Is it a mortal sin if you receive communion while being doubtful of whether you committed a mortal sin or not?

[cjcapta]

I know that it’s a mortal sin if you receive communion when you know you have committed a mortal sin and have not confessed it through the sacrament of reconciliation (or I think Anointing of the Sick works too), but is it a mortal sin or venial sin if you receive communion while you are in doubt of whether or not you committed a mortal sin? Or is it not a sin at all? And would it make a difference if the person in question has scrupulosity?

 

[teachccd]

Mortal sin requires deliberate consent. Definitively, one cannot sin “by accident” or without acknowledging the gravity of the sin. With that said, one would then have to “know” that s/he was in mortal sin. If you are wondering then you lacked the full consent necessary to eternally separate yourself from God. Only you can know if you are fooling yourself into believing that a mortal sin is something less than what it is. If you sincerely don’t know that what you did was grave matter and/or done with full consent then you are not in mortal sin. This is why it is imperative that one utilizes the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is where you will receive the graces (along with the Eucharist) to discern the gravity of the acts that you are concerned about. God bless you… teachccd

 

[Bookcat]

I know that it’s a mortal sin if you receive communion when you know you have committed a mortal sin and have not confessed it through the sacrament of reconciliation (or I think Anointing of the Sick works too), but is it a mortal sin or venial sin if you receive communion while you are in doubt of whether or not you committed a mortal sin? Or is it not a sin at all? And would it make a difference if the person in question has scrupulosity?

First off …Anointing of the sick can forgive mortal sin…but this is in the case…say where a person is unconscious or for some other reason can not make the confession (can’t speak etc) such is not the norm. Confession is.

We are not to go to communion if one is “Conscious of mortal sin”…so if one is conscious of committing a mortal sin…one is to go to confession first.

The general advice historically given for one who suffers from scrupulosity or scruples is if they are in doubt as to if they committed a mortal sin…then they could make an act of contrition and go to Communion.

A lax person would be advised the other direction…for the fact that they are bothered is a sign for them to look further a good deal…and prob go to confession first.

I would ask your confessor who knows you …for direction in this matter for yourself.

 

[EvelynEVF]

I’ve been told by clergy I trust, that if you aren’t sure, then it isn’t mortal sin. I have a couple of grey areas in my life that are very dark grey, iykwim, so I have refrained from receiving two or three times. I will always snag a priest for confession if I can, and I will readily admit that I am not always perhaps as polite/conventional about it as I ought to be. I was once at a dinner party with a priest and knew I would hesitate to receive later that weekend, so I asked him before he left, and we celebrated in the dining room. Another guest later laughed and told me that I definitely caught him off guard, but he handled it very nicely. I’ve also marched right into the sacristy and asked. I figure if my eternal soul is at stake, and I know the matter is grave, then I need to be bold. I waited for decades to become Catholic and receive the Eucharist, and it is very painful to me not to receive.

 

[brotherjoe]

I think the short answer is no, if you are in doubt then receiving is not a sin if you are properly disposed otherwise. However, if a situation is in doubt then it would be responsible to a) Receive Reconciliation soon, and b) take reasonable steps to discern the nature of the “possible mortal sin” that you are dealing with. In other words, clear it up so as not to be in this situation again and again. This is not to say that we even have all the answers, but we shouldn’t hide behind ignorance wilfully.

I do not think it is ever wrong to refrain from Communion when in soubt as a sign of humility and reverence for the Real Presence.

Joe