Pope Francis quote used by parish to encourage Communion while in a state of mortal sin

[ProVobis]

So far the parish erred by stating that sharing = receiving Communion. This is false. Sharing the life of the Church includes Confession and attending Mass. Absolutely.

Indeed. All’s one has to do is to take a look that list of plenary indulgences to see that both confession and communion are necessary to remit the punishment due to ALL sins.

 

[Elizium23]

Second red flag on that parish website is a “Gay and Lesbian Outreach (GLO)” that is not Courage. In fact they have a link in their “Resources” section to CALGM, a discredited organization that does not follow Church teaching.

Third red flag, terminology “Eucharistic Ministers” used to describe EMHCs.

Remarkable that they have Confessions six days a week for 30 minutes. That’s more than my parish. Wonder how the lines are.

 

[Elizium23]

I did a search just to see if I could find when or where Pope Francis said this to try to get some context. I can’t find it anywhere online. Maybe someone else has had some better luck. I did also send an email to St. Monica Parish asking where they got it from. Hopefully I will hear from them and that may help get to the bottom of it.

Evangelii gaudium
Pope Francis:

1. The Church is called to be the house of the Father, with doors always wide open. One concrete sign of such openness is that our church doors should always be open, so that if someone, moved by the Spirit, comes there looking for God, he or she will not find a closed door. There are other doors that should not be closed either. Everyone can share in some way in the life of the Church; everyone can be part of the community, nor should the doors of the sacraments be closed for simply any reason. This is especially true of the sacrament which is itself “the door”: baptism. The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.[51] These convictions have pastoral consequences that we are called to consider with prudence and boldness. Frequently, we act as arbiters of grace rather than its facilitators. But the Church is not a tollhouse; it is the house of the Father, where there is a place for everyone, with all their problems.

 

[Neofight]

Not attending Mass for years,in and of itself is a mortal sin,requiring the Sacrament f Reconciliation before receiving the Euchrist…

You seem to be making up your own definition of mortal sin…there is no “in and of itself” component to mortal sin.

 

[ichabode]

Let’s slow down just a bit. It seems many posters are jumping to conclusions, including the OP in the title of the thread.

Nowhere do I see, in the words on the website, encouraging “Communion while in the state of mortal sin”.

It is quite possible to have not attended church for years without being in the state of mortal sin.

Neofight, you are the problem, and your view is sinister. The FAQ person was probably sincere in the asking the question. You on the other hand are vile. I can see you counseling the prodigal son not to repent and to continue living with swine. The catholic has committed mortal sin by not attending to the Sunday obligation. Of course we invite everyone to return to the sacraments, but first the sacrament of confession to restore the penitent to life in the Church and receive our Lord and Savior with a clean heart.

You should think about what you said and repost by saying you were wrong. Of course you could justify yourself and say, “Well if they were in a coma and no option for attending Mass for those years… blah blah blah.” The person who posted in the FAQ wants to return home. They were lost and now are found, but you would give the advice of Satan in the garden of Eve, or like St. Peter who falsely witnessed our Lord to bypass the cross altogether. You are wrong, and the Church that has posted this should read the Bible 1 COR 11, as you and anyone that holds to your position is at odds with scripture. You are not merciful.

 

[SuperLuigi]

A priest once told me that someone taking Communion in a state of mortal sin was “like putting food into a dead body.”

And Pope Francis is misquoted and misunderstood a lot, I think.

 

[Elizium23]

I took the liberty of watching the latest on-demand copy of a livestreamed Mass from this parish, and I found nothing glaringly abusive. It was happy-clappy and contemporary, with minor ad-libs thrown in, but in general it seemed like a perfectly ordinary wealthy liberal parish liturgy. I think the website quote in the OP could use a little more clarity but I don’t really think it’s problematic in that people might believe it over what they know to be true about Church teaching.

 

[ichabode]

You seem to be making up your own definition of mortal sin…there is no “in and of itself” component to mortal sin.

I see you are obstinate. Please review Canon 1247 and 1248 and CCC 1857-1860. In CCC 1860 “But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man.”

 

[ichabode]

To be fair to St. Monica Catholic Church I took the advice of some other posters and submitted an email to the “Contact Us” section. I recommend others to do the same.
The email was sent 08/24/2015 2316 CST.

Below is the email for reference.
The wording in one of your FAQ is the topic of debate on a catholic forum. The wording is grossly deficient and is abusive by taking the words of the Holy Father out of context (Acts5:3). See scripture passage for the danger of misquoting our Holy Father.

The FAQ
I haven’t been to confession nor have I been to church in years. Can I still receive Communion?

Pope Francis said, “Reception of Communion is not a prize for the perfect, but healing for sinners.” We all fall short of the glory of God, yet are called to the table to be healed. Any Catholic can come forward to receive Communion.

See the debate
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=975257

 

[babochka]

I now typically go to confession every 2-3 weeks. Of my 400-family parish, the most people I’ve ever seen in line for the confessional is 3. I’m in no position to judge the state of my fellow parishioners’ souls, but I find it hard to believe the other thousand people are in God’s grace 100% of the time.

Priests these days are too focused on ear-tickling. It’s that “Spirit of Vatican II” garbage that is damning souls and withholding the Truth from Catholics.

I also go to confession every 2-3 weeks. At my parish of about 20 families, I almost always have to wait for 2 or 3 people on Sunday morning. If I happen to go a large parish nearby, on Saturday, there is usually a line 20 deep for each of 2 priests. Maybe all the people from your parish are going to my parish for confession?

 

[graciew]

This was 2014 ,in case anybody has doubts. Love it. I suggest you read it all…
Maybe it would also fit into the FAQ .

catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-be-courageous-go-to-confession/
Pope Francis: Be courageous,go to Confession.

"Everyone say to himself: ‘When was the last time I went to confession?’ And if it has been a long time, don’t lose another day! Go, the priest will be good. And Jesus, (will be) there, and Jesus is better than the priests - Jesus receives you. He will receive you with so much love! Be courageous, and go to confession,” urged the Pope on Feb. 19.

Acknowledging a popular objection to the sacrament, Pope Francis noted, “someone can say, ‘I confess my sins only to God.’ Yes, you can say to God, ‘forgive me,’ and say your sins. But our sins are also against our brothers, against the Church. This is is why it is necessary to ask forgiveness of the Church and of our brothers, in the person of the priest.”

“While the celebration of the sacrament is personal, it is rooted in the universality of the Church,” which “accompanies us on the path of conversion,” he explained.

“Forgiveness is not something we can give ourselves,” cautioned the Pope. “One asks forgiveness, one asks it of another person, and in confession, we ask forgiveness from Jesus.”

“Forgiveness is not a result of our efforts, but is a gift. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit who showers us with mercy and grace that pours forth unceasingly from the open heart of Christ crucified and risen.”

 

[ichabode]

I must say, I struggle with this issue. Jesus never withdrew from sinners because they were not worthy to receive him. In Scripture, He never withheld his love and his mercy because of the un-confessed sins of adultery or multiple husbands. When he went to Calvary, he did not single out mortal sinners and exclude them from redemption. No, he came, suffered and died for the very sinners many of you want to exclude.

Cargu, later on your post you almost argue yourself out of what I included as the quote. Jesus did provide many examples of “withdrawing” himself from unrepentant sinners. There are seven sacraments not just one.

1. Jesus told the disciples to shake the dust from their sandals if a town did not receive them.
2. Jesus said to the disciples, “He that hears you hears me he that rejects you rejects me”
3. Jesus answered Peter to forgive people 7 times 70 and then provides the parable of the wicked steward where God shows his mercy, but the steward who was forgive of 10,000 talents has someone that owes him 100 denari thrown in jail, and then that person was thrown in jail.
4. Matthew repented and so did many others, but he also said of Bethsaida that it will be better in judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah than the townsfolk that rejected him.
5. When Jesus said they made His fathers house a den of thieves in fashioned a whip and then used it on them to drive them out of temple overturning their tables and making them scurry out quickly less to be beaten. They didn’t stop and gather their goods and Jesus justified anger.

You are confusing redemption with justification or salvation. Jesus died on the cross for everyone and redeemed us, but we must accept God’s love for us and repent.

It is not an act of mercy to encourage and not provide help for the sinner. The sacrament of reconciliation is the sacrament of the dead for a reason. And it is meant to restore life in the soul. To exclude and not direct a penitent person to this sacrament is mean and about as unchristian as possible. For it is in this sacrament that the lost are found and experience the true Mercy and Love of God.

 

[adrift]

You seem to be making up your own definition of mortal sin…there is no “in and of itself” component to mortal sin.

In order to be a mortal sin, it has to be serious matter which could be expressed as “in and of itself” To Miss mass deliberately is serious matter which was the point.

 

[cargau]

Cargu, later on your post you almost argue yourself out of what I included as the quote. Jesus did provide many examples of “withdrawing” himself from unrepentant sinners. There are seven sacraments not just one.

1. Jesus told the disciples to shake the dust from their sandals if a town did not receive them.
2. Jesus said to the disciples, “He that hears you hears me he that rejects you rejects me”
3. Jesus answered Peter to forgive people 7 times 70 and then provides the parable of the wicked steward where God shows his mercy, but the steward who was forgive of 10,000 talents has someone that owes him 100 denari thrown in jail, and then that person was thrown in jail.
4. Matthew repented and so did many others, but he also said of Bethsaida that it will be better in judgment for Sodom and Gomorrah than the townsfolk that rejected him.
5. When Jesus said they made His fathers house a den of thieves in fashioned a whip and then used it on them to drive them out of temple overturning their tables and making them scurry out quickly less to be beaten. They didn’t stop and gather their goods and Jesus justified anger.

You are confusing redemption with justification or salvation. Jesus died on the cross for everyone and redeemed us, but we must accept God’s love for us and repent.

It is not an act of mercy to encourage and not provide help for the sinner. The sacrament of reconciliation is the sacrament of the dead for a reason. And it is meant to restore life in the soul. To exclude and not direct a penitent person to this sacrament is mean and about as unchristian as possible. For it is in this sacrament that the lost are found and experience the true Mercy and Love of God.

I began my original post by saying that I struggle with this. That means that a tension exists where I see merits on both sides of this issue.

Often this verse from Corinthians is used to make the case for not receiving the Eucharist when one is conscious of serious sin; “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord”. Every time I receive Our Lord, I am unworthy. We even pray before receiving, Lord, I am not worthy…

So, what does it mean to be unworthy. Is it mortal sin or something else? “But, only say the word and my soul shall be healed”. It is through the blood of the cross that we are all made worthy, not by anything I am personally capable of doing on my own.

Suppose a person hadn’t been to Mass in 10 years. She wakes up one Sunday and wants to go to Mass as something is missing in her spiritual life. She wants to forge a relationship with her savior. While at Mass, it occurs to her that she hasn’t been to confession, oops, better not go to Communion…She is the prodigal daughter. Kill the fatted calf and put a ring on her finger. All heaven is rejoicing. Yes, she should absolutely receive our Lord. After all, he has been waiting for her.

 

[Regina7]

I began my original post by saying that I struggle with this. That means that a tension exists where I see merits on both sides of this issue.

Often this verse from Corinthians is used to make the case for not receiving the Eucharist when one is conscious of serious sin; “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord”. Every time I receive Our Lord, I am unworthy. We even pray before receiving, Lord, I am not worthy…

So, what does it mean to be unworthy. Is it mortal sin or something else? “But, only say the word and my soul shall be healed”. It is through the blood of the cross that we are all made worthy, not by anything I am personally capable of doing on my own.

Suppose a person hadn’t been to Mass in 10 years. She wakes up one Sunday and wants to go to Mass as something is missing in her spiritual life. She wants to forge a relationship with her savior. While at Mass, it occurs to her that she hasn’t been to confession, oops, better not go to Communion…She is the prodigal daughter. Kill the fatted calf and put a ring on her finger. All heaven is rejoicing. Yes, she should absolutely receive our Lord. After all, he has been waiting for her.

No, she absolutely shouldn’t. Yes, heaven is rejoicing at her return. But, after missing 10 years of mass, she will be committing SACRILEGE if she receives without going to confession first.

 

[steve_b]

Any and all mortal sins separate us from God. Would anyone suggest that it would be proper to receive the Eucharist before confession if they had murdered someone? I don’t think so. Yet intentionally not worshipping God and murder are both mortal sins that break the 1st and 5th commandments.

True, deliberately missing mass on Sunday is a mortal sin
As Hebrews so specifically states
#22

Unfortunately, here is a classic example of the Catholic who does think they can make up their own rules on this,

C & E Catholics who only go to mass 2 times a year (Christmas & Easter), how many of THEM go to confession before receiving the Eucharist on those 2 days? I doubt they go to confession prior. In extension to that, even if they did go to confession, but don’t plan to change their habit of only going to mass on Easter and Christmas, then their confession is also a sacraledge, because they really are NOT sorry for deliberately missing mass all year, which makes their confession a lie.
s:

While we cannot judge an individuals soul to know that they are in a state of mortal sin, we do have the obligation to speak truthfully that certain things are indeed grave evil and if they have committed those things, they need to examine themselves and determine if they need to go to confession. In the same manner, we can’t judge if someone is in a state of grace or not so it would be equally wrong (and above my pay grade) to presume that they are in a state of grace even though they have committed objectively “grave matter”. It must at least be stated that someone who has intentionally not worshipped God, has indeed committed a grave offense even though we cannot judge if that grave offense means that they are in a state of mortal sin and separation from God. Hence they should be encouraged to seek the sacrament of reconciliation prior to receiving the Eucharist and not just presume that even though a grave evil was committed, they are nevertheless good to go as they are.

IMV, people in general need no encouragement to find every excuse in the book to want to dumb down their mortal sins to a misdemeanor, or even dismiss them altogether. Chalk it up to the side effects of original sin.

The following scripture shows, whatever game people think they play on Jesus, Jesus is obviously not fooled.

Mt 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few

If only a “few” go to heaven, then the rest go to hell. THAT’s a frightening thought.

Does that mean most people probably die in mortal sin?

As another observation.

Ever wonder where the “right / left” label for describing one’s leanings in thinking, comes from?

Ecclesiastes 10:2 A wise man’s heart inclines him toward the right, but a fool’s heart toward the left.

Look how many people are on the left and even brag about it as if it’s the preferable position to be on.

 

[vir_fidelis]

I wrote an email to the Archbishop’s office about this.

This is the response I received:

I am writing in regard to your concern about the statement on the webpage at St. Monica Church. I regret that you were offended by the invitation to communion. As a I read it, it seems to be in keeping with the spirit of the holy father’s declaration of a year of mercy. I am willing to trust that the Holy Spirit will bless any person who feels called to go to communion as a result of the invitation. I am also willing to trust that any person who needs to go to confession first will do so before or after having gone to communion. It is not really my place to judge people’s motives or their state of grace. So I would find it inappropriate for me to request a change to the message as stated. It is for the person reading the message to interpret it for themselves. If it applies go for it. If not do the right thing. I hope this message is helpful for your own interpretation.

My response:

Thanks for your reply. I was not offended at all. The page says that if you have not gone to mass for many years and have to been to confession you can still receive communion. I do believe that is very misleading. If you have not been to mass for many years, you need to go to confession to return to a state of grace, as missing an obligatory Sunday mass is grave matter. This is not my opinion, but is part of our doctrine. Thanks again for your response.

And their reply:

Technically speaking this disciplinary rule does not reach the level of doctrine. It is part of our norms and regulations true. But to equate the doctrine of the Assumption or the Immaculate Conception with the discipline of having to go to confession before communion seems to me to be giving the practice more import than it deserves. It is however our teaching that one can make an act of contrition, go to communion and then to confession afterward to resolve whatever matters are pending. And that is part of our teaching and an example of being a merciful mother as Pope Francis would have us do.

 

[cargau]

True, deliberately missing mass on Sunday is a mortal sin
As Hebrews so specifically states
#22

Ever wonder where the “right / left” label for describing one’s leanings in thinking, comes from?

Ecclesiastes 10:2 A wise man’s heart inclines him toward the right, but a fool’s heart toward the left.

Look how many people are on the left and even brag about it as if it’s the preferable position to be on.

OK, this is kind of silly.

According to Wikipedia: “The terms “left” and “right” appeared during the French Revolution of 1789 when members of the National Assembly divided into supporters of the king to the president’s right and supporters of the revolution to his left. One deputy, the Baron de Gauville explained, “We began to recognize each other: those who were loyal to religion and the king took up positions to the right of the chair so as to avoid the shouts, oaths, and indecencies that enjoyed free rein in the opposing camp.” However the Right opposed the seating arrangement because they believed that deputies should support private or general interests but should not form factions or political parties. The contemporary press occasionally used the terms “left” and “right” to refer to the opposing sides.[9]”

According to Aristotle, the right was always considered superior to the left. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father… This is because when Aristotle studied animals, he noticed they usually led with the right paw. If a child had a tendency to be left handed, he had to unlearn that and become right handed…

So many of these responses seem to carry a very legalistic, dogmatic tone. Somehow, I believe that Jesus is far more concerned with what is in the heart. Each of us is on a journey (hopefully culminating in Heaven) and each of us is at a different point. Maybe the emptiness one has suffered by trying to “go it alone” (no Jesus, Mass, Sacraments, etc) is the way God is calling them. Please consider that it may be possible that the sinner is trying to find their way to God. It should not be through a legalistic minefield.

 

[aicirt]

I wrote an email to the Archbishop’s office about this.

This is the response I received:

I am writing in regard to your concern about the statement on the webpage at St. Monica Church. I regret that you were offended by the invitation to communion. As a I read it, it seems to be in keeping with the spirit of the holy father’s declaration of a year of mercy. I am willing to trust that the Holy Spirit will bless any person who feels called to go to communion as a result of the invitation. I am also willing to trust that any person who needs to go to confession first will do so before or after having gone to communion. It is not really my place to judge people’s motives or their state of grace. So I would find it inappropriate for me to request a change to the message as stated. It is for the person reading the message to interpret it for themselves. If it applies go for it. If not do the right thing. I hope this message is helpful for your own interpretation.

My response:

Thanks for your reply. I was not offended at all. The page says that if you have not gone to mass for many years and have to been to confession you can still receive communion. I do believe that is very misleading. If you have not been to mass for many years, you need to go to confession to return to a state of grace, as missing an obligatory Sunday mass is grave matter. This is not my opinion, but is part of our doctrine. Thanks again for your response.

And their reply:

Technically speaking this disciplinary rule does not reach the level of doctrine. It is part of our norms and regulations true. But to equate the doctrine of the Assumption or the Immaculate Conception with the discipline of having to go to confession before communion seems to me to be giving the practice more import than it deserves. It is however our teaching that one can make an act of contrition, go to communion and then to confession afterward to resolve whatever matters are pending. And that is part of our teaching and an example of being a merciful mother as Pope Francis would have us do.

Nope. This is why there is so much confusion. How can you possibly receive when you have sin on your soul? I’m very sure all the Christmas and Easter Catholics who receive are not making a dash for the confessional the following Saturday. This is not right. I understood the reason behind confession before Communion when I was seven. I do not understand this reasoning at all. A lot more was expected of us before and we all did very well compling. We never asked for this to be changed and never liked that it was changed
Dithering with this and that has not helped but hindered. :tsktsk:

 

[spiderweb]

I wrote an email to the Archbishop’s office about this.

This is the response I received:

Technically speaking this disciplinary rule does not reach the level of doctrine. It is part of our norms and regulations true. But to equate the doctrine of the Assumption or the Immaculate Conception with the discipline of having to go to confession before communion seems to me to be giving the practice more import than it deserves. It is however our teaching that one can make an act of contrition, go to communion and then to confession afterward to resolve whatever matters are pending. And that is part of our teaching and an example of being a merciful mother as Pope Francis would have us do.

It may be a discipline, but it is a serious discipline.

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.

CCC 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.” 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. Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P39.HTM Code of Canon Law

usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/index.cfm# Catechism of the Catholic Church