How much Eucharist is "too much?"

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fieldsparrow

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This isn’t really the obvious question, I don’t think – I know the rule (is it Canon law?) that you may receive the Eucharist only twice in one day, and only if you assist in the second Mass.

However, as I read more about the lives of the saints, and read older works, I see that many of them recommend receiving the Eucharist something like once a month or more often if possible (I think I’m thinking of the Spiritual Exercises here). Now, perhaps some of this is just due to the availability I have (thank God) to attend daily Mass and even daily Confession if need be. But it does give me a little pause. Am I being greedy about it? I know you only “have to” confess mortal sins, but what about the venial, without becoming scrupulous?

I guess I’m wondering whether this is sort of a historical artifact, or if it’s not best to try to receive Christ daily. Any thoughts?
 
Nothing wrong with receiving daily and I thought one could receive twice, but once must be during mass (rather than assisting in the mass).
 
I’d say too that receiving daily is completely okay as long as it’s not becoming a ‘habit’ and that you keep in mind that it’s actually Jesus Christ you’re receiving. 👍
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fieldsparrow said:
This isn’t really the obvious question, I don’t think – I know the rule (is it Canon law?) that you may receive the Eucharist only twice in one day, and only if you assist in the second Mass.

However, as I read more about the lives of the saints, and read older works, I see that many of them recommend receiving the Eucharist something like once a month or more often if possible (I think I’m thinking of the Spiritual Exercises here). Now, perhaps some of this is just due to the availability I have (thank God) to attend daily Mass and even daily Confession if need be. But it does give me a little pause. Am I being greedy about it? I know you only “have to” confess mortal sins, but what about the venial, without becoming scrupulous?

I guess I’m wondering whether this is sort of a historical artifact, or if it’s not best to try to receive Christ daily. Any thoughts?
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You may receive Communion twice a day, if the second time is during Mass. Daily Mass and Communion are actually ideal because you are increasing the life of Christ in you. Just as you need your daily bread for physical nourishment, you need your daily “bread” for spiritual nourishment.
 
As long as you follow Church guidelines on the reception of the Eucharist, then you are not partaking of “too much Eucharist”.

If you have access to daily Mass, then by all means, go to daily Mass. There is nothing greedy about desiring to be in communion with our Lord, and the Lord is not reduced in any way when more people partake of Him. You can only benefit from receiving daily communion; it cannot be a detriment to you or to others to receive grace daily.

In the past history of the Church, there was a period of time when people did not partake freqently, if at all, of the Eucharist due to a popular heresy. From the Catholic Encyclopedia:
"Strange to say, it was in the Middle Ages, “the Ages of Faith”, that Communion was less frequent than at any other period of the Church’s history. The Fourth Lateran Council compelled the faithful, under pain of excommunication, to receive at least once a year "

Apparently the heresy of Jansenism was leading people to avoid receiving the Eucharist.

“The Council of Trent expressed a wish “that at each Mass the faithful who are present, should communicate” (Sess. XXII, chap. vi). And the Catechism of the council says: “Let not the faithful deem it enough to receive the Body of the Lord once a year only; but let them judge that Communion ought to be more frequent; but whether it be more expedient that it should be monthly, weekly, or daily, can be decided by no fixed universal rule” (pt. II, c. iv, n. 58). As might be expected, the disciples of St. Ignatius and St. Philip carried on the work of advocating frequent Communion. With the revival of this practice came the renewal of the discussion as to the advisability of daily Communion…This practice, too, was warmly recommended by Pius IX and Leo XIII, and finally received official approval from Pius X.”

article from Catholic Encyclopedia newadvent.org/cathen/06278a.htm
 
This is what Our Lord said to St. Faustina

But child, you are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight
for My kingdom in human souls; fight as a king’s child would; and remember that
the days of your exile will pass quickly, and with them the possibility of earning
merit for heaven. I expect from you, My child, a great number of souls who will
glorify My mercy for all eternity. My child, that you may answer My call worthily,
receive Me daily in Holy Communion. It will give you strength…

I try to receive communion daily after reading this 🙂

I also know that some saints go to confession daily, or three times a week as in the case of St. Birgitta and St. Gemma Galgani, I have tried to go to confession three times a week, but my heart just wouldn’t let me.

I think Jesus wants me to go to confession weekly, like so many other saints, such as St. Faustina, St. Anthony Mary Claret, St. Dominic Savio.

Weekly, for me suffice 🙂 Sometimes twice a week, but it’s on rare occasions.

May the merciful Jesus bless you

If you want to participate in mass twice, it is better for you, for once to have holy communion, and the other just assisting at mass, offering the mass for conversion of sinners. Imo. That’s what I do
 
Well, it’s not likely I will be attending two Masses in one day often, if at all.

I think jpjd’s post regarding the heresy of Jansenism has given me the information I was looking for… I think I worded my question badly. I guess I was wondering why the emphasis on once a month(!) when we have the chance to go so much more often – was it something in history (sounds like it) or changing theology?

Thank you!
 
In the past, mass isn’t as available as it is now. St. Therese of Lisieux went to mass once a month. And it was with great preparation.
 
I think it’s recommended that you attend mass as much times as you possibly can per week. So once a day is not too much. You can usually receive up to two per day.
 
Yup, another vote for the fact that their advice reflected the availability of the time. Some people were only able to receive once or twice a year at best, either through custom or geography or whatever. Also remember that it used to be that you had to fast from midnight until you received communion.

Was reading a bio about Ven. Solanus Casey (1870-1957). It gave one vignette where he’d offered Mass in a chapel for about a hundred people— a small turnout— and he was devastated because not a single person came to receive. Another thing that was mentioned was that if a person only went to communion once a year, he’d encourage them to try on a monthly basis. If a person went to communion once a month, he’d encourage them to try weekly. If they went to communion every Sunday, he’d encourage them to fit daily Masses into their schedules as well… He’s still on the path for beatification, but it’s an example of an opinion from someone who’s much closer to us in time than a lot of other saints we’re likely to read about. 🙂 But it also shows how within our lifetimes, or the lifetimes of those around us, the value of receiving Communion hasn’t always been acknowledged/understood/emphasized/whatever.
 
StOwen said:
Nothing wrong with receiving daily and I thought one could receive twice, but once must be during mass (rather than assisting in the mass).
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No one responded to this and I think it’s misleading.

One may receive twice in one day as long as the second time is at Mass. The first may be at a Mass or a communion service, for example.

Assisting at Mass traditionally refers to praying the responses, singing, hearing the readings, not doing some “ministry” like music or usher, etc.
 
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