’s one reason why it’s of critical importance spiritually to go).

And CERTAINLY you are very stubborn about being taught proper teaching when it’s different to your own views! Not that any of us are immune from that fault at all, but it IS something we should strive to overcome.

 

[Paul_Brann]

Encourage one another to go to church…St Paul uses the words encourage. I haven’t experienced much of that here at the moment, more the opposite. More like “unless you go to Mass every Sunday you’re doomed!”
Oh! and by the way I thought a plenary indulgence (say the nine, or five, first Fridays) guaranteed my place in Heaven, or at least anything with so many ‘days’ attached to it would alleviate my stay in purgatory by that amount of time. So by good works, or penitentiary acts, or paying the monetary value in lieu, I could gain indulgence and a speedy entry into Heaven.
If you remember this all started by Bobsey asking if he was wrong to receive communion if he hadn’t been to Mass the previous Sunday. Some legal specialist then effectively accused him of being in a state of Mortal sin and assumed that it would be impossible for him to make an act of ‘perfect contrition’ so he should abstain from the sacrament of the Eucharist until he had become cleansed by the sacrament of confession to a priest.
Surely this sort of judgement should be between him and his confessor, as is my state of grace or otherwise. OK, OK I know this is a Catholic site where Catholic thelogy and dogma are not up for debate and ‘rules is rules’, but where’s the love and compassion, where is the understanding that we all fall short of the glory of God. It’s a very brave man, or a zealot who would tell
another Catholic to stay away from the Eucharist; particularly based on the discourse of an impersonal website like this.
Paul Brann

 

[jmcrae]

Encourage one another to go to church…St Paul uses the words encourage. I haven’t experienced much of that here at the moment, more the opposite. More like “unless you go to Mass every Sunday you’re doomed!”

Wow, you are reading a lot into a few simple comments! I didn’t see anyone saying anything at all like that - is this maybe your own conscience speaking to you, and saying these things to you?

Oh! and by the way I thought a plenary indulgence (say the nine, or five, first Fridays) guaranteed my place in Heaven, or at least anything with so many ‘days’ attached to it would alleviate my stay in purgatory by that amount of time.

This is off-topic for this thread; if you have questions about Indulgences, make a thread of your own, since it’s clear that you have a few misunderstandings about what the Church teaches.

 

[bobsey]

Oooh, I seemed to have opened a can of worms here. BTW, I went to 4pm Mass today and did not receive Communion. I wasn’t comfortable receiving knowing that I missed Mass last week through my own fault. So as soon as I’m able, I will confess this sin (among others), and hope to receive Communion next Sunday.

Sorry if I’ve caused any trouble.

In Him,
Bobsey

 

[jmcrae]

Oooh, I seemed to have opened a can of worms here. BTW, I went to 4pm Mass today and did not receive Communion. I wasn’t comfortable receiving knowing that I missed Mass last week through my own fault. So as soon as I’m able, I will confess this sin (among others), and hope to receive Communion next Sunday.

Sorry if I’ve caused any trouble.

In Him,
Bobsey

It was not you who opened the can of worms - you’ve done everything exactly right, up to now.

Sorry for the off-topic stuff!

 

[LilyM]

Encourage one another to go to church…St Paul uses the words encourage. I haven’t experienced much of that here at the moment, more the opposite. More like “unless you go to Mass every Sunday you’re doomed!”
Oh! and by the way I thought a plenary indulgence (say the nine, or five, first Fridays) guaranteed my place in Heaven, or at least anything with so many ‘days’ attached to it would alleviate my stay in purgatory by that amount of time. So by good works, or penitentiary acts, or paying the monetary value in lieu, I could gain indulgence and a speedy entry into Heaven.
If you remember this all started by Bobsey asking if he was wrong to receive communion if he hadn’t been to Mass the previous Sunday. Some legal specialist then effectively accused him of being in a state of Mortal sin and assumed that it would be impossible for him to make an act of ‘perfect contrition’ so he should abstain from the sacrament of the Eucharist until he had become cleansed by the sacrament of confession to a priest.
Surely this sort of judgement should be between him and his confessor, as is my state of grace or otherwise. OK, OK I know this is a Catholic site where Catholic thelogy and dogma are not up for debate and ‘rules is rules’, but where’s the love and compassion, where is the understanding that we all fall short of the glory of God. It’s a very brave man, or a zealot who would tell
another Catholic to stay away from the Eucharist; particularly based on the discourse of an impersonal website like this.
Paul Brann

St Paul first said ‘don’t neglect to go’ - which is exactly what we’re saying. I don’t see anyone painting it quite as negatively as you’re suggesting.

And if you’d learned anything about indulgences you’d know

a) you can’t gain them while in a state of mortal sin
b) they are only relevant for past sins and don’t apply to future ones and
c) an indulgence, or your Nine First Fridays or what have you, is not and never has been a licence to sin nor a guarantee of paradise.

It has always been church teaching that we all still have free will up until our moment of death to reject God and sin to the point where no amount of indulgences or First Fridays can help us.