Is it just me or do most Catholics recieve Communion wrongly

[CarrieH]

Perhaps I’m assuming wrong, but if you’ve been in a conversation with her, you’ve brought up what’s “wrong” about what she’s doing.

I have simply reminded her of the Church’s teaching and told her that it is a matter between her and God if she chooses to follow or reject this.

So what is “wrong” about this woman receiving communion once a year in the Catholic Church with her mother?

She has no intention of leaving the Lutheran church. She doesn’t just attend, she is a member there. Sorry, but we can’t have it both ways. And it’s not once a year – it’s more like twice a month that I see her at Mass. I’m delighted that she takes the time to bring her poor old mother to church. It’s a wonder that Mama doesn’t say something to her, but maybe she’s afraid that doing so will estrange the daughter ever further from Catholicism.

CCC 1400: Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, “have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders.” It is for this reason that, for the Catholic Church, Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible.

 

[pnewton]

I do not know how common the commission of mortal sin is among Catholics, but I think most do not commit mortal sins on a regular basis. I do think that the OP is right that many Catholic do not go to confession after committing a mortal sin and prior to communion though. I would not presume to say that most do not. At my parish confessional times are full and almost everybody goes on a fairly regular basis, at least of those I know.

 

[Lhhs]

I don’t know any one who doesn’t have a Mortal Sin at least once and awhile.

Mortal sin has 3 requirements to it, right?

I think most folks do not know their “mortal sin” is in fact a mortal sin.
So maybe they are not even in mortal sin.

Why would they go to confession if they don’t need to?

 

[Lhhs]

Why would someone who does not believe in the real presence go forward to receive communion? .

Does’nt the Bible say something along the lines of "Do this in memory of Me " ?

Maybe that’s why.
Maybe cuz "thats just what we do"in Mass.

 

[Ann_Stanton]

I attend a Novus Ordo Mass. We have weekly confessions for at least an hour every Saturday afternoon. Confession is available before many Masses and by appointment. I have made appointments and I know others see the priest outside of the general Confession times because we work or can’t make it to the general time for the parish. I am grateful for the guidance I get from the priest each week. I tend to be scrupulous, but the priest always helps me to see my sins for what they are. Most of the people are very reverent at Mass. In the parish bulletins in our diocese, the people are notified of those who can be admitted to Communion and those who may not because they hold other Christian beliefs or are non-Christians. I don’t believe that only persons attending TLM are the only ones living their faith properly. Please forgive any spelling errors.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

Mortal sin has 3 requirements to it, right?

I think most folks do not know their “mortal sin” is in fact a mortal sin.
So maybe they are not even in mortal sin.

Why would they go to confession if they don’t need to?

Veniel sins if neglected grow into mortal sins.

Sacraments are avenues of grace. WHo has so much grace that they can ignore a sacrament with impugnity? Confession of veniel sins brings us grace which leads to victory of these sins, and growth in holiness.

Why wouldn’t a person frequent confession?

 

[Newbie2]

I have simply reminded her of the Church’s teaching and told her that it is a matter between her and God if she chooses to follow or reject this.

Good for you. You’ve done what you can.

She has no intention of leaving the Lutheran church. She doesn’t just attend, she is a member there. Sorry, but we can’t have it both ways. And it’s not once a year – it’s more like twice a month that I see her at Mass. I’m delighted that she takes the time to bring her poor old mother to church. It’s a wonder that Mama doesn’t say something to her, but maybe she’s afraid that doing so will estrange the daughter ever further from Catholicism.

My bad. I assumed that she was still Catholic. You’re correct, of course. I guess the best you can do is be charitable and pray for them. Maybe someday she’ll come back.

We had a priest who did our pre-marriage class. One of the engaged girls in the class was Lutheran, as was I at the time, and she asked if she could take communion with her Catholic husband-to-be. The priest seemed to think that was OK, and told her that, well, “You don’t have a big L stamped on your forehead”. Yikes.

.

 

[latinmasslover]

That’s the key, Bro.

I’m a She.

 

[latinmasslover]

Mortal sin has 3 requirements to it, right?

I think most folks do not know their “mortal sin” is in fact a mortal sin.
So maybe they are not even in mortal sin.

Why would they go to confession if they don’t need to?

True, but all Catholics have the obligation to study the Faith, and failure to do so is a *serious *sin. How many don’t study simply because they don’t care, or because they have the "ignorance is bliss"mentality and prefer to stay in the dark? God is the ultimate Judge over the heart (which isn’t always a good thing) but we’re still obliged to inform others for the good of their souls and the glory of God.

 

[Lhhs]

Why wouldn’t a person frequent confession?

Because they don’t need to
God is nice and forgives them anyway
They aren’t doing anything really bad anyway
They aren’t doing anything that anyone else isn’t doing
They don’t want to say their sins out loud to someone else

Just to name a few

 

[rwoehmke]

True, but all Catholics have the obligation to study the Faith, and failure to do so is a *serious *sin. How many don’t study simply because they don’t care, or because they have the "ignorance is bliss"mentality and prefer to stay in the dark? God is the ultimate Judge over the heart (which isn’t always a good thing) but we’re still obliged to inform others for the good of their souls and the glory of God.

And that ignorance is so blissful that many do not know they have any obligation. I think mostly they are just not interested enough to want to find out more. I really doubt there are many who stay away from learning because they do not want to let go of some sinful habit.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

Because they don’t need to
God is nice and forgives them anyway
They aren’t doing anything really bad anyway
They aren’t doing anything that anyone else isn’t doing
They don’t want to say their sins out loud to someone else

Just to name a few

Lhhs:

Those reasons are so bogus. Let me rephrase my question, what valid reason is there not to frequent confession?

Marsha

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m not trying to be rude here however I have noticed this as a trend. I have not met many Catholics who normally attend Confession. I don’t know about you, however I don’t know any one who doesn’t have a Mortal Sin at least once and awhile. Furthermore, many Catholics don’t believe in Transubstantiation. It’s unfortunate. I’m not judging however I think that people should inform these people of their sin.

which people do you think should be appointed to run around telling other people about their sin.
with respect, I doubt very much if you have access to the confessional habits of the Catholics you know.

 

[agr4028]

which people do you think should be appointed to run around telling other people about their sin.
with respect, I doubt very much if you have access to the confessional habits of the Catholics you know.

I have enough on my own soul, to be worrying about whether someone else I see in church is “worthy”…

“Lord, ***I ***am not worthy to receive you…”

 

[Lhhs]

Lhhs:

Those reasons are so bogus. Let me rephrase my question, what valid reason is there not to frequent confession?

Marsha

I’m not sure what you are asking for.

Maybe a person is disabled;
doesn’t have transportationl doesn’t want to trouble someone to drive them there,
has young kids or elderly to take care of,
works on that day,
is on travels for business or pleasure,
or any of other myriad opportunity costs.
Not to mention the Church requires it but once a year

 

[llblarosa]

Are Catholics supposed to confess every week before Communion? I read a post and thought that this was implied.

 

[Lhhs]

Are Catholics supposed to confess every week before Communion?

I guess it depends on what you mean by “supposed to.” Supposed to in order to . . .

Do you mean “supposed to in order to avoid being the mortal-or-venial sin of receiving Holy Communion in the state of Grace” ?

That is, are you asking :
Does receiving Holy Communion in the state of Grace when your last confession was 7 or more days ago constitute a sin ?

 

[lampstand]

As far as I understand, with Confession, the technical requirement is, yes, only once a year–that being just prior to Easter-- but we do live with something that is far more than a one-day church. It’s not for purposes of me and how easy it is for me and it’s not just about making me feel good. It is, rather, for me to give to God what I owe him–repentance. Jesus did establish the Church, and therefore they must not only go to me, but I must go to them. You are to go to Confession whenever you feel serious sin on your soul. If you approach it as an opportunity to giggle and pat yourself on the back as to how good you are, I think you’re getting the wrong idea. My sins tend to be more serious than I realized at first. I may have talked myself into thinking the things I did were not so bad-- if I have to tell them to someone else, however, I have a chance to realize that what I did may have been worse than it sounded.

Also, talking to a priest creates community. Jesus said, “Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there am I.” If I only pray at home, there is a danger I might wind up deciding that God owes me. If I pray at home and pray with the priest, however, I reinforce the fact of responsibility toward others, while also being reminded of the kindness of God Who welcomes us back. Jesus also said to the Apostles, “[And] when you forgive men’s sins, they are forgiven them.” So human beings do have the power Christ gave to them. If you have a fight with someone, can you not later say to each other, “I forgive you”? Confession is like this in a way.

So I respectfully say, I don’t see Confession as an instrument of fear-- rather as a way to set things right.

 

[llblarosa]

Yes, that is what I am asking.

Lisa

 

[Marsha_Adams]

I’m not sure what you are asking for.

Maybe a person is disabled;
doesn’t have transportationl doesn’t want to trouble someone to drive them there,
has young kids or elderly to take care of,
works on that day,
is on travels for business or pleasure,
or any of other myriad opportunity costs.
Not to mention the Church requires it but once a year

It would make me very sad to think that because a person is disabled he/she would be denied the grace of the sacrament of confession. On the other hand if someone can come to give the homebound communion, then a priest should be able to visit the homebound and if the individual wants to hear confession.

Most parishes have confession by appointment, so if the normally scheduled confession times don’t work people only have to call the rectory to make arrangements.

The Church also only requires that one receives communion once a year - but I don’t see empty communion lines because it isn’t required.

People - MYSELF included - neglect the sacrament of confession because it is never or very seldem mentioned from the pulpit, just as sin is never or very seldem mentioned. We as a culture (U.S. Catholics) have lost our sense of sin and guilt and therefore we have lost our sensible need for absolution, growth in holiness, and reconciliation with God and man.

As a rule of thumb, anyone who says “Oh, I don’t need to go to confession, I haven’t committed any mortal sins” does not understand the beauty and the efficacy of the Sacrament.