Question about Penitential rite at Mass and contrition

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Tis_Bearself

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If I go to Mass and I am late through some unforeseen circumstance (traffic jam, I made a wrong turn and got lost on the way to the church, etc.) and I miss the Penitential Rite, but right before Holy Communion I say an Act of Contrition and make a firm resolve to reject sin, am I in the same position that I would have been if I had been present for the Penitential Rite?

(Let’s further assume that this Mass is NOT a Sunday Obligation or Holy day of Obligation Mass, so there is no side question about whether the Mass obligation was met, but rather it’s just a daily Mass that I was attending as an extra devotional practice. )
 
Tis_Bear! Surprised you’d ask such a question as we know that receiving the Eucharist will absolve any venial sins. And, the mass is definitely a way to prepare yourself to receive the Eucharist. Let’s look from God’s ever-loving perspective … would you hold it against someone who was late through no fault of their own, showed the contrition, even when it wasn’t required, and prepared to receive the Eucharist?

I’d say no to that question and trust in the Mercy and Love … looks like you’re doing great Tis_Bear!
 
I don’t have a set rule on this, it depends on my conscience and why I was late. If it was no fault of my own, I’ll receive communion. If it was a negligence I honestly blame myself for, I don’t receive communion and I’m still at peace. If I know I was going to face some tough times (and was probably not at my best already) and really needed the graces from the Eucharist then I would receive communion - even if considered being late my fault. All of this, off course, depending foremost on having had a recent confession.

Like you said, the firm resolve to reject sin is central. Penitential rite is great, but I recon a sincere act of contrition is perfectly valid at any moment of our lives.
 
KatyCatholic said:
Tis_Bear! Surprised you’d ask such a question as we know that receiving the Eucharist will absolve any venial sins.
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Yes, but that wasn’t my question.
My question pertains to BEFORE Communion. Like let’s say I got hit by a bus on the way up the aisle and never receive.

I know once you’ve received Communion, it is a moot point.

Also, I know it’s a technical question and I doubt God is going to be anything but merciful, but I was just curious what the answer is or what people might say.

There is no need in any event for “surprise” that someone asked a question. I may have many reasons for asking a question, also there are a lot of little details to the Catholic faith and I am not the expert on them all.
 
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As Katy said, if the sins are venial (which I would hope and trust that at this stage in my life, they are - the “grave” stuff I used to do is way in the past for years now) one gets absolved of venial sins when one receives the Eucharist.

I also would tend to think, just based on my own opinion, that making a sincere act of contrition before Communion (which I do anyway every time whether or not I was present for the Penitential Rite) would be accepted by God. But this is just my opinion. I was curious to know what others would say.
 
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I seem to remember that there are several “penitential” rites at the Mass, one just before communion (the have mercy on us)…so I would have to say missing one of them would be ok…
 
I think you are fine. When I’m late, I just say a quick Act of Contrition or Confeitor before receiving.
 
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