Going to Mass in mortal sin

[DSJJ]

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. (CIC 916)…
What does the the first sentence mean? If you are conscious of grave sin you shouldn't celebrate Mass.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

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. (CIC 916)…

What does the the first sentence mean? If you are conscious of grave sin you shouldn’t celebrate Mass.

I imagine they are referring to priests or deacons who might be in mortal sin but not have the chance to confess. . .perhaps a priest who lives in a very rural area, sins on Friday night mortally and doesn’t have the chance to get to the nearest priest for confession until after he says the Saturday afternoon Vigil Mass.

A priest CAN be in mortal sin and still say a valid Mass, but since the priest has to receive communion (usually) as part of celebrating Mass, he is piling one mortal sin on another. . .EXCEPT in the case where he has no chance to confess but has the responsibility of having to offer Mass for his congregation when, as the law above states, he is to make an ct of perfect contrition and confess as soon as possible.

 

[zab]

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. (CIC 916)…

What does the the first sentence mean? If you are conscious of grave sin you shouldn’t celebrate Mass.

I’m thinking that it applies to a priest who is concious of having mortal sin on his soul.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I believe the Canon applies to the Priest.

A priest should not celebrate Mass if his is in mortal sin unless, as the Canon states

…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.

Attending Mass, for the faithful, is very important, especially when you are in mortal sin. Just because you can’t receive the Eucharist does not mean you will not still be blessed with graces for being at Mass!

 

[Corki]

I think the confusion is simply terminology/vocabulary.

A priest “celebrates” Mass.

We “assist” at Mass.

 

[eegardner]

Very good replies here! I agree that you SHOULD and are required to attend Mass every Sunday even if you have committed a mortal sin.

[edited] And try to get to confession as soon as possible before your next Mass.