Holy day Catch 22 HELP!

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raske10

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Today is a holy day of obligation, and I have tried to see a priest before evening mass since I have to confess a mortal sin, but non are available before mass. SO, technically, I have to abstain from celebrating mass and receiving communion, but since it is a holy day of obligation I am required to participate. What do I do?!
 
Please attend church! Go and listen to the readings and participate in the liturgy. Offer yourself to Christ on the altar with the gifts. But abstain from receiving the Eucharist until you are able to confess your sins. Same with Sunday mass. 🙂
 
raske10 said:
SO, technically, I have to abstain from celebrating mass and receiving communion, but since it is a holy day of obligation I am required to participate. What do I do?!
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There is no problem.

You are not required to “abstain from celebrating mass”. (And, BTW, it’s the priest who is the “celebrant”). The obligation to attend mass remains the same whether you receive communion at that mass or not.

You are obligated to refrain from communion if you are aware of serious sin, as you have noted.

So, no problem. Go to mass, don’t receive the Eucharist.
 
You need not abstain from attending Mass.
But you should never receive communion with a mortal sin that needs to be confessed and absolved.
My prayers go out to you and for you. 🙏
 
Though they differ from one another in essence and not only in degree, the common priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial or hierarchical priesthood are nonetheless interrelated: each of them in its own special way is a participation in the one priesthood of Christ. The ministerial priest, by the sacred power he enjoys, teaches and rules the priestly people; acting in the person of Christ, he makes present the Eucharistic sacrifice, and offers it to God in the name of all the people. But the faithful, in virtue of their royal priesthood, join in the offering of the Eucharist. They likewise exercise that priesthood in receiving the sacraments, in prayer and thanksgiving, in the witness of a holy life, and by self-denial and active charity.
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That is how it was described 50 years ago in Lumen Gentium at Vatican II. I am not sure Raske is the one who needs to update his terminology.

In any event, offering the Euchatist with the priest is the important part of the service. Normally this culminates in Communion, but if you feel you are alienated from God, refrain from receiving Communion.
 
You are still bound to attend Mass. During Communion you remain in your pew and offer it up.
 
I’m going with a bum knee so I’ll be sitting the entire time. I feel terrible about it but it’s better than staying home. There’s not reason not to attend Mass because you haven’t gone to confession. Sure, it’s no fun sitting there while most everyone goes up, but as @thelittlelady said, offer it up. God bless.
 
You are fixating on the technical function of the celebrant – the broad term to celebrate or the celebration of the mass applies to all present participating in the liturgy. Participation is inherently celebratory, see below for textual support/evidence.

Paragraph 1140 of the Catechism states, and I quote: "It is the whole community, the Body of Christ united with its Head, that celebrates. “Liturgical services are not private functions but are celebrations of the Church which is ‘the sacrament of unity,’ namely, the holy people united and organized under the authority of the bishops. Therefore, liturgical services pertain to the whole Body of the Church.”

1141 continues: The celebrating assembly is the community of the baptized who, "by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to be a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, that through all the works of Christian men they may offer spiritual sacrifices."9 This “common priesthood” is that of Christ the sole priest, in which all his members participate.

So, according to the Catechism, I would be part of the celebrating assembly. Of course the celebrant as “head” performs a specific function within the overall celebration. This does not mean ipso facto that participants are not celebrating as well – on the contrary we are instructed in the Catechism to celebrate. SO, I don’t have to abstain from celebrating, just receiving communion if not in a state of grace.
 
Thanks for you support!

Catechism back up!

Paragraph 1140 of the Catechism states, and I quote: "It is the whole community, the Body of Christ united with its Head, that celebrates. “Liturgical services are not private functions but are celebrations of the Church which is ‘the sacrament of unity,’ namely, the holy people united and organized under the authority of the bishops. Therefore, liturgical services pertain to the whole Body of the Church.”

1141 continues: The celebrating assembly is the community of the baptized who, "by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to be a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, that through all the works of Christian men they may offer spiritual sacrifices."9 This “common priesthood” is that of Christ the sole priest, in which all his members participate.

So, according to the Catechism, I would be part of the celebrating assembly. Of course the celebrant as “head” performs a specific function within the overall celebration. This does not mean ipso facto that participants are not celebrating as well – on the contrary we are instructed in the Catechism to celebrate. SO, I don’t have to abstain from celebrating, just receiving communion if not in a state of grace.

Appreciate the help
 
What’s the problem? You are required to assist at mass on the HDO, but you are NOT required to receive communion.
 
You are welcome to be a congregant attending mass.

I will be there celebrating with all the saints in heaven and on earth.
 
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KatyCatholic said:
Just to “throw it out there”, there is the possibility of both attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist … perfect act of contrition
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The very first of the conditions for such listed in the link you provided is:
  1. There must be a grave reason to receive Communion (e.g., danger of death).
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In the case of the OP what is the grave reason?
 
I declare…this forum gets stranger by the day. Is that just my perception or what.
 
I thought I had already referred to it.

Is it right to describe that picture as a bunch of congregants attending mass, alongside the Trinity?

Is that what you think “WOW! Look at them attending!”?
 
Agreed.

We really should use more dynamic language than “congregant” and “attend”!
 
raske10 said:
Today is a holy day of obligation, and I have tried to see a priest before evening mass since I have to confess a mortal sin, but non are available before mass. SO, technically, I have to abstain from celebrating mass and receiving communion, but since it is a holy day of obligation I am required to participate. What do I do?!
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Attending Mass is an obligation even though you may be in a state of mortal sin.
Receiving Communion is recommended regularly but it is only an obligation once a year during the Easter period.
 
You recognize the inadequacy of your language and refuse to accept any change to it? Very odd.

More importantly, the language you claim is proper perpetuates a misunderstanding that Vatican II sought to correct. The “congregants” are not simply “attending.” “The faithful, in virtue of their royal priesthood, join in the offering of the Eucharist” and “It is the whole community, the Body of Christ united with its Head, that celebrates” do not convince you your language is obsolete, despite coming from Vatican II and the Catechism.

Three times you posted a picture that reaffirms my point, that the language is at least inadequate, if not wrong. I will repeat myself:

You are welcome to attend mass.
I, wiith the whole community, will be there celebrating.
 
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