Is it okay to not receive the Eucharist?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zenkai
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Z

Zenkai

Guest
Is it okay to not receive the Eucharist when you are able to? I ask this because I was playing my saxophone during Mass and I didn’t receive the Eucharist.

I didn’t receive the Eucharist because I still had to play after Communion and I thought it wouldn’t be good to get some of the Eucharist inside my saxophone mouthpiece and on the reed.
 
Zenkai said:
Is it okay to not receive the Eucharist when you are able to? I ask this because I was playing my saxophone during Mass and I didn’t receive the Eucharist.

I didn’t receive the Eucharist because I still had to play after Communion and I thought it wouldn’t be good to get some of the Eucharist inside my saxophone mouthpiece and on the reed.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure if a saxophone is an appropriate instrument for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but aside from that, in this situation it was certainly wise not to receive communion. Christ is physically present under all particles of the Eucharist, as the Council of Trent taught:

“If anyone says that after the consecration, the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ are not present in the marvelous Sacrament of the Eucharist, but are present only in the use of the sacrament while it is being received, and not before or after and that the true body of the Lord does not remain in the consecrated Host or particles that are kept or left over after Communion, anyone who denies that, let him be anathema.” (Session 13, can.3)
 
Zenkai said:
Is it okay to not receive the Eucharist when you are able to? I ask this because I was playing my saxophone during Mass and I didn’t receive the Eucharist.

I didn’t receive the Eucharist because I still had to play after Communion and I thought it wouldn’t be good to get some of the Eucharist inside my saxophone mouthpiece and on the reed.
Click to expand...
That is probably the prudent move in your situation. You are obliged by canon law to receive once a year, if there is not a just reason to do otherwise, during the Easter Season (between the Easter Vigil and the Vigil for Pentecost).
Can. 920 §1. After being initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, each of the faithful is obliged to receive holy communion at least once a year. §2. This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is fulfilled for a just cause at another time during the year.
So if you didn’t receive last week, don’t sweat it.

Oh, by the way, saxophone, huh?

I would encourage you to read and meditate on the following in regards to music ministry:
Obviously, I have no idea how your parish’s music ministry is, but I know that a lot of them could stand some changes to bring them in line with the teachings of the Church.
 
Zenkai, sounds to me like you showed respect for the Holy Sacrament, I think you did the right thing. Sometimes I’ve not received due to being in a choir, and the logistics of moving around, keeping the music going, etc. Sometimes in those situations the priest will let you receive afterward, so you could ask your priest beforehand if you can receive after due to your music obligations.
 
Zenkai, you did the right thing. I used to play trumpet at our Masses during college and asked for permission from the priest to receive communion after the Liturgy ended. The priests always obliged and allowed me time to pray and also receive a blessing.

After all, you would have been a prayerful participant during the whole liturgy, heard the Gospel and meditated during the entire holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I’m sure the priest would appreciate your prayerful participation, reverence for the Eucharist, and make the Lord available to receive Him.
 
This comes out in the old offertory that you can find in the TLM (the Extraordinary Form), but the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is being offered for the remission of sins for those present and for the dead. So even if you don’t receive, you are still receiving great graces. You can make a spiritual communion, which means to prayerfully offer yourself in love to Jesus Christ and His True Presence upon the altar.
 
Zenkai said:
Is it okay to not receive the Eucharist when you are able to? I ask this because I was playing my saxophone during Mass and I didn’t receive the Eucharist.

I didn’t receive the Eucharist because I still had to play after Communion and I thought it wouldn’t be good to get some of the Eucharist inside my saxophone mouthpiece and on the reed.
Click to expand...
You are not required to receive the Eucharist at every Mass. The requirement is to receive once a year (during the Easter season). More frequent reception is encouraged but not mandetory.
 
Corki said:
You are not required to receive the Eucharist at every Mass. The requirement is to receive once a year (during the Easter season). More frequent reception is encouraged but not mandetory.
Click to expand...
That is true, but it is a minimal requirement. We should want to receive our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist as often as possible.

I would suggest that the OP discuss this dilemma with the priest. It doesn’t seem right that you cannot fully take part in the Mass. Perhaps different music can be played at the time of receiving the Eucharist, so that you are free to receive the Lord without concern about having to play the instrument. You and the Lord and the grace He wants to give you are more important by far.
 
Dorothy said:
That is true, but it is a minimal requirement. We should want to receive our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist as often as possible.

I would suggest that the OP discuss this dilemma with the priest. It doesn’t seem right that you cannot fully take part in the Mass. Perhaps different music can be played at the time of receiving the Eucharist, so that you are free to receive the Lord without concern about having to play the instrument. You and the Lord and the grace He wants to give you are more important by far.
Click to expand...
While,** as I said**, it is recommended to receive often, it is erroneous to say that a person not receiving Communion is not fully taking part in the Mass. There are many people who cannot receive for a variety of reasons not related to being properly disposed. It is wrong to say that those people are somehow not taking part as fully in the Mass as someone who receives Communion.
 
Dorothy said:
That is true, but it is a minimal requirement. We should want to receive our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist as often as possible.

I would suggest that the OP discuss this dilemma with the priest. It doesn’t seem right that you cannot fully take part in the Mass. Perhaps different music can be played at the time of receiving the Eucharist, so that you are free to receive the Lord without concern about having to play the instrument. You and the Lord and the grace He wants to give you are more important by far.
Click to expand...
I think some of the issue was not that OP could not walk up at that time, but that she would possibly get Eucharist stuck in her reed and mouthpiece when she went back to playing.
 
Corki said:
While,** as I said**, it is recommended to receive often, it is erroneous to say that a person not receiving Communion is not fully taking part in the Mass. There are many people who cannot receive for a variety of reasons not related to being properly disposed. It is wrong to say that those people are somehow not taking part as fully in the Mass as someone who receives Communion.
Click to expand...
I shouldn’t have said it the way I did, because the good intentions of the person is seen by God. But my hope is that if the priest is aware of this, then a solution can be found.
 
If one is careful as to how one chews the Eucharist, there should not be a problem; chew it so that it does not get stuck in your molars. As in, with your front teeth,

And take enough time that you have swallowed it all. That normally is not a long time.
 
POJIUJH said:
I’m not sure if a saxophone is an appropriate instrument for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,
Click to expand...
I don’t think you have ever heard a saxophone played with a classical tone quality. If you had, then surely you would not have made that comment. The saxophone (with a proper mouthpiece) produces a very beautiful sound.

Classical alto saxophone: youtube.com/watch?v=XGL7cs8mf0A

Classical soprano saxophone: youtube.com/watch?v=f4OATR9c9lQ&list=FLh26Snp2AkZzRnUfX6vl3IA&index=36

Please, everyone, listen to these links.

A saxophone with a jazz tone (bright, buzzy, edgy, etc) would definitely NOT be appropriate for Mass. But a saxophone with a classical tone (warm, round, etc) fits in perfectly.

The classical tone and jazz tone sound completely different; almost like different instruments. The mouthpiece design plays a huge role in how the saxophone sounds, though the reed cut and the player make a big difference too.
 
Anyways, I’m going to Mass tomorrow and I will receive the Eucharist.

I don’t think that I will be playing my saxophone all that regularly. Next time, maybe I should receive the Eucharist and just not play the last piece of music.
 
Zenkai said:
Anyways, I’m going to Mass tomorrow and I will receive the Eucharist.

I don’t think that I will be playing my saxophone all that regularly. Next time, maybe I should receive the Eucharist and just not play the last piece of music.
Click to expand...
🙂
 
Zenkai said:
I don’t think you have ever heard a saxophone played with a classical tone quality. If you had, then surely you would not have made that comment. The saxophone (with a proper mouthpiece) produces a very beautiful sound.

Classical alto saxophone: youtube.com/watch?v=XGL7cs8mf0A

Classical soprano saxophone: youtube.com/watch?v=f4OATR9c9lQ&list=FLh26Snp2AkZzRnUfX6vl3IA&index=36

Please, everyone, listen to these links.

A saxophone with a jazz tone (bright, buzzy, edgy, etc) would definitely NOT be appropriate for Mass. But a saxophone with a classical tone (warm, round, etc) fits in perfectly.

The classical tone and jazz tone sound completely different; almost like different instruments. The mouthpiece design plays a huge role in how the saxophone sounds, though the reed cut and the player make a big difference too.
Click to expand...
I’m sorry, my ear isn’t very sharp to be able to distinguish much. I just can’t picture a saxaphone with chant, listening to the classical soprano it sounds like it could be possible, I just can’t imagine it. I would need to hear it.
 
POJIUJH said:
I’m sorry, my ear isn’t very sharp to be able to distinguish much. I just can’t picture a saxaphone with chant, listening to the classical soprano it sounds like it could be possible, I just can’t imagine it. I would need to hear it.
Click to expand...
Did you listen to the Glazunov Alto Saxophone Concerto?

What instruments can you picture being used during Mass, besides organ and piano?
 
Zenkai said:
Did you listen to the Glazunov Alto Saxophone Concerto?

What instruments can you picture being used during Mass, besides organ and piano?
Click to expand...
Remember those documents I referenced upthread?

The one by Pope St Pius X says the following:

VI. Organ and instruments
  1. Although the music proper to the Church is purely vocal music, music with the accompaniment of the organ is also permitted. In some special cases, within due limits and with proper safeguards, other instruments may be allowed, but never without the special permission of the Ordinary, according to prescriptions of the Caeremoniale Episcoporum.
  2. As the singing should always have the principal place, the organ or other instruments should merely sustain and never oppress it.
  3. It is not permitted to have the chant preceded by long preludes or to interrupt it with intermezzo pieces.
  4. The sound of the organ as an accompaniment to the chant in preludes, interludes, and the like must be not only governed by the special nature of the instrument, but must participate in all the qualities proper to sacred music as above enumerated.
  5. The employment of the piano is forbidden in church, as is also that of noisy or frivolous instruments such as drums, cymbals, bells and the like.
  6. It is strictly forbidden to have bands play in church, and only in special cases with the consent of the Ordinary will it be permissible to admit wind instruments, limited in number, judiciously used, and proportioned to the size of the place provided the composition and accompaniment be written in grave and suitable style, and conform in all respects to that proper to the organ.
    Code: 
    	21. In  processions outside the church the Ordinary may give permission for a  band, provided no profane pieces be executed. It would be desirable in  such cases that the band confine itself to accompanying some spiritual  canticle sung in Latin or in the vernacular by the singers and the pious  associations which take part in the procession.
Sacrosanctum Concilium, on the other hand, said this:
120. In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to higher things.

But other instruments also may be admitted for use in divine worship, with the knowledge and consent of the competent territorial authority, as laid down in Art. 22, 52, 37, and 40. This may be done, however, only on condition that the instruments are suitable, or can be made suitable, for sacred use, accord with the dignity of the temple, and truly contribute to the edification of the faithful.
Pope Bl. John Paul II’s chirograph, also referenced above, said this:
  1. Again at the practical level, the Motu Proprio whose centenary it is also deals with the question of the musical instruments to be used in the Latin Liturgy. Among these, it recognizes without hesitation the prevalence of the pipe organ and establishes appropriate norms for its use[42]. The Second Vatican Council fully accepted my holy Predecessor’s approach, decreeing: “The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem in the Latin Church, for it is the traditional musical instrument, the sound of which can add a wonderful splendour to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up people’s minds to God and to higher things”[43].
Nonetheless, it should be noted that contemporary compositions often use a diversity of musical forms that have a certain dignity of their own. To the extent that they are helpful to the prayer of the Church they can prove a precious enrichment. Care must be taken, however, to ensure that instruments are suitable for sacred use, that they are fitting for the dignity of the Church and can accompany the singing of the faithful and serve to edify them.

That’s why I commended them to you…there is a whole lot of teaching crammed into those three documents.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top