Divine Mercy Sunday, and confession/communion

[Amac1]

Hi, a ‘cradle Catholic‘ here who had fallen away from the faith and am beginning to find it again.

I have a question re Divine Mercy Sunday.
So if we go to confession and receive communion we are forgiven of all sin and free from punishment? Is that it, in (very) simple terms?

I have read “The act of perfect contrition includes the desire for the sacrament of Penance (or Reconciliation) and the intention to receive sacramental confession at the very first opportunity”.

This I am planning to do.

But I’ve also read… “One who is conscious of mortal sin may not receive the Holy Eucharist without prior sacramental confession”.

So my main question is… if I am guilty of mortal sin, and make an act of perfect contrition (I know the difficulty with this)… am I permitted to receive spiritual communion? Or based on above, am I only able to receive communion (spiritual or actual) once I attend actual confession when the churches open again?

Hope this makes sense. And sorry if I’m sounding stupid. Thanks.

 

[Sirach2]

So my main question is… if I am guilty of mortal sin, and make an act of perfect contrition (I know the difficulty with this)… am I permitted to receive spiritual communion?

Provided you are truly contrite with a repentant heart, resolving to amend your life, then yes, you may make an act of spiritual communion. You will need to go to the sacraments when they are available again.

 

[Amac1]

Thanks for your reply. So can I receive spiritual communion, if I have only made an act of contrition (with the intent of confession as soon as possible)?

Something inside me feels that if I can’t receive actual communion why should I be able to receive it spiritually.

 

[OrbisNonSufficit]

Something inside me feels that if I can’t receive actual communion why should I be able to receive it spiritually.

I am not an expert on this, but my impression was that we can make act of spiritual communion even if we are in state of mortal sin and attend Mass. Whenever I am unable to get to Confession and attend Mass, I make act of spiritual communion… maybe other posters could either support my claim or clarify this for me too

 

[Amac1]

This makes sense. Thank you

 

[Vico]

…

If a baptized person is not in a state of grace, then there can be no increase of sanctifying grace in the soul. Now, once the state is restored, such as through perfect contrition, an increase can then be had again. The Catechism of the Council of Trent states, that spiritual is fruitful, but not as fruitful as the combination of sacramental with spiritual:

Others are said to receive the Eucharist in spirit only. They are those who, inflamed with a lively faith which worketh by charity,’ partake in wish and desire of that celestial bread offered to them, from which they receive, if not the entire, at least very great fruits.

Lastly, there are some who receive the Holy Eucharist both sacramentally and spiritually, those who, according to the teaching of the Apostle, having first proved themselves and having approached this divine banquet adorned with the nuptial garment, derive from the Eucharist those most abundant fruits which we have already described.

So one that is not excommunicated and in the state of sanctifying grace can approach if there is a grave reason (like possibility of death).

 

[InThePew]

Yes. Christ’s gift of his spiritual presence is never withheld from us.