Mortal Sin and the Eucharist

[emilyg6193]

I know that you’re not allowed to receive the Eucharist while in mortal sin…but what if you’re truly repentant but haven’t been able to go to Reconciliation? I was honestly not able to go on Saturday, but I want to be able to receive Communion at daily Mass. Am I allowed to receive it and make a promise to go to Reconciliation the next week, or do I just play it safe and not receive the Eucharist, so that I don’t run the risk of receiving the Eucharist in mortal sin, which is a sin in itself?

 

[Newbie2]

If there’s any question in your mind, go to mass, skip communion, and go to confession at you first opportunity.

You can make a “perfect act of contrition” when confession is not available, but it sounds like it’s more a matter of inconvenience than availability.

 

[fabricdragon]

if you have any question. go to Mass, skip communion.
meanwhile… sometimes i have been able to go to the priest just prior to mass and recieve confession… could you ask? i work weekends and i understand how hard it can be to get to confession.
also, do you have any churches near you that do confession on weekdays?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

There’s no requirement to receive communion at Mass. If you have committed a mortal sin, go to confession first.

If you get to Mass early you can often ask the priest to hear your confession even if confessions aren’t normally scheduled. Or ask him after Mass one day if you could come early the following day.

 

[chris_molter]

If you’ve missed confession through no fault of your own and have full intent of going as soon as possible, you CAN receive. I would ask your Priest beforehand if you could be confessed before Mass if possible, or right after Mass if not. I wouldn’t wait a full week before hitting confession.

Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

 

[whm]

If you’ve missed confession through no fault of your own and have full intent of going as soon as possible, you CAN receive. I would ask your Priest beforehand if you could be confessed before Mass if possible, or right after Mass if not.

This may apply if you live in Antarctica, however you left out the part about a “perfect” act of contrition… This generally will not apply under the circumstances the OP mentioned. This idea is a trap a person committing habitual sin will start waiting 1, 2 weeks, then 1 or 2 months to go to confession because it was inconvenient.

I wouldn’t wait a full week before hitting confession.

Amen don’t wait, but don’t commit another worse mortal sin by receiving communion before confession. Remember that it is Jesus who died for your sins that you are receiving. Don’t be in a state of sin and commit sacrilege.

Use the fact that you don’t want to be embarrassed by staying back from communion as motivation. Also know that nobody notices or cares that you stayed back. Some people are in RCIA, some are visitors, some are highly pious and stay back because they didn’t feel properly prepared, and yes some are in a state of sin. Anybody who judges somebody who stays back commits a sin themselves.