Question: Confession and Eucharist

[Saoirse]

I am a Catholic neophyte; I was Baptized, Confirmed, and recieved First Eucharist on April 7, 2007.

I have never felt so peacefull or joyfull. Or greatful, especially as Holy Week for me was marked with my feelings of unworthiness and questions as to whether or not a person such as myself could really be forgiven even by such a forgiving God. I was so overcome, on Saturday night, to know that indeed, I am forgiven.

It lasted into Sunday; Sunday morning, I went to MASS and sang with the choir like I normally do. I felt like Jesus was singing with me when I recieved communion, I could feel both His joy and my own heart responding with a shadow of that joy.

So imagine how disappointed I was in myself, when like I remember hearing we should at a daily MASS, I examined my conscience on Monday night; I discovered that I had already screwed up and committed what I think are sins.

I think they are minor sins, and not mortal, but they are still sins and they still leave me feeling like I have already stained the white garment I was given in Baptism not even three full days ago (now about five days ago).

Since almost all of the priests are out of town recooperating and visiting family after the busy-ness of Holy Week and the Triduum Celebrations, and those that are in town are only doing the minimal amount of work… I feel really bad asking one for an appointment for Confession - and the next shedualed confessions are on Saturday morning when I am at work. I am going to ask the priest at the parish I attend on Saturday evenings if I could schedual a confession with him just before MASS on Saturday, and that is honestly going to be the earliest possibility of making a Confession (pray with me that he will be available!)…

But I am still going to be attending daily MASS until then… so my question is this; having a truly contrite heart and planning to go to confession at the earliest opportunity, is it okay for me to recieve communion? How severe does a sin have to be to require confession beforehand?

I felt okay recieving communion this morning and last night; but now I am wondering - should I have? I mean, I am still filled with joy from Holy Saturday and the Easter Triduum - and I am truly sorrowfull for the two places where I fell on Monday - so where is that line?

I’m not even sure if the things I did on Monday constitute sin - going overboard on chocolate and not stopping myself after not having had any chocolate all Lent - and paying $1.80 for the bus instead of $2.00 and letting the bus driver think I just didn’t realize the price difference instead of being honest and admitting that I did know, just the $1.80 was literally all I had - though I made up the 20 cents the following day by paying $2.20, I was still initially dishonest about why I wasn’t paying the full fare in the first place.

I am also aware that my spiritual director, when discussing the Sacrament of Confession with me, warned me about the mental illness of scrup - okay, I give up, I can’t spell it - of picking at too many details and seeing sin around every corner, as he put it. Am I being to scrupulous? (is that the right spelling?) or should I confess these things before I recieve communion again? (I just can’t stand the thought of having the opportunity to recieve communion and not doing so for two days in a row! It would be a really difficult penance to have to wait until I can get to confession…) or am I okay to just confess them at the first opportunity to do so, and continue recieving communion until that opportunity arrives?

in love, faith,
and humility,
Saoirse

 

[NotWorthy]

Without judging your actions,

You cannot receive Communion if you are in mortal sin.

Veniel sins are forgiven when you are at Mass.

Good luck and enjoy your Oneness in Christ!!!

P.S. OK, my two cents worth, the sins you listed were probably veniel sins in my book, but that is only MY opinion.

 

[rwoehmke]

The two things you mentioned would be considered venial sins at most. Venial sins are forgiven by making a good act of contrition or receiving the Eucharist. Mortal sins are a whole nother matter like if you ate so much chocolate you had to vomit or you did a poor beggar out of his last 20 cents and not the Bus Company. A good course in Moral Theology might be a good idea. I worry about our RCIA people because in the time allowed I don’t think they get a good grasp of the differences between serious matter and mundane less serious matter. I guess to sdome extent it has to be learned by experience.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I am a Catholic neophyte; I was Baptized, Confirmed, and recieved First Eucharist on April 7, 2007.

I have never felt so peacefull or joyfull. Or greatful, especially as Holy Week for me was marked with my feelings of unworthiness and questions as to whether or not a person such as myself could really be forgiven even by such a forgiving God. I was so overcome, on Saturday night, to know that indeed, I am forgiven.

It lasted into Sunday; Sunday morning, I went to MASS and sang with the choir like I normally do. I felt like Jesus was singing with me when I recieved communion, I could feel both His joy and my own heart responding with a shadow of that joy.

So imagine how disappointed I was in myself, when like I remember hearing we should at a daily MASS, I examined my conscience on Monday night; I discovered that I had already screwed up and committed what I think are sins.

I think they are minor sins, and not mortal, but they are still sins and they still leave me feeling like I have already stained the white garment I was given in Baptism not even three full days ago (now about five days ago).

Since almost all of the priests are out of town recooperating and visiting family after the busy-ness of Holy Week and the Triduum Celebrations, and those that are in town are only doing the minimal amount of work… I feel really bad asking one for an appointment for Confession - and the next shedualed confessions are on Saturday morning when I am at work. I am going to ask the priest at the parish I attend on Saturday evenings if I could schedual a confession with him just before MASS on Saturday, and that is honestly going to be the earliest possibility of making a Confession (pray with me that he will be available!)…

But I am still going to be attending daily MASS until then… so my question is this; having a truly contrite heart and planning to go to confession at the earliest opportunity, is it okay for me to recieve communion? How severe does a sin have to be to require confession beforehand?

I felt okay recieving communion this morning and last night; but now I am wondering - should I have? I mean, I am still filled with joy from Holy Saturday and the Easter Triduum - and I am truly sorrowfull for the two places where I fell on Monday - so where is that line?

I’m not even sure if the things I did on Monday constitute sin - going overboard on chocolate and not stopping myself after not having had any chocolate all Lent - and paying $1.80 for the bus instead of $2.00 and letting the bus driver think I just didn’t realize the price difference instead of being honest and admitting that I did know, just the $1.80 was literally all I had - though I made up the 20 cents the following day by paying $2.20, I was still initially dishonest about why I wasn’t paying the full fare in the first place.

I am also aware that my spiritual director, when discussing the Sacrament of Confession with me, warned me about the mental illness of scrup - okay, I give up, I can’t spell it - of picking at too many details and seeing sin around every corner, as he put it. Am I being to scrupulous? (is that the right spelling?) or should I confess these things before I recieve communion again? (I just can’t stand the thought of having the opportunity to recieve communion and not doing so for two days in a row! It would be a really difficult penance to have to wait until I can get to confession…) or am I okay to just confess them at the first opportunity to do so, and continue recieving communion until that opportunity arrives?

in love, faith,
and humility,
Saoirse

Your actions do not appear to constitutes Mortal sin. You are realizing the wrong in acting this way and have made up the difference in the fare. There would be nothing wrong with saying to the driver all I have is 1.80 and will give you the .20 tomorrow. I’m inclined to think that the eating habit is just that a habit that needs to be worked on.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

I don’t believe your sins constitute grave matter. Some “sins admit lightness of matter: they are grave sins (ex genere suo) in as much as their matter in itself is sufficient to constitute a grave sin without the addition of any other matter, but is of such a nature that in a given case, owing to its smallness, the sin may be venial, e.g. theft.” (Catholic Encyclopedia - Sin).

However, in general, if you believe you have committed grave sin, even if you subsequently believe you have contrition of charity (perfect contrition), you are not permitted to partake of Holy Eucharist until you recieve Sacramental Absolution. In such cases, you may certainly still attend daily Mass, and after an act of perfect contrition are in a state of grace, but you should refrain from partaking of Holy Eucharist until you go to the Sacrament of Confession and receive absolution from the priest.

There are exceptions in canon law which are not to be taken as normative. For example, canon 916 states:

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.

One must exercise prudence in determining what a “grave reason” consists of in accord with this canon.

Canon law commentaries include “serious embarassment” as among grave reasons. The classical example of this is that of a priest who is scheduled to celebrate Mass, but right before Mass he becomes conscious of having committed a mortal sin and does not have time to go to confession before Mass. In this instance, after making an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolve to go to confession as soon as possible, he is permitted to partake of Holy Communion in celebrating the Mass.

Normatively, a priest who is in a state of mortal sin should seek to confess as soon as possible and refrain from celebrating the sacraments until he has done so. Yet the above canon provides for some exceptions for anyone with “grave reason.”

Commenting on canon 916 with regard to “grave reason,” Fr. Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University states:

One such grave reason is based on the principle of the good of souls. If a priest is required to celebrate Mass or a soul requests the sacrament of reconciliation, the anointing of the sick, or indeed any other sacrament from this priest that would have to be performed before he can avail of confession, then he may, and usually must, administer the sacrament.

A second grave reason stems from the danger of infamy by publicly revealing the state of one’s soul.

This can occur in the case of a priest in isolated circumstances when there is no one else to perform the usual celebrations. There is no need for him to do anything that might lead people to suspect his lack of a state of grace.

Even in the case that the priest, or any other person, has secretly committed a grave crime, which would normally lead to his or her being automatically forbidden to receive the sacraments, Church law (in Canon 1352) foresees the possibility of the penalty being suspended to avoid infamy or scandal, to wit:

"§1. If a penalty prohibits the reception of the sacraments or sacramentals, the prohibition is suspended as long as the offender is in danger of death.

“§2. The obligation to observe an undeclared ‘latae sententiae’ penalty which is not notorious in the place where the offender is present, is suspended totally or partially whenever the offender cannot observe it without danger of grave scandal or infamy.”

While the possibilities of a layperson or a religious in a state of mortal sin being placed in a similar dilemma as the priest are far rarer, the same basic principles would apply should they occur.

Furthermore, while it is nobody else’s business why somebody does not approach Communion, pastors should do all that they can to avoid creating public pressures that might induce a person in a state of mortal sin – or otherwise unable to receive Communion – to receive out of an objective fear of infamy or even out of human respect.

For example, when parish ushers move down the aisles during Communion to assure an orderly procession, it becomes very difficult for someone, especially if well known to the other parishioners and who for some hidden reason cannot receive Communion, not to go forward with the others because staying in the pew is often the equivalent of making a public self-denunciation.

source]

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Stealing a large amount of money is mortal; stealing a small amount is venial. I have heard “a day’s wages” as a rule of thumb (of course, I would never use this to justify stealing a smaller amount). And stealing a small amount from someone who we know is poor might be indeed serious, because of the large impact it would have on their life.

 

[baltobetsy]

Saoirse, welcome! I’m sure it’s clear from the other replies that the things that concern you are objectively venial sins. It’s a very good thing that you have a horror of sin. Another really good thing is a well-formed conscience, which will keep you from unnecessary worry.

I’d like to suggest a book that would be a good refresher for what you learned in RCIA and also a really fine guide to what’s sinful and what’s not and why. It’s called The Faith Explained, and it’s by Leo Trese. You can order it here. I can’t recommend it highly enough. If you were nearby, I’d give it to you as a gift!

Betsy

 

[Sir_Knight]

Stealing a large amount of money is mortal; stealing a small amount is venial. I have heard “a day’s wages” as a rule of thumb

I never heard this “rule of thumb” and think that it needs to be considered on a case by case basis.

And stealing a small amount from someone who we know is poor might be indeed serious, because of the large impact it would have on their life.

Exactly. taking a small amount from a poor blind person would be a mortal sin. The same thing with stealing a small amount from a church.

 

[stbruno]

During mass, we say a Penitential Rite which is led by the celebrant priest. " Our venial sins are forgiven and we receive grace. I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault

• we strike our breast -

in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

• the Kyrie may then be sung -

B
Lord, we have sinned against you:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, show us your mercy and love.
And grant us your salvation.

May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.

That is why attending mass regularly, even daily is truly a blessing, because we gain forgiveness for our venial sins and also graces, and we can then receive Holy Communion. The more often we do this, we also gain strength to fight those everyday temptations. Welcome Home!

 

[teachccd]

Remember satan always wants you to feel unforgiven and separated from God. Satan saw your bliss and is fervently working on you. Your sins are not mortal ( those you posted) so go to Mass, receive our Lord in the Eucharist and continue your joyful celebration of your new life in the Church. We all sin daily. Satan wants you to magnify these sins so as to make you give up. Scupulosity will allow this to happen so be careful.

Remember God wants more for you not to sin mortally than you do. God infinitely loves you (He is Love) and created you to be with Him in eternity. If you truly sin mortally go to confession and receive the sacrament of healing. Go to confession with venial sins for the graces and healing it provides. But know God’s love and how happy He is (not was) to see you in His Church…God Bless you…teachccd

 

[LindaS]

Welcome home! Please know that, for a sin to be mortal, it has to be a grave matter, you must know that it is a grave matter, and you must give full consent of the will. Therefore, if you have to ask, it’s not mortal! Hope this helps. I don’t think you’re scrupulous, just new.

Peace,
Linda

 

[rwoehmke]

Welcome home! Please know that, for a sin to be mortal, it has to be a grave matter, you must know that it is a grave matter, and you must give full consent of the will. Therefore, if you have to ask, it’s not mortal! Hope this helps. I don’t think you’re scrupulous, just new.Peace,Linda

Back in the 50"s a confessor explained to me that when one truly is not sure whether something they did was a mortal sin or not, it was likely not. He said,“When you commit a sin that is mortal you will know and will have have no doubt.”

 

[AngelRose81]

Stealing a large amount of money is mortal; stealing a small amount is venial. I have heard “a day’s wages” as a rule of thumb (of course, I would never use this to justify stealing a smaller amount). And stealing a small amount from someone who we know is poor might be indeed serious, because of the large impact it would have on their life.

No offense, but I thought that stealing was stealing no matter what it was?

Seriously, that is what were were taught in RCIA. Was that right or is it a case by case basis?

To answer your question, Saoirse, those sound like venial sins to me so I think you’re ok, but hey, it never hurts to go to confession! I love it! BTW, Welcome Home!!

On this same subject…is profanity a mortal sin when you accidentially slip up and say a bad word? I’m confused on that one, too.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

No offense, but I thought that stealing was stealing no matter what it was?

Seriously, that is what were were taught in RCIA. Was that right or is it a case by case basis?

To answer your question, Saoirse, those sound like venial sins to me so I think you’re ok, but hey, it never hurts to go to confession! I love it! BTW, Welcome Home!!

On this same subject…is profanity a mortal sin when you accidentially slip up and say a bad word? I’m confused on that one, too.

Sin is looked at two way Objectively and Subjectively.

 

[NotWorthy]

No offense, but I thought that stealing was stealing no matter what it was?

Seriously, that is what were were taught in RCIA. Was that right or is it a case by case basis?

Stealing is stealing, but the level of sin varies.

Think of it this way. Remember when Jesus praised the woman for giving her last two cents while the rich man gave more, but he gave from his excess? One was a greater gift than the other.

Stealing a small amout from someone who is wealthy and would never miss it is a sin, but most probably a veniel sin.

Stealing the last dollar from a blind musician playing on the Street for money would most probably be a mortal sin.

Both are sinful, but rise to different levels of sin.