I received Communion when I was not supposed to

  • Thread starter Thread starter grayson1
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
G

grayson1

Guest
Okay so, I received Communion when I shouldn’t have. I understand that now. Here’s the story. I am currently trying to convert to Catholicism. I did not initiate RCIA yet because school is busy this time of year and I simply do not have time for it. However, last Friday I decided to go to Mass to get a feel of what a Catholic Mass is like. When it was time to receive Communion, I did so like I was taught when my parents took me to the Anglican Church. Now I realized that I’ve made a grave mistake (not confessing beforehand because I was simply ignorant and also not being accepted into the Catholic Church) and I don’t know what I should do. I feel as if I have offended the Church in the worst way possible. What should I do?
 
Say you’re sorry to God for this offense, start RCIA, enter the Catholic Church, confess this sin to the priest in Confession.
 
Last edited:
If it was an accident and you didn’t know you weren’t supposed to, then God understands. You didn’t know.
If you did know that you weren’t supposed to receive communion, God will still forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Praying for you and your journey of faith 🙂
 
Did you know that receiving communion in the Catholic Church was wrong? If not, that is not a mortal sin. If you knew the Church didn’t want you to do it, then yes, it was a sin. When you make your first confession, confess it.

But if you had no idea that it was wrong, by the definition the Church gives, it wasn’t a mortal sin. Thus, you are good.
 
In addition to the good responses about sinfulness or not I want you to know that you are not alone in doing this. It is very common for people to innocently partake. It is a beautiful thing to receive communion and for you to desire it. Just don’t do it again until you have accepted the Catholic faith.

When you come to mass in future just pray and don’t receive. Look online for an act of Spiritual Communion to pray during communion time or simply talk to God about coming into your life or the desire for communion.

I pray you will find a home in the Catholic Church
 
Non-Catholics receive Communion in the Catholic Church more than people realize, especially at weddings and funerals.

Juridically, we have closed Communion. But defacto, we have inter-Communion. Every priest, deacon or layperson who distributes Communion has seen this.

Do not dwell on this. By the way, if you are already Baptized (Trinitarian Formula with water ), you may go to Confession even before starting RCIA if you desire. Just make the next time you receive Communion the day you are received into the Church. Obviously, God is calling you. So, have no fear.
 
I don’t know if you have encountered this, but in the Catholic Faith, there are three criteria for grave (mortal) sins.
  1. full consent to the action without being coerced or under the influence of an outside influence
  2. full knowledge that what you were doing (at the time of the sin) was wrong
  3. the sin be of a grave matter
In your case, while receiving the Eucharist unworthily is a grave sin for an informed Catholic, you did not know at the time that what you were doing was wrong. It is a minor (venial) sin. Ironically, for Catholics, these sins are actually washed away and forgiven when we receive the Eucharist. Next time, while you physically cannot receive the Eucharist, I would suggest praying an Act of Spiritual Communion to seek the graces of God which can wipe away this minor sin.

Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this momentreceive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.

In the meantime, I would suggest to pray an Act of Contrition, which is said during Confession so that we recognize what we have done is wrong, seek forgiveness of God, resolve to change our ways of sin, and to make a spiritual act as an oblation of love to God in reparation for our sins.

Act of Contrition
O God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You, whom I should love with all my heart. I firmly intend to do penance, sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy! Amen.

It is truly wonderful that you have the desire to become Catholic. I admire that you already seem to be developing a respect for the Holy Eucharist. My advice would be to delve into the Eucharist in your quest to become Catholic. The vastness of Christ’s love for mankind lies within that small morsel of bread and wine, waiting to be poured out upon this earth.

I will be praying for you.

God Bless,
Br. Ben, CRM
 
Last edited:
God understands. Your hunger for the Eucharist shows that you love Christ. Speak to your nearby priest and begin instruction. I will pray for you!!
 
TheOldColonel said:
By the way, if you are already Baptized (Trinitarian Formula with water ), you may go to Confession even before starting RCIA if you desire.
Click to expand...
I don’t think that is exactly right. A priest isn’t supposed to absolve you unless are a Catholic, or you are intending to be Catholic (just prior to being received into the Church) or there are exceptional circumstances. So normally a baptized person would go to confession just prior to being received into the Church. A non Catholic can go to confession but they wouldn’t get the most important thing, absolution.
 
Wait, I’m confused. Were you catholic in the past, but then left the church, or were you baptized and raised in the Anglican Church? If it was the latter, then you don’t have much to worry about, because you said you were ignorant of the fact that you couldn’t receive communion.
 
exnihilo said:
I don’t think that is exactly right. A priest isn’t supposed to absolve you unless are a Catholic, or you are intending to be Catholic (just prior to being received into the Church) or there are exceptional circumstances. So normally a baptized person would go to confession just prior to being received into the Church. A non Catholic can go to confession but they wouldn’t get the most important thing, absolution.
Click to expand...
Every one of us baptized Christians who came into full communion went to Confession before we made the profession of faith. Some of the people in my “class” had received the Sacrament of Reconciliation more than once prior to their reception. They began quite some time before that reception, so, there is not a time limit such as “you must be professing within 1 week of first Confession”.
 
Since the OP is intending to come into Full Communion, then the below norm makes it possible to recieve absolution provided tye OP is already validly Baptized. In the United States, a non-Catholic Christian can go to confession when in the process of converting to the Catholic faith. Other episcopal conferences have similar norms.

The National Statutes for Catechumenate (passed by the U.S. National Conference of Catholic Bishops November 11, 1986) states:

“36. The celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation with candidates for reception into full communion is to be carried out at a time prior to and distinct from the celebration of the rite of reception.”

Therefore, my advice, which I maintain to be correct, was for the OP to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation, explain the situation, and recieve pastoral guidance and possibly absolution as the priest sees fit to administer.
 
Last edited:
It isn’t for the non Catholic alone to determine when he is able to go to confession and receive absolution. I’d not recommend going to regular scheduled confession times and talking with a priest. I’d recommend contacting a priest, telling him the circumstances and following his instruction. I don’t see scheduled confessions as the time to discuss conversion.
 
Sounds like we’re finally in agreement that Confession is an option. Indeed.
 
The only agreement necessary is the priest who is the minister of the sacrament. Like I originally said I just don’t think how you conveyed it is exactly right. I was trying to convey how I think a non Catholic should approach the issue. I think he should go talk to a priest outside of confession and follow from there.
 
Yet, my advice was not based on mere opinion, but upon actual practice among our presbyters and upon Church teaching. I’ve known many priests who have absolved non-Catholic Christians validly and licitly under similar circumstances, well before their entry into the Church. Indeed, most priests would be hard pressed not to consider administering absolution as the premature receptions of Eucharist is clearly weighing heavily on the conscience of the OP who clearly expresses a desire and intends to become Catholic. If you doubt what I’m saying, just ask any priest what his practice has been. You’ll be amazed.

Additionally, priests have authority to administer Absolution under other situations as well to non-Catholic Christians per the 1983 Code of Canon Law:

“844:3 Catholic ministers may licitly administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick to members of the oriental churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they ask on their own for the sacraments are properly disposed. This holds also for members of other churches which, in the judgment of the Apostolic See, are in the same condition as the oriental churches as far as these sacraments are concerned.”

“844:4 If the danger of death is present or other grave necessity, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or the national conference of bishops, Catholic ministers may licitly administer these sacraments to other Christians who do not have full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community, and on their own ask for it, provided they manifest Catholic faith in these sacraments and are properly disposed.”

You might also consult the DIRECTORY FOR THE APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES AND NORMS ON ECUMENISM as it pertains to sacramental activities among the Baptized.
 
Last edited:
I apologize for replying so late and I thank everyone for their responses. I fully intend to sign up for RCIA and confess to my sins. As for when, I will ask the priest during RCIA.

I should probably clarify a few things that maybe I left unclear. I was baptized Anglican and therefore cannot go through the reconciliation process; I must go through RCIA. Furthermore, I should reiterate that I had no knowledge that to receive Communion without confessing or while being a non-Catholic was a sin.

Again, I thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut. This was definitely a learning experience for me and I hope to move on from this with a better understanding of both Church teachings and of the Eucharist.

Sincerely,
Grayson
 
don’t develop scruples over a mistake or OCD , you have to figure 90% or more of people are recieving holy communion when they shouldnt, either out of choice, ignorance, or who knows. as others have stated just go to reconciliation and leave the mistake there, and just be mindful afterwards if you choose to recieve in the future.
 
A priest may bring one into the church, even outside the Rites of RCIA, when he sees a pastoral advantage for doing so. He may also decide when to administer Reconciliation. As you must know, God’s grace and God’s call do not always conform to the RCIA Director’s schedule. Many would be converts have been put off by clergy and laity alike ho tell them that “…now is not a good time. Come back in September.”
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top