Confession after Communion

[anonymous1995]

Is it that I really cannot partake the Holy Communion after committing mortal sins, even if I have made my Act of Perfect Contrition and will go to Confession right after Mass (at most on that day)?

It just gives me so much agony when I am like a cripple cheated by Satan every Saturday…and Confession is sadly not available on every Sunday!

 

[Bookcat]

Yes that is correct.

Catechism:

1385 To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself."218 Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

1457 According to the Church’s command, "after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."56 Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.57 Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.58

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII

There can be exceptions but they are only exceptions - for grave reasons and no opportunity to confess etc.

Canon Law: Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to …receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P39.HTM

I suggest you get with a regular confessor to assist you in avoiding mortal sins and their near occasions or even in clearing up mistaken notions as to what is mortal sins (grave sins). In order to commit a mortal sin one needs grave matter, full knowledge and complete consent. Often temptations can be rather intense -but that does not mean one has yet committed a mortal sin.

If you were to fall into mortal sin and cannot get to confession - first of all - repent and turn to the Lord - still attend Mass and then after Mass ask for confession and then after confession ask for Holy Communion (assuming as you have not yet received earlier that day before the fall).

 

[Bookcat]

Let us remember Jesus of Nazareth is The Lamb and the Good Shepherd …

"Jesus is called the Lamb: He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Someone might think: but how can a lamb, which is so weak, a weak little lamb, how can it take away so many sins, so much wickedness? With Love. With his meekness. Jesus never ceased being a lamb: meek, good, full of love, close to the little ones, close to the poor. He was there, among the people, healing everyone, teaching, praying. Jesus, so weak, like a lamb. However, he had the strength to take all our sins upon himself, all of them.

“But, Father, you don’t know my life: I have a sin that…, I can’t even carry it with a truck…”.

Many times, when we examine our conscience, we find some there that are truly bad! But he carries them. He came for this: to forgive, to make peace in the world, but first in the heart. Perhaps each one of us feels troubled in his heart, perhaps he experiences darkness in his heart, perhaps he feels a little sad over a fault… He has come to take away all of this, He gives us peace, he forgives everything. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away sin”: he takes away sin, it’s root and all! This is salvation Jesus brings about by his love and his meekness. And in listening to what John the Baptist says, who bears witness to Jesus as the Saviour, our confidence in Jesus should grow. Many times we trust a doctor: it is good, because the doctor is there to cure us; we trust in a person: brothers and sisters can help us. It is good to have this human trust among ourselves. But we forget about trust in the Lord: this is the key to success in life. Trust in the Lord, let us trust in the Lord! “Lord, look at my life: I’m in the dark, I have this struggle, I have this sin…”; everything we have: “Look at this: I trust in you!”. And this is a risk we must take: to trust in Him, and He never disappoints."

~Pope Francis

vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/homilies/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140119_omelia-parrocchia-sacro-cuore-gesu_en.html

"Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” who goes in search of lost sheep, who knows his sheep and lays down his life for them (cf. Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:4-7; Jn 10:2-4, 11-18). He is the way, the right path that leads us to life (cf. Jn 14:6), the light that illuminates the dark valley and overcomes all our fears (cf. Jn 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).

He is the generous host who welcomes us and rescues us from our enemies, preparing for us the table of his body and his blood (cf. Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25); Lk 22:19-20) and the definitive table of the messianic banquet in Heaven (cf. Lk 14:15ff; Rev 3:20; 19:9). He is the Royal Shepherd, king in docility and in forgiveness, enthroned on the glorious wood of the cross (cf. Jn 3:13-15; 12:32; 17:4-5)."

~Pope Benedict XVI

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20111005_en.html

"I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”.[1] The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.

Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”. How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost!

Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.

Christ, who told us to forgive one another “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) has given us his example: he has forgiven us seventy times seven. Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders.

No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire more than his life, which impels us onwards!"

~ Pope Francis

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
EVANGELII GAUDIUM

w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html#I.%E2%80%82A_joy_ever_new,_a_joy_which_is_shared

 

[Catholic1954]

Is it that I really cannot partake the Holy Communion after committing mortal sins, even if I have made my Act of Perfect Contrition and will go to Confession right after Mass (at most on that day)?

It just gives me so much agony when I am like a cripple cheated by Satan every Saturday…and Confession is sadly not available on every Sunday!

Nope. Perfect contrition is important, but only absolution from a priest can make your soul worthy again to receive our Lord in Communion. The next time you are considering to commit that mortal sin, recall the agony you feel in being denied the “communion” with God; stay strong and make a better choice.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Is it that I really cannot partake the Holy Communion after committing mortal sins, even if I have made my Act of Perfect Contrition and will go to Confession right after Mass (at most on that day)?

It just gives me so much agony when I am like a cripple cheated by Satan every Saturday…and Confession is sadly not available on every Sunday!

This is a question to speak with your confessor or pastor about…not anonymous people on the Internet. The determination lies with the criteria provided in Canon 916. Ask him. I am confident your pastor/confessor will be able to competently advise you.

Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

This also bothers me about our parish confession schedule. On Tuesdays it is after daily Mass. So, 50 people go to Mass, all recieve, including me. Then 20 of us line up to confess our mortal sins… I’ve occasionally confessed review get the Eucharist unworthily and father just ignores it. So now I do too.

 

[CatholicRaven]

When I need Confession, but know I can’t get to Confession at our parish before Mass on Sunday (whether it’s because Father is gone and Confession is not available there that week, or because of my own schedule/transportation issues), I try to get to another nearby church’s confession time. Thankfully, here we have many different options, so it’s usually not difficult to find a day/time that I can get to before Sunday morning.

I don’t know whether that’s available in your area, or whether that may be an option for you, but wanted to make sure you (and others reading) know that you do not have to attend the Confession times only at your own parish. You may go to another parish for Confession.

Though I also agree that knowing you’ll have to miss out on receiving the Eucharist may help you to avoid temptations to sin!

 

[Bookcat]

Yes that is correct.

Catechism:

1385 To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself."218 Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

1457 According to the Church’s command, "after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."56 Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.57 Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.58

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII

There can be exceptions but they are only exceptions - for grave reasons and no opportunity to confess etc.

Canon Law: Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to …receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P39.HTM

I suggest you get with a regular confessor to assist you in avoiding mortal sins and their near occasions or even in clearing up mistaken notions as to what is mortal sins (grave sins). In order to commit a mortal sin one needs grave matter, full knowledge and complete consent. Often temptations can be rather intense -but that does not mean one has yet committed a mortal sin.

If you were to fall into mortal sin and cannot get to confession - first of all - repent and turn to the Lord - still attend Mass and then after Mass ask for confession and then after confession ask for Holy Communion (assuming as you have not yet received earlier that day before the fall).

So basically - one ought not be receiving Holy Communion if one has committed an actual mortal sin - not until one has been absolved in Confession.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

This is a question to speak with your confessor or pastor about…not anonymous people on the Internet. The determination lies with the criteria provided in Canon 916. Ask him. I am confident your pastor/confessor will be able to competently advise you.

Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

I should add, since the original poster is, I assume American, this from the website of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops for the United States:

*On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. These guidelines replace the guidelines approved by the Administrative Committee of the NCCB in November 1986. The guidelines, which are to be included in missalettes and other participation aids published in the United States, seek to remind all those who may attend Catholic liturgies of the present discipline of the Church with regard to the sharing of Eucharistic Communion.

For Catholics

As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.
*
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/guidelines-for-the-reception-of-communion.cfm

So, to the original poster, address your particular situation either to your confessor or to your pastor. As pastor of the parishes I had care of before I retired, I was always happy to assist parishioners in properly applying this canon’s application to their concrete situations and reaching the appropriate determination.

This is a very important provision that was placed into the Code.

 

[twf]

This also bothers me about our parish confession schedule. On Tuesdays it is after daily Mass. So, 50 people go to Mass, all recieve, including me. Then 20 of us line up to confess our mortal sins… I’ve occasionally confessed review get the Eucharist unworthily and father just ignores it. So now I do too.

You ignore the Church’s requirement to confess grave sins before receiving because your pastor seemed to take a care free attitude towards the situation in the confessional?
I, sadly, can’t count the number of times I’ve had to abstain from receiving… There’s always some people who stay in the pews.

 

[ShrodingersCat]

This also bothers me about our parish confession schedule. On Tuesdays it is after daily Mass. So, 50 people go to Mass, all recieve, including me. Then 20 of us line up to confess our mortal sins… I’ve occasionally confessed review get the Eucharist unworthily and father just ignores it. So now I do too.

20 people after daily mass at confession! Wow! That’s actually a lot for my parish.

Receiving the Eucharist is not OK just because the priest doesn’t call you out for it - you know that. So don’t do it. Go request confession before mass, or don’t receive. You only have to receive communion once a year anyway. Obviously it’s nice to be able to do it regularly but it’s beyond silly to commit a mortal sin just because the confession schedule of your church is inconvenient for you.

Has it occurred to you that maybe people don’t regularly commit mortal sins? Not everyone has a vice that causes them to commit mortal sins regularly. I am fairly sure most good Catholics I know (basically my older family) would rarely need to confess to a mortal sin (by “good” I mean “know the teaching of and actually attempt to follow the Church”).

In fact, unless there is an addiction or vice involved, I’d say it’s pretty hard to commit mortal sins on a weekly basis for someone who clearly participates in daily mass. Are you scrupulous?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

20 people after daily mass at confession! Wow! That’s actually a lot for my parish.

Receiving the Eucharist is not OK just because the priest doesn’t call you out for it - you know that. So don’t do it. Go request confession before mass, or don’t receive. You only have to receive communion once a year anyway. Obviously it’s nice to be able to do it regularly but it’s beyond silly to commit a mortal sin just because the confession schedule of your church is inconvenient for you.

Has it occurred to you that maybe people don’t regularly commit mortal sins? Not everyone has a vice that causes them to commit mortal sins regularly. I am fairly sure most good Catholics I know (basically my older family) would rarely need to confess to a mortal sin (by “good” I mean “know the teaching of and actually attempt to follow the Church”).

In fact, unless there is an addiction or vice involved, I’d say it’s pretty hard to commit mortal sins on a weekly basis for someone who clearly participates in daily mass. Are you scrupulous?

Not scupulous. Lol.

I’m pretty sure you opinion on mortal sin is wrong.

Why is it that the same people are always in line at confession but the lax Catholics are not?
Why would my parish offer to schedule confession after mass? Why not before?

I confess about once a month but the church requires at least once a year.

The sins I confess are mortal.

 

[ShrodingersCat]

Not scupulous. Lol.

I’m pretty sure you opinion on mortal sin is wrong.

Why is it that the same people are always in line at confession but the lax Catholics are not?
Why would my parish offer to schedule confession after mass? Why not before?

I confess about once a month but the church requires at least once a year.

The sins I confess are mortal.

It’s obviously the first thing to go when you lapse, it’s the hardest one! I was brought up to go to confession regularly, mortal sin or no. I go every 2-3 months now and I don’t go because of mortal sin, I go because “it’s been a while”. I was genuinely surprised when I read you comment - I always thought of the regular confession goers as the ones who didn’t really need to be there. Although that’s probably also because they are all OAPs but I am fairly sure, like I said, that the Catholics that I am closest to confess venials when they go (i.e. my parents, husband, grandparents).

 

[Arizona_Fat_Gir]

Really, how would anyone know what anyone else confesses? Do they discuss it over lunch?

Once at age 16 I was in the confessional for a while. I had a problem but could not get advice from anyone.

My mother thought I wanted to be a nun!

Not for the love I have for diamonds! or rubies, emeralds, …they wouldn’t let me keep them if I became a nun back then.

 

[Convert_in_99]

Not scupulous. Lol.

I’m pretty sure you opinion on mortal sin is wrong.

Why is it that the same people are always in line at confession but the lax Catholics are not?
Why would my parish offer to schedule confession after mass? Why not before?

I confess about once a month but the church requires at least once a year.

The sins I confess are mortal.

I hope you’re not being too hard on yourself. In your other post you said you would confess that you received the Eucharist in a state of sin, but your confessor ignored it. Maybe he’s trying to tell you that you aren’t in mortal sin as often as you may think?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

20 people after daily mass at confession! Wow! That’s actually a lot for my parish.

Receiving the Eucharist is not OK just because the priest doesn’t call you out for it - you know that. So don’t do it. Go request confession before mass, or don’t receive. You only have to receive communion once a year anyway. Obviously it’s nice to be able to do it regularly but it’s beyond silly to commit a mortal sin just because the confession schedule of your church is inconvenient for you.

Has it occurred to you that maybe people don’t regularly commit mortal sins? Not everyone has a vice that causes them to commit mortal sins regularly. I am fairly sure most good Catholics I know (basically my older family) would rarely need to confess to a mortal sin (by “good” I mean “know the teaching of and actually attempt to follow the Church”).

In fact, unless there is an addiction or vice involved, I’d say it’s pretty hard to commit mortal sins on a weekly basis for someone who clearly participates in daily mass. Are you scrupulous?

Really, how would anyone know what anyone else confesses? Do they discuss it over lunch?

Once at age 16 I was in the confessional for a while. I had a problem but could not get advice from anyone.

My mother thought I wanted to be a nun!

Not for the love I have for diamonds! or rubies, emeralds, …they wouldn’t let me keep them if I became a nun back then.

My wife and I regularly discuss what we confess. My kids too. Of course I’m sure there are things we hold back on. But generally we discuss it. Of course it is my job as a parent to help my children grow and learn how to properly form a conscience. So we regularly talk about the gravity of any given sin. One thing we do as a family before our rosary every night is tell Jesus one thing we are happy about for the day and one thing we are sorry for. Of course this is pretty much venial in nature as far as the sins go but we can discuss if it is mortal and if confession should be in order the next day. Having a kid say, " I lied to my brother, offers an opportunity to explore the idea of sin. Having a child ask you if it was mortal sin when you teased them so much they cried is indeed humbling for the parents as well.

Venial sins need not be forgiven in confession. The Mass and the Eucharist take care of that!

We also have good friends with whom we discuss certain things in the confessional.

I’ve had a priest tell me birth control is ok. So word gets around about what is going on in the confessional.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I hope you’re not being too hard on yourself. In your other post you said you would confess that you received the Eucharist in a state of sin, but your confessor ignored it. Maybe he’s trying to tell you that you aren’t in mortal sin as often as you may think?

No of course not. There are definately mortal sins I’m confessing.
My point is not that the priest thinks I’m not in mortal sin but rather none of the priests think receiving in a state of mortal sin is really compounding the problem. And why would they, they are the ones who choose to put confession after Mass. It says in the bulliten.

But I would like to point out that around. These parts confession is a quaint holdover from times past. In a parish of a few thousand, it’s 45 minutes on Saturday and 45 minutes on Tuesdays. We are a weekly or monthly family. However though we all “go to confession” we don’t always all go to confession. Meaning if my children or my wife or myself have not dicerned mortality of sin, we simply do not go into the confessional.

Our new Bishop. (God bless him) is trying to change the culture here. He is encouraging priests to offer confession more. During lent and advent he mandated that on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 7 every parish offer confession. Diocese wide. There was a lot of groaning from the clergy, and a lot of attendance from the faithful. It would be cool if it were offered year round.

My geographic a parish, (not my registered parish) does not offer confessions at all except by appointment, which according to the office manager does not happen often. Despite there being two priests there.

Last month, I took advantage of Pope Francis’s permission for sspx priests to hear confessions. It was a breath of fresh air!

Though wouldn’t it be odd to walk into one of those priests like, “forgive me father I attended an illicit Mass.”

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I hope you’re not being too hard on yourself. In your other post you said you would confess that you received the Eucharist in a state of sin, but your confessor ignored it. Maybe he’s trying to tell you that you aren’t in mortal sin as often as you may think?

Question.
A person knows abc is wrong but does it anyway. They immediately seek out confession, the priest says artificial birth control is ok,

Was mortal sin commited by the penitent?

Yes, it was. The priest is not the decider of mortality.

 

[ShrodingersCat]

Venial sins need not be forgiven in confession. The Mass and the Eucharist take care of that!

Completely true, however I think a lot of people go regardless, for the benefits the sacrament offers and as a way to feel renewed. It’s like going to daily mass - not necessary but definitely beneficial. At least that was how I was brought up.

 

[Convert_in_99]

Question.
A person knows abc is wrong but does it anyway. They immediately seek out confession, the priest says artificial birth control is ok,

Was mortal sin commited by the penitent?

Yes, it was. The priest is not the decider of mortality.

Yes, that would be a serious sin if all three criteria had been met, even if the priest said it wasn’t. I just have a hard time believing a devout soul like you would be in mortal sin that often. I find it even harder that your children could be in it that often. Sorry. It’s just really hard to grasp that.