Did not take Communion at Mass

[JSAD]

Hi,

Yesterday i did not go forward to receive Holy Communion at Mass. I was not able to go for Confession prior to attending Mass and i did not think i was in a state of grace to receive Communion.

When i do go for Confession, do i need to confess this as well?

Also, by not attending communion does it imply(technically) that i actually did not go for mass since i did not receive the Sacraments?

Let me know,

 

[PerfectTiming]

Receiving Communion at Mass is not compulsory. Your obligation at Mass is met by your presence there, not by your reception of the Eucharist. The Church only mandates that you receive Communion once a year.

You do not need to confess this because you did nothing wrong. If you HAD received the Eucharist, then you would have to go to confession. As it is, you do not.

 

[FaithByProxy]

To my knowledge, no, it is not a sin. If you felt that you would be taking the Eucharist unworthily, then you did the right thing by not receiving.

As for whether you technically went to Mass or not, I go to Mass every Sunday and as often during the week as I can manage, and I am not yet permitted to take the Eucharist. I’ve never been told that that means that I wasn’t present. Go to Confession, then go back to Mass. You’ve done nothing wrong.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

1. You would have sinned HAD you taken the Eucharist in a known condition of sin. So no, you did not sin by not taking the Eucharist. Technically, Catholics are only obligated to receive at Easter and Christmas (thus the people who show up ONLY then), but we are obligated to attend Mass even if we don’t receive.
2. Attending Mass is a separate obligation so not taking the Eucharist does not cancel out your attendance.

You’re doing fine, now get to confession so you can receive!

 

[kmuestwin]

Hi,

Yesterday i did not go forward to receive Holy Communion at Mass. I was not able to go for Confession prior to attending Mass and i did not think i was in a state of grace to receive Communion.

When i do go for Confession, do i need to confess this as well?

Also, by not attending communion does it imply(technically) that i actually did not go for mass since i did not receive the Sacraments?

Let me know,

The Church requires us to go to Mass every Holy Day of Obligation. This means that every Sunday and on certain Solemnities, we have to attend Mass. The Church only requires Catholics to receive Communion once a year during the Easter season.

By attending Mass, you fulfilled your obligation. Nobody is required to receive Communion. It was very good if you to examine your conscience and understand that you were not in a state of grace and for that reason, you could not profane the Eucharist by recieving while you were in a state of sin.

You did exactly the right thing. Communion doesn’t equal Mass attendance. Don’t confess not recieving Communion. You did exactly what you should have done. Find a priest and make your confession so that you can receive next time you can go to Mass.

 

[ProVobis]

Hi,

Yesterday i did not go forward to receive Holy Communion at Mass. I was not able to go for Confession prior to attending Mass and i did not think i was in a state of grace to receive Communion.

In cases such as this, spiritual communion is advised.

 

[YoungTradCath]

The obligation is to attend mass, not to receive the Eucharist. I think this is an indicator of how people feel obligated to receive the Eucharist, as if it’s required. As everyone said, if you had received the Eucharist, that would have been a sin (provided you were in a state of mortal sin).

 

[kubark]

Hi,

Yesterday i did not go forward to receive Holy Communion at Mass. I was not able to go for Confession prior to attending Mass and i did not think i was in a state of grace to receive Communion.

When i do go for Confession, do i need to confess this as well?

Also, by not attending communion does it imply(technically) that i actually did not go for mass since i did not receive the Sacraments?

Let me know,

You did the right thing.

Recieving Communion in the state of mortal sin IS a mortal sin.

However, SCRUPULOSITY is a serious problem.

You need to get to confession and get this resolved as soon as possible. Generally speaking, when a person commits a mortal sin they know it. You seem to be in doubt as to whether or not you did commit a mortal sin and so, tentatively, you did the right thing.

But if you are suffering from scrupulosity, then you very well risk being in doubt EVERY time you go to Mass and wish to recieve Communion. You need to find a priest that can serve as your regular confessor and spiritual director and then you need to OBEY whatever he tells you regarding this issue of “not being sure” about mortal sin.

 

[Barbkw]

In the “old” days, when we either remained seated, kneeled or walking out to join the Eucharistic procession, many many Catholics didn’t receive.

Today, being that we all now stand together, nearly everyone joins the flow and receives Eucharist.

 

[JSAD]

Thanks for the replies…i do believe i was in a state of sin (i have been struggling with impurity). What was worse was that i had willingly and knowingly sinned . I could have chosen not too.

It was a bit strange- I had thought i will just go to confession and that would be that. Almost did not take the whole thing very seriously. But at the planned time(Sat afternoon) i fely very sick and just had to lay in bed. I was more than fine just before and was fine in the evening … Maybe it was God reminding me that i should have a more repentant heart and not take the sin&sacraments lightly.