M
mikew262
Guest
I suspect most use the “Lord, I am not worthy…” to ask forgiveness before communion.
- Status
D
DaughterSorrow
Guest
There’s also the penitential rite (I confess…) at the beginning of mass that takes care of those venial sins…
In Peace,
DS
A
Ace86
Guest
But that doesn’t count for mortal sins. Only Confession and Absolution can forgive mortal sins. Holy Water washes away venial sins.
P
Pug
Guest
I find it interesting that some folks attribute the forgiveness of venial sins to the penitential rite and some to the prayer said before communion. God graciously gives us many ways to deal with venial sin! I would like to add a big way:
When we actually receive communion (not just watching others), we are united to Jesus and our charity is strengthened. These both are the remission of venial sins. Here is a nice CCC quote:
When we actually receive communion (not just watching others), we are united to Jesus and our charity is strengthened. These both are the remission of venial sins. Here is a nice CCC quote:
italics original
P
pnewton
Guest
I don’t know that mortal sin is as easy to commit for a faithful Catholic as some think it is, as it engages full consent of the will. In any case, if there are those receiving in a state of mortal sin, then the intitial post also gives part of the problem. Looking around to see if everyone is going to communion, or who is, does not engender an environment for the person in mortal sin to remain behind. It is far better to not notice the number of people who go to communion and thus make it easier for the sinner to follow the direciton of the church.
A
Ace86
Guest
Wasn’t there a Saint who said that in the future, Catholics would say that they no longer needed Confession?
R
Rara_Avis
Guest
Ha - you should be in a Catholic highschool - not only are the so called Catholic students participating so are non Catholic students … on the advice of the teachers no less - I have heard it from one teacher in particular “just go get the bloody thing”
btw - here you don’t have to be Catholic to teach or go to a Catholic highschool … it is disgrimination - that is because our highschools are funded by the grovernmnet just as the public - But Mass obliglatory for all whether Catholic or not … it is the price a non Catholic pays for going to a Catholic school.
The school system, just as the church are full of people who have NO IDEA what they are doing. Of course they are going to communion - they’ve never heard of a venial or a mortal sin. Everybody is wonderful just as long as they have never commited murder.
My Godmother was told by her priest that she need not go to confession because she is old and doesn’t commit sin. hahahah That’s a tough pill to swallow since it is said that even the Saints commint 7 sins a day.
A young man I know was told by a priest (in confession) not to bother him with such drivel - needless to say that was the end of his Catholic days.
etc. etc. etc.
btw - here you don’t have to be Catholic to teach or go to a Catholic highschool … it is disgrimination - that is because our highschools are funded by the grovernmnet just as the public - But Mass obliglatory for all whether Catholic or not … it is the price a non Catholic pays for going to a Catholic school.
The school system, just as the church are full of people who have NO IDEA what they are doing. Of course they are going to communion - they’ve never heard of a venial or a mortal sin. Everybody is wonderful just as long as they have never commited murder.
My Godmother was told by her priest that she need not go to confession because she is old and doesn’t commit sin. hahahah That’s a tough pill to swallow since it is said that even the Saints commint 7 sins a day.
A young man I know was told by a priest (in confession) not to bother him with such drivel - needless to say that was the end of his Catholic days.
etc. etc. etc.
L
LilyM
Guest
Remember that confession is only necessary in cases of mortal sin (though of course it’s desirable even for venial sins) so your Godmother may have had half a point. I’m sure most saints (and nearly all people) don’t go about committing seven mortal sins a day!!!
The real problem is definition and awareness of mortal sin - and even a lot of priests seem to have such an interpretation that almost no sin would be considered mortal.
The real problem is definition and awareness of mortal sin - and even a lot of priests seem to have such an interpretation that almost no sin would be considered mortal.
C
cecilia97
Guest
Yes, there are lots of reasons people might be staying in their seats, you can never know. I have a common syndrome that makes me faint when I stand up too quickly, so sometimes I have to stay in my seat at Mass. I’m sure lots of people have health issues like that or back problems, etc. And I’m bad about grabbing breakfast at the last minute and not fasting!
cecilia
B
BlyssfulDreamer
Guest
Wow!! You really are a bit nosy aren’t you? Did you stop to think these people going to receive Communion might be going to Confession at another Church? I go to Confession at another Church where it is more convenient as far as the time and yet I go to Mass and receive the Eucharist at my own parish where I am registered. I would hate to think people were judging without knwoing all of the alternatives. Geesh!
:heart:Blyss
:heart:Blyss
B
blessedtoo
Guest
I agree completely with this. Let’s not kid ourselves about this issue. When so called “Catholic” politicians blatantly receive Communion and make headlines for it, it brings scandal and discgrace upon the whole Church. It simply can’t be effectively argued that the public or obvious sins of others does not affect the whole. Isn’t this part of the reason why we, as faithful Catholics, find ourselves in the unenviable position of having to explain the “hypocracy” in our Church? If you attend any parish long enough, you can discern what is really going on. And it’s not about being a busy-body. It’s perfectly human to glance around the Church when you know you can not receive the Eucharist. You are already a bit ashamed and self-conscious and looking to see if you are going to be the only sinner in the congregation. Not to mention the fact that it seems like every Catholic Church does it’s own thing these days so who knows what the routine is at Communion unless you look around? I’ve been to every Church in my diocese for Confession and there is never anyone at anytime in line. In fact the Church in my neighborhood only offers Confession twice a month because apparently there are no sinners in this city.
B
BlyssfulDreamer
Guest
I disagree. I feel it is being busy body. In my city there are 10 or 11 churches…all offer Confession at different times and some are more convenient to me, so I go there. I also go to my own parish at times and I feel it is NO ONE’S business. If you are more concerned about looking around to see who is and who is NOT going to receive the Eucharist you are not preparing yourself for receiving Jesus when your mind is centered on other people’s business.
As for people in line at Confession…on Saturdays before the Vigil Mass there is a line a mile long and sometimes cannot be finished. The other places I go also have people in line.
:heart:Blyss
M
Maria3m
Guest
It’s wonderful that in your city everyone goes to confession.
My church is the second largest in the diocese, and has 30 minute confession once-a-week.
The church knows there is a problem with many receiving our Lord, but no one is in the confession line. I’ve heard plenty of comments by various priests on EWTN and even my parish priest.
However, they always word it charitably…no one must be sinning.
No one is being a “busy body” noticing something has changed.
I certainly knew that I needed to stop worrying about who stays behind (being self-conscious & sad that I always stayed behind) that’s why I mentioned I focus my energy on praying about when I can receive.
I’m definitely not being a busy body when I know my parish’s religious educators are teaching that once-a-year is enough. I’m saddened, not “nosey”.
You are blessed to live in a city with so many Catholic churches and lines a mile long. That’s not what’s happening everywhere AND it’s nice to have a place (this forum) to come express a concern or even talk about it.
I even felt better after reading a response about someone’s heart…I have no idea that anyone is doing anything purposefully or maliciously. I’ve posted in the past three days about my mom away DECADES, but receives. She’s not the only one who does it…there are other posts on this forum asking how to approach family members who receive, but haven’t been to confession in years… I certainly don’t know my mom’s heart. She thinks what she’s doing isn’t wrong. I’m not being a busy body noticing if my mom receives OUR LORD , but I am concerned for her.
A
Ace86
Guest
One Spiritual Works of Mercy:
Warn the sinner.
“Warn the sinner” does not mean that we are judging them. I know that if I were in mortal sin, and I did not know about it, then I would want someone to tell me…
The problem is that there are priests who seem to think that there are no mortal sins anymore, which we know is not true.
Warn the sinner.
“Warn the sinner” does not mean that we are judging them. I know that if I were in mortal sin, and I did not know about it, then I would want someone to tell me…
The problem is that there are priests who seem to think that there are no mortal sins anymore, which we know is not true.
J
JimR-OCDS
Guest
If you belonged to my parish, you would never see me going to Confession. Hopefully, you wouldn’t judge that I was receiving Holy Communion while being in the state of mortal sin.
I go to confession once a month, but at the parish where the adoration chapel is. I have the 4-5 shift, and my parish has confessions from 3:30 to 4.
Also, until my former parish was transfered, about 6 months ago, my parish didn’t have confession at all.
I go to confession once a month, but at the parish where the adoration chapel is. I have the 4-5 shift, and my parish has confessions from 3:30 to 4.
Also, until my former parish was transfered, about 6 months ago, my parish didn’t have confession at all.
M
mikew262
Guest
Technically, according to doctrine, you are correct, but I still think alot of folks use it for everything.
A
Ace86
Guest
Well, then they’re still wrong. And probably still in mortal sin. To receive the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin is a mortal sin itself. It is a sacrilege.
B
BlyssfulDreamer
Guest
This is what I am trying to say. We are not bound to go to Confession at our parish where we are registered. I go to Confession at my parish and one other. I go to Holy Hour at the Church downtown. Sometimes I attend Sunday PM Mass at a Church across town…so we cannot make judgments unless our Church is the only one for hundreds of miles…and even THEN who are we to judge?
:heart:Blyss
B
blessedtoo
Guest
No one is judging. This is observation. And as I said in my post, I have been to Confession many times in every Parish in my very large diocese and without exception, there are hardly any folks there. And I will say this about making “judgements”: I have had the same experience as Maria3m reported. When I first returned to the Church years ago, all my fallen away Catholic friends wanted to attend Mass with me. Every one of them, all of whom had not attended a Sunday Mass in years and some of whom were living in openly homosexual relationships, received the Eucharist, despite my words of advice. Now, where do you think they got the idea that this was okay? Might it be because everyone goes to Communion? Might it be because you can see pro-abortion politicans receiving Communion? The idea that there are very few confess-able sins left in the world is so pervasive that even Catholics who have been away for decades believe it.
J
JimR-OCDS
Guest
One of the most important this is to find a good confessor.
I have one now, but I’ve been to priest where I’m sure, I wasted my time going to them.
The last bad confessor rattled off absolution so fast, you couldn’t understand him, then the window would slam shut with a “be gone.”
My current confessor provides spiritual direction and advice as well as compassion and explanation about the seriousness of the sins I confessed. He takes as long as he needs. Ineterestingly, there is a line outside the confessional, every Saturday.
Jim
I have one now, but I’ve been to priest where I’m sure, I wasted my time going to them.
The last bad confessor rattled off absolution so fast, you couldn’t understand him, then the window would slam shut with a “be gone.”
My current confessor provides spiritual direction and advice as well as compassion and explanation about the seriousness of the sins I confessed. He takes as long as he needs. Ineterestingly, there is a line outside the confessional, every Saturday.
Jim
- Status