If I am unable to receive Communion, can I still go up and get a blessing?

[otjm]

Thanks for finding the link.

Given the stellar reputation of the Boston Globe, a rag sheet that is certain that every last priest out there has “bonked” at least one or two lads, and the vehemently anti-Catholic attitude of the individual they interviewed, it is a pleasure to see the “whole story”.

But then, I am not one to presume that a rag sheet with such a disconnect with reality would bother to tell the truth if it failed to fit with their preconceived notions.

 

[paperwight]

And why would you presume that all Catholics going up to Communion had committed a mortal sin in the last week, and thus would have needed to go to confession?

I suspect it may be a misunderstanding of Confession on their part (not yours, otjm),. How often do we see a poster say ‘I don’t think what you did was a sin, but mention it in confession just in case’? In other words, some believe Confession is necessary for every sin, or even a ‘might be a sin’. What I think of as the ‘You have a shower even though you are not visibly dirty’ attitude - such people say they feel so clean and holy afterwards, and receiving Holy Communion is heavenly…

 

[otjm]

I understand your comment.

What I was responding to directly following statement:

“And of course, all those going up to receive have been shriven, since they all came to confession recently”.

This statement tends toward comments by other posters lamenting that “all” go up to communion, and certainly not “all” are free of serious sin.

I teach RCIA, and I am crystal clear that for any serious sin, one has to confess before receiving communion. But I don’t sit in the pew, seeing how many go up to communion, and stew over whether each and every person is in a state of grace. For starters, it is above my pay grade. Secondly, I have no opportunity to address the matter most of the time, and sitting in Mass is not one of them. Third, I presume the best of people until evidence (not presumption) shows otherwise. Fourth, in this day and age, when time/attitudes/and etc. has filtered out most people who are at best lackadaisical from attending Mass and the remainder are serious about showing up, I presume the rest know the rules and follow them.

Which may be another way to say I am not scandalized by what I don’t know. Others seem to me to be trying to mind everyone else’s business, starting with a presumption that everyone out there is sinning constantly and mightily.

 

[paperwight]

Which may be another way to say I am not scandalized by what I don’t know. Others seem to me to be trying to mind everyone else’s business, starting with a presumption that everyone out there is sinning constantly and mightily.

Well, yes. I agree with all you say. To clarify, the ‘they’ in my previous post was a reference to the poster who was complaining that others don’t go to confession, as I didn’t want to name the poster. I wasn’t saying that those who go to Communion misunderstood etc.

I applaud care for the Blessed Sacrament, of course, But there seems to be an assumption that any sin or imperfection equates to mortal sin, in that it needs to be confessed before receiving Holy Communion. Or that feelings of cleanliness after Confession are so good that it must be a good thing to go, without really considering whether the sins confessed are mortal or not but ‘just in case’…

We all fall short of the holiness of God, but mortal sin isn’t committed so often among average people who turn up at Mass. Most of us are too busy just getting on with caring for our family and neighbours. We muddle through.

Jesus was happy to be jostled by the spotty and less than sweet smelling crowds of His day, after all, out of His love for them, and their need for Him…

 

[otjm]

On this we agree… Definitely.

 

[anon10271182]

Thank you, Fr. David. And if I have to sit sometime, because I didn’t make the effort to go to Confession, well, I’ll offer it up as mortification. And make sure I attend Confession the following week.

Regular, frequent confession has been the practice of many who are far holier than me. I can, at the very least, try my best to follow their example.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

One time that I didn’t go to communion one of my mom’s friends asked her if everything was okay, whatever “okay” was supposed to mean.

 

[anon10271182]

That’s been my longtime understanding. Since gharris wasn’t “Mass hopping” just to receive the Eucharist more than once, it’s not a problem.

 

[Reuben_J]

One time that I didn’t go to communion one of my mom’s friends asked her if everything was okay, whatever “okay” was supposed to mean.

Unfortunately we have people who will know everything that everybody does during the mass. Maybe if we really participate in it, …

 

[pnewton]

Thread may have run its course, but I am a little slow.

A poster above was speaking of the desire to come forward to for a blessing to be close to the Eucharist. I get that. While my brain was playing catch up one night it occurred to me that there is another way. One can also receive in Mass the blessing the priest gives in the end for you. Then try to find an opportunity to go to Adoration. I remember before I could receive communion during RCIA, I found a great solace in going to adoration where there was also a great understanding of intimacy with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Just a suggestion.

 

[Homerun14]

This part of the Mass is when Holy Communion is distributed. Period. It isn’t a time where the Priest is simply passing out gifts to everyone in attendance and thus everyone is encouraged to come on up and get something for being there. Yes, everyone gets a blessing at the end of Mass anyway. Also, saying that you feel left out is silly, as is worrying about what others may think about you if you don’t go up for Holy Communion.

 

[TC3033]

This part of the Mass is when Holy Communion is distributed. Period. It isn’t a time where the Priest is simply passing out gifts to everyone in attendance and thus everyone is encouraged to come on up and get something for being there. Yes, everyone gets a blessing at the end of Mass anyway. Also, saying that you feel left out is silly, as is worrying about what others may think about you if you don’t go up for Holy Communion.

Can you elaborate more? Like I said up thread, I’ll try to find a way to excuse myself before communion so I’m not left out and don’t have to go through the eye-rolls of people when they look at me to climb over me or everyone looking over their shoulder at me when they walk by. For some, like me, that can be a highly anxious situation especially when I don’t think I’m welcome at Mass in the first place.

 

[pnewton]

For some, like me, that can be a highly anxious situation especially when I don’t think I’m welcome at Mass in the first place.

Anxiety is not silly and should not be treated lightly by those who do not understand. As one who has had to sit during communion, I know what you mean. I do not think any person who has not spent time unable to receive communion can get this.

 

[thistle]

What our priest regularly remarks at Mass is that he finds it strange that Confession lines are short but Communion lines are long!

 

[babochka]

What our priest regularly remarks at Mass is that he finds it strange that Confession lines are short but Communion lines are long!

Does he also preach regularly and well on the reason for confession and our need for it? I’ve seen that work wonders for bringing people to the sacrament. It’s one thing to make comments like that; it is quite another to stir in people’s hearts a desire for God’s forgiveness and grace through the sacrament.

 

[thistle]

Does he also preach regularly and well on the reason for confession and our need for it? I’ve seen that work wonders for bringing people to the sacrament. It’s one thing to make comments like that; it is quite another to stir in people’s hearts a desire for God’s forgiveness and grace through the sacrament.

Yes he does but he also doesn’t pussyfoot around subjects. He talks about the sins of abortion, homosexuality, fornication, adultery etc and yes he talks about Hell.