Holy communion fast, and mortal sin, please help

[Bookcat]

The thread goes off the rails when talking about whether failure to respect the fast constitutes mortal sin. The Eucharistic fast is a rule - not a doctrine or a moral teaching. There are only FIVE rules of the Church which failure to obey could be mortally sinful (these are called the “precepts of the Church”).

Failure to adhere to the Eucharist fast is not potentially a mortal sin.

We are morally obliged to follow the discipline of the Church. The question is – is this one that binds gravely? (not of course that we would be ok to choose to commit a venial sin).

It is not off the rails to discuss this …it has been rather the long understanding in moral theology that it is a grave matter. In noting this though I refer readers to my fuller post just above… forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=9316741&postcount=16 (the OP notes a quote from Jimmy and I note that I have read that some more recent moralists argue for it admitting of parvity (smallness) of matter)

(PS I would note too that I would not say that the “precepts of the Church” are the only way one can sin gravely (in whatever way they may bind gravely that is) by acting contrary to the discipline of the Church …even if one looks to the grave liturgical abuses that are grave matter and I would think some could be said to be discipline (but I would have to examine each and not desire to do so at the mement .)

 

[DavidFilmer]

I would note too that I would not say that the “precepts of the Church” are the only way one can sin gravely (in whatever way they may bind gravely that is) by acting contrary to the discipline of the Church

They are the only man-made rules which can result in mortal sin if not obeyed. The Church is very careful to keep this list small.

even if one looks to the grave liturgical abuses that are grave matter and I would think some could be said to be discipline

Ah, but that’s an abuse on the part of the priest. Priests have LOTS of additional ways they can incur mortal sin - such as revealing a person’s confession (an offense reserved to the Holy See). I was speaking from the standpoint of the laity.

 

[Bookcat]

They are the only man-made rules which can result in mortal sin if not obeyed. The Church is very careful to keep this list small.

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I do not find such to be the correct understanding.

 

[Bookcat]

They are the only man-made rules which can result in mortal sin if not obeyed. The Church is very careful to keep this list small.

Such would not be I think the correct understanding.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I think you are being very scrupulous here. What exactly is your sin? You did not sin when you received the Eucharist because you did not know better. A mortal sin has to be serious, willful, you have to know it is a serious sin, and then go ahead and do it anyway. Nothing here meets that requirement, and your confession was not a sacrilege.

I think you may need some spiritual direction on the matter of sin and perhaps on being scrupulous.

I also wonder if the OP did not in fact observe the fast. If he did not have lunch with the priest, it seems from the time line that an hour could have elapsed. He drove/walked to the priests house, they said the rosary, he confessed, then received. Including time for hellos, a brief chat before the rosary, the discussion about receiving, the process of receiving (prayers etc.) it could have been an hour.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I am a bit confused here as to why the priest had the Blessed Sacrament available so readily at his house. Does he have a private chapel with a tabernacle where it is reserved? Did he have it in a pyx? Normally, the Eucharist is to be reserved in a tabernacle unless one is traveling directly to visit the sick and homebound.

I was a bit confused by this also. The priest may be living in a rectory which has a chapel or a place to reserve the host in case of an emergency. The priest may havebeen visiting homebound parishioners previous to meeting the OP for the rosary and wanted to consume any remaining hosts. There are a couple of legimate explainations. I’m hoping it is simply the OP’s brief post that makes it sound like the priest has consecrated hosts just laying around his house!