Considering sitting mass out

[Tacorock1]

I go to confession monthly occasionally more often. Sometimes I find myself in mortal sin soon after . I still go to mass but refrain from the sacrament of communion because of this. Isn’t communion the reason for mass? So if I go and not participate am I just taking up space? But if I don’t go it’s just piling on so to speak. I’m stuck and considering why bother with it all anyway, but I’m open for direction.

 

[Spyridon]

No, no, NO.

Communion is NOT necessary for reception of grace at Mass and that’s a horrible misconception in the modern Church.

Please continue to go to Mass while refraining from Communion.

 

[1ke]

You need to talk to your pastor. You need spiritual counsel for this despair I hear in your post.

regarding the mass, no receiving communion is not the primary reason we go to mass, but rather the worship owed to God, the fulfillment of God’s commandments.

 

[misstherese]

Even if you can’t recieve communion, you are still in the presence of Jesus. Focus your attention on Him and ask Him to help you to not commit mortal sin so that you can receive Him worthily.

 

[ChunkMonk]

I’ve had to sit out of communion almost as many times as i’ve taken it. It’s really hard and sometimes embarassing, but just think of it as a part of your penance.

Going to mass anyway could also be seen as a sign of true contrition and would speak well of your desire to follow God’s laws. Also it sets a good example for other Catholics. So you are definitely not just taking up space. God uses us all, even us terrible sinners!

 

[Augustinian]

I still go to mass but refrain from the sacrament of communion because of this. Isn’t communion the reason for mass? So if I go and not participate am I just taking up space?

Au contraire. The idea that everyone at mass is expected to present themselves for communion is a new idea, one which was unknown when I was a kid, and is unknown in many areas of the world even today

 

[Tis_Bearself]

i was at a Mass attended almost entirely by Latinos the other night, and I would say 60 percent of them did not go to Communion. I don’t know whether it was because they were in mortal sin, or had already received twice at earlier Masses (it was a big feast day and there were six Masses in a row), or weren’t regularly practicing Catholics and just came by for the feast day celebration, but they were all participating in the Mass despite many of them not going to Communion.

As someone said, you still get grace from the Mass even if you are not able to receive Communion.

Also, since it’s a sin to miss Sunday Mass, you would basically be compounding one serious sin with yet another sin if you skipped it.

I would suggest checking to see if there is a church available that has confessions immediately before, or even during, the Sunday Mass, as some of them offer this, and I have taken advantage of it a couple of times.

 

[DeepDeepTrouble3]

Don’t give up. Get to confession as often as you can. Keep at it.

 

[babochka]

Tacorock1:

I still go to mass but refrain from the sacrament of communion because of this. Isn’t communion the reason for mass? So if I go and not participate am I just taking up space?

Au contraire. The idea that everyone at mass is expected to present themselves for communion is a new idea, one which was unknown when I was a kid, and is unknown in many areas of the world even today

I don’t want to throw off the original poster, who is clearly struggling, but this isn’t historically accurate.

It might have been unknown when you were a kid. but it is not unknown in the history of the Church. In the early Church, anyone who was present for the sacrifice was expected to partake of Communion. Those Christians who were not able to partake were part of the order of penitents and were dismissed after the Liturgy of the Word (not then called by that name), along with the catechumens. But these penitents were still deeply connected to the Church, still nurtured by her.

This is no longer the case, for a variety of historical and practical reasons. @Tacorock1, Mass is exactly where you need to be, whether or not you are able to receive Communion. First, you’re right. You’ll just be piling on if you stay home from Mass. The Church has given us an obligation and we are obligated to fulfill it. This obligation is for our own good. Listen to your mother, the Church. You need the Mass. You need the prayers, you need the environment, you need the communal aspect of the Mass. You need the tangible connection to the Church. You need to worship God. Skipping Mass because of your despair will only serve to pull you further into that despair.

It is good that you stay close to the Sacrament of Confession. Have you shared your struggles with your confessor? Perhaps he can help.

 

[Genesis315]

The point of Mass is to fulfill the commandments of adoring God and keeping holy the Lord’s Day. Mass is primarily an act of worship, whereby the priest offers the sacrifice of Christ in an unbloody manner for the purposes of adoration, propitiation and reparation of sin, praise, thanksgiving, and for our petitions (and we pray for the same). Uniting our petitions to the sacrifice of the Mass is also an act of love of neighbor, if we pray for others. All this can and should be done, even if in the state of mortal sin.

As an aside, it’s actually only since the 20th century that most Mass goers receive Holy Communion every Sunday.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Do you believe in the Real Presence? Just because you don’t eat Jesus at every possible opportunity doesn’t mean being in the same room with him is without benefit. Many Catholics derive great spiritual benefit from spending time before the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass.

 

[stuartbrianhenlis]

You could also get a blessing from the priest when you approach him in the Communion line.

 

[BT3241]

He said he is mortal sin please answer the question with mortal sin in mind as he described. - remember here it is said you are out of Gods Grace and incapable of receiving it when in mortal sin. I have the same problem - if I miss mass I’m in mortal sin - out of God grace - and incapable of receiving grace until I confess - its become a stumbling block for me and I do the same thing I won’t go to Church till I go to confession I don’t see the point I am out of the grace of God and probably an abomination in Jesus sight. The blessing is no good I’m out of Gods grace. Its exactly because I believe its the real presence that I feel this way I am an abomination in front of Christ in this state.

 

[greenrangerx]

As many other posters have said, it isn’t required to receive communion every time you go to mass. I know I’ve sat out multiple times before. We even make an announcement at my parish after the consecration: “Catholics who wish to receive holy communion, the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, are invited to come forward at this time. Catholics who do not wish to receive holy communion at this time, those who have not received first communion, and those who do not share our Catholic faith are invited to receive a blessing from the priest or deacon. To receive a blessing, please come forward and cross your arms over your chest like this.”

 

[po18guy]

You are demonstrating a use of your free will. We are called to choose wisely. You can:

1. Reject sin
2. Reject God

Choose wisely.

 

[PJM]

Well for starters you would miss being in Divine Presence and receive the graces in doing so; graces that might be what keeps you going to confession.

“Two WRONGS can NEVER make a right.”

You’re playing with FIRE here

Pray very much

 

[tawny]

Agree, well stated.

 

[boclucky14]

He said he is mortal sin please answer the question with mortal sin in mind as he described. - remember here it is said you are out of Gods Grace and incapable of receiving it when in mortal sin. I have the same problem - if I miss mass I’m in mortal sin - out of God grace - and incapable of receiving grace until I confess - its become a stumbling block for me and I do the same thing I won’t go to Church till I go to confession I don’t see the point I am out of the grace of God and probably an abomination in Jesus sight. The blessing is no good I’m out of Gods grace. Its exactly because I believe its the real presence that I feel this way I am an abomination in front of Christ in this state.

Yeah, no. You may be in a state of mortal sin, but if your penitent, then say an act of contrition - tell God your sorry, make a commitment to sin no more, and go to confession as soon as you can.

Go to mass. Pray. Go to adoration. But don’t receive communion until after you go to confession [unless your confessor and/or pastor has told you otherwise]. You don’t combat sin with more sin. You combat sin with grace, and turning to God the moment after a sin in your heart will help you alleviate sin in the future.

 

[BT3241]

Your not reading what i said - I cannot have that grace you speak about - I missed mass and am in mortal sin - so are you saying you can receive grace in mortal sin first time I have ever heard that here - I am not keeping myself from confessing - my schedule does not allow me to go to confession for a few weeks sometimes its during the day when I am at work - i have to be at work or they will fire me.- some Churches are appointment only for confession here - I have been told sorry no make an appointment - and I go at the first opportunity - I getting two very different answers on this forum - in mortal sin I am out of Gods grace and incapable of receiving it until I confess and now I am being told here I am capable of receiving grace in mortal sin - which is it? Forget everything I said just answer the question can you receive grace in the state of mortal sin.Ahhh I give up on this people only seeing what they want to see in my statement and ignoring what I am asking. And now I playing with fire as someone says I’m going to hell for sure thanks for helping me feel better. - thanks for all the great help?I will work it out with some other way I am not going to get an answer here just more finger pointing on what a sinner I am.

 

[PJM]

Your not reading what i said - I cannot have that grace you speak about - I missed mass and am in mortal sin - so are you saying you can receive grace in mortal sin first time I have ever heard that here - I am not keeping myself from confessing - my schedule does not allow me to go to confession for a few weeks sometimes its during the day when I am at work - i have to be at work or they will fire me.- some Churches are appointment only for confession here - I have been told sorry no make an appointment - and I go at the first opportunity - I getting two very different answers on this forum - in mortal sin I am out of Gods grace and incapable of receiving it until I confess and now I am being told here I am capable of receiving grace in mortal sin - which is it? Forget everything I said just answer the question can you receive grace in the state of mortal sin.Ahhh I give up on this people only seeing what they want to see in my statement and ignoring what I am asking. And now I playing with fire as someone says I’m going to hell for sure thanks for helping me feel better. - thanks for all the great help?I will work it out with some other way I am not going to get an answer here just more finger pointing on wha

Just being in the Divine Presence IS a grace:relaxed; and that is what I meant to share. There is only a downside to missing Mass because you’re in Mortal sin.

And you can call the parish and ask for an appointment for Confession outside normal hours.

AND my friend, we are trying to help you.

Pray the rosary every day

With prayers
Patrick