Horrified, Appalled, Disappointed

[NewEnglandPriest]

As my mother used to tell me when I was a child: “Just worry about yourself.”

What good could possibly come from being concerned about how often others go to confession and what they might be doing when out of your sight? Being horrified, appalled, and disappointed isn’t good for your spiritual life.

 

[Jamey77]

In regard to people doing confession at another parish, I attend confession at several parishes on the designated Saturday morning slots depending where I am and 99% of the time there are only a couple of people at each one yet hundreds will rock up and receive communion during the course of the weekend. I appreciate there is the possibility that my experience may not be indicative of the church in general but I think in probability it is. When most of the congregation is rushing for the carpark halfway through the final hymn or soon as it is finished, this is a sign that they don’t really believe they have just received God himself.

I have no doubt there is a major state of crisis, but some historians say the normative state of affairs for the church is one of turmoil.

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

Hello,

I want to tell you how horrified I am by the custom of EVERYONE going to communion and receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist at Mass on Sunday! I go to confession at least twice a month (it is scheduled for Saturday afternoons from 3:30-4:00) and there are usually, at most, 7 or 8 parishioners in line. And it’s usually the same older ladies every week!

Now, let me tell you - our parish has a few thousand parishioners. Masses are full. And come time for Communion, practically everyone gets out of their eat and accepts Christ like he or she is without mortal sin.

The size of the parish being what it is, I have to assume that very few of these individuals attend confession on anything resembling a regular basis. Which is one thing…as long as they do not accept Communion while not in a state of grace! But this is NEVER discussed at Mass. The priest never goes over what makes a person worthy of Communion or not.

I am just horrified. Does anyone care anymore? These people think Communion is a right - or just a “thing” they do at church. They don’t care if they are not in a state of grace. It’s appalling!!!

You don’t “have to assume” anything. SanctaMommy, please let me warn you that you are falling into a trap. Worrying about and mentally policing others’ sanctity is bad for your soul.

All these arguments about whether your assumptions are valid - and they may or may not be - are entirely beside the point. Focusing on God’s love and mercy and our individual sinfulness in our prayer and Sacramental life is spiritually beneficial; focusing on how others are measuring up is bad for you. Don’t do it. It distracts you from the pursuit of your own sanctity, takes your eyes off Christ, tempts you towards pride, and can have no good effect.

You are not directly responsible for their souls. That burden has not been placed on you. If you’re that concerned, say something to your priest - or write to your bishop if you truly think this is a big and diocesan-wide problem - and then forget about it.

Probably the worst thing you could be doing at Mass is thinking about and worrying about all the people presenting themselves for Communion doing so unworthily. It’s not wrong in itself to be concerned about that; in fact, we can plainly see that your motives are pious and heroic. But it is nonetheless a trap, an obstacle, that could indeed land you in hell if you’re not careful.

I want to tell you how horrified I am by the custom of EVERYONE going to communion and receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist at Mass on Sunday! I go to confession at least twice a month (it is scheduled for Saturday afternoons from 3:30-4:00).

“I go to confession at least twice a month” and these others don’t = “I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get” - the Pharisee in Luke 18

Try not focusing on others but on God and our Lord Jesus Christ: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” After all, it is the tax collector who went home justified.

I know “judgmentalism” is pretty much the only sin Catholics are allowed to publicly condemn nowadays, but let’s be reasonable, folks. The spirit of charity does not demand that you believe obvious nonsense (such that several hundred people, minimum, are receiving confession outside the scheduled time without imposing anything like a noticeable strain on parish resources).

Please. You act as though we think this “judgmentalism” a bad idea because it’s politically incorrect.

Who cares about political correctness? It’s bad rather because it can tempt one to pride and therefore land one in hell. Focusing on others is a bad idea spiritually. Everyone who has been advising the OP to think differently does so out of concern for her soul. Period.

Please, do the math on the issue of thousands of people confessing amidst the schedule of the diocesan priests in single, scheduled confessions. It’s impossible. We’re then left with two options:

1. these people are extremely holy against the trend of sin
2. they’re unworthily taking the Body and Blood of Christ.

I’m going with option 2.

Common sense just makes me.

There is a third option: don’t dwell on it, lest you become tempted by pride and distracted from Christ.

 

[pnewton]

. You act as though we think this “judgmentalism” a bad idea because it’s politically incorrect.

I think what you said needs re-iterating. It is Jesus who first spoke against the judging of others. Perhaps it can not be helped as humans to wonder why so many are in a state of grace, and consider the causes, but Mass is not the place for that. We have but one conscience to examine at that time. I think it also needs to be remembered that it is acceptable to be in a state of sin at communion, as most of us usually are, as long as there has not been mortal sin. I do not know that mortal sin is a common occurance among the faithful.

 

[TimothyH]

You could write to the pastor with the list of names of the people that are in a state of mortal sin and attach the specific sin to each of their names.

Put my name on the list twice.

-Tim-

 

[ljsedivy]

I think we can all agree that, for the most part, many Catholics don’t go to confession and that catechisis has been rather poor. Further, I think we all would agree that all priests should take the time to truely explain what the Eucharist is and its sacred laws. It seems to be the modern fashion for priests to talk about the holy Mass as simply a meal and that the only commandment is to “be nice.”

Thank you. Your post is perfect.

I think the main point of the entire thread is that we live in an age in which there is a terrible loss of the sense of sin. I have witnessed that from a family members mouth who said she does not go to confession because she “doesn’t do anything wrong”. And another family member has not been to confession for 30+ years because she had been to so many confessions in the early years …enough times to satisfy a lifetime, I guess.

I, too, am extremely disappointed in the lack of opportunities for confession. Our parish has one opportunity and that is after the Saturday 8am mass. Sorry, but when sports rule our world, there aren’t very many families that are thinking of confession on Saturday when they are all out with “bleacher butt”. Basketball is a 6-month gig around here.

I often times feel like crying when I witness the lack of true belief in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I don’t think people can possibly believe they are approaching their true Lord and Saviour dressed like a Saturday picnic or (worse) like hussies. People don’t know probably because they are not being catechized. We need more priests that are willing to stick their necks out and actually teach the faith from the pulpit.

 

[Jeanne_S]

I think we can all agree that, for the most part, many Catholics don’t go to confession and that catechisis has been rather poor. Further, I think we all would agree that all priests should take the time to truely explain what the Eucharist is and its sacred laws. It seems to be the modern fashion for priests to talk about the holy Mass as simply a meal and that the only commandment is to “be nice.”

In one of my neighboring parishes,the pastor has a list of criteria for receiving the Eucharist.This is displayed on a screen next to the alter,every Mass before Communion This may seem an extreme measure by a lot,however,he gets his point across.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

Does your friend know the state of your soul? Is it so hard to believe that a faithful Catholic has not committed a mortal sin in a long time?

He seems to think he does. The fact of the matter is, I’ve worked my tail off the last few years to get to where I am now, spiritually speaking, and I’m guessing that this is by far the longest I’ve gone without a mortal sin on conscience since I was a kid. I will note that having one baby and another arriving soon (not to mention 3 older kids) leaves me way too tired to even think about sinning, lol.

Perhaps your friend does not understand that 3 conditions are necessary for mortal sin to exist. Also, what does your friend consider a mortal sin? Some people think almost any sin is a mortal sin.

I think part of the problem is that he has a handful of sins he struggles with on a regular basis (by his own admission, not supposition on my part), and he assumes everyone is in the same boat. I try not to argue with him or even discuss these issues with him anymore, mainly because it’s more productive to hit my thumb with a hammer.

But to answer the question you asked your friend, yes you can and should go to confession even if you only have venial sins as you get the grace of the sacrament.

I’m actually looking forward to Confession again since I enjoy the “clean slate” feeling afterward. I also know that my going encourages my family to go as well, so it’s not something I would actually skip.

I do tend to agree with those who believe that a lot of people are taking Communion in a state of mortal sin. However, that decision is between them and God and not one I’m going to let bother me. To be honest, even though I know it’s a mortal sin, I always take Communion even when I know I shouldn’t. Part of it’s habit, part of it’s the fact that I had no idea it was a mortal sin until the last couple years, but a big part of it is the simple fact that it’s embarrassing to sit there when everyone else is going up for Communion. (One positive, though, is that this is something I’ve gotten better at in recent weeks due to me having several occasions on which I went to Mass more than once in a day and opted to take care of the baby while my wife went up.)