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Incomplete
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This is really sweet. Thank you.
Has anyone you know ever questioned why someone hasn't received Holy Communion?
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CatholicZ09
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I’m sorry, but I wasn’t the one making the assumptions. The only assumption I made was maybe they weren’t able to receive for some sort of reason or whatever, but it’s not like I really cared about the fact he didn’t receive. Like I said, I don’t keep a proverbial “score card” during Mass. I just happened to notice as I passed by and then brushed it off and worried about my business.
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CatholicZ09
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Never … not once … its never even crossed my mind to wonder … can’t imagine anyone else wondering either …
And I will say this - as my spouse and I worked our way back into the church - fully – a period of nearly two years …
Two years - attending every Sunday and Holy day … the occasional Daily Mass … without receiving …
Not once did anyone ever look askance at us … nor were they quizzical … nor did they treat us as if we had the plague …
After receiving Reconciliation, having our marriage blessed and again joining the ranks of fully initiated practicing Catholics … we received … a short time later - in conversation - we mentioned how wonderful it was to be able to come to and receive the Eucharist … a couple was saw every Sunday at Mass told us they never even realized that we failed to receive … and they were joyouswith us - Welcoming …
AND NOTE TO SELF: There are many reasons besides serious sin that could keep a person from receiving … like not observing the one hour fast, having celiacs and a cold [the one prevents receiving the Host, the other the Cup - that is if you care about those who might come after you] … and even if not in a state of serious sin - a person may just feel as if they are not in the correct frame of mind … perhaps they are required to attend another Mass or may have already attended Mass … and this is a second or third Mass for that weekend **
I knew I was leaving something out. Thanks for that note to self…
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ConstantineTG
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Your condition would definitely have exempted you from fasting.
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Friar_David_O.Carm
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centurionguard
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I don’t know; I’m having to give my head a few rattles this morning in disbelief thinking how rude some Catholics would not only question another Catholic not going up to receive communion but actually prowling with judging eyes those in the congregation who didn’t go up to receive. Makes me wonder how well spiritually they humbly prepared their soul inwardly to go up and receive Holy Communion themselves.
I know if I don’t choose to go up to receive Holy Communion because my conscious tells me I need to confess my sins before a priest, I feel dirty like the cartoon figure Pig-Pen in Charlie Brown standing out like a sore thumb. Bad enough you rightfully feel that way, but having a parishioner ask you why you didn’t receive only rubs the mud in your face more.
Nobody is really Worthy to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus.
But Jesus mercifully and humbly makes Himself available to those who have Sacramentally cleaned the house of the soul by the seal of a good confession so that Jesus can tabernacle Himself within those whom have humbly made the effort inside.
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CatholicZ09
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Oh, I thought you were confusing me with the group that was making a whole discussion about someone’s not receiving the Eucharist. duh
Anyway, it probably wasn’t right for me to assume anything in the first place, but it’s not like I dwelled on it. Again, I just brushed it off as none of my business. Sometimes it’s hard not to make an assumption. Either way, it was wrong of me.
-This is a response to ByzCath’s latest post.
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centurionguard
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Friend; On a personal note I wasn’t even thinking of your suggestion when I wrote my post. Sorry if you feel that way seriously. This is not the first time I’ve seen topics like this.
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CatholicZ09
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Thank you for the kind words, but I don’t know if you realized that that post was for ByzCath’s post from last night.
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Friar_David_O.Carm
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Thank you for the clarification.
Yes we can not control what thoughts enter our heads. It is the entertaining of such thoughts that is wrong.
I apologize for the misunderstanding between us.
But my comment about assumptions stands for everyone else who has posted reasons why a person might not go up for communion. No reason is necessary.
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Sarabande
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I’ve freelanced in many parishes with an organist or other instrumentalist. Some musicians aren’t Catholic, so they obviously do not receive. When they are Catholic, though, what I’ve usually seen is that the instrumentalists don’t get to receive communion at all during the mass, unless a priest or EHMC goes to them after everyone else has received. Some will usually have to seek a priest after mass to receive. I have had to do this myself at times. Other times, I’ve seen that the priest will ask the organist to receive before everyone else because. At a couple of the parishes it’s because he is the only priest for two or three parishes and needs to run out after the mass with no time to give communion afterwards.
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puzzleannie
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I really like the reply suggested by a poster on another thread, when asked “do you [insert sin]” the reply should be “not at the moment.”I would have given him a really dirty look as if to say “what the makes you think it’s appropriate to comment on whether or not I went up for communion”
Of course then I too would have to hit the confessional after that
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The_Curt_Jester
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I think the only person who would be justified in asking would be a priest, precisely because if it IS a grave sin that’s keeping the person back, the priest is able to help with it - something that those gossipers can’t do.
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KostyaJMJ
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Situations like this are the reason why I like the pre-1955 practice of no food after midnight. It provides people who wish to go to confession first the perfect excuse not to receive. Then you don’t have to answer 20 questions, and can simply respond that you didn’t follow the fast. As things are now, unless you’re eating on the way into church there is practically no way to break the fast.
I believe that it would be especially helpful for teens still living with their parents or people who always attend mass with relatives. Not receiving the Eucharist now is tantamount to admitting that you’re in the state of mortal sin. I know if I don’t receive it scandalizes my young sister.
I believe that it would be especially helpful for teens still living with their parents or people who always attend mass with relatives. Not receiving the Eucharist now is tantamount to admitting that you’re in the state of mortal sin. I know if I don’t receive it scandalizes my young sister.
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TrueLight
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The priest who gave me instruction came down to our parish to celebrate mass and he noticed that I didn’t receive and emailed me about it later. His concern was because I am a new Catholic and I think he sees me as all holy (wrong!), plus he doesn’t see me that often, he wanted to make sure I wasn’t refraining because of a venial sin.
Anyway, once I reassured him, without telling him why, that I had a valid reason, he was okay. He told me I shouldn’t be shy and that I should have just pulled him to the side quickly before mass for confession… I have never confessed to him before.
So in this case, since he birthed me in the Lord, so to speak, his concern was valid.
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ProVobis
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I learned that unnecessary gossip itself is sinful, perhaps even to the point of needing confession. Maybe the gossipers should ask themselves first if they are worthy to receive.
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ProVobis
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Scandal is a delicate issue and indeed it should not be ignored. But I would think it’s a good example not to receive if you think you’re unworthy (read, need of confession). The young sister will just have to accept the fact that you’re in need of confession and let it go at that. Does admitting the fact that I need confession a sin of scandal itself? Then why are we praying the confiteor at all as part of the Mass?
I had a sixth grade nun who used to line up everyone who hadn’t received Sunday outside the hall on Monday morning. (The class used to sit together at Mass.) She asked each to explain why they didn’t go. We found that just saying, “I didn’t go to confession” good enough reason. She didn’t pursue it further.
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Sarabande
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I know it’s a bit off-topic, but that is really interesting. Did a lot of parish schools back in the day do this? What would happen if your family didn’t attend that particular mass? Did they have to provide a note beforehand or on Monday?
I wonder if parishes could request that today? When I taught music at a Catholic school, I had about 40 kids in the choir who sounded great for our school masses and other holidays, but only about 8 would show up for the Saturday vigil (the pastor and families wanted the choir on Saturday evenings). Problem was that most parents didn’t come to mass… at least on Saturdays. I don’t know about Sundays as I had another church job on that day, although I was told that many just didn’t go to mass.
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ProVobis
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I don’t know about other schools during the late 50’s but ours did. And almost everyone walked to Church and school too. I presume a lot of other Catholic schools did the same. The nuns also collected the envelopes, as a way to check on attendance.
Not much religious freedom in those days.
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