Is it a sin to eat/drink an hour before communion if you don't plan to receive communion in the first place?

[Brendan_64]

I must respectfully disagree with you that we are called only to witness and not partake. I may be wrong but I cannot imagine at this point that physically joining with Our Lord is NOT the high point of the Mass.

We were redeemed through the sacrifice at Calvary. The Mass is the Holy Sacrifice. The Consecration is the High point of the Mass. The Body of Christ is broken for us and his blood poured out for us in front of our eyes.

You can receive the Eucharist at a service outside of the Mass (without a priest even present). What makes the Mass special is the sacrificial nature, the Body of Christ broken for us and the Blood of Christ poured out for us, as it was on the Cross at Calvary. The high point of the Mass is indeed Calvary, just as the high point for humanity was Calvary, where we were redeemed.

 

[TheDoctor]

CCC 1388 “It is in keeping with the very meaning of the Eucharist that the faithful, if they have the required dispositions, receive communion each time they participate in the Mass. As the Second Vatican Council says: 'That more perfect form of participation in the Mass whereby the faithful, after the priest’s communion, receive the Lord’s Body from the same sacrifice, is warmly recommended.”

Bold is mine. One must have the “required dispositions”. There are many reasons one may not. It is a recommendation to receive at every Mass, not an obligation - unless you can show me where the Church says it is please.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

The Mass is the high point of our spiritual week and reception of the Holy Eucharist is the high point of Mass. Eucharist is translated as “thanksgiving” meaning we give thanks to the God of Creation for sending us His Only Son so that we might have salvation. Why would you NOT receive Holy Communion when you have the chance? What’s your intent of going to Mass if you’re planning on NOT receiving into your body Jesus Christ?

Maybe he is in a state of mortal sin. Skipping mass would just add another mortal sin.

 

[Brendan_64]

Or even if not in a state of mortal sin, there is nothing wrong with going to Mass simply to sit at the feet of Our Lord and adore him, without receiving Communion. There is nothing at all wrong with that.