My priest said I could receive Holy Communion in a state of contrition

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thistle said:
Don’t get me wrong. I agree that anyone who is in a state of mortal sin must not receive Communion even though they have made an act of perfect contrition unless there is a serious reason to receive, and that certainly does not apply in the normal course of things.

However, Can 916 is directed to priests and not the laity. The laity do not celebrate Mass. Only priests celebrate Mass.
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Canon 916 applies to both those that celebrate and those that do not celebrate.

Catechism of the Catholic Church
1457 According to the Church’s command, "after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."56 Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.57 Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.58

57 Cf. Council of Trent (1551): DS 1647; 1661; CIC, can. 916; CCEO, can. 711.
 
Vico said:
Canon 916 applies to both those that celebrate and those that do not celebrate.

Catechism of the Catholic Church
1457 According to the Church’s command, "after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."56 Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.57 Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.58

57 Cf. Council of Trent (1551): DS 1647; 1661; CIC, can. 916; CCEO, can. 711.
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Can 916 applies to those who CELEBRATE the Mass. Only priests CELEBRATE Mass. The laity does not celebrate Mass.
 
thistle said:
Can 916 applies to those who CELEBRATE the Mass. Only priests CELEBRATE Mass. The laity does not celebrate Mass.
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That is not what New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law says (p. 1170). Note the words “Anyone” and “or”. Anyone includes laity and clergy, celebrate applies to clergy, and receive applies to either.

Can. 916 Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to 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 resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.
 
Catechism:

1385 To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself."218 Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#VI
 
thistle said:
Can 916 applies to those who CELEBRATE the Mass. Only priests CELEBRATE Mass. The laity does not celebrate Mass.
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Canon 916 refers in part to only Priests (the celebrate Mass) and in part to all…the rest.
 
Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1385 To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself."218 Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#VI
 
Vico said:
That is not what New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law says (p. 1170). Note the words “Anyone” and “or”. Anyone includes laity and clergy, celebrate applies to clergy, and receive applies to either.

Can. 916 Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to 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 resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.
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This embarrassment section makes no sense to me. Is there any indication of that in the earlier Canon? Embarrassment is not grave reason!
 
TrueLight said:
This embarrassment section makes no sense to me. Is there any indication of that in the earlier Canon? Embarrassment is not grave reason!
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The only grave reason I can think of (besides being in danger of death) is attendance at the last Mass on Trinity Sunday and the sudden realization that it’s the last day of being able to fulfill the Easter duty.
 
TrueLight said:
This embarrassment section makes no sense to me. Is there any indication of that in the earlier Canon? Embarrassment is not grave reason!
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New Commentary on the Code of Cannon Law (1111) comments on “grave reason” and “no opportunity to confess”:
Grave reasons for going to communion without confessing include danger of death and serious embarrassment if Communion is not taken. Lack of opportunity to confess includes absence of a confessor, inability to approach the confessor at a scheduled time for the sacrament, and the availability only of a confessor who is known personally and who cannot be approached without embarrassment.
 
Vico said:
New Commentary on the Code of Cannon Law (1111) comments on “grave reason” and “no opportunity to confess”:
Grave reasons for going to communion without confessing include danger of death and serious embarrassment if Communion is not taken. Lack of opportunity to confess includes absence of a confessor, inability to approach the confessor at a scheduled time for the sacrament, and the availability only of a confessor who is known personally and who cannot be approached without embarrassment.
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The new commentary is post 1983 Canon isn’t it?
 
TrueLight said:
The new commentary is post 1983 Canon isn’t it?
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Yes, 1983 CIC and 1990 CCEO.
Code: 
     **New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law**

 
               Edited By: [John P. Beal](http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/search?author=John%20P.%20Beal&detailed_search=1&action=Search), [James A. Coriden](http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/search?author=James%20A.%20Coriden&detailed_search=1&action=Search)     
           Paulist Press / 2000
 
Bookcat said:
catholic.com/quickquestions/when-considering-whether-to-receive-communion-what-constitutes-a-grave-reason-and-opp

It is important to note that such is not to be the norm…that CIC and CCC note rather that one must first confess the mortal sin prior to receiving Holy Communion.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=9454821&postcount=25
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Of course, that is why the canon is stated the way it is:

CIC Can. 916 Anyone who is conscious of grave sin may not celebrate Mass or receive the Body of the Lord without previously having been to 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 resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.
 
If you are going to take the “Contrition” route, may I suggest following (James 5:16) and confess your faults one to the other. My wife and I do that in addition to confessing to a Priest. In fact, read all of James Chapter 5.
 
I always thought that you must go to Confession before recieving Holy Communion if you aren’t in the state of grace. Maybe embarassment means something different than what it seems to me. Like I once read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that to have a love of speed (or something) is a grave sin. I don’t think that to have a love of speed is a sin but rather to go super fast is a sin. (Please correct me if I am wrong.)
 
johndoe100 said:
If you are going to take the “Contrition” route, may I suggest following (James 5:16) and confess your faults one to the other. My wife and I do that in addition to confessing to a Priest. In fact, read all of James Chapter 5.
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Regarding a “contrition route” … I would not put it quite that way…for we are obliged to confess all our mortal sins in a Sacramental Confession with a Priest.

Could there be some occasion where one had a grave reason and needed to receive with perfect contrition when there is no opportunity to confesss?-- yes – as one can see in Canon Law for the needful aspects.

But it is important such is not the norm (only for grave reason etc etc) --rather we “must” confess any mortal sins in Sacramental Confession prior to receiving Holy Communion.
 
RedDuke50 said:
I always thought that you must go to Confession before recieving Holy Communion if you aren’t in the state of grace. Maybe embarassment means something different than what it seems to me. Like I once read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that to have a love of speed (or something) is a grave sin. I don’t think that to have a love of speed is a sin but rather to go super fast is a sin. (Please correct me if I am wrong.)
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Yes your correct – such is the norm –

1385 To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself."218 Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#VI

As for speed this is the quote you meant:

2290 The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air.
 
Bookcat said:
As for speed this is the quote you meant:

2290 The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air.
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Yeah, that’s the one I was thinking of. I don’t think I remembered it quite correctly.
 
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